Eye Catch

I felt like someone or something was keeping their eye on me. There has been many times I have past this tree and looked into the hole. For years a nuthatch has called this place his home. Not this year. Something else has taken up residence.

I went by this tree several days ago. The piece of twig hagging from the mouth of the hole called me to pull it. When I did, a small growl scared the wits out of me. I jumped back and decided it was best to leave it alone.

Today, I kept my distant and was surprised to see an eye peaking out at me. I had wanted to find a squirrel nest with in reach of my camera. Here is is, just three feet above ground. I caught her eye and she caught mine.

In about 10 weeks, I should see the new residence of the squirrel family scurrying around the park.

Not A Mute

It was a good day to go out birding. Before heading of to church, I drove by the marsh to check on the pair of mute swans. It always makes my day to see these beautiful birds. So, after church I drove by again to see them.

I than went to the Mariner to do my walk about. My camera battery died before I could finish walking the whole park. So, I went home, got my husband and went shopping. On our way home we had to pass by the marsh again. Since I was driving, my husband search the marsh for my swans. I was surprised when he said that he saw three.

Dropping him home, I got the extra camera and headed back to the marsh. Sure enough there were three swans. I noticed that one was not a mute. Two mutes and one trumpeter were sharing one of my favorite spot to visit.

This is not the first time that I have seen a trumpeter. This is the first time I could get a picture though. I hope he sticks around for another day.

Hidden Color

One of the last bird of my list of 2018 bird count was the bufflehead. At the Swan Harbor Farm, while I made my way to the pier, I notice numbers of ducks in the distance. While I tried to take pictures of them, there was a movement just within feet of me. It was a female bufflehead.

This female entertained me for quite a while with her diving. It was not until I started to head back that the male bufflehead made his presence known. While I was taking this picture of him, I notice the colors of the feathers on his head. I always thought that they were just black and white birds. The colors were just hidden until the sun light hit them just right.

I think God created us all with colors that are hidden. It is only through His light that shines on us that the true colors appears. I know that I need His guideness and light to show my true colors. I will never look at a bufflehead again with out thinking about the hidden colors.

Nesting Time

The squirrels are gathering the materials needed to build their nest. The geese at the marsh are claiming their spots. The birds are collecting twigs. It is nesting time.

One of the best sign that lets me know that spring time is near are the animals getting ready for the new generations of their species. I love watching the squirrels gather the leaves from the ground, filling the mouths and climbing the trees to their nests.

Some times the nest can be in a hole in the trees or a pile of twigs, leaves and whatever they can find to create a safe spot for the new ones.

I have yet to get any pictures of the little guys. This year, I am going to make my mission to try.

Yes, it is nesting time. I can not wait until I see all the little creatures.

Snow Bunting Trip

I decided I had to make a trip to North Point State Park. Why, you ask? I wanted my shot at getting a picture of the snow buntings hanging out on the rocks. As my husband and I made our way down the pier, we were not seeing them.

We would stop every few feet and peer over the rocks. Nothing moving around. We could see the lesser scaup by the ton on the water. But no snow bunting were to be seen.

Half way down, to our surprise, nine little birds raced across the path into the grass. I knew by the pattern and color of these little guy that they were my quest for the day.

They were not the only nice surprise for this trip. There were common mergansers, bufflehead ducks and even a long tailed duck that flew past to complete this adventure. The snow bunting trip was a worth the ride.