The Battle Begins

This is the time of the season that the geese are seeking a spot for nesting. As I search the marsh for the locations of these nest, I heard some commotions. By one of the prime nesting spot, the battle begins.

One pair of geese seek to take over this prime real estate from the other pair. The battle is fierce and last a while. By the time the battle was over, the challengers left with their heads hanging down.

We are all in a battle today. The virus' battle will rage on for a while to come, I am afraid. But. we will come out of it with our heads held high. The challenger will be defeated.

The battle begins. The battle will be long. Yet, the battle will be won by the grace of God.

Washing Squirrel Paws

I always wondered as I past this tree, if I would ever see anything come out of the hole. Well, it finally happened. This little guy popped out to clean his paws. He is practicing his hand washing skills. It was cool seeing this squirrel washing his paws.


I sure do love watching the squirrels do their things. They could be collecting the peanuts I put out, only to hide them for a new day. Nests are being made and more leaves added for the new babies to come. Whatever they are up too, I know that it will be entertaining.

I need to look for anything to put a smile on my face. Today, watching this squirrel washing his paws did the trick.

Singing Wren

Today was just perfect. Apparently, this wren felt the same way. He spent the morning singing his guts out. When a wren sings, you can hear it from one side of the park to the other. When you get more then one singing, it is music to my ear.


The other day, two wrens were courting each other with their song. It was a sing off. Spring is in the air. I am sure to hear more singing wrens in the days to come.

With all the dreadful news flying all over the place, it is nice to be able to smile a little. With the sun shining, the wrens singing and getting outside to soak it all in, made it a beautiful day.

A Mouthful

This Titmouse really has a mouthful. He loves the peanuts I put out as I make my way around the park. The Titmouse is one of my favorite bird. He had so much character.

Today, as I entered the park, there was not a creature in sight. It was eerily quiet. I searched the trees for any signs of birds. Not even a tweet could be heard. This made me think that a hawk had to be hanging around.

After a few more minutes, the silence was broken by the sound of the Titmouse. Soon, the Chickadee, sparrows and Carolina Wrens joined in the music of the park. The mouthful of chirping was a sweet sound to my ears.

 This Titmouse had his mouth full of a peanut. I, on the other hand, enjoyed an earful of chirping and singing by him and his fellow feather friends.

Chipmunk Allergy

This allergy has gotten the best of me. I have gone through several tissue boxes in the past week. Just like this chipmunk, I keep blowing my nose.

Kidding aside. I love spring time. This is when everything starts coming alive. The problem, so do all the pollen. I am not running to the store to get toilet paper, it is to get boxes of tissues.

Even with the couching and sniffling, I still have to get out to see all the beauty that is still here in the world. Spring is busting out all over. The trees are blooming, the flowers are opening and the animals are getting ready for their babies.

I can not wait to capture it in photos. I will be glad when this allergy runs it course and that I can stop using so much tissue. I am sure this chipmunk will be happy as well.

Hover Hunting

Another day of driving around checking out my favorite spots. It started off slow. Than my husband, with his eagle's eyes, spotted something high up in a tree some distant away. This bird was too far away for me to make an identification. It was not until it took off from the tree and began to hover over the ground hunting, that I can see that it was an American Kestrel.


Watching him hover over and over again was a cool thing to see. The fields at the industrial ponds has proven to be a good place to spend time around. The past several week, I have watched a Northern Harrier, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Cooper Hawk and a Red-tailed Hawk all seek their next meal over these same fields.

These fields must have a plethora of creatures. The hawks are drawn here with the hope of getting just a piece of the bounty.

I was glad that I got to watch the American Kestrel do his hover hunting. I will be back again and again. Who knows what I will catch next the next time.

Keep Your Distant

This eagle was telling the other to, "Keep your distant."

On our way to seeing my husband's sister, we came across several eagles and buzzards waiting their turn at the raccoon. One of the eagle got just a wee bit to close and the other one chased it away. He was not willing to share the find of the day.


We went on our way and came across another eagle find. This time it was a deer that was the meal of choice. Several buzzards waited a short distant away for their turn at this feast.

I found myself asking that, if God provides for these birds the food they need, why am I worried about what I will eat tomorrow?

We are told to keep our distant from others as we wait for our turn at the grocery stores. Some people are quit to attack if we get too close. Yet, if we just willing to wait on the Lord, He will provided the food we need, spiritual or material.

I do not know what tomorrow will bring. I do know that I will keep my distant and let God be in control. My needs will be provided. As He provides for all His creations, like the eagles, I can count on the love of God to see to my needs as well.

Staying Home

It looks like this sparrow is practicing the order to stay home. He was keeping his distant from me. As he watched me from the safety in his house, I could not help but think how I can do my part in this crisis.

Even though, I was out taking pictures, I was keeping my distant from others who were out enjoying the day. We live in an unusual time now. Normal is not the norm.

Yesterday, I was told that the my work place would be close for the next two weeks. I knew it was a matter of time. Yet, it still feels strange not having to get up each day to go to work.

What will I do with my time now? Of course, I will be out taking pictures. This will also be a good time to get things done around the house. The list is long.

The most important thing I will be doing is praying for this virus to end soon. I need to pray that the lost of life is kept small. With prayers of us all, we can get through these hard times.

Like this sparrow, I will spend a lot of my time safe in my own home. Staying home and keeping my distant is the least I can do right now.

It Became Real

Today, it became real to me. I had to go on base to the clinic due to allergies needs. I usually just park my car and walk in. Not today. The parking lot was roped off and I was asked to follow the arrows to the screening spots. There they screen you, asking several questions.

Have you been out of the country? Are you running a fever. Have you been in contact with anyone who has the virus? These were just a few of the question that was asked. Once you received the okay, you were given a ticket and allowed to go into the clinic.

Once inside, the same questions were asked again and again. First, at the reception's desk  Second, in the doctor's office. Because, I had to get a blood test (due to my thyroid issue, not because of the covid-19 virus), the third time was there.

Going to the commissary was an adventure as well. Because of the number of people in the same area restrictions, I had to stand in line. The military police was there to enforce letting only eight people at a time in the store. One good thing though, it was easier to shop and there was milk and toilet paper.

It became real to me today. Up to this point, it was what I was reading and seeing in the news that kept me up to date. Now, that I have felt just the start of the new norm, I need to take it more seriously.

Teal One, Wilson None

Today, my husband and I decided to visit Swan Harbor Farm. As we made our way to one our walking trail, Don got to talking to a couple of other people who were there. They told him about spotting a Wilson snipe near another marshy area.

This was a place that we had not taken the time to check out before. So, off we went in search of the snipe. The marsh was full of life. The frogs, sparrows and other birds were making their presence known. You could hardly hear your own voice over the sounds.

We tried to find the snipe. We listened, looked and did not find any signs of this small bird. There were Canada geese, one great blue heron and several mallards in the marsh. In the sky, we could see hawks, buzzards and that one great blue heron.

As we round the back side of the marsh, something caught my eye. I knew it was a duck of some sort. I got my camera focused on the duck and realized that it was a green-winged teal. The blue on his head put me off. I think that it is the trick of the sun.

Right after I got this picture, what should happen? The Wilson snipe ran right out in front of Don. He was only a few feet away. Neither Don or I were able to get a picture. It happened all too fast.

Teal one, Wilson none. All in all, it was an exciting day to go birding.

Sky Waves

As I pulled into the parking lot of the church, I notice that the clouds look like waves traveling across the sky. The sky waves were cool to see. I was glad that I was going there to meet with the photo group. I was also glad that I had my camera with me.

I often look to the sky for photo opportunities. The clouds always has something to show me. If they are thick and dark, I know that there is a storm coming. When they are white and fluffy, I know that it is a good weather day.

Whatever the skies had to offer, I try to capture it on my camera. These sky waves, along with the sun setting made these clouds unusual. This was just fine for me. Because, this was a first for me, I just had to take the picture. I love taking pictures of the sky.

Gold Eyes

Several months back, my husband and I decided to check out the eagles at the Conowingo Dam. They were there with the black vultures, double-crested cormorants and the gulls. Then, we saw three smaller duck like birds with gold eyes swimming around.

This is not the first time that I have seen the common goldeneye. But, this is the first time that I have seen them at the dam. They seem to be three immature males. They all had the round white spot by the bills.

You never know what you might see there. Once, I caught a peregrine falcon with a red-bellied woodpecker in his mouth flying across the dam. I did not get a good picture though.


There does not seems to be many different birds around like my other stopping spots. But, this is the best place to captures the bald eagles. If you look close enough, he seems to have golden eyes as well.

The nice surprise for this outing was the birds with the gold eyes. I do not get to see them often. But, when I do, it is a good day.

Three Wilson's Snipes

After along day at work, a long wait at the clinic and a long drive home, I had to stop by the marsh. I have seen the Wilson's snipes several weeks ago. I have not seen them for awhile. As I was looking for any signs near the muddy areas, I notice something move. There he was one Wilson's Snipe.


I was excited at the fact that he was hiding near the edge of the marsh close to the road. Finally, I got my chance to get a good clear picture. What I was not expecting was, that within a few feet of the first snipe, stood a second one.


Than, my eyes caught a third snipe only a few inches ahead of the second one. This is what I have been waiting for for years. I just love how God is giving me the desires of my heart in seeing rare birds in my favorite places.

It sure does pay that I do take the time to drive by the marsh everyday. I would missed out of getting three Wilson's Snipes if I had decided not to stop today.

First Meadowlark

For too many years that I dear to count, I have been trying to get a meadowlark. I know where they can be found. I see them posted on Facebook by other birders. Yet, with all my effort, I could not find one.

Several years ago while on vacation with my cousins, we came a cross a Western meadowlark. That was exciting. Because of this, I was more determine to find a Eastern meadowlark.


This past Sunday, while driving around one of my favorite pond, I spotted a beautiful red-shouldered hawk on the hunt. So, I pulled over and watched hoping to see him catch anything. After about ten minutes, he flew away empty handed.

As I started to put my camera away, I notice movement at the bottom of the tree that the hawk just flew off of. The bright yellow color caught my eyes. This was a bird that I had not seen before.

Once I got the bird into focus, I knew that I was seeing an eastern meadowlark for the first time. I love seeing the hawk. But, that lark made my day.

The first meadowlark showed me that I should never give up. When I least expect it, my dreams do come true. Not the way I planned it, or where I think it should happen, but when it is God's timing.