What's Blooming?

Howdee,

A few posts ago my Beachgirl Sicksta asked to see what's blooming in NC Sickstas garden, and to see the new Kitchen cabinets that her husband is putting in.

So here you go…BeachGirl..this is for you.

This photo taken thru the gate that Craigy made…

the front Garden..

Craigy likes to make hearts for NC Sicksta

The Dogwoods are in Full Bloom

Pansies have been blooming much of the winter..Sicksta Dell has a nice assortment of colors..These are very cool tulips…NC Sicksta is working and not here to ID these for me…I will add the ID when she gets home…This plant has some interesting flowers…

Sicksta Dell watering her plants..see the corner of the house…they gather rain water from the gutters…they use the it to water the  plants.

Sculptures in the side garden…Azaleas blooming in the background.

White-throated sparrows under the feeders…Dogwood in the Back GardenThe Pine Grove…back gardenFront garden looking toward the street…Looking up…trees just starting to bud and leaf out…Looking down…Jackie boy He's looking at this…

Anyone know what it is? 

I have more photos of it here…

VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

And last but not least…the beginning stages of new Kitchen cabinets..

Hope you enjoyed the tour of Sickstas Garden

Bird+window strike death= changes

Howdee all.

Here we are settled in for a months stay in North Carolina in my Sickstas and Craigys side yard. Our Homeys back end sits between two big Hickory trees. Our bedroom window is facing the Hickory tree you see in this photo..back right.

I have a feeder on that tree..that’s where the flying squirrels have come in the past for nightly visits..no sighting this year. I did wake up the other evening when I heard something on the tree…I shined a flashlight and it was a cute little raccoon eating seed from the feeder. I didn’t want to encourage it so I shooed it away.This is our view from the other side of the Homey…our Patio and bird feeders set out..

This is where the Death occurred… My Sicksta discovered the dead White-throated Sparrow on our patio carpet, below our living room window. It was a beautiful bird…I felt terrible….

Homeys reflective windows are a problem …

We have birds pecking at them all the time…territorial disputes with unknown intruder..Birdchick talks about this in a recent 10000 birds post

Remember this one pecking at our window?

 

I don’t mind the pecking~so far none of the birds have blooded themselves or my window..I do mind a bird death…

So..I needed a solution..

I first read about this in a fellow birders blog…Hilke Breder mentioned she used soap on her sliding glass door.

Jeff doesn’t want anything that will stick on the window..It has a special finish that he is afraid might come off. So…I am hoping this works.

Soap lines..I can fill it in more if I find we are still having window strikes.

This is how it looks from the inside.

Read more about preventing window strikes here at Sialis website.

If you have any other ideas or suggestions please let me know.

Wordless Wings on Wednesday

Howdee all,

Its that Wordless day again…You know me…I have to say something…I will just say this…Sweet!

Gator and Black point Road birding,Florida

Howdee all,

I found this forgotten post on this rainy, overcast North Carolina Day…I have a few Florida posts waiting to be finished..and I have been lazy about blogging…

I have been walking around Sickstas garden and getting my hands dirty. I have also been searching for the illusive Morel mushroom..hope I find some soon.

I set out my feeders and have a few new arrivals, American Goldfinch and Common Grackle..today a Ruby-throated Hummingbird :) The Bluebirds are checking out the nest box…and spring has sprung..Bird Migration is happening and we are ready and waiting.

Anyway..

I want to share some clouds and birds…

~Remembering~

Merritt Island NWR

This photo from Gator Drive, Merritt Island NWRWe always enjoy birding this area of Florida..Great EgretGreat Blue HeronBelted KingfisherPied-billed Grebe

Snowy Egret

Tri-colored HeronAnhingaGreen Heron

Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs

These are just a few of the many birds you will encounter in this area…

A wonderful place to bird!

Rockhopper Penguins need your help

Howdee all,

Nightingale Island Oil Spill

This Photo of Rockhopper Penguin is
Copyright © copyright-free-photos.org.uk

Nightingale Oil Spill article by Andrew Evans of National Geographic Traveler

Nightingale Island is home to some 20,000 of the endangered sub-species of Northern Rockhopper Penguin. Sadly, these are the birds that were hit the hardest—thousands are expected to die from the effects of the oil spill. While this spill is relatively minor in comparison to so many in the world today, it represents a major calamity for the fragile birdlife on pristine Nightingale Island and a heavy blow to the small group of islanders of nearby Tristan da Cunha.

Prepare yourself for the video …sad..

 

Read this explaining what is being done to save the Rockhopper Penguins.

and

Donate here if you can…any bit helps..I donated and though it wasn’t much..it will help.

Thanks to Mike McDowell for the video and donation links

Related articles

• Penguin rescue operation under way after south Atlantic oil spill (cnn.com)
• Oil Spill in South Atlantic Threatens Endangered Penguins (environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com)
• Green: A Race Against Time to Save Oiled Penguins (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Elastol ~ An overlooked solution for oil spills ~ In response to recent oil spill near Nightingale Island (ascendingearthbeings.wordpress.com)
• Atlantic oil spill threatens endangered penguins (foxnews.com)
• Atlantic oil spill threatens endangered penguins (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• 'Happy Feet' penguins found covered in oil after shipwreck on UK island (telegraph.co.uk)
• Is Marginally Winning: Pictures: Rare Penguins Blackened by Remote Oil Spill (news.nationalgeographic.com)
• "Minor" Spill is Major for Penguins (neatorama.com)
• John (a.k.a. dendroica): nationalgeographicmagazine: Oiled Penguin on Nightingale Island Photograph by Andrew Evans, National Geographic Oil patches cover a northern rockhopper penguin on March 23, a week after a cargo vessel slammed into Nightingale I (dendroica.tumblr.com)

Juniper Springs,Ocala National Forest,Fl

Howdee all,

While in the Ocala National Forest, Jeff and I went to five natural Springs in the area. The first springs we went to was Silver Springs ~we paddled to the springs from  Silver River state park…see my previous post.

This Day we went to Juniper springs..

Juniper Springs is located in the Ocala National Forest.Florida:

Take I-75 to Exit 352
Go East for approx. 30 miles. The turn is on the left

We walked the board walk..

To the canoe and kayak put in area…The water here is very shallow..

Canoe or Kayak Juniper Springs

The seven-mile canoe run from Juniper Springs is one of the best canoeing opportunities in central Florida. The canopied creek winds through dense, primeval forests that seem untouched by man — on weekdays, anyway. Come early in the morning and you’ll paddle through dappled light that filters through the trees down into crystalline water. Via Florida Traveler

Jeff and I didn’t canoe this area, but it will be on my list for the next visit read this description here if you are interested. Crystal clear water…

Juniper Springs was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the early 1930's. The millhouse provided housing and power to the resident caretakers until 1967. It is now an exhibit area. The spring pumps out a 13 million gallons of fresh water per day. The water is a constant 72 degrees.

Juniper Springs is a 2nd magnitude spring with an oval-shaped pool that measures about 120 feet north to south and 90 feet east to west. Several limestone vents and sand boils are present on the pool bottom, with sand and aquatic grasses in other areas of the pool. The clear, bluish water has a low dissolved solids concentration compared with most Florida springs. 

A limestone and concrete wall with steps and other access points surrounds the pool. An old millhouse and spillway are on the east side of the pool. Numerous sand boils are located down the run from the main pool, with the largest by the bridge over the run. The springs are the headwaters of Juniper Creek, which meanders toward the northeast through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness for about 10 miles to Lake George. 

Beautiful waters for swimming…much to cold for my blood this time of year,but there were a few brave swimmers.

A view of the pool from inside the Mill house..One of the Boils

We took a short walk around the area..To a very green algae filled pool.. shades of blue..

And lurking beneath the tree…

These critters are not in the swimming pool :)

Besides a beautiful pool of water to swim in..the park has a campground with 89 sites some large enough for Motorhomes. No hook ups are available. This looks like a great little destination park for families…

Swimming- Canoeing- a few hiking trails and a Campground

Three more springs to show you….stay tuned..

In Case you missed~My post a Birdingblogs.com

Explaining why I will only be posting there once a Month..

check it out~

Featured Bird Blogger of the Week~ cancelled due to Scandal