Morning clouds in Chatham

Howdee all,

We were greeted on our morning walk with this really amazing cloud formation.

i was going to save this for Skywatch Friday..but decided to show it to you now.

So beautiful!

I haven't had much time to read Blogs lately ..here in Chatham visiting the family.

I really do miss keeping up with everyone..but I am on a bit of a blogging vacation…I fit in a few here and there..but not nearly enough to make me happy. boo hoo..

Hope to fit some birding time in as well…but Jeff and I are the only birders in the family..so..we will see ..

Have a wonderful weekend!

Chatham's Flowers…Chatham, MA

Howdee all.

A Morning walk around Chatham…always…beautiful flowers..

Hydrangeas a very popular flower for these beach homes.

The Blue are the most popular variety.

Lots of pink flowers

We walk thru neighborhoods and then follow the road to the lighthouse..

and Lighthouse beach…or south beach..Jeff and I sometimes walk the 6 miles to the end of south beach to bird.  This year we will take the shuttle to see what shorebirds are migrating thru.

Hydrangeas everywhere..

Summertime in Chatham

  means Flowers

It also means other things to me..

Long stretches of beach, morning walks, hanging out with the fam., board games, shooting stars, coffee and scones, Lobster and fish, biking the bike trail.

Where do you go to Chill in the Summer?

We are here for a few more days before heading back to CT and then our journey west, to the mountains and mushrooms!

Another Day at the Beach, Niantic, CT. SWF

Howdee all,

We spent a few days at the beach, my previous Skywatch Friday Post was from this same beach but another day.

We have had allot of rain this summer in the Northeast…so its nice to catch a few rays of sunlight…I always prefer to sit at the beach when there is some cloud cover.

Great clouds this day!

My Sicksta Loris toe nails matched the sky. Loved the subtle colors and the accent of orange. A row of clouds above the sailboats.later in the afternoon, amazing large puffs of clouds arrivedl

And the beach started to clear out…The best time of day at the beach, in my opinion.For more great skies from around the world click on the photo below!

Walking around the Block…

Howdee all,

Sicksta Adele said I had enough bird and other things lately and not enough people. tee hee..

So here are Mom and Dad and Shadow...a neighborhood dog that follows us around when we walk the “Block” and Star..is in front of Dad.

Every morning while visiting Mom and Dad ..we walk two or three laps around ..what we call “The Block”.

Its been wet most mornings…

One morning Dad and I got caught in a downpour..

We came home dripping wet.. it was fun! I like water droplets!On one walk around the Block..Jeff found a beetle

i was going to ask you all to help me ID this bug..but I just googled and happened upon its name.

This is a grape pelidnota, Pelidnota punctata, a type of scarab beetle

It also goes by the names spotted pelidnota and spotted June beetle..Thats Dads hand holding the beetle.” As an adult, this insect eats grape leaves. Watch for grape pelidnotas during July and August once they emerge. The larvae which are rarely seen feed on rotting wood in stumps and logs. As a result, you are more likely to see this insects near wooded areas.”

“Your plants are safe. If you find this beetle in your garden or yard, it has wandered in accidently. If you grow grapes, the feeding by grape pelidnota is of little concern. They typically occur in small numbers in a given area and their feeding is rarely, if ever, extensive or damaging to grapes” A product of the rain..Small mushrooms..which I haven't ID yet.

Any Ideas?

Has a small brown.tan tip. Very delicate.A neighbors Echinacea patch.Thats enough walking…lets rest our head…

One of Stars favorite positions.

What types of things do you see when you take a walk? Check out what others see..

In Nature Notes!

Hope that made you Happy Sicksta!

We are now on our way to Cape Cod. Mom and Dad are taking care of Ballie and the Homey.

We had to pack suitcases…Yikes..Dont do that very often!

A week in Chatham with Jeff's family..maybe we can sneak in some birding..and oh yeah..a few photos of people for Sicksta.

House Sparrows taking over the world!

Howdee all,

Yeah..House Sparrows….I think they are going to take over the world.

They seem to hog every birdhouse in my sisters yard…and also at my parents.

I cant help but think how cute these birds are when they are young..

But they do grow up and hog..the feeders, the birdhouses…and the world.

I suppose I shouldn't feel this way…but I do..especially when I hear of how the adults take young bluebirds out of a birdhouse to claim it for their own.

Gosh..whose post was that? Cant remember…

Ok..but that's nature right? Raptors kill…other birds take over nests…so why are some of us anti House Sparrow? I dont hate them...but sometimes, they just annoy me.

What's your take? Do you Like House Sparrows? Do they ruin your day when they eat al the food at your bird feeders?

Are they taking over your Birdhouses?

Do you think they are taking over the world or just your yard? Do you find yourself wanting to take action against these invaders?

OK with that said..

Here are some cute…yes cute…House Sparrows..

Mom..Hey mom!

Where are you?

over there?

There you are Mom! I am sooo hungry!

Me to…me too…Feed me too!Mom..feed me ,,,I want more!Gee…she's gone again! Hope she's coming back..I'm still hungry…and I am not leaving here yet..

Mom says she wants us to eat allot so that we can take over the world.

I’m ready…I’m ready….wheres that world you want me to take over! Come back Mom..I promise, just give me some food and I will make you proud!

Yeah..so I will be good and stop trashing the House Sparrows…for at least five minutes..

For more photos of Birds…and probably not the sad commentary..

check out

Dawns Blogaholic Weekly Reader

Howdee all,

Here's the second installment of Dawns Blogaholic weekly reader.

Just a few links this time so as not to overwhelm.

I also want to add something to this.

If you have an interesting blog or link to share..put it in the comment section, so we can all check out the link you are suggesting..and yes it can be your own!

I know, I know..I really am a Blogaholic, My greedy little mind is thinking I might find some new Blogs to read. Or maybe an older blog post that is yours that I haven't seen…So send it on down. I am a waitin.

 

Dawns Blogaholic Weekly Reader

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This has been hitting the Nature airwaves and most people have seen this..But if you haven't..You must.. You Must!

(a pink..hot pink bush katydid)

Pinkishly Outrageous!   by Jim from Ohio Birds and Diversity

and another account of the famous Pink Katydid

via Cheryl Harner of Weedpickers Journal

This thing is really cool..you should take a look if you haven't seen it..and read about its fame.

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Here is another very strange thing ..

You really should watch her Video and then the video below hers explaining why this strange thing is happening to a Snail! Exciting yet Sad..and very weird.

brought to you by

Jennifer Schlick from A Passion for Nature, titled What the Heck!

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Oh my,Ugh!  Who's gonna come back to this mess???

Red tailed Hawk makes a scene!
Via Sharon from A New England Life

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Ok..enough of big birds leaving gifts and strange bugs and Parasites..

How about wonderful photos of

Big Brown and Little Brown…Thrasher
brought to you by Bird Girl from My Bird Tales

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Two Young birders who Blog!

Meet them… follow them! Comment on their blogs to show you care.

This first young person is..

A twelve year old that goes by the name Bird World Blog
and his blog Bird Lovers 101

………………………………….

And a 15 year who's name is…

Tucker from Birding with Tucker

he “was one of about 60 lucky boy scouts from across America to be chosen to participate in a leadership hike through the mountains of New Mexico.”

and that is where he is now!

……………………………………………………

these are just two of the young birders that I follow..I am so impressed with these young people who bird and blog…

Do you have any young birders that you follow?

Share the link..You know me..I am always happy to read more….

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This is just a sampling..…there are more artists..and photographers…and comedians…and so many amazing bloggers out there…

I cant give them to you all at once…so just wait…until next week…when i give you more..of

Dawns Blogaholic Weekly reader!

This is my advert section …

Please, if you are not a member of the Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp Website..Please Join..anyone is welcome. Its a great place to post your bird outings,meetings, Photos, share sightings, Video etc.

And

Please check out the Nature Blog Network..a great network of Bloggers..Some amazing people! If you are a Nature blogger you must join!

Check it out and view some of the wonderful blogs!

Lori’s Flowers

Howdee all,

Flowers from my Sicksta Loris Garden

Lori will comment with the flowers names and I will post them as soon as she does.

I will just Give my guesses to what they are now.. Sickstas comments on her flowers in blue.

One of my favorite purchases doesn't have very large flowers but I love how well it has done. It is the plant in the first photo that is on the left of the cone flowers. It has the tall spires of red flowers and is called Persicaria Firetail. I think Del has that plant also..

This one I know as Purple coneflower…Lori probably knows another name for it

The first two are echinacea (purple coneflower)

This is another type of purple coneflower…very cool..large center

Razzmatazz is the name of the puffy center one.

Guessing this is some kind of black eyed susan

The third flower just ended up in that place and I am not sure what it is...ha

Some white flower..is this a coneflower too Sicksta?

The forth flower is a light yellow echinacea. I don't remember the name but I have the tag in the ground next to the plant, but it is too dark out now to find it.

This is some sort of Day LiLy but triple kind

The orange day lillies were here when we bought the house. I always loved them because they are like a triple flower.

Some kind of bee in the Day Lily ..fuzzy wuzzy..Ok..I have not a clue..but its blue..that much is true.. 

The next two are platycodons (balloon flowers)

  And another that is blue ..Sicksta these are the two I was talking about..

see the different centers..similar flowers I think..You tell me..

One is tall and the other is a dwarf size.

Yellow Day Lily

The yellow day lily has a light lemon scent.

Don't know what this reddish beauty is but i Loved the sunshiny yellow coming from the center…

The last flower is a red mandevilla.

Those are a few of Loris Flowers..aren't they Lovely!