Chickadees nest in the Moon, Weymouth Woods walk.

Howdee all,

The Chickadees are nesting in the Moon again! In the first part of the video…notice one of them arriving …then singing…and the other leaves the moon.

We always go to Weymouth woods when we are here in NC. To see the Red-cockaded woodpecker and whatever birdies might be around.

These photos were digiscoped in November…when we just bought our scope.

We didn't bring the scope yesterday when we went out with the Ranger on a bird walk.

The highlights of the day were a Worm-eating Warbler..a life bird for us.

and the first Summer Tanager of the year here.

The ferns are just starting to unfold…

Look at how fuzzy these ferns are. I don't know what kind these are…

But I thought they were very cool.

Today we go on a wildflower walk with the ranger..So we will be able to put names with the wild flowers and ferns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one below is so delicate and artful.

I have a thing for bark. My mother says she does too. I guess its genetic..tee hee

I don't know what this tree is but will find out today on our ranger walk. The pieces of bark jut out like buttons that need to be pressed back in.

 

 

 

 

 

Weymouth woods is a Long Leaf Pine woods, with some wetlands…

 

 

That's where I saw the Whirligig Beetles doing their thing.

Did you know that their eyes are divided so that they can see above and below the water at the same time? Did you know that they can fly?

I was fascinated by the patterns they were making in the reflections.

I found the last morels from across the street. We need more rain to flush some new ones out. Tonight we will get some.

Yippee

You must read this Morel story from a great blog i found recently

Down to Earth

Jay found some nice Morels with his Dad and as far as I know still hasn't picked them. I threatened to get them myself!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Birds, flowers and mushrooms in our Yard

Howdee all,

Sometimes the things you are looking for are in you are right in your own backyard.

Most springs you will find us parked for the month of April at my sister Adele's and her husband Craig's home.

We set up our feeders and wait for the birds to come.

I set up the scope inside and took a few photos.

Now that it is warm I will set the scope up outside and do some digiscoping.

The American Goldfinch shows up soon after we put up the feeders.

We are always excited to see the migrants come back.

Here's our Blue Grosbeak that arrived a few days ago.

We are expecting to see the Indigo buntings any day now. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak usually shows up after the Buntings.

The Brown thrashers are singing. The Carolina wrens are singing a bit too much for me….non stop over and over…sometimes..I just want to turn off its switch.

The feeder is always full with birds.

I love our little squeaky toy Brown-headed nuthatches…

The Chickadees are now nesting in the moon. I will take a video to show you their new home.

We also find wonderful birds in the yard that don't go to the feeders. Eastern Bluebirds, Vireos, Cedar waxwings, Blue-gray gnatcatchers', Kestrels', and others.

Birdie life is good here.

Yesterday, I looked across the street and saw some Tulip Poplars….they keep whispering to me….so before dinner, I walked over to to see what they had to say..…

and

Look what I found. I walked around for a half hour and found five beauties. Today I will search again.

Most evenings after dinner…Adele, the pups and I go for a walk around the yard.

Adele, an avid gardener, is always looking to see what is popping up out of the ground…what is blooming…and what plants didn't survive the winter.

You can click on the photo album to see more.

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Its fun walking around our Yard…wherever we are.

Sometimes we drive to a “special place”….when, really, the special place is right here in our own backyard.

Have a great day ….

And

Take time to smell the flowers…and look around in your own backyard for

treasures.

Sora @ Green Cay Wetlands… BPW

Howdee All,

If you want to see birds up close and personal a great place to go while in Florida is Green Cay Wetlands.

We met a photographer while we were there, Bill Kominsky,  each time we visited Green Cay we saw Bill taking photos.  He has some absolutely amazing photos…You must check them out.

Below are two that I digiscoped while at Green Cay.

Sora digiscoped at Green Cay wetlands..I am still a beginner.

For more birdie photos click on the picture below.

My Camera for a Morel?

Howdee All,

I went out yesterday in search of the elusive Morel mushroom.

After dropping my sister off at work I decided I would drive the back roads of Sanford and stop when I was in an area that looked like it would have Morels.

The first place I stopped looked pretty good, a low area, creek, Tulip poplar trees. I pulled the car off to the shoulder and got out to look around.

I scanned the creek and low and behold…across the creek was a beautiful little golden morel glowing in the sunlight. I was so excited….but i had to cross the creek.

There was a fallen dead tree over the creek, a nice wide tree. The creek was only five feet across but about knee deep. I decided to crawl on all fours over the log to reach the beautiful Morel… I was half way across when …Plop….my camera falls out of the case on my hip and into the creek.

I had no other choice but to go in after it and I knew I needed to rescue it fast before the water damaged the camera….So in I went…clothes,shoes and all…up to my knees ..pulled out the camera and since I was already wet..crossed the creek toward the Morel.

My thoughts were now about my camera….I tried to turn it on…no go…dead….dead..

I could do nothing…..it was wet…..I took out the battery and shook the camera……put the battery back in…still nothing…

Oh well…I decided there was nothing I could do for the camera…..and picked the Morel…how bittersweet…I found a few more morels in the same area…and left when I was sure there were no more.

I would have loved to have taken photos of the creek, the log, the lovely morels growing in the woods…but my precious camera was no longer working.

Boo Hoo…

I searched several more areas that day and found about ten morels in all. Not a grand bounty, not big specimens that I have found before…but nice little ones…Proof that their are morels around.

I put my camera in the sun and let it dry out. By the time I went to pick up my sister, my camera was turning on but the screen was cloudy and it wasn't acting normal..but I had hope that it might pull through.

And so far….it is getting better each minute….

It decided to show off and take a few photos…at the nursery.. and last but not least..

the cause of its drowning…

Morel Mushrooms!

My camera continues to work and today it says it will try some bird feeder digiscoping.

Its still a bit under the weather and is in no mood for a Morel mushroom foray.

And, besides,the Blue Grosbeak showed up at the feeder today.

We have our priorities.

Stalking the Wild Morel.....who gives a Hoot?

Howdee all,

Yesterday, I wanted to find some Morel mushrooms.  I read online that some were found a week ago in Sanford at a local park…but the location was not given.  Mushroomers are very secretive about their picking areas…and it would be rare to have detailed information as to where to find them.

So armed with that information, and not knowing the area, other than a park, I decided I would stop by Big Bloomers flower farm, where my sister works, and ask the locals where I might find a park in Sanford.

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I had to look around a bit….I was looking for something to buy my sister Lori, for storing some of our stuff for the past eight years.

So…Lori..what do you like below?

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Armed With directions to one of the local parks…

Off I went to Stalk the Wild Morel. The habitat looked good.  A creek, Tulip Poplars, but the soil seemed a bit dry.

There were a few Mallards having some fun in the creek.

I decided to follow the creek into the woods.

Not a mushroom to be found! Not any kind.

I take that back I did find some…..

  Devils cups

I walked this park for over two hours.

No shrooms…

i found signs of critters with sharp teeth.

What were they thinking? Did they just give up here? Was the tree too big?

Or did they get tired or a toothache?

  No Morels,no signs or morels. Boo hoo…

Some nice spring flowers.

Ok so no Morels anywhere and I was very unhappy.

I had tromped through woods, along streams, up hills, down hills, for over two hours. Why cant I just find one lousy Morel..just one?

Then…

I heard something talking to me up high in the tree.

He said….several times..the same thing…

Who gives a Hoot!

Who gives a Hoot about Morels.

Look at me!

photo taken with camera thru my binoculars.

Looking for Mushrooms

Howdee all,

This is Morel Mushroom Season and I really would love to find some yummy morsels. Those that know me…know I love picking shrooms and have a nice supply of dried Chanterelles and Porcinis, that I picked.

Morels are being found all around the United States now…check out the highlighted links below to see if they are popping up in your area.

I am here in the Sand hills of NC. I don't know if Morels grow here in the sand. I have been looking at the Morel Mushroom maps…kind of like looking at birdie migration maps…It shows you where they are popping up. I noticed that they were seen and picked about 30 miles north of here in Sanford in a town park and also an hour north in Raleigh….so they are around!

I thought I would check some parks around the area and not drive to Sanford. The issue here is the soil is mostly sand. Sanford and north are clay soils.

I didn't find any mushrooms….but I did find a nice park in the town of Southern Pines and had a nice walk.

Beautiful gardens….spring has sprung in North Carolina.

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I took this picture of the bench for Adele…she likes cement furniture, so do you think this will work Adele?

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I have been trying to take photos of butterflies…It is hard with a point and shoot camera…..I chase the poor little things all over the place. I got lucky here.

Yesterday, It was cold outside and I still had a cold..so I stayed inside and set up the scope and did some digiscoping…not the most clear..but i am working on it.

I find the little birds very difficult to capture.

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I think tomorrow I will go north to Sanford and look for mushrooms, and bring my Binoculars to look for migrating birdies.

The big Question is …Should I look up or should I look down??

Bird Photograpy Weekly, Tri-Colored Heron

Howdee all,

I took this photo at Green Cay Wetlands in Florida.

If you have never been…I suggest you check it out your next time in

Florida.

A great place to get up close and personal with the birds.

I love all the duck weed at Green Cay,

Adds nice contrasting color and the birds seem to love it as well.

this Photo is digiscoped

For more Birdies of the Week ..click on the photo below.

A year has passed, We miss you Patti......

Howdee all,

A year ago yesterday we lost a dear Friend.
I put together this slide show last year when we tragically lost Patti.

You listen to the music to the slide show top left by clicking the speaker..a beautiful song!

Patti was one of the sweetest souls I had ever met. I never heard her talk negatively about anyone or anything. She was kind and giving and just lovely....
I Miss you my dear friend!


Patti and Geno are responsible for getting Jeff and I into birding...many years ago in Arizona.
Patti was also a computer geek and designed beautiful websites...this was her own.

This is the original link. and an explanation of what happened.
On the link are several videos of our fun times together.

Patti"s husband Geno, recently posted a loving tribute and thanks on his blog.
I cant even begin to imagine how difficult this has been for him.
Hugs to you Geno!


Death is inevitable...that said..it never is easy.....this one was much too soon.