Beach Day! Skywatch Friday

Howdee all,

A summer wouldn't be a summer without a day at the beach, whether your beach is a pond, lake, ocean, or river…

These photos were taken last weekend on a visit to my sisters community beach in Niantic, Ct.

The Clouds were a mixture of different shapes..I know you cloud experts out there know what types they were.

Umbrella in the clouds..American Flag in Background. Hi John and Lori!MY Beautiful Niece Tara in the clouds..My knees in the sky..with a seagull flying over my right knee.. For More Beautiful skies from around the world..click on the link below

Do it…you wont be disappointed!

Mute Swans and cygnets

Howdee all,

A week ago I saw this group of swans in New London.

And I am wondering why the cygnets keep a leg on their back..do they get tired easily? are they just resting? I know one of my Birdie friends can tell me.

See the dark one with its leg on it back?

And why is one cygnet so much darker?

I never noticed the adults doing that..so I am assuming it is something the young does. So ..thank you in advance..for I know i will get an answer here..You guys are like Google without Googling! tee hee..

Off for a Spa Day..my little sister turned 50 this year..and we are celebrating!

Click on this photo below to view more birds!

Lil ole me interviewed on Nature Blog Network

Howdee all,

A few months ago I was thrilled to be accepted into the wonderful community of bloggers of the Nature Blog Network.

A few weeks ago I was asked if I would like to be one of their weekly featured blogs.

It was so nice that I was asked.

I was thrilled and a bit nervous about doing the interview.. thank goodness it is done by mail and I had time to think about what to say. I am very bad when it comes to on the spot questions..I could never do a live interview…

I would faint right away and never wake up.:) Well maybe I would wake up..but I would for sure faint…..anyway it is done…and the pictures on the post are mine..

So ..if you get a chance..pop on over to Nature Blog Network and read my interview!

Thanks for stopping by..

And if you get a chance check out all the other great blogs on Nature Blog Network!

You won’t be disappointed.

click on this cute little NBN icon to go to my interview.

Dawns Blogaholic Weekly Reader..

Howdee all,

So, as some of you know..I am a Blogaholic… I love writing blogs but ..I really love to read blogs..anything Bird/Nature.

I have been behind on my blog reading because my blogroll is longer than long. I am hoping that by having this as a weekly feature..I will be killing two birds with one stone…Ooops..that sure is a bad saying for a birder…

Anyway..what I mean is ,I can read all the blogs I love and also create a blog post to highlight some of the posts that I am reading… and maybe in turn….turn you on to some great blogs that I follow.

I don't know if this will become a weekly feature..but I would like to to be.

So here you go.. the first installment of..

 

Dawns Blogaholic Weekly Reader

1. Hee Hee There is a photo here in this post that I cant stop picturing in my head! can you guess which one it is? Thanks Kelly

2. ..Look at the pantaloons on this Backyard Surprise! This gal..beside birding, becoming a Master Naturalist recently, Has an Etsy shop and has just challenged herself to make 30 chemo caps in 30 days.. What a great gal! Will meet Ruthie in MN soon!

3. Allot said in one blogpost! Birds,dogs,Garrison Keillor! ..from Jays piece of heaven in North Carolina.

4. A painted sketch book of hummingbird banding! lovely and informative! Thanks Vickie!

5. A wonderful poem that reminds us that when the birds sing..Its Not for Us. Beautifully done Susan!

6. This gal never fails to crack me up! See who's stealing what in this post! Thanks Merrilee

7. Ok this is an oldie but Goodie..Sicksta dells lamenting when Jeff and I left after our month long spring visit.

8. I love to read Blogs of new birders…two that come to mind are this one and this one….Well they used to be new birders when I started reading…Now I feel like a new birder..they are teaching me! Thanks Dan and KIm!

9. Have you ever taken a Dead bird Quiz? They have them here at Seanet blog.

10. Wow..Check out these storm clouds! Great Photography here! Thanks John!

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 …tee hee..

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!

Audrey Hepburn and Chewbacca Underwater

Howdee all,

I photographed this underwater rock about a month ago when we were at Good harbor Beach in MA. It reminds me of an old poster or photo..but I cant seem to find it..googled old posters and couldn't find it. Ok humor me..

She reminds me of Audrey Hepburn..

Hair up with Red Hat on thats tiped to one side..as you look at it.. the eye on the left you can see..but have to use imagination for the eye on right..nose not seen..Lips red..and high collar red..

What do you think? Do you know a photo or poster..

That looks like this?

I really just loved the color!

and the fact that nature creates such amazing art

Chewbacca..taken the same day..you know..furry star wars character…

And this…well it was just like this when I saw it…Made me smile…

Crab and polka dotsDo you look at nature and find art….and does it sometimes remind you of something you have seen in the past?

I do..

For more notes on nature..check out the other cool things here…

Under the Rainbow…..Sky watch Friday

Howdee all,

Two days ago Mom and I were out weeding her front garden. The skies looked stormy ..it was sunny and cloudy and a few drops of rain began to fall..

We thought we might see a rainbow..but nothing..We continued to weed the garden. When a neighbor yelled out “Rainbow”

We looked up and sure enough..double rainbow! It started to rain..I ran in to get my camera..forgetting an umbrella..

So there are raindrops on my camera lens….But I did capture the Rainbow..

     

View Full Album

For more wonderful sky views throughout the world..click on the photo below..

#BwBTC meets Birds and Beers …Join Us!

Howdee all,

Another BwBTC get together! This one in Minneapolis, St. Paul area of Minnesota.

Saturday August 15th

Please comment below if you want to Join us! All are welcome!

Lynne from Hasty Brook Blog, myself and Sharon aka Birdchick are planning a day of fun. Here is Lynne's link for the event.

Birding in the morning and then meeting up with Birdchick and the Birds and Beers gang for some Brews and talk.

We dont have all the details yet..but I will post them here as I get them.

In the meantime..

Some of the Cast of Characters the list will grow….

Lynne from Hasty Brook

Mike and Lizette from Mike and Lizette's Travels and Thoughts
Virginia Lindgren from Bees in the City
Ruthie Johnson from Nature Knitter

Penelope from Penlopedia:Nature and Garden in Northfield, MN.

Roger Everhart from Minnesota Birdnerd

Ray from Troutbirder

Hap .. Hap's from New Hope and is Lynnes new birding mentor

And the Chick with the best nail polish ever

Sharon from Birdchick

Please Join our New Website..open to all! Still young and growing!

Birders who Blog, Tweet and Chirp. BwBTC.org

Plan meet ups…meet other birders,post photos, video..look at the Calendar for what is happening and post to the Calendar your events.

more to come!

Oh and guess what..nope you didn't guess right..

Soon to be released..my first and hopefully not last.

Dawns Blogaholic Weekly Reader..

Some of the highlights of the blogs I read all weeklong..

Hammonesset Beach State Park, Madison,CT

Howdee all,

Third and final post of the BwBTC outing. We left Stratford and headed toward Hammonesset and lunch.

Stopped off at Great Meadows Marsh in Stratford...to see the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. We saw several prancing around the marsh.hunting and eating crab.

We also happened upon a pair of Monk Parakeet building a huge nest in a residential area. They were not the only occupants ..we saw house sparrows fly in and out of the lower section. Then on to lunch at Marnick's

The Lobster rolls were great. Chunks of lobster drizzled with butter on a bun. no filler nothin.. Delicious!

Hammonesset Beach State Park..

Hung out here at the pond for a bit and birded before heading to the shore.

I didn't get decent bird pics but…Dan got some great shots when he went back the next day with his family. Check out his photos. Ok..another challenge for the Sicksta…very interesting grass that Bev pointed out.

I took a close up…flowering grass.

I usually eat this red clover (Below) when i see it. its quite sweet and tasty.

“Clovers in general are healthy to eat in any way, basically: in salad, as a cooked green, ground to flour, or blended with another tea. Clover is high in protein! The most common things to eat on the Clover are the flowerheads and the leaves, but are easier to eat if soaked for about an hour or boiled.”

Red Clover also has medicinal uses. Cindy..read below..the do make red clover tea.You can buy it in health food stores…also herbal supplements.

“Red clover has many medical properties. The flowering heads of red clover improve urine production, circulation of the blood and secretion of bile. They also act as detergent, sedative and tonic. Red clover has the ability to loosen phlegm and calm bronchial spasms. The fluid extract of red clover is used as an antispasmodic and alterative. Red clover is used in the treatment of skin complaints (especially eczema and psoriasis), cancers of the breast, ovaries and lymphatic system, chronic degenerative diseases, gout, whooping cough and dry coughs. Red clover is one of the richest sources of isoflavones. Isoflavones are effective in treating several conditions such as hot flashes, cardivascular health and osteporosis. Red clover also contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, chromium, potassium, and vitamins such as niacin, thiamine and vitamin C. Red clover ointments are used to treat skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema.”

Ok sicksta Lori, you are up by three I think.. I believe this is type of Daisy Fleabane. I know I have read in the past it has medicinal properties. I should have taken a photo of the leaves to properly ID…oh well.

Pond and marsh area ..It was a busy day at the beach..Staring down the shorebirds.Willet on the Rocks…make that on for me too! A bit of bunny activity…this one stood for a good five minutes..like a statue.

Cindy..I am waiting for your photo on this one!

And a life bird for Jeff and I and a few others on the trip.

KIng EiderTopping off the day with great company…and Ice cream!

Can it get any better?

Bev sends out a Tweet on Twitter…of our day.

Until next time!

It was a pleasure spending the day with you all!

If anyone else would like to plan BwBTC outings..or just have your own outings and announce them.. Please use our new website that John from Birding in Maine created. You can have discussions…post sightings…add pictures and videos.

Join us there BwBTC.org

#BwBTC outing Stratford Ct.. Scotts world

Howdee all,

We have moved from Milford Pt. to Stratford, Ct. Where we went to Great Meadows Marsh division of the National Wildlife Refuge managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Scott who is employed here joined us and with Luke showed us around the area.

We birded several areas..Long Beach Blvd. pond, the railroad trail, the warehouse pools, and Great Meadows    Birding the pond

yeah..we talk allot…here's proof!

We do actually look at birds.

Egret RoostOk my photos of birds on this trip suck. You can go here ..here or here to see better photos that aren't mine.  Jeff as Safari Man in his white towel

Wild Red Raspberry click on the link to read more.

    Birding a large meadow

Saltmarsh sparrows in here..  We took the Railroad trail. Hi Luke!A beautiful but invasive plant.Paulownia tomentosa Thanks for the link Laura! Does anyone know who lives in this? Throughout the Railroad trail we saw holes with what looked like white curled up paper beside them. Scott told us there is a problem with the raccoons digging up the eggs of the endangered Diamondback Terrapin turtles. For some reason the raccoon left this egg…need some Id help..I know Sicksta Lori is a pro at Id..anyone else? I thought this grass was sweet..

looking from above the grass down into it..don't know what this is yet either.will post as soon as I can ID it.

Where oh where is the Marsh Wren?

Viewing Platform..  Birdspot saying hello! Have you see her artwork? Simply beautiful!

That's Scott with the navy cap and clipboard…he's working.

Scott is a conservation biologist for CT Audubon working on a BBS all summer in the preliminary Stratford Important Bird Area Bev..I  know you took some photos…where are they? The group, minus Chris who left us early to be with his family.

Front Dan

Second row. Catherine, Christopher,Scott, Bev, Paul, Dee, Jeff

Back Larry, Mark,Luke,Laura,Cindy

and me…the photographer!

Stay tuned for part 3

Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison,Ct.