Swamp Milkweed and Monarch

Christmas 2008 for the birds!

(bottom) As we drove down the road to get gas on our way to meet 2 of my children for Christmas lunch, we found these 4 Bald Eagles sittings around. One had a kill, the other 3 wanted it.

(the picture in the middle) Two ofthe eagles take wing...they sparred for a moment trying to gain rights to the kill.

(Top picture) One lone eagle flies into the trees with the kill!

A Break in the Storm

Today during a break in the storm we went back to the beach. The waves were not as high as I would have expected, but this break jetty offered some interesting shots

Firethorn

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."

- Clyde Watson

The plant in the picture is Firethorn - Pyracantha coccinea - the berries are a wonderful food for birds and small mammels through the winter. The thorns provide great protected habitates.

Autumn Leaves

"How silently they tumble down

And come to rest upon the ground

To lay a carpet, rich and rare,

Beneath the trees without a care,

Content to sleep, their work well done,

Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly

Until they nearly reach the sky.

Twisting, turning through the air

Till all the trees stand stark and bare.

Exhausted, drop to earth below

To wait, like children, for the snow."

- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

"Dull November brings the blast,

Then the leaves are whirling fast."

- Sara Coleridge

Autumn

"When the trees their summer splendor

Change to raiment red and gold,

When the summer moon turns mellow,

And the nights are getting cold;

When the squirrels hide their acorns,

And the woodchucks disappear;

Then we know that it is autumn,

Loveliest season of the year."

- Carol L. Riser, Autumn

The Change Begins

And fall slowly sneaks up on us....sending the beginnings of the cold tendrils of winter down our collars and whistling around the corners.

A Bird in The Bush

This little guy couldn't resist posing

Wild Turkeys

Look who I found strolling around recently. A whole flock of young wild turkeys!

Rock Mushrooms

I found these growing in my back yard. At first (top pic) they looked like rocks. But as they grew (bottom pic) they started to look more like a brain. I think they are puffballs. But I have as of yet been able to definitly identify them!

Fairy Village

Look closely now, you just might see a fairy peeking out!

A Day After Hurricane Hannah

Here are a few shots of the Atlantic Ocean the day after Hurricane Hannah blew through. I was disappointed that the wave activity was so low. The rip tides on the other hand, were deadly!

These pictures were taken off of Rehobeth Beach, Delaware

The Black and Yellow Garden Spider

This spider greeted me along a roadside....I say greeted because she was 2 - 21/2 inches long!
She was huge, her body was soft and her legs were long. I almost ran into her, so I wonder if she is poisonous???

Update: I have been informed by a friend that this is called the Golden Orb Spider, and she is NOT poisonous. Thanks for the help!

The Osprey

The Osprey, nicknamed the sea eagle, perched on a dead pine with his daily catch in his talons and taking flight.

More Monarchs

Monarch butterflies in great number were found on these purple loosestrife.
Beautiful butterflies and beautiful flowers!


It is sad to think that the purple loosestrife is considered invasive and a nuisance.

Bird's Nest

A little nest, having done its work for the year now has fallen to the ground.

May your hatchlings fly free and safe

Red Maple in Spring

Spring....awakening, life surging, brooks gurgling......sigh, not too hot!

July in Motion

These were great! The last one he just flew off, as winged things tend to do...

Yellow Swallowtail

Even Butterflies required fluids, The day is hot, muggy and this little one needed fluids so she didn't dehydrate. She is drinking from a wet spot left from the night befores rain.

Irridecent Blue- Black Butterfly

July has been a wonderful month for wildlife. The same time i got these photos I saw a beautiful red fox....but he didn't cooperate with the camera.