Wordless Wednesday: Wildlife

Because It's Friday

It's Friday and it's raining. 

So here's some shots from last Friday. Wish I was back there.

Heron outside Seabreeze restaurant. This was actually from Saturday

Last Friday- Good wine and a good book and a great view

Last Friday Smores after dinner

Monday Meditation

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry 

Thanks to my blogging friend Chronicles of a Country Girl for introducing me to this poem.
It's been an extremely stressful month. 
EXTREMELY.
With little relief in sight.
So I do crazy things like walk the dog at 3:00am and listen to the owls
and look at the stars.

Wildlife Wednesday

Belted Kingfisher

Great Blue Heron

Sanderlings

New Point Comfort Observation Deck

These photos were taken from the observation deck at New Point Comfort in Mathews County.  

The observation deck is the only place to view the New Point Comfort Lighthouse 

without trespassing (that I know of).

 There is an abundance of wildlife in the area.  

I managed to get a photo of a Rail and her baby.

Virginia Rails are described as "A secretive bird of freshwater marshes, most often remains hidden in dense vegetation. It possesses many adaptations for moving through its habitat, including a laterally compressed body, long toes, and flexible vertebrae."

 

This is one of my favorite photos.

I just love the two herons fishing and the sun on the water.

Big Bird

The inspiration for today's post came from Growing Wild on Waverly Lane's post about Ichabod the Snake.  I suggest you read her post for yourself, but basically it tells the story of a snake who was named Ichabod (a very appropriate name for a snake) and how each subsequent snake since the first Ichabod has been called Ichabod as well (trust me, it's much more eloquent in her post).
How many more times can I use the word post in this post?

Over in Deltaville on Sturgeon Creek, we have Big Bird.  And no, I'm not talking about a large 8 foot yellow bird, I'm referring to a Great Blue Heron.

I've mentioned many times how my great-uncle and surrogate grandfather PePop was a nature lover and Superintendent of Patapsco State Park in Maryland.  Growing up, he taught me and all my cousins about the natural world around us.  I know he is instrumental in giving me my love of the outdoors and all the creatures in it. 

PePop is the person who gave Big Bird his name.  Through the fall and winter, PePop would send cards and letters.  In his letters, there were always drawings of the animals that had recently visited the creek.  And along with the drawings were the names PePop had christened them with.  The Great Blue Heron was dubbed Big Bird because, well, he's a big bird.  Every Great Blue Heron that I have seen since the age of about 7 is named Big Bird.  My younger siblings grew up calling the herons Big Bird and my children call the herons Big Bird. 

And when I traveled to Deltaville after the Tornado, it was a welcome sight to see Big Bird feeding in his usual spot in the creek.

I have a passionate hatred an aversion to change, so it's reassuring to see the same bird fishing in the same spot the way I have for 30-some years.

Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.

~Irene Peter

Simple Pleasures- Birds

One thing I noticed this past weekend in Deltaville was all the birds singing. I've heard birds singing there before but not to the extent they were that weekend.  I don't know if it was because they were happy to be alive or if all the downed trees and brush have provided more potential homes for them. 

Either way, there are tons of birds in Jackson Acres.

There was "Big Bird" the local Great Blue Heron.

A cardinal singing non stop in the bushes and trees that were left.

His woman was seen too, but I couldn't get a photo of her.

LeRoy and Helen the new neighbors.



photo borrowed from http://www.middlemarva.com/



An Indigo Bunting was spotted.

I saw one of these at home about a week before seeing this one. 

In all my 30-some years I've only seen one of these birds.  Now I've seen 2 within a week of each other.

Remember that old coffeepot birdhouse that weathered the tornado?  I can't remember the last time I saw a bird actually nesting in it.  In fact, it was more of a nostalgic piece because it was made many moons ago by my grandparents.  This past weekend I noticed some "debris" in it.  Upon further inspection I realized there was a bird sitting on a nest in the coffeepot. 

When it flew out I saw a Bluebird.

Photo borrowed from http://www.cs.birdwatchingdaily.com/

Can you imagine?

A Bluebird of Happiness in my coffeepot birdhouse!

I'd like to think it was a sign from my late Grandmother saying "Hey, thanks for fixing my birdhouses and everything is going to end up just fine."

Sturgeon Creek

This is where our house is located- right on Sturgeon Creek. The creek was named for the Atlantic Sturgeon that was once prominant in its waters.  Unfortunately overfishing created a decline in the sturgeon's numbers and sightings are few and far between.  I was lucky enough to see one when I was around the age of 10-11.  I was in Deltaville with my aunt and cousin and while we were outside we saw them.  We didn't see anything in detail, just a couple of dark shadows moving through the water near our pier.  I secretly was hoping  thought it might be a great white shark.  Of course we went to the master of all wildlife knowledge- Pepop- and asked him what it might be.  He of course knew right away and told use how lucky we were to have seen it.

When I was a kid, Sturgeon Creek was teaming with wildlife.  We had a pair of resident otters that kept us entertained while they were there.  We of course also had ducks- wild ones and a flock of white Pekins.  Someone's dog had their way with the white ducks, so the wild ones are the ones left now.  I do remember watching what we called "dipper ducks" that would dive under the water and pop up in a different place.  I don't see them too often.  I think they are actually known as a Bufflehead duck which is a pretty interesting bird.  They are monogamous, taking only one mate for life. I was lucky enough to see some loons (other than the ones that walk on 2 feet) when I was down in early April.  I love hearing their lonely calls.

We've also housed a muskrat in the marshy area between our house and what was always referred to as Miss Mary Jane's house (the owner's name growing up was Mary Jane, she lived there).  If memory serves, she had an apple tree at one time, and the muskrat could be found sitting under it munching apples.  They are fun to watch swimming, though they do a number on the ground with their tunnel networks. 

Of course we have all the other waterfowl.  One of my favorites is the Blue Heron.  We always called the Blue Herons "Big Bird".  Now and then we get to see some snowy egrets too.  I was lucky to see one across the creek and snap some photos of it.  I also love the ospreys in the area.  When I was younger, every evening we would make a trip over to the other side of the creek to go see the osprey nest.  It was there for many years before the old tree finally fell into the water.  Now there is a nest that sits atop one of the light poles of the stadium.  I hear sometimes and outfielder stumbles upon a fish carcass now and then. 

Of course you have the Seagulls, the fish and once Kelly and I even caught a seahorse- definitely a rare sight in the creek. 

But I think my all time favorite animal encounter happened when I was kayaking around the sandbar one evening.  I was just drifting around in the low water when about 30 stingrays moved in and began feeding.  It was amazing to watch and even feel them bump the bottom of my kayak. 

So, those are some of the things about my creek.  Many other stories... but I have to save some for another post.