Birds and blooms....

I prefer not to 'shoot' the birds at the feeder, but sometimes they are so fun and so wild, I just can't help myself.

I love the action shots best even if the background shows my paddock with the ugly fence and ground behind it.

These goldfinches have been absolutely wild this spring!

On some mornings I can get out and walk in the neighbor's meadow to the east of us. It is a huge meadow with the forest surrounding it.

I can hear Brown Thrashers, Crows, Robins, Orioles, Wrens, and many more birds. When I reached the far eastern edge of the meadow, I looked back and there was Sunshine my 28 year old mule watching me from her pasture.
 

I stood quiet for a long time and was so surprised to see an owl! I'm pretty sure it is a Barred Owl. He/she is near a spot where we used to find Owl Pellets.

Eventually, it flew away.

These Palm Warblers are making nests in the multiflora rose bushes. Aren't they smart? They pick the worst and nastiest thorny spots to keep their nests safe.

I don't have a very good shot of the Catbird but they were singing back and forth across the meadow.

This is the time of year when I want to be out in the meadow or forest every single morning.

This was another 'nap' time foray. I was back home before hubby woke up and quite pleased with what I was able to find.

The wild apple trees are just starting to show color and blooms.

The forest is exploding with Virginia pinks and other flowers. But I'll have to get to them tomorrow. I need to get a lot of farm work done today.

Enjoy some birds and blooms....

Ephemeral & birds

I was going to try to pick a favorite spring Ephemeral and I can't. 

They all are.

The Meadow Anenome is a delightful little white flower and in Tainter Land, they are abundant on the DNR land next to Tainter Creek.

In 'Tainter Land' there are 4 roads which are all in this crazy narrow valley. Tainter East, Tainter West, Tainter Hollow, and Tainter Road.

Tainter Land is infamous for its steep valley walls and narrow valleys, it floods often. It is wild and it is ruled by Tainter Creek which is sought after by Trout Fisherman.

I like it because I can find all the spring flowers within 500 yards of parking my car on the DNR land.

All Ephemeral flowers make their appearance and then fade away. I like to try and photograph them each year.

It's a very short drive from my house, so I can get there and back quickly. I know where the flowers come up from years of exploring the public land. I have yet to ever run into another soul while walking there.

The bees were enjoying the flowers with me.

Most of these flowers are almost 4 or 5 inches fall. I thought it would be fun to try a 'shoot through' shot. Shoot Through is a method of shooting through other plants to soften the look of your flower. It took a bit of positioning to do it.

I was so pleased to find Dutchman's Breeches near the parking entrance. Just a few feet from these flowers Trout Lilies were pushing up. I was really excited to see them.

Here is a Trout Lily from the spring of 2020 in Tainter Land --> hiding in the Meadow Anenomes. 

Last year I found them on a hike at the Reserve. 

I had some toys in my bag. I never leave home without some ...

Ned-B is such a thoughtful Droid. He gives Peazy --- PC 4C0, a flower.

While I was out checking the fence line in the meadow, I heard a racket. I used the Merlin app to ID the bird. I was surprised by the beautiful songs of the Brown Thrasher.

The lighting was really quite poor for this, but I took the shots anyway. At one point there were 4 of these birds in this birch tree.

This one flew to the nearby Hickory tree right above me.

This is the third year that I've heard these birds here [they probably have been visiting all the years I've lived here, but three years ago is the first time I paid attention to bird song]. 

I walked down into the woods to look at the fencing I had to put back up this week. I thought I saw a little bird hopping around in the brush and brambles.

And...

so...

I got a shot of it. 

It was pretty camouflaged so I circled it. Still, it is very hard to see!

I think it is a Palm Warbler.

The things you can observe when you sit quietly in the forest!

I found another plant that I'd never noticed before too. Another reason to just sit still and look around. 

Pennsylvania Sedge. Obviously a little grass I've never noticed. It blossoms also!

One more grass to add to my collection of grasses!

More rain is in store for us so that means the fungi and mushrooms may decide to make an appearance this year also.

I hope to find some Hepatica soon too. I saw a couple of Blood Roots emerging and the Virginia Beauties are anxious to show off their beauty too! 

Hello Spring, it is nice to see you.