Thursday, June 30, 2011

Carolina Wren and the American Goldfinch

I got lucky with the Carolina Wrens. I was getting my grill ready for cooking up some BBQ fare when I saw a flurry of activity and soon was greeted with a loud scolding. Two Carolina Wrens were giving me a hard time for invading their space. I didn't have my camera, Grrr... Back to the house I went, got my camera, hoping on my return they would still be there. Well, like I said, I was lucky. They bounced around the bushes and shrubs long enough for me to get a few photos. It was quite entertaining. The American Goldfinch, after avoiding me for quite awhile finally perched close by. He was teasing me for the longest time by fluttering back and forth across a small field. I could hear him sounding off as he flew back and forth. Finally he chose a tree close enough for some photos. As I was leaving the area I noticed a spider web high in the trees, it's amazing to me what light can do to fine filaments of thread.

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
The field of Goldfinch crossings
American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Spider Web

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Lilypons... Ya Gotta Love It

The Lilypons Water Garden has been one of my most favorite birding, wildlife and nature photo sanctuaries in my local neighborhood. Even if I go and never take a photo, just being there and walking throughout the area is rewarding enough. Although I must say not taking a photo is very rare. Please enjoy some of the Lilypons pleasures.
    
First, a very brief history of the Lilypons Water Gardens, (taken from their web site).   
In 1917 G. Leicester Thomas, Sr., a Frederick county landowner and entrepreneur, turned his goldfish and water lily hobby into a business, Three Springs Fisheries. The business was so successful that in 1925 Leicester expanded and purchased the current 250-acre tract of land that is Lilypons Water Gardens.

Just five years later, the first Three Springs Fisheries catalog was mailed with great success! By 1935, the U.S.Postal Service decided that a post office must be established to handle the mail order parcels.

And the name for this new post office? Leicester's favorite operatic diva, Lily Pons, was then at the height of her career, playing lead roles in Hollywood films and thrilling audiences as a regular star at American and international opera houses. How perfect to name a place full of lily ponds after Lily Pons, the graceful opera star! Lily's publicity staff agreed, but the U.S. Postal Services wanted one word-thus Lilypons, Maryland became the new post office. On June 20, 1936, the post office was dedicated to Lily Pons. Miss Pons was present for the event, which was celebrated with much pomp and circumstance!



You just gotta love this guy
Several Purple Martin houses throughout the area help with the mosquito population... Somewhat 

Monday, June 27, 2011

Local Potpourri of Birds and Other Critters

Holy Hotel


Juvenal Pileated Woodpecker 
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal-fm
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Groundhog checking over his buffet table...
Killdeer
Two Whitetails moving through the grass
One quick look before I leave
Singin' Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Workin' Bee
Song Sparrow


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Called In Backyard Birdies

For the longest time I have been listening to Red-bellied Woodpeckers outside my back door, listening mind you not seeing. I have been back there many times watching and waiting with no luck at all. These guys would come in close but I still couldn't see them. Well... One of my daughters gave me an early father's day gift. A iBird app for my phone. It has hundreds of audio bird calls, including the Red-bellied Woodpecker. It worked amazingly well. I tried it first with the Cardinals... It worked. Then with the Downy Woodpecker... It worked. Wow I thought, it's time for trying it on the Red-bellied Woodpecker and it worked. I didn't realize how many of these birds were in the area. What a surprise. They were still a little bit shy and most didn't give me any photo opportunities but fortunately a couple of them did.  Is it cheating (the app) or another tool, I say a tool. I'll be using it again.

This is part of my back yard, a good place for birding...

Cardinal

Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker