Cherish is my favorite word, and I cherish the ability of turning the routine into a beautiful moment.
Nature creates in me, a spiritual and meditative time to bring peace, harmony and balance, into an otherwise ordinary day~
Mary Howell Cromer







Friday, June 23, 2017

Eighth Year Blog Anniversary Celebration, Part 1 of 2~


Eight years ago tomorrow I began my journey of blogging.  I am amazed at how much fun it has been in doing quite a bit of work to arrive here every week, or so.  The friendships made along the way have brightened my life in such a way that had I not been blogging, I would have missed out on so much.  You inspire and encourage me and I appreciate every one of you.  My most difficult part is getting to your blogs and leaving comments.  I try very hard to catch up with you and I enjoy so much the visits.
( This week another passing away of a dear family friend.  Daughter and son-in-law flew in from Florida and we had the services this week.  Then there was making sure that needs were taken care of while they were in town.  I apologize for those who did not have a visit).
For this presentation, I had hoped that we would have a wonderful season with the Red-Shouldered Hawks of Tingsgrove and Beyond to celebrate and yet, once again it is not so.  I will place brief summaries with the photos along the way.
Since the Red-Shouldered Hawk season has not worked out, I paid even closer attention to the private property that houses the Bald Eagle nest.  I must say that if I could afford a million dollars which the sale price is on the property next to the nest site.
 The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife make airplane flyovers to check on number of eaglets in each nest.  This year I had been told that there were for the third year in a row two eaglets, but surprised that there were three once they had fledged. I got to make the call to correct the count for this nest.  
There are seen on and from this acre plus of property, the Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, Red-tailed Hawks, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Coopers Hawks, American Kestrels, Wild Turkeys, Groundhogs, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Cottontail Rabbits, assorted other songbirds, and so much more.  
What a privilege it is then that the house still sits empty for my going on 4 year visits and I can enjoy the company of nature~


Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after                                                                you have read the narratives~

I am joining in the fun with Eileen at:
Saturday's Critter

Anni at:
http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com/ 
I'd Rather Be Birdin'
 Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'

    
Maggie's  MOSAIC MONDAY
                                              https://normandylife.blogspot.com/


Stewart for:



The female Red-Shouldered Hawk yelling for food to be brought to her during breeding season below, and hunting in my yard above~


The first nesting attempt was in a tree behind our home, very high up atop a Gray Squirrel dray.  That did not last very long, and then they moved on to the property next door.  There they stayed for three weeks, but too much yard equipment too soon and dogs running and barking at base of tree, did them in and they abandoned that nest.  The third nest attempt was the best location in years to me and I was thrilled until I saw the nest.  It was yet another Squirrel dray that was taken over by the hawks and it was on a butt end of a cockeyed tree branch with hardly any room for the hen to lay, be comfy and brood her eggs.  Every time we had Spring rains a little of the nest melted away.  I just knew that it would more than likely fail and fail it did.  The pair took turns brooding for 32 days and had hatched an eyas, or more.  On May 11 the nest just split in two and the baby fell to it's death.  They were gone and if they attempted another nest, I have no idea where it is located...very heart sad about how things go for these birds.  
The Mallard Duck below had decided to create a nest very near the hawk nest with her mate and even laid 4 eggs which they would abandon.  It took a couple days of my on site presence that they gave up on that idea.


Can you see how small the nest is beneath the brooding hen.  Even if it had been built stronger, it would have not supported those large wings flapping of more than a single eyas.  It was just not meant to be.


The male on the left and the female on the right.  Their third nest, the hen hunting for a meal and bottom right the male on the right and female to left~


On the premises of the third nest were these adorable little Groundhogs and their mother.  As I write this entry there are still 4 out of 6 surviving~



I make a 17 miles journey one way to get to the Bald Eagle nest.  This old tree is one of many that I enjoy on this historic property.  Though many know of this nest location, I promised long ago that I would not disclose of it and I have kept my word.  It is somewhere near the Ohio River~


Historical estate home for sale at $1,000,000, and
Wild Turkeys taking a stroll along the front porch~



The rider lawnmower is just under the Bald Eagle nest and the Eagles are used to this interference and more, and don't seem the least bit affected~


The female Bald Eagle~




The mutually adoring pair.  They mate for life until one passes away and they truly do act like they enjoy the company of the other~


A welcome home honey greeting as the male returns to the female's side.  They chattered for several minutes thrilled to see one another~



The center image gives me the giggles ;)


A Red-Shouldered Hawk pair also borrowed some of the land for a while.  I could look straight ahead and see the baby eyas in their nest and then to the right and view the eaglets in their nest~


The R-SH nest on the day I first noticed it and then when the hen delivered a meal to her eyas~


It looks like two eyas survived their first several days and weeks.  I thought that there were originally 4, but there ended up being only 2 in the end.  At this writing the eyas have been gone from the nest a couple of weeks.  I hope they can survive the hunting Eagles~


Getting ready for a landing and to check on their eggs at the time these few images were taken~







The slightly smaller male eaglet and two females have fledged as of about 10 days ago~



First of two female eaglets flying in~



The second female eaglet coming in for a landing, such beautiful birds~



Females on the left and male on the right~




Male stretching those large wings must feel great~







On another day I arrived post rain storm and they eaglets were drying out~







Adult Eagle brings in a meal for one of the eaglets of a nice sized fish~



The adult on the left has just handed over the fish to the young and eager eaglet to the right~


I so love these great big babies!!!


Blue Jays enjoy among other birds, taunting the Eagles, just as they do the hawks~





I will close this part one of two of my celebration of year 8 of blogging with a huge shout out of :
THANKING YOU 
for all of your very wonderful visits, comments and being there for me.  
I am blessed by each of you~

The adults have taken on trees that provide more shade now that the temperatures have soared~


15 comments:

  1. Great photos!
    How wonderful to be able to visit a place so teeming with wildlife
    Eight years! Congratulations!

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  2. Hello Mary, happy 8th blog anniversary. I enjoy this post with the awesome hawk and eagle photos. Well done. I will look forward to many more of your wonderful post. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

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  3. So many amazing shots. Love all of your critters, chubby and feathered alike.

    I'm glad I get to visit with you. :)

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  4. Hello!:) Congratulations on your eighth year of blogging. I'm only sorry that I did not find you sooner, and if it hadn't been through Anni's blog, I probably wouldn't have spotted your excellent blog. Each time I have been here, I have loved your posts, and today is another fine post with amazing photos of birds I have never seen in the wild. Your captures are all amazing.:)

    So sorry about the loss of your friend.

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  5. Your blog posts just keep getting better and better!! Wow. ALL so stunning.

    Thanks again....Sharing with us at I'd Rather B Birdin' is always appreciated.

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  6. Congrats o the 8th anniversary, may you continue to blog for many mores years and continue to bring such stunning images of birds living in the wild to MM every week.
    I didn't know that bald eagles mate for life, the series of photos showing them chatting like an old married couple made me smile.
    I hope that you are feeling better now after the sadness of last week, take care.
    Maggie.

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  7. The hawks and the eagles are wonderful! I am absolutely blown away by all your amazing photos! The ground hogs are so cute! We have quite a few here as well, and I want to get some photos today if I can.

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  8. Mary, Congrats on the blog anniversary. I always love visiting you and the birds. Sorry for your loss. Your eagle photos area amazing. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

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  9. You've brought us so many fabulous photos over the years my friend. I've learned so much and seen the close ups of so many birds and animals that you've taken. Maybe we could all pitch in and come up with a million dollars! hahaha! But I'm glad you can still take photos nearby. Enjoy your week my friend. And Happy Blogging! Hugs!

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  10. Mary - WOW, WOW, WOW! I kept paging down, thinking this is the end - this is the best photo - and then there was more. Thank you for this wonderful gift! The groundhogs were a pleasant treat among the birds.

    Congratulations on your eighth anniversary of blogging. May you enjoy the next eight just as much!

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  11. Beautiful photography, and congrats on your anniversary!!

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  12. Congratulations Mary. You have a special gift finding beautiful opportunities photographing wildlife.

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  13. Love all your work! Such a gift!

    My favorites are the little ground hogs - adorbs 💖💖💖

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  14. Good Sunday Morning.First of all Mary, congratulations on reaching number 8. I think I am close to that number and will one day find time to take a closer and frightening look at some of my older posts.

    I too struggle to keep up with comments and visits to other blogs but get there in the end I hope. Apologies if I am a little tardy.
    You have such a wonderful variety of birds and animals close to your home.

    So many raptors, which tells me that there are many big open spaces but also woodlands in which they can live. If only I had a million dollars that wonderful old house and grounds would make a great centre for nature and visitors - by invitation only. Perhaps after four or more years it needs another million to bring it back up to scratch?

    As ever, loved your pictures but now I want my own Groundhogs!

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  15. Congratulations on your eighth year blogging anniversary. I have enjoyed visiting you over the last few years, although sometimes intermittently. Sorry to hear that the nesting season has not gone well.

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