A Journey to Paducah and Bobwhite for the First Time~

Happy 4th of July to those who reside in the United States of America~

Two weeks ago we decided to take a journey over to Paducah KY.  The Land Between the Lakes is there, along with many state parks.  We had our 2 dogs with us and the husby planned out 2 days of viewing the sights in the parks near by.  We went as far South as Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee, where there were at least 16 Bald Eagle nests sites.  Most of the young had already fledged and the nests were empty.   

The river scenes above and below were taken in a tiny town called Hickman, which is becoming a ghost town.  The land there is falling away into the river at 4' a year.  This is the local tug boat that ferries people, or rather ferried people across the river.

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

I will be linking up with Judith for:

www.lavendercottagegardening.com

Mosaic Monday

&

Stewart for:

   http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

Many barges come down the Mississippi River, carrying such things as coal and grain for nearby cities and beyond~

The upper part of the mosaic below is a tiled wall that I saw in downtown Paducah, placed with the now empty county jail in Hickman~

Empty store fronts and old buildings stand empty and decaying~

The concrete structure below sits across from where the ferry boat is anchored, but there were no signs to show what it had been used for.  I thought it was interesting~

An old farm house stands empty now~

The only sign of life was a still useful Bluebird house on a post out in front of one of the old barns~

My husby with our 2 Long Coat German Shepherds.  Silveit is closest to him and Meaka on the far side.  They love being with us on our adventures and we cannot imagine not having them with us~

A beautiful Red headed Woodpecker~

The Ballard County Wildlife Management Area was a place that we have decided we want to return to and explore.  Due to much rains, and in fact we are still having way too much, the area was flooded and we could not access the park, other than one lane where we could walk in a bit.  Cypress trees were like giants standing in the deep water covered in a greenish film.  Sounds of birds echoed from every direction, as Bald Eagles, Herons and Egrets flew past me with such ease and speed, I missed most with my camera, but not with my eyes~

A Bald Eagle flies past.  Two more were up in trees, that I could not get images of, for the distance was great, as well as so much overgrowth of green everywhere~

At Reelfoot Lake, I was told that 2 recently fledged Bald Eagles could be found in a large dead tree, across from their numbered nest site.  Sure enough, there they were, with one adult.  I had to walk a long way to get these images and still could not get close enough for better shots.  We had not visited this area for 34 years~

Reelfoot has a small area where they permanently house a few Birds of Prey who are used for educational purpose, having been injured and non-releasable.  The Bald Eagles were hiding back from view, but the gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk sat out in the sun~

The other day, I drove out into the country a bit, to pick up 2 of our grandsons for a day of fun.  I was running early on purpose and took a road where I enjoy seeing wildlife.  The sun was just on the rise along with heavy fog lying close to the earth~

I have seen many a wild turkey in my day, but I had never witnessed what I saw that morning...a turkey fight!  There were a few turkeys inside the fenced in area and two approached and wanted in.  One at a time they jumped up on the gate rail and into the area fenced in.  After the second wanted flew over, the battle began.   Two and three beaks were holding on to each other and wings flew and it was crazy.  I sat in the car with windows down and finally had to get out, as I hated what was going on.  One broke away and waddled down the field and finally the last two stopped at least in front of me and they too waddled down into the wood beyond where I could see them.  Whew~

On the same lane the sun was breaking through the wood and it was eerily beautiful~

 I have a few times heard the sound of the Bobwhite, but have never seen one close enough to snag a capture.  I could not believe my good fortune in running early and turning down this dead end lane.  First the turkeys then the sunlight breaking through the wood and now right in front of me was a Bobwhite, singing his heart out to me and all the earth to hear.  He was still there after I took nearly a hundred images, oh yes I did ;) and I left him still singing his morning song~

Some eight hours later, after taking Thomas and Braden to  visit with my sister and then swim at my friend Sandy's home, I drove back out into the country to deliver the boys back to their parents.  I was enroute back home and thought...I wonder if anything will be down that dead end lane, if I take a quick look-see.  Sure enough, possibly the very same Bobwhite was not singing, but was only a few fence boards down from where one had been earlier that day.  I was thrilled to finally be able to check Bobwhite off my wish list of birds I long to see.  Once again as well, I drove away first, as the bird did not seem to mind a bit, my intrusion~

My friend Theresa loves Lilies and horses and so I decided to place these together in her honor.  She may not see them, but that is OK.  One of her LCGS dogs will have her first litter of pup-cubs anytime now, and so this is for her~