~Happy New Year~
This will be my year ending post and I wanted to once again thank everyone who makes this effort so worth while. I could not, would not want to do it without you. It was so much fun going through all of my posts from a year ago now and in choosing many of your favorites, as well as my own and combined them into 55 mosaics/single image shares. Call it a labor of love, for is that not what each of us try and produce every week? When I first began, I would post a few times a week and then a couple of years ago got to where I could only make it happen once a week. For you that continue to post more often, whoosh, I wish that I had your energy. Just as the blog began six years ago this past June, I begin this last post share of 2015 with the Red-Shouldered Hawks that I enjoy so much~
Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after you have read the narratives~
I will be linking up with Judith for:
www.lavendercottagegardening.com
www.lavendercottagegardening.com
&
Stewart for:
http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/
OK, I had to sneak our favorite White Tailed Deer in too ;) ~
This year the nest was successful in that the pair raised three beauties~
The difference between a juvenile above and an adult Red-Shouldered Hawk below~
Icelandic Pony at Foxhollow Farm, three images of a juvenile Cooper's Hawk top right and a juvenile Red-Shouldered Hawk below left~
A Blue Jay in the falling snow and one of my favorite gifts, the Owl sculpture below~
We had as many as 16 Cardinals along with other birds in a single bush one day last Winter~
I made the trek to Cecelia, KY twice early this year to once again see the amazing Sandhill Cranes.
My friend who is a Master Falconer, Beau Solley introduced me to his Harris Hawk, Tara.
Buck White Tailed Deer at Anchorage Trail~
I was truly blessed to have the beautiful opportunity of photographing from a safe distance a pair of Bald Eagles and their two eaglets, last season~
Last Winter I made a 10 day visit to see my daughter Ashleigh and her husby Matty down in Florida. I saw so many beautiful scenes as well as the bird life was amazing down there.
Below are Anhingas and Great Egrets~
There were several first this past year, including a Merlin, an American Bittern and a Bob White~
While in Florida, my friend Sandy Hensley Britt called to say that the neighbors across the lane had a Great Horned Owl nest in their yard. It was a 60 mile round trip journey for me every time that I went, but I went as often as possible, for this was only the second time for me to witness them, from a VERY safe distance. They successfully raised two owlets~
Take a good look at this image...can you see both owlets? The rain was coming down in sheets and they were soaked and seemed to melt into the feathers of the mother owl~
My blogging friend Phil Slade thought for a moment in time, that I had placed the red apple on that fence post, but no I expect the farmer had done that. I would drive by for months and even saw it frozen and kind of collapsing into the post at the end ;)
The Squirrel and brand newly out from it's nest Cottontail Rabbit saw each other for the first time in Dad's back yard.
The Northern Mockingbirds are extremely territorial, and oh so pretty~
Yet another first for me was seeing a Mississippi Kite. I saw and photographed the adults from a flying distance, but this post I am sharing the only young one they had and the first flight day for it~
Red-Tailed Hawk and American Kestrel over a sea of Sugar Gum pods hanging from their tree.
Eastern Meadowlark~
A juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk at Foxhollow Farm.
A single adult on Commerce near my home that caught 3 field mice in 45 minutes and ate them before attempting another kill, but missing.
Then a mosaic with in flight birds... juvenile Red-Tailed Hawk in 3, a Bald Eaglet with scraggly tail feathers and an American Kestrel stilling~
Oh I love Swallows and here I am sharing Tree Swallows and then young Barn Swallows...they just make me happy...they devour Mosquitoes...yes!~
Yeah I got to see and photograph finally a real long horned steer and guess what it is right down the lane a bit from where I live, and then a mommy cow looking pretty in a field of wild flowers~
Another one of my very favorite birds, Cedar Waxwings. Every year for about two weeks they come to my yard and I spend hours observing and photographing them~
This was the sweet little runt of the litter of Groundhogs that was born down the lane. We affectionately named him Rolphie. He had several good months and then a car met him and I buried him in our garden~
Magnolia blossoms meeting up with my kit cat Survhee Pipka~
A Coyote was a scarred face in Prospect, and a Gray Squirrel in my yard during the Autumn colour change~
My pup cubs 3 year old Silveit and 8 year old Meaka looking pretty.
Black Swallowtail dipping it's wings into the Turk Lily pollen and a few sunrises.
An old grocery store, European Starling murmuration and an old building in Paducah, KY where the river is taking away the earth at a fast rate and the dwellings closest to the river are now abandoned.
That is where I shall leave you to enjoy your New year festivities.
Be wise, be careful and have a great time.
See you on the other side~
