A Few Nice Birds Observed and Photographed ~

 

Not too much to say this week. 

Have been busy trying to get healthy and it is slow. 

Please heed the warning...Ticks are BAD!

Last season I had 7 tick bites a combination of Deer and Wood Ticks. 

Between the 2, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and  Lyme Disease can occur, and that is frightening enough. 

This past week I had a Deer Tick bite me and I was not aware of it as it was on back of my knee that recently received 3 gel injections and had been swollen and tight anyway. 

 The tick was engorged and had probably been there for 48 hours. 

I removed it properly on Thursday evening medicated the spot and then by Friday was in the Emergency Room. 

 It had become badly infected, swollen and very hot with flowing infection...it was a MESS. 

So now I am on antibiotics and praying that the bulls eye dart like appearance does not make it's showing...or else back to ER we will go. 

Always something, yet keeping a smile and enjoying each day~

 

 

 

 Remember to double click on the image, to view a larger slide show of the images shared

   

 I will also be linking up with Mary at:

 

Mosaic Monday

 

at: 

  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.

 

As well as I am linking up with Stewart at:

 

   Wild Bird Wednesday

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

 

Above is a Common Grackle and below are images of the elusive Brown Thrasher~

 

 

 

Red-winged Blackbirds~

Eastern Towhee...male~

House Finch~

Eastern Meadowlark~

American Robin~

My first introduction to the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher~

Female above and male below Red-winged Blackbird~

I first spotted the Gnatcacher were busy gathering bits of and using some of the webbing to reinforce the making of their own nest. 

 I found them fascinating to observe~

Please make sure that you check yourself and especially children for Ticks. 

Deer Ticks can fit easily on the head of a straight pin~

A New Year, a Fresh Start~

Another Cardinal (male) was seen through Dad's window and once again I just had to grab a shot, or rather a few, they are so handsome!
Here is hoping that everyone enjoyed their New Year celebration and that you have gotten off to a good start. 
Many around me have been ill, and I am thankful that so far no bug has reached this home. 
We will be having a little celebration soon. 
Our puppy that arrived last March will turn 1 on January 9 and I just had to post a few of my favorite puppy images of her and also show you how she is looking today. 
She is larger than our 6 year old Long Coat German Shepherd Meaka, by several pounds already, as well as she is taller at the shoulders. 
I am thinking that her coat will end up being medium length, rather than long, and that will be OK...
Silvie Aleit, affectionately called Silveit is a peach of a dog, learning very well. 
The German Shepherd breed is highly intelligent, always thinking~



Remember to double click on the image, to view a larger slide show of the images shared

   

 I will also be linking up with Mary at:

"Mosaic Monday"

at: 

  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.

 and
*****************************************************************************

As well as I am linking up with Stewart at:

   Wild Bird Wednesday

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

This is Silveit her first full day with us following her long airplane flights to get here last March and weeks following~

I just liked this old barn~

And this is our precious Silveit as she is looking now, a very striking girl. 
She has so much energy, hard sometimes to keep up with, but she will keep us young longer with all of the running about~
 

One day I heard the Crows yelling and cawing and it seemed non-stop. 
They were very high up in the trees, eating some kind of berries
 

 

I observed the Crows for several minutes and then watched a behavior that I had never witnessed before. 
There were family units protecting certain trees from other families invasion and if they intruded, they were attacked and taken all the way to the ground~
 

 

 

 

It was a very loud, fierce battle for a bit...but everyone went their own way soon after~

While driving home recently, I saw the red and green of this Virginia Creeper and with a light snow upon the ground...it was a perfect nature Christmas gift~
 

Ice reflections in my creek on Tingsgrove~
 

And ice covered tree fronds, looks like lace~
 

Red-bellied Woodpeckers come out of the wood this time of year and come closer to the house to eat from the suet feeders~
 

These beauties are actually members of one of the local feral cat communities. 
 They have a really nice set up down in the wood. 
Beautiful cats!
Touched only once in their life, when altered and then returned to their colonies~
 

The House Finch is such an attractive bird around the garden~
 

As are the Downy Woodpeckers~
 

 

The White-throated Sparrows~
 

 

 

The Carolina Chickadees~

As well as the Dark-eyed Juncos~

Interesting...or an eye sore, just thankful this is not across the lane from our home. 
Recently a neighbor on the far end of the neighborhood built a cabin atop his silo. 
My youngest daughter asked his son why and he said his father simply wanted a new toy.  The gentleman told the newspapers he built it for his 2 year old grand-daughter...hmm.
 I would not take my 2 year old grandchild up there, but it is interesting, and to many it is an eye sore...
Yet here it is in all of it's...glory ;) ~

 

Happy Easter And A Spring Snow Shower~

~Happy Easter~

I hope that everyone who celebrates Easter, had an amazing day with family and friends.
Last week, Spring began and of course, we had a nice little bit of snow fall.
 Turning 3 months old on April 9, Silvie and all of nature enjoyed the day of snow too!
Can you see her catching snowflakes with her tongue and a little further down, you will see a Downy Woodpecker, doing the same thing;')
The Gray Squirrels seemed to be enjoying themselves, chasing around on the snow covered tree branches.
 The American Goldfinches and House Finches appeared to be like fine jewels that showed off so beautifully in the falling snow.
It was all so beautiful and by afternoon, it had all melted into the already soaked ground.  We may get some snow this week also...so much for Spring like weather, but I do not mind, so long as we do not get Tornadoes...now those frighten me very much. 
Have a happy week! 

I am linking up with Stewart at:

Wild Bird Wednesday

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