Happy New Year to Everyone~

~ Happy New Year ~

Here is hoping that everyone has a wonderful New Year celebration!  

I always get rather nostalgic in letting the old years go, even if they were not all that great. Thinking on the positive, we made new acquaintances.  We rediscovered a few old friendships and we made closer the ones we had cherished all along this journey. Our family grew by one more, when our daughter Ashleigh was married last March, to the love of her life Matthew. We finally got to meet my friend Theresa and her husband Rick, whom we had known from a distance for over 5 years, and that was so wonderful.  Our journey to Canada was outstanding and we got to see Grizzly Bears for the first time as well as make my dream come true in seeing a Great Gray Owl and Snow Buntings.  We celebrated birthdays, family day, graduations, school plays, sporting events, holidays and our own 45th wedding anniversary. These things and so much more, we are forever grateful and count them all as sweet blessings~

These are some of my personal favorite shares from this past year.  There were already so many shares from our past journey last September and this season with the Red-Shouldered Hawks, that I decided not to include those at this time. 

Part 2 of 2 from 2014, enjoy~

What an amazing sight to have witnessed thousands of Canada Geese and that single Ross's Goose.  On the Bird KY alerts, that one goose stayed with the CG all over the state of Kentucky and beyond, as reports came in on a regular basis. 

I have to wonder, where that Ross's Goose ended up, did it make it's way to a flock of it's own kind...

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

The beautiful White-throated Sparrows return every Winter and they are such lovely little charmers~

Blue Jays make a lot of racket and they can be goofy, but I really enjoy their antics and love having them near all year long~

An Eastern Kingbird and Sweet Meadow Rue~

I absolutely think this is one of my favorite shares, an American Goldfinch resting in the morning light and snow~

Because of being a part of the Bird KY Alert system, I was able to see my first Snow Buntings~

Sitting at my father-in-laws dining table, we watched with giggles as a young Cottontail Rabbit, saw it's first Gray Squirrel.  They chased each other around for a couple of minutes, before going about their own business~

 I love, love, love Swallows and shared bunches of Tree and Barn Swallows this year~

All of last Winter we had a visiting pair of Fox Sparrows, I am so hoping we have more again this season~

The Gray Catbird was so gorgeous with its reflection making natural art~

These three, the Eastern Towhee Cedar Waxwing and American Robin all very special visitors~

And finally, sometimes, photographs just do not make the cut, but have some great structure and that is when I become a little artsy and try new things.  

Here are a few of the ones I recovered and kept for sharing~

I look forward to seeing you fine people next year.  

Until then,  farewell to 2014, it has been good~

Snow and Migration Placement~

We had an alert last week that Sandhill Cranes were roosting over night on the lake at the Kentucky State Reformatory that is within 5 miles of our home. 
I went the next morning, before sunrise. 
Guess what? 
Of course I was told that the Cranes had flown out a good 45 minutes earlier...sigh!
That did not diminish my excitement though. 
I have seen lots of Canada Geese, but NEVER had I seen over 2,000 of them before.
What a loud, welcoming treat it was too!
That evening, I decided to take a friend with me and see if possibly the Cranes would return...
Of course they did not...sigh...ha ha
I was busy chasing after what I think was a Cooper's Hawk and left my friend Sandy talking with another birder/photographer. 
After I walked back to where they were, I was told.
"Mary, this man knows you, he has followed your blog for 4 years!"  
Jim Johnson who manages the blog:
http://www.goatsass.com/
That is not what you think...it is Goat Sass Farm ;)
Jim and his wife are from the far Western part of the state and had been visiting family over in my county...
Small world. 
Not only that, yesterday, my husby had taken me into Jefferson County to do a bit of birding and who would drive up, but Jim and his wife...
Too funny~


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/)



Along with the thousands of Canada Geese was one lone Ross's Goose. 
 You could hear it's voice rising above that of all of the Canada Geese...awe~
Below a small group of Northern Shovelers fly in...
I had never seen them before...NICE~

 

As the sunshine arose, it cast a beautiful copper colouration upon those in winged flight...breath taking beauty~
 

 

My thoughts kept being tugging toward the one Ross's Goose...
Wonder where it's family has gotten to and how long before it sees more like itself~
 

There it goes, and it seems to be sticking close by these Canada Geese, it is still with them, days later ;)
 

Funny Goose landing~
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the Canada Geese flew out of this area, the Northern Shovelers took over the thawed section of water~

 

 

I almost did not add in the images below...
Sandhill Cranes flying over my neighborhood as I am heading home from market...
 Of course I missed them ;)
 

I was invited to go to a different park and pond last Friday and I was introduced for the first time to Gadwell and Green-winged Teal.
This is beginning to be such fun, seeing these new species!
Below are Green-winged Teal~

 

Gadwell below~

 

 Yesterday, the husby took me into Eastern Jefferson County to a local park with a lake area. 

That was where we ran into Jim and his wife once again. 

I had seen Goldeneyes, maybe only one other time. 

They are so beautiful. 

There were 4 in this group, as a light snow fell over us.

It was a good week, a very good week~