Mallard Sunday Morning

Nothing like a little shower in the rain to start your morning!  These resident Mallards are enjoying a real spring rain with thunder and everything-ha!  The raindrops are splashing on the little pond/lake and the drainage pipe on the opposite bank is providing a miniature waterfall to add to the scene.  You all know how I love my backyard wildlife.  I am so blessed to see everything from my den window...

Like children playing in the rain....  Nature is so wondrous!  God is good, life is good, have a blessed Sunday!!

My heart to yours...

I'm always chasing sun-sets♫

WATCHING CLOUDS ROLLING BY...♫♫

I went outside in the back yard by the lake and started taking pictures just as the sun was fading.

Suddenly, This good sized plane came barn storming right over the treetops following the lake!  He as so loud and low and going so fast, I thought he would crash and I caught this blurry picture as he sped by.  All the while I was chasing my sunsets through the neighbor's yards, he came back in both directions at least 5 times.

And then the fun began, I could not get enough of the wondrous sky!  Weaving through bushes and out into the street at times, I snapped and snapped.  I am addicted to sunsets for sure!!

Reflections in the lake

By this time, it is really getting dark , the plane keeps buzzing by and the Mallards think I have come to feed them and approach.

The sunset is reflecting in the Lake, Beautiful!

And so I bid the day adieu sadly as you know I hate to lose the day

But the peace of night will settle in and calm our souls tonight.

My computer companion is at the foot of my desk chair--

Sweet Isabella my Ragdoll

Good night dear friends...

♥KERRIE♥

My heart to yours....

FRIDAY'S WILDLIFE AND QUICK PHOTO SHOTS

I usually feature the little lake behind our house but with the ice on it, none of the regular visitors have come in a few days.  BUT, I ventured out into the beautiful sunshine today bundled up and armed with my digital camera and visited all the Lakes in the neighborhood.  Here is what I snapped before the batteries died. LOL!

Great White Egret fishing near the bank.

2 Female and 1 Mail Mallard on an island

A beautiful lake near the front of our Community

This little Dock is on one of the largest Lakes and many people put a dock out so that they can sit over the water in the warmer weather.  I would love that but Hubby is not well enough to take on a project like this!  There is something magic about being near water.  My friend, Doris Strum has a beautiful lake that she visits and takes stunning pictures.  Please pop over to see Doris when you can.  She also crochets the most delightful things and has an Etsy shop where she sells them.

There are many little islands in the Lakes in our neighborhood and the Mallards, Egrets and all wading birds find great resting places there.

It was certainly a perfect day for snapping pictures!  I saw the little hooded ducks again that I cannot identify but my camera batteries had died and they quickly swam away from my spying eyes-ha!  They look like a hooded Merganser but their heads are completely black and black and white are the only colors on their bodies.  One day I will get a good picture I am hoping.

Thanks for stopping and do come again soon.  Please visit my other blogs that are linked in my sidebar.  My Christian blog is Kerrie's Home Journal.

♥KERRIE♥
My heart to yours...

BACKYARD WILDLIFE

While posting for Christmas, I cannot neglect to share with you are visiting wildlife in the backyard.  We have been so blessed in the last couple of weeks!  We have had visits from the Wood Stork, Woodpecker, Swans, etc.  Here are some of the pictures we have snapped in the last week or so!

I drew a sprig of holly and berries on this picture and used it to make
 Christmas Cards.

The Swan was very jealous that I was taking pictures of the stork and came from half way down the lake to assert his postiion! 

And of course Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are ever present and watching all that goes on.   She is scratching herself with her hind foot-ha!

I love this one as I tried to capture the exquisiteness of his wings as he was posturing to show his dominance.  The feathers are so beautiful and snowy white, except for their head and neck that they are constantly dunking in the water and eating the greens that grow.

 Hubby has the better camera and was able to zoom in on Mr. Stork!  I love this because you can see the greatness of his bill.

Hubby loves the reluctant Woodpecker, who hates to have his picture taken-ha!  As Bill tried to take his picture, he would hide round and round the trunk of the tree, just out of sight!  But he did finally catch him!

You can really see the detail on this adult's head in comparison to the young ones we posted a few weeks ago.  They had white feathers on their heads but the adults are mostly bald and definitely not as cute-ha!
  Thank you so much for visiting and appreciating nature with us!  The Great Blue Heron came yesterday but I have not downloaded the pictures yet.

Thank you so much for visiting our little nature center in our own backyard.  Help to promote preservation of our earth by not adding to polution.  Teach your children young how important all the creatures are on earth and how to keep it safe and clean for ever!
                  HUGS to you and warmth of heart to all who are experiencing bitter cold and snow!  It was 20 degrees even here in SC this morning and is now up to 21 at 11:50.  For today's spiritual message see http:kerrieshomejournal.blogspot.com

♥KERRIE♥

My merry heart to yours...

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

   Hi Dear Friends!  We had a perfectly lovely day with one daughter and two granddogs in attendance-LOL!  Girly and Captain Button are spending the holiday weekend with us while our older daughter and family went camping in NC in a cabin.  She called yesterdayand said it was so beautiful there, right on a lake!  It was such a beautiful day here with lots of sunshine, food and wildlife!!
   The Egret was here on the little Lake off and on all day.  I tried to get a photo shot of him in flight as he crossed to the other bank and finally did but could not catch a close up shot of him.  My Mallard Couple came as usual and spent the day swimming in the lake.  I just love all the birds we get to see right in our own back yard - I am THANKFUL!

He has his wings spread as he lands on the other side of the lake the first time I snapped.  He zigzagged from side to side eating fish along the way.

So tickled to get this shot but I could not zoom in any closer with my little camera.  I was actually standing in the open window to get this one and was surprised I got it at all!

He is flying here and barely visible under the little green bush across the water hovering over the bank ready to land.

Here he is in the upper part of the photo and the Mallard couple are at the bottom.  Loving the reflection of still vivid fall colors.

Thanks for visiting and for more pictues of Today including our Table and the Granddogs-ha, please visit my Two Happy Blog and Kerrie's Home Journal blog-links are in my left sidebar.  Thanks!

Come again soon, I love your visits and comments!!

♥KERRIE♥
My heart to yours...

Beauty Of Twilight

THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT SUNSET LAST NIGHT AND I WAS BLESSED WITH A VISIT BY THE MALLARD COUPLE.  After pictures, I gave them some dried bread and they were happy with their twilight snack!  I like to keep them coming all winter because this same couple has been having their young here each year and they bring the new brood right up to the bird feeder to get the dropped seeds.  They trust us so much that they let us take pictures and coo and talk to the little ones.  I always look forward to that.

I love the reflections in this one!

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are such a lovely couple!  What beauty I see in the reflection of the wispy pink clouds...

Good night burning embers of night sky,
Good night beautiful Mallards floating by.
Good night silouetted trees against sky
Good night to all the birds that fly
Silently above the clouds to find
Their roosting place that will be kind
Until the morning light.
    ©Kerrie O'Hearn Marquart 11/23/10

It's a Mallard kind of Day!

Nippiness is in the air today but the sun is shining just beautifully!  The Mallards have come for their hand out and then went to the little lake and dunked and bathed.  They are so much fun to watch! 

This one is kind of blurry as she was moving but observe the beautiful feather detail!

Here is the male, so proud.

Now they find it necessary to bathe...

He is literally on a roll now-ha!

After the roll, he lifted up and fluttered his wings...

I love this picture of the two of them and the reflection of sky and tree branches...

What a blessing to see.  We are so privileged to be able to see them.  Thanking God for all his beauty and creatues!

♥Kerrie♥

My heart to yours...