Bird Behavior

This was the perfect weekend to visit Murfree Spring Wetlands. Blue skies, bright sunshine, no humidity. I usually walk along the boardwalk shifting from one side of the walkway to the other while scouring the swamp for any sign of movement.

What I wasn't expecting was to find a Yellow Crowned Night Heron fishing in the middle of the swamp in the back of the wetland. He was very intent on the task at hand and didn't mind one bit that I stood on the boardwalk and took photos. He would stand straight up, then lean over. Then he would lift up one foot and take a step. Then he would lift up another and drop it. Then ..... pounce!

He was in and out of the water so fast, I couldn't even get a decent image. Yet, there he was hanging on to a crayfish.

Gotta get this crayfish in just the right position so he can swallow it, no doubt whole.

After several catches, the Heron decides its high time for a preening session which included some 'under the hood' work. Amazing. If I didn't know better I would swear he was trying to play hike and seek with me. Hope you had a great weekend. ENJOY!

Wildlife Tennessee

Here in Tennessee, there is a plethora of wildlife opportunities at almost every turn in the road. Since making this my home a year ago, I have traveled from local wetlands to state parks to wildlife refuges to national parks. All along the way I have photographed the wildlife. Today I wanted to share a few of those images with you in a grouping so that you can see the beautiful wild that is Tennessee.

From top to bottom left to right, Turtle Radnor Lake, Black Bear Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Fawn Long Hunter State Park, Muskrat Murfree Springs Wetland, Elk Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Blue Clearwing Dragonfly Murfree Springs Wetlands, Insect Couchville Cedar Glen State Natural Area, Eastern Comma Butterfly and Black Bear Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Osprey Cross Creek National Wildliife Refuge, Yellow Clouded Butterfly Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Great White Egret Cross Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Green Frog Murfree Spring Wetlands, Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Elk Great Smoky Mountains National Park and finally Doe Bledsoe Creek State Park.

Before I leave you today, it bears mentioning I have been battling a serious case of bronchitis. While I am not well, I hope by this time next week to say it's out of here. Being indoors so much has reminded me of three things that Winter serves up that I am not a fan of. The first is the frigid temperatures, not to mention the ups and downs in the temperatures we have had this Winter. The second is the barren landscape with no beautiful delicate flowers to beautify it. Last, but not least, are the many viruses that thrive best indoors in our warm homes only to take hold and bring our very lives to a virtual standstill. I hope wherever you are today you are well and having a fabulous weekend. Can Spring be far away. ENJOY!

Water Lilies, Murfree Spring Wetlands

There's a change in the air. Can you feel it. Here in the South cooler weather is finding its way into our daylight hours, while evenings begin to shorten and a coolness envelopes the night air. I will welcome Fall as it grows closer. Summer's dog days of heat will soon vanish replaced with a change of season. Emerging colors of crimson, orange and various hues of yellow will brighten the landscape.

Fall pumpkins already grace the local markets. Soon Fall decorations in every shape and size will follow. Pumpkins, gourds and bittersweet, along with scarecrows, stacks of corn, harvest moons and pumpkin rides. After a record setting heat this Summer, I am eager for the change in the season.

Leaving the Sunflowers at Batey Farms after a brief stop, I drove over to visit the wetlands, just as the rain was diminishing. The Water Lilies were turned in for the evening. The humidity was heavy. A lone female Wood Duck was milling around in the swamp picking through the pond weeds. I would have captured a better image so I could share, but my long lens was at home. ENJOY!

In and Around Nashville

Let's take a peek back at the many places I have traveled 'In and Around' the Nashville area this past Spring and Summer.

1. White Tailed Deer, Long Hunter State Park, Hermitage, Spring

2. Sailboats, Percy Priest Lake, Hermitage, Spring

3. Great White Egret, Cross Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Dover, Summer

4. Edgar Evans Mill, Smithville, Summer

5. Belle Meade Plantation, Nashville, Spring

6. Wood Duck Pair, Murfree Spring Wetlands, Murfreesboro, Summer

7. Ox Eye Sunflower, Bison Meadow, Nashville, Summer

8. Rare Tennessee Purple Coneflower, Couchville Cedar Glade, Hermitage, Summer

9. Great White Egret, Old Hickory Lake, Hendersonville

10. White Narcissus, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Nashville, Spring

I enjoy reading all of your kind notes you leave me in the COMMENTS section of each post. I hope you will leave me a note as to where you have been so far in 2015. ENJOY!

Linking to Saturday Critters and Our World Tuesday

Juvenile Wood Duck, Murfree Spring Wetlands

In spite of the 90 degree temperatures today, I took a few minutes to drive to Murfree Spring Wetlands this afternoon southeast of Nashville to check out the wildlife. The water level of the swamp was down quite a bit. I did not see as much wildlife this visit, but did see a juvenile Beaver take down a sapling and disappear into the water with the tiny branch. Unfortunately, all of the foliage kept me from getting any decent images.

On my second walk around the parameter of the wetland, I happened upon a juvenile female Wood Duck sitting on the railing. She sat for a while and called out repeatedly. My thought was perhaps for Mom and Dad, who were nowhere in sight.

The second time I happened upon the same juvenile Wood Duck she was sitting on the railing on the far side of the wetlands calling out again. After a few minutes, she flew off into the wetlands. The Wood Duck's sound as she was calling out seemed more like a 'peep' than a call. She kept looking all around her and calling. Although it was very hot today, the humidity wasn't very bad. With the official start of Summer just around the corner, I am praying for a mild one. Have a great week everyone. ENJOY!

Linking to Saturday Critters and Our World Tuesday and The Scoop

Green Frog, Murfree Spring Wetlands

At Murfree Spring Wetlands I happened upon large and small birds, mammals, amphibians and a plethora of marshes, swamps and more pond weeds than I had ever seen in my lifetime. While reading up on Green Frogs, I discovered that pond weeds are also referred to as duck weeds.

Mid way into my first walk, half way back into the wetland, this Green Frog stuck his head up out of the water in a less saturated pond weed area. This little guy is in the perfect habitat what with all of the insects one can find hanging out in the wetland. I discovered upon reading about Green Frogs that this is gal, a female Green Frog. Females have a similar size tympanum, external hearing structure, just behind the eye. The tympanum actually transmits sounds to the inner ear. Males have a much larger tympanum which is the perfect distinguishing characteristic.

At the end of my wetland walk, I lingered to look over the boardwalk into the swamp and up popped another female Green Frog. This gal was almost totally camouflaged by heavy pond weeds. She sat on top of the water while I captured a few images of her.

I plan to venture back to Murfree Spring Wetland often in the near future in hopes of seeing the Beavers and River Otters that reside there. I encountered considerable evidence of the Beavers all along the first half of the boardwalk. Near the back of the wetland sat a very large Beaver lodge out in the swamp. Everyone have a fantastic weekend. Stay dry as there is quite a bit of rain forecast for the midwest, south and eastern United States. ENJOY!

Linking to Saturday Critters

Eastern Phoebe

At Murfree Spring Wetlands I attempted to capture photos of the woodland birds flitting about on the dead branches spread throughout the swamps and marshes. This little bird is an Eastern Phoebe. One of the most familiar of the eastern flycatchers. Phoebes are quite hardy and have a stocky physique and are generally brown and white. If only he would have had a fly or gnat in his beak that would have made for a better image, but I will take what I can get.

Eastern Phoebes generally perch on low hanging branches or low in trees. They form mud-and-grass nests attached to bridges, barns and houses. I can honestly say I have never seen an Eastern Phoebe nest. Eastern Phoebes migrate north and are one of the first birds to migrate back to the south each year. This is a Life List Bird for me. ENJOY!

A SPECIAL NOTE TO MY FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS
Since moving here to Tennessee I have encountered quite a few birds to add to my Life List.

The list is posted on this blog in the right column mid way down if you would like to see just what species of birds
I have encountered throughout my journeys. Thank you for stopping by my blog
and thank you for all of your wonderful comments. I read every single one and cherish all of them.

Since mid December I have at least 25 new followers to my blog from all over the globe. 
I want to thank each and every one of you for following my posts and if you haven't left me
a note or a comment, I hope you will soon. I love to hear your thoughts on my outings to capture
images of our beautiful planet. I translate any comments that aren't in English. 
So never fear, I'm reading your comments no matter the language. Thank you for following!

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

As I was about to end my walk around Murfree Spring Wetlands Sunday, I turned the corner toward the entrance and saw this beautiful creature standing in the middle of the large swamp. This is a Yellow Crowned Night Heron and a Life List bird for me. Isn't he gorgeous. I had never laid eyes on one before. Quite honestly, I didn't even know there was such a thing. The only thing I knew for certain was this was not a Black Crowned Night Heron.

It didn't take long for me to identify this bird as I knew it was some sort of crowned Heron. Yellow Crowned Night Herons are nocturnal birds that reside mainly in southern swamps and along southern coastlines. The yellow crown is their distinctive feature which is what they are named for although they do have yellow legs as well. These Herons are stockier than the Great Blue Heron, the Little Blue Heron or the Tri-Colored Heron.

A juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron has a longer neck and sports a grayer toned body. Actually, the juvenile doesn't really resemble the adult all that much when I looked them up online. I thought perhaps I would see a Black Crowned Night Heron at the wetlands as I had seen photos online that mentioned sightings, but no dice.

The entire time I photographed this Heron he was very intent stalking about in search of a snack. Finally, a lady with two young boys approached and off he flew. I knew he wouldn't stay long with young children chatting away. It has rained off and on since yesterday, but hopefully we won't have the drenching rain that Texas and Oklahoma are getting. Such tragedy in Texas from the floodwaters and on Memorial Day no less. My heart goes out to everyone there. Back soon with more images from my walk on the wild side. ENJOY!