Happy Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday!

January has flown by, I am hoping February will be short and warmer. 

During our trip to Florida we visited many parks and this post is on the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is actually part of the northern Everglades wetlands. It was another wildlife refuge that was partly open during our visit, located in Palm Beach County. We had a nice walk, saw some birds, 2 alligators and a very pretty sky. 

Below are some of the birds and the wildlife we saw at the refuge: the Tricolored Heron, American Kestrel, Cattle Egrets, Moorhen, White Peacock Butterfly and I am guessing a Florida Cooter Turtle?

Below are some White Ibis hiding in some tall grasses,  I had to zoom in for this photo. The White Ibis have an orange curved beak.

A pretty sky, reflection of the sky on the wetlands. 

More capture of the clouds reflecting in the canal. 

A limpkin was seen walking among the tall grasses. 

We saw a couple of gators, this bigger one and a smaller one was nearby.

I am just guessing at the id of the turtle below, could it be the Florida Cooter?

Another look at the trail and sky. 

A Great Blue Heron was standing perfectly still.

I am thankful for each day, even though I am wishing the cold winter weather  away. 
A thankful heart is a happy heart. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday


Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Green Cay Nature Center

Happy Monday!

I have heard about the Green Cay Nature Center and boardwalk being a great place for seeing the birds up close. Hubby and I visited twice during our recent trip to Florida. The Nature Center looks over 100 acres of wetland and has 1.5 miles of elevated boardwalk. 

The Painted Bunting is one of my all time favorite Florida birds, they are beautiful. 

While walking on the Green Cay boardwalk you will see birds any direction you look. If you are a birder or not, this is a great place to visit.  The Glossy Ibis posed nicely for me.

We saw a few Green Heron, some times 2-3 rather close to each other.  

I love the fluffy look on this Anhinga.  

This is the Purple Gallinule, easily to id by the blue spot above the red and yellow bill.  

Some Green Cay waders we saw on the top row, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Tricolored Heron. Bottom row the Little Blue Heron, Green Heron and the Great Blue Heron.  

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.

Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi the host of Our World Tuesday!

I hope to see you there. Thanks to the hosts today. Enjoy your day and new week.

As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

Saturday's Critters #267

Welcome to Saturday's Critters !


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

I have so many Florida photos to share, lots of birds and critters. I hope you enjoy. This is a part two of our Merritt Island NWR visit. 

The White Ibis and a Tricolored Heron

Smile for the camera, Florida alligator.

Below is a good sized group of Blue-winged Teal and some American Coots. 

I can make out some distant Northern Shovelers in the photo below. 

Great Egret

The Green Herons were a common sight too.

Anhinga, seen in many Florida parks.

Glossy Ibis were around in high numbers.

This group of birds took off from the ground, they were hidden until they were in flight. The pink Roseate Spoonbills stand out in the crowd.

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !






Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Happy Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday!


These are some images from the North Point State Park in Baltimore County, it is the spot where I saw my Snow Buntings that I previously posted about. Hubby and I enjoyed a brisk walk in the park after seeing the Snowy Buntings. The park is located on the Chesapeake Bay, the views are pretty.

A view of the Chesapeake Bay.

Below me and my shadow, I was happy and thankful to find the Snow Buntings so easily right at the end of this brick pier.

There were plenty of Song Sparrows sighted near the Snow Buntings. 

The lighting was not the best for iding ducks out in the bay, I am guessing these are Scaup.

Some of the Snow Buntings

Another look at the Chesapeake Bay, looking very smooth.

The North Point State Park has two parts, the piers by the bay and this Black Marsh Trail. 

A few Mallards were seen in the marsh area off the trail. 

The Eastern Towhee was seen in a tree along side the trail. I usually hear these birds singing before I can see them.  

A view of the marsh land. 

I was thankful to see the Snow Buntings during my visit to the park. Bird watching is one of my simple pleasures. 
A thankful heart is a happy heart. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday


Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Blowing Rocks Preserve, Jupiter Florida

Hello and Happy Monday!

Jan 5th,  we visited one of my hubby's favorite places in Florida which was the Blowing Rocks Preserve near Jupiter Florida. We read about this preserve in one of our AAA magazines and knew we had to visit. It is a Nature Conservancy preserve, a protected section of limestone coastline. During high tides the waves crash against the rocks and force the water at times as much as  50 ft skyward. 

This is the trail to the beach. The sea grape tree provide a shady walk to the beach.

A pretty day to be at the beach, calm ocean water.

The limestone rocky shore. 

The Sanderlings were seen on all the beaches in Florida.

A lovely sky day, I enjoy watching the clouds. 

These Ruddy Turnstones were begging for food from the fisherman on the beach. 

The ocean has carved some interesting shapes and holes into the limestone rocks.  

While hubby was enjoying watching the waves hitting the rocks, I was enjoying the pelicans flying by me. 

A map of the preserve location in Jupiter Florida.

We also took a walk to see the nearby Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, Jupiter Florida

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.


Thanks to Angie the new host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi and the hosting team of Our World Tuesday!

I hope to see you there. Thanks to the hosts today. Enjoy your day and new week.


As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

Saturday's Critters #266

Welcome to Saturday's Critters !


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


I am sharing some photos of one of my favorite winter birds the Snow Bunting. I was lucky to see these birds at the local North Point State Park in Baltimore County Maryland. We watched them for a bit foraging on the ground, they looked cute once in awhile running quickly across the grass. They eat seeds and insects found on the ground. 

These birds breed in the Arctic, northernmost parts of Canada and Greenland. 

We saw five Snow Buntings on this day, they have been in this area for a few weeks. Some times as many as 10 or more being seen together.  

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !





Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!