Three of the beautiful warblers seen heading north this spring included the Canada, Common Yellowthroat and Bay-breasted warblers. I wonder who else will be lucky enough to witness these amazing birds as they make their way to their breeding grounds.
“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be. ” – Sonia Ricotti
A male Baltimore Oriole shared an Eastern redbud tree with its mate (below) at Croton Point State Park earlier today.
The Eastern redbud, a North American native tree, can be seen growing all over the eastern United States.
This vivid Indigo Bunting was photographed at Harriman State Park earlier this week.
“Spring is nature’s way of saying ‘Let’s Party!'” – Robin Williams
Eastern Bluebird, Rockefeller State Park, Pocantico, New York
Yellow Warbler, Halsey Pond, Irvington, New York
Black and White Warbler, Hillside Woods, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
“I’m filled with awe and reverence when I look at the natural world. And it’s not a first flush of wonder that fades after I learn more facts. Everything, everything becomes more astounding the more we look at it. Everything.” – Kenn Kaufmann from his book A Season on the Wind – Inside the World of Spring Migration.
After I learned that there was a Great Egret seen not far from our home, I stopped by the small pond that was mentioned and there it was – a beautiful and unusual bird for our area.
After photographing a cooperative chipmunk, I saw an eastern gray squirrel, in hiding and making noises that made me aware that there might be a raptor close by.
I then turned around to see this Barred Owl. Two special birds in one day!
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one sees rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine De Saint
As the morning fog lifted, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet appeared on a Japanese Maple this morning at Halsey Pond.
The morning sunshine was most welcome, especially after such a rainy day yesterday.
No matter what yesterday was like, you can always count on birds to start a new day with a song.
A Common Grackle, a Green Heron and a Killdeer were photographed near our home in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
“May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.” – Apache blessing
Conservationist John Muir was among the first to write about the ecological principle of connectedness. “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe,” he said.
“Seeing nature is a process, partly, of replacing our arrogance with humility. When we respect the reality which fills the abyss of our ignorance, we begin to see.” – Steven J. Meyers
“I do think we’re being changed and reforged, humbled, and the values of tenderness and care for others may just wind up rising back to the top. Sending love and light across the landscape to all y’all.” – Poet and author Mary Karr
“An attitude of wonder requires that we look anew at the familiar, that we stop taking the world around us for granted. An attitude of wonder acknowledges how little we really know. An attitude of wonder is essential if we are truly to experience the creation and the creator.” – Howard Zehr, The Little Book of Contemplative Photography
A Snowy Owl is spending time at Nickerson Beach on Long Island this Leap Day. Although they breed way up in the Arctic Tundra, these owls, on occasion, show up in unlikely places – like New York. We were sure to stay at least one hundred feet from the well-hidden bird, to be sure not to disturb it.
“Be still, and the earth will speak to you.” – Navajo Proverb
