Best of 2019

I dedicate this collage to the last year of a decade. I hope you had a great 2019. Here are a few top images from my year. This year brought many, many changes. I welcomed all of them with open arms. One can't survive in this world without accepting change. I hope you enjoy a look back. ENJOY!

Happy New Year!

The American White Pelicans are such gorgeous, graceful looking birds. They are spending the Winter months on Old Hickory Lake again this year.

I thought I would begin the New Year with some images of these beautiful birds. There are about 100 or more Pelicans living right off one of the rookeries that sits in the middle of the lake. At any time of the day you will find groups of Pelicans swimming and feeding around the tiny inlets and coves that make up Old Hickory Lake.

It's interesting to watch them as they feed because they synchronize their diving maneuvers. And as one goes down for a catch, the others follow suit.

This particular image is my favorite shot. I would have loved it if the water wasn't rippled, but it's a huge lake right off the Cumberland River and the chances of that ever happening are slim to none.

I have been battling bronchitis for nearly a week, but am starting to get well. I sleep at odd hours as the coughing keeps me up most of the night. I trust everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year's Eve. I watched the ball drop in New York's Times Square from my living room and then watched the Music Note in Nashville drop from my bedroom. I wish all of you the best wishes for the upcoming year and hope this one proves to be your best. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Independence Day!

Everyone have a wonderful 4th of July! Triple digit heat indices across America this holiday weekday. Pop up thunderstorms are a daily occurrence here and bring added fireworks. Here is an image from the fireworks display as they light up across Old Hickory Lake from Drakes Creek Park here in Hendersonville. Stay hydrated all and be safe on this Independence Day! ENJOY!

Sailing on the Lake

This beautiful sailboat was plying the waters on Percy Priest a while back. I had to snap a few images as I am an avid sailboat lover. I've only ever been on a sailboat twice in my life. Once in the Atlantic Ocean and once in the Gulf of Mexico. The Atlantic was on a sunset cruise out of Key West many years ago. The second was the Gulf of Mexico while visiting relatives. A strong storm came up between us and the dock. Thirty foot swells overtook us. I headed for the galley to minimize the rocking of the boat up top. Both experiences were ones I'll never forget. Not many sailboats sail on Old Hickory Lake. However, Percy Priest has a marina called Hamilton Marina which has a separate area for nothing but sailboats. So you can find the sailboats out on the water at Percy Priest often. I wouldn't trade Old Hickory Lake for anything. Living on the lake makes life so much more enjoyable. Perhaps it's the different scenes you take in as day turns into night. There's never a dull moment on the lake. And you never know what will fly in and stay awhile. Have a wonderful night. A holiday weekend is approaching. I love three day weekends. Gives you time to slow down a tad more than on a typical weekend. Back soon. ENJOY!

Great Blue Heron, Old Hickory Lake

I captured this image last year on a beautiful, sunny day on the small peninsula where the Heron Rookery sits along Old Hickory Lake. I haven't visited the Rookery this year as the land it was setting on was sold and an absolutely humongous house is being built on the property. I had permission from the old owners to frequent the Rookery, but I will need to gain permission from the new owners. Perhaps in the Summer or Fall I'll be able to do that. Right now the house is under construction. I loved this image as it was the perfect profile shot of the Heron. I hope your weekend is going well. Weekends seem to fly by these days. Very hot day and storms tonight here. Perhaps tomorrow it will be a tad cooler. ENJOY!

Yawn, Great Blue Heron

The fisherman stands sentry on an old worn tree stump near the shoreline patiently fishing for his next meal. Many a Great Blue Heron fish Old Hickory Lake up and down both sides of the peninsula every day here in Hendersonville. Today, I headed out briefly and happened upon this Heron perched on this old stump at the park. There wasn't much sun this afternoon, but I managed to catch a few images of him in what little bit of sunshine there was, before heavy cloud cover began to move in.

We have had every Winter accessory it could bring us here in Tennessee this year. Snow, ice, sleet, rain, rain and still more rain. Darn if the groundhog didn't see his shadow and announced six more weeks of Winter. UGH! As I snapped photos of the Heron, he looked my way and yawned. It was as if he echoed my thoughts on Winter. Speaking of, there is a front coming through in the early evening as I write this post. Thankfully, it's been too warm for the precipitation to stick, but still there it is. Spring has been on my mind a lot lately. I hope wherever you are, you have had a wonderful weekend. ENJOY!

A Gaggle of Greylag Geese

There are many different species of waterfowl that call Old Hickory Lake home and some who pass through during migration and others who overwinter here like the American White Pelicans. Hendersonville is a designated bird sanctuary and it's no small wonder why. All along the lake and its many insets you will find many species of birds. There are Great White Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Black Crowned Night Herons, Canadian Geese, American Coots, Pied Billed Grebes and Mallard Ducks to name a few.

On the day I photographed the American White Pelicans, I captured these images of a gaggle of Greylag Geese. Their color varies from white to grey to tan and anywhere in between. They come from Euroasia and at one time were bred for their meat. While these Greylags are wild and live on the lake, they are so domesticated that I literally walked right up to them as they were preparing to go for a swim.

After a few of them had a drink, they eventually headed onto the lake for a swim. From time to time they would bicker with each other. Although I'm not sure about what they were bickering about.

This gaggle of Greylag Geese stayed close to the shoreline as they floated not far from the Pelicans. It's a gloomy Saturday here in Hendersonville, albeit a tad warm. ENJOY!

Fishing, American White Pelican

The late afternoon sun spotlighted this beautiful American White Pelican as he was fishing on Old Hickory Lake Sunday. He intently eyed the water under him and then his bill and head would disappear as he dove in to grab a fish. It's amazing how graceful these large birds are even when they are fishing. Back soon. ENJOY!

The Pelican Brief

I know what you're thinking. I used a play on words. Well, you would be right. You see I spent a brief time today photographing the beautiful American White Pelicans that finally made their way back to Old Hickory Lake along the peninsula where I live. There are two peninsulas in Hendersonville where the lake runs up both sides of those peninsulas for several miles.

In this first image, the late day sun was shining right on the Pelicans as they floated along the lake. This is one of the best images I have ever gotten of the American White Pelicans. I wished there had been a little more light but I like the way the sun is shining on the birds.

It's not easy photographing these birds on Old Hickory Lake as most of the background is going to be the back yards and docks from the houses directly across the lake. This image seemed somewhat noise free for the most part. Basically, there were Pelicans up and down the entire lake along this peninsula everywhere. I suppose you could say they have made themselves at home here on the lake.

Leaving the Pelicans, I ran errands, and afterwards before going home, I stopped for a few more minutes to snap photos of the birds. The sun was shining a tad more too. The wind had picked up making the water choppy, but I captured a couple more photos in spite of it.

We started out in Tennessee this week with sub zero temperatures. It was minus 1 degree last Sunday night. Monday brought an ice storm and later in the day snow. We averaged around 2-3 inches total with about an eighth of an inch of ice under it. It made for hazardous driving and tons of school closings. Fast forward one week to today. It is 65 degrees and balmy. The flu is ravaging every state across the U.S. and Canada too. This H1N2 strain is the worst one and apparently that's what most people are getting. I hope wherever you are you are warm and healthy and the sun is shining brightly. I'll be back with a few Duck images in a few days. Have a great week. ENJOY!

Walking on Water

Walking on water, this Great Blue Heron and many other shorebirds are standing on top of Old Hickory Lake, after a frigid sub zero week of temperatures, left the surface frozen.

Of course, as you walk on water, you run the risk of slipping. Sorry for the blur, but when you walk on water, you slip and things get a little blurry.

Today is the first day the temperatures climbed out of the 20's and actually made it into the low 40's. I ventured out briefly. There are temperatures predicted to be in the 60's mid week. First, however, an ice storm is predicted for the Monday morning commute. Ahhh, Winter throwing everything it can possibly throw at us. Stay warm, stay safe. ENJOY!

Best of Winter Birding

There are so many wonderful opportunities to snap bird photos during the Winter months. As I was cruising my archive, I noticed a trend. Many of my best bird images were taken during the Winter months. These images are from the states of Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. Most were taken in the past five years. Birding spots include Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest and the Lexington Reservoir in Kentucky, to three popular lakes in Greater Nashville, Radnor Lake, Percy Priest Lake, and of course, Old Hickory Lake. There's even an image of a Sandhill Crane captured at Ewing Bottoms, in south central Indiana, on a sunny Winter's day. I'll be making my annual pilgrimage to Louisville soon and wanted to share another Winter post before I left. I hope you are having a Happy Holiday and you are getting ready for a very Merry Christmas. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I'll try to post once more before the big day. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Red Barns of Sumner County

There are so many winding roads here in Sumner County where I live. Every now and then I take one because many of them criss cross Old Hickory Lake and I like to see if there are any wildlife viewing spots around. On this day I had taken a road that actually had quite a few farms on it. Here are a few barns I captured on that drive. I don't know if the three x's have any significance on this first barn.

Further down the road I discovered this old red barn with it's peeling paint. The owners even decorated it for the holidays with a wreath. I absolutely love that. Who doesn't love a red barn. I'm starting to notice there's a fair amount of red barns in this county. Wonder if there's anything to that. I hope your week is off to a good start. Mine will be very busy with end of year work related meetings. Back soon. ENJOY!

Best of Birding 2017

It has been a slow year for me from a photography standpoint, but I have managed to get out and take some photographs especially of birds. Here are my top three picks for bird photography for 2017.

No. 1: In February, I captured this image of a Sandhill Crane migrating south for the Winter in Cecilia, Kentucky foraging for food next to a pond. The thing I like best about these birds are how large they are and, in spite of that, still seem so utterly delicate.

No. 2: This beauty was added to my Birding Life List. This Summer Tanager was up and down on the branches of the Crab Apple trees in Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee, grabbing seed after seed and swallowing each one whole. I managed to capture this image before this seed went down the hatch. The depths of red on this tiny little creative is just mesmerizing.

No. 3: I just added this image in the past two weeks as the American White Pelicans had made a stop over on their migration route south on Old Hickory Lake, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Virtually right out my front door. The Pelicans, to my delight, are still here on the lake. What I wouldn't give if they would stay and overwinter here allowing me photos ops aplenty.

I'll post my best landscape and flower image(s) in a few days. In the meantime, I hope you are getting your decorating on. My tree is up and lit and adorning my living room with wreaths and table decorations all around. I decorate in the classic red and green colors as it brings such a beautiful uplifting feeling in Winter, when there are numerous gloomy days. I hope you are having a fantastic week. We're heading into the weekend. ENJOY!

Two Ships that Pass in the Night

Quoting from an age old saying, "Two ships that pass in the night." I wanted to share this sailboat and cruiser as they passed each other on Old Hickory Lake last year during the Christmas Boat Parade. I had never been to a boat parade so you can just imagine my excitement in spite of the 25 degree temperatures. I hope to get to this year's parade which is coming up in a few weeks. I also hope there's even more boats in the parade, as last year was the first year they had brought back the boat parade here in Hendersonville. What fun. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don't overdue yourself eating leftover turkey or putting up those holiday decorations. Back soon. ENJOY!

Today's Catch!

In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would get close enough to get a decent image of an American White Pelican. They tend to be very, very shy. For several days now, however, these beautiful birds have been roosting on an old dead tree on Old Hickory Lake. There are about eight or ten of them hanging out right across from my place this week and I am loving every minute of it.

These large aquatic soaring birds breed in interior North American and overwinter in Central and South American. They eat fish, carp, chubs, catfish, yellow perch and jack fish. Now if I can just get a nice shot of them flying across the lake, my desire to photograph the American White Pelican would be satiated. Have a great weekend all. ENJOY!

American White Pelicans, Old Hickory Lake

Imagine my surprise today to find American White Pelicans roosting on an old dead tree on Old Hickory Lake. I was about to turn into my complex when I looked off to the left and saw a whole lot of white in the middle of the lake. I knew it wasn't Great White Egrets as it was just too much white. I pulled into the tiny parking lot on the left next to the lake and got out to investigate.

I had read on the Birding News website which you can find at this link, Birding ABA, that the Pelicans were migrating South and had been seen at various wildlife refuges East and West of Nashville, albeit several hundred miles away. Apparently, these guys decided to make a stop over on the lake and roost for the evening. One by one they eventually congregated together, as a few of them were still swimming towards the group as I spotted them. My guess is they had just landed within the last half hour. What a treat. ENJOY!

Historic Rock Castle

Who doesn't love an old historic home. Better yet, who doesn't love an old historic home built out of limestone that heralds back to the pioneer days.

Come along as I walk the grounds around the beautiful Historic Rock Castle situated in Hendersonville, Tennessee. While Hendersonville is famous for being the home of many country music stars, it is more importantly home to the Historic Rock Castle house. Rock Castle was built in the Federal style design and crafted from beautiful limestone.

Daniel Smith, a Virginia surveyor, and a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War, began construction of Rock Castle in 1784 using land grants awarded him for his service in the military. Later, Smith became a member on the committee that eventually framed the Bill of Rights. He also became a U. S. Senator. Having been a surveyor, he was commissioned to determine the divisional lines between Kentucky and Tennessee which today is still the border between the two states.

The Smith Family occupied Rock Castle for 200 years. The house wasn't actually completed until 1791 due to several Indian attacks that occurred during construction. Smith owned 3,000 acres of land around Rock Castle which he farmed using slaves until after the Revolutionary War, and sharecroppers thereafter. Rock Castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The main house sits right next to what was then Drake's Creek. After the Tennessee Valley Authority was formed in modern day, Drake's Creek became Old Hickory Lake. Behind the main house sits a quaint barn with a rusty tin roof made out of the same limestone as the house. Situated next to the house are two flower gardens that were buzzing with bees and butterflies.

Trying to imagine what life was like living in the late 1700's in this historic old home boggles my mind, especially considering during the building of the house there were frequent Indian attacks. Those really were the pioneer days and this literally was one of the first permanent settlements in middle Tennesse at that time. I hope you enjoyed walking the grounds around Historic Rock Castle. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I will be back soon. ENJOY!

Egrets, Egrets & More Egrets

Oddly enough, at the beginning of Spring Great Blue Herons seemed to occupy the majority of the nests at the Heron Rookery on Old Hickory Lake, along with a few Black Cormorants and Black Crowned Night Herons, and nary a Great White Egret. Fast forward to this week and it's all about the Great White Egrets. They were plentiful at the rookery.

The Egrets were busy flying in and out and in and out of the rookery. And at times creating havoc as they flew in. I'm guessing this guy didn't have clearance from the tower for this landing.

I love to photograph these gorgeous birds as they are so regal looking with their solid white physiques. Hope your week is going well. It's a balmy 81 with virtually no humidity tonight here in Tennessee and I am super happy about it. ENJOY!

Out of the Nest

The Black Crowned Night Heron juveniles were out of the nest when I visited the Heron Rookery on Old Hickory Lake today. This little guy was hanging out at the nearby boat dock with three other juveniles.

Sorry this image is so busy, but I just had to show you the other three juveniles hanging out on the boat dock. I wonder exactly when they begin to turn colors as adults. I'll have to look that up. Thankfully, I didn't have to get close to get this image as I had my long lens on my camera.

Later on one of the juveniles flew up into a nearby tree. The afternoon sun was getting low in the sky making for a really nice warm shot. I wished I could have been there when these little guys fledged the nest. All four of the juveniles looked to be a few months old at best. The parents were in the large Heron Rookery sitting on branches not far away and really didn't seem to care what the kiddos were up to. These last two weekends in Tennessee have been fantastic with temperatures in the mid eighties and lots of sunshine and blue skies. Oh, how I wished it would last. Hope you are having a great weekend. ENJOY!

Ready for My Close Up Mr. DeMille

On the off chance I might see an odd bird of sorts, I stopped off this week at a tiny peninsula that juts out into Old Hickory Lake and is actually in Old Hickory. Old Hickory is on the opposite or south side of Old Hickory Lake just south of Hendersonville. Not a thing was stirring except for one lone Great Blue Heron who seemed content, visitors or not, to stand in the water right next to the edge of the parking lot and intently look out across the lake. I assumed he was ready for his closeup.

The Heron stood in the lake's shallow waters where the grasses were growing intently looking out at the lake. Fishing, no doubt. It was a cool 97 degrees today. I believe it was the hottest day of the year so far. UGH! Wouldn't it be great if it snowed one day during a heat wave. Sorry. I was out in the heat today working and I think it affected my brain. Stay cool all. ENJOY!