Merry Christmas to All

I wish everyone a wonderful and joyous Christmas with loved ones and friends alike. 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!

Beauty of Winter

A beautiful red Cardinal sits perched on a tree in Mustatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in the dead of Winter. I had paid a visit many years ago to the refuge. Earlier that day I had visited Ewing Bottoms to photograph the Sandhill Cranes. Afterwards, before heading home to Louisville, I drove the route around Mustatatuck once. The only images I captured on that drive were several photographs of this beautiful red Cardinal perched high up in a tree. I had never posted it until now. I can't think why, as he is such a beauty. ENJOY!

Merry Christmas All

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, 
everything is softer and more beautiful.

                                             Norman Vincent Peale



 



Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Winter Kentucky

A brief note to say hello and let you know I haven't taken any new images this week, but I did want to share some of the images I captured in the past few weeks with you around Kentucky.

All of these images were taken at Bernheim except the fourth image of the icy coverd branches on the tree. It was taken in Louisville. The snow is hanging on here still covering the ground thanks to the ice storm that sealed it in the day after it fell. We made it above freezing today and will get well above that in days to come. Although I hope we melt some snow and see some signs of Spring, I have heard talk of snow on Friday or at least a wintry mix. Hope all is well in your part of the world. Be safe. ENJOY!

A Few Pounds

Is it me or has this female Cardinal put on a few pounds. Seriously, no doubt she's trying to keep warm for the Winter, but she does look like she's been putting back a few carbs. Love it. ENJOY!

Winter at Bernheim

The weather has been playing cruel tricks on us this winter. As I awoke this morning, there was more snow on the ground. Checking the radar online, it seemed the skies might clear in the afternoon. So off I went to Bernheim.

As I entered through the main gate, the road had not been plowed and had about four inches of snow on it. Only a few car tracks were imprinted in the snow so I made a few new ones. I made my way slowly until I reached the parameter road that leads around the entire lower section of Bernheim. The road to the left which takes you to Isaac's Cafe was closed, but the road to the right leading to the Pavilion was open. I captured a few images of Lake Nevin as you see in the first few images.

Fortunately, the skies cleared and blue could be seen through the clouds and eventually the sun peeked out as well. Just what I had hoped for. There were about 5 or 6 cars max at the Pavilion parking lot. Only the brave were venturing into Bernheim today. One person had made their way to the Pavilion as was evidenced by the tracks in the snow. It was beautiful walking around the Pavilion and checking out all of the snow covered trees and branches and snow laden bushes. As was expected Robins, Cardinals and a few Song Sparrows were foraging for food kicking up the snow and digging out so as to reach the ground and any food that might be hidden under the snow.

I visit Bernheim in all seasons and while I may be partial to Spring with it's gorgeous Japanese Magnolia blooms and blooming Crab Apple Trees and Fall with it's golds and reds and orange leaves, I am starting to have a fondness for Winter especially when the snow flies. There are so few visitors on days like today and I love that because it makes for a more personal feel when you are out in nature.

I thought I would leave you with this beautiful image of a Red Cardinal who allowed me to photograph him for a few minutes before he took off. He was in one of the beautiful craggy, moss covered trees that surround the Pavilion. What a beautiful walk in nature. ENJOY!

Red Cardinal!

As I sit writing this post this Saturday afternoon, a red bar is running across the bottom of my television screen with severe thunderstorm warnings and a beep, beep, beep is sounding off. A strong storm, the second one since I've been up this morning, just passed overhead and several more are right behind it. I was awakened this morning by a severe thunderstorm as well. We had an even stronger storm that came through at dinnertime last evening and right after it passed over, the National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning. I knew when the storm passed there should have been a warning with it. These are only a handful of the storms we've had in the last week. And now for the third time in a month, the Ohio River is way out of banks and covering roadways all around Louisville. No sooner than I had typed that last period, the Weather Channel is showing flooding in Louisville and the Horseshoe Casino which may have to close again due to high water on the television. Weird. My heart goes out to those who have had damage from all the spring storms. I am praying to the weather gods to please give us a break, but I don't think their listening.

While in Nashville, Indiana last weekend this beautiful red cardinal was regaling everyone with his song high up in a tree over one of the shops. I tried to get a better image but he wasn't having it. Still I like the blues and greens and I love the tree bark on this tree. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter tomorrow and enjoy Easter dinner and please try not to eat too many chocolate bunnies. And now back to praying to the weather gods . . . ENJOY!

First Cardinal of 2010!

Don't you just love cardinals. It is Kentucky's state bird so perhaps that helps. This is the first cardinal I've seen this year. This particular little fella is especially red. I took this while standing in my bedroom looking out. The window is a little dirty. It's 9 degrees wind chill here and 22 degrees Fahrenheit. I went outside earlier today to fill the bird feeders. Brrrr. Enjoy!