Autumn Reflections

Hello my blogging friends,

I hope you all are well and enjoying life. Things are fine here and busy as usual. Time flies by and sometimes I wonder just where it all goes.

Another season has passed and now strong November winds are blowing the last of the leaves from the trees. It's difficult to imagine that winter is just around the corner, but the calendar tells me, yes, it is! We had the most wonderful autumn this year. We haven't seen such good leaf color in years.

I have tried to get out to walk with my camera whenever possible. With each walk now, as autumn gives way to winter, I dig out my warmest sweaters, and I close my jacket more tightly against the cold. I'll soon have to give in and begin wearing my heavier winter clothing.

I always find such peace when I'm walking in nature... quietly, with nothing but the sound of the wind, the birds, and the newly fallen leaves crunching under my feet. The smell of the autumn leaves is rich and fills the senses.

The Litchfield Hills never fail to produce the most beautiful autumn foliage

The Sumac was most brilliant this year

For those who have followed this blog, you might remember our Mute Swan couple. The beautiful male passed away during nesting season and for two summers the lady remained alone at the pond. A few weeks ago, a companion finally joined her. They seem to get along quite nicely.

One day when I was out, I came across this white bird. At first I thought it was an egret, but a closer look made me realize it was actually a Little Blue Heron in white phase. Quite a treat to see. I've seen Great Blue Herons in white phase, but never a Little Blue. I love first sightings!

White-Tailed Deer

On the way to one of my favorite trails, I looked up into this field and spotted a lovely couple.

Isn't he handsome? (You can click on these pictures to see them larger.)

Some autumn reflections

This season is filled with beautiful, rich wine reds, orange, and gold. Could there be anything more beautiful than nature's paintings?

This is a Greater Yellowlegs

The winter birds are flocking in and enjoying the berries that autumn provides

Sometimes when walking, the imagination takes over. Can it really be a leopard growling at me?! ;-)

Canada Geese

One flies overhead

A solitary Oak leaf rests in the water

Hudsonian Godwit. Another first sighting for me!

According to Whatbird.com:

"After breeding, the Hudsonian Godwit undertakes a migration from the subarctic to southern South America, in which it apparently makes nonstop flights of several thousand miles.

It is the smallest and least known of the world’s four godwit species.

It once was regarded as one of North America’s rarest birds; though it is now known to be much more numerous, it is still considered highly vulnerable because its population is concentrated at only a few sites.

A group of godwits are collectively known as an "omniscience", "pantheon", and "prayer" of godwits."

Great Blue Heron

American Bittern, listed as "Endangered" in Connecticut. We saw four of them at Hammonasset Beach in Madison, CT. This is an extremely elusive bird. If you are lucky enough to spot one, it usually will duck into the reeds and or fly away, but two of them actually walked toward me. Quite a treat!

I've never seen one fluff its feathers before. The bird will generally stand in the reeds, hold its head up, exposing the vertical stripes on the neck to camouflage with the grasses

A Mallard pair

Yellow Shafted Flicker

Bursting Milkweed Pod

Wildflower gone to seed

Starlings and Cowbirds

Canada Goose

Last week our baby squirrels returned to their birthplace outside my window

So much fun to see them back in the nesting hole, and I was pleased to see that all four of them are still alive and well. No sign of Mom though.

We had a freak early snowfall

And the babies were rushing furiously to bring in some soft leaves as they moved into the hole for shelter this winter

And now we wait for the snow.

Thank you for all of your visits and kind comments. I don't have time to blog the way I used to, but I love reading your comments and hope to get back on the blogging trail again one day.

Until next time. Take care.