I'm Still Alive & Kicking

Hello friends, I hope you all are well and enjoying life. I'm sitting here with my cats curled up beside me sleeping peacefully, so I decided to try and put something together to share with you today.

It's been a long time since I posted anything here. I've tried several times, only to abort my attempts in frustration. I guess I just don't have the patience right now for organization.

Since my last post, winter ended, spring came upon us, and wow, where is the year going? It's already summer!!

For those who have asked, I'm doing fine, but my brain is really scattered these days, so I just try to do my own thing and get out with my camera to unwind, whenever it is possible to squeeze in little bits of time.

The Red Fox in this picture was quite a treat to see. (Remember you can click on the pictures to see them larger.)

There were actually several of them, but this one came very close to me. She was so beautiful and it was just a magical moment when she sat right down very calmly just a few feet in front of me. According to reports, there are also six babies there, but I haven't been fortunate enough to see them.

Wild Turkeys are in their beautiful breeding plumage now

Recently, I have seen a couple of these Yellow Crowned Night Herons. This is the first time I've ever seen these birds so far north. When I lived in South Carolina, we used to see them, but I never imagined that they would come up to Connecticut. Quite a nice sighting!

Eastern Cottontail living by the marsh

American Goldfinch

Not the best picture, but one day while out walking, there was a very wild and crazy barking coming from the marsh grasses. Off in the distance, a Coyote seemed upset. I think it was because there was a man walking out in the marsh, and I guess that he probably disturbed him.

Even while the coyote was barking, this Cedar Waxwing was perched in a small tree very close to me.

Snowy Egret. Listed as Threatened. Demand for egret plumes for ladies hats back a century or so ago nearly caused these birds' extinction. This bird certainly demonstrated how beautiful their feathers are.

The warblers and finches are wonderful this time of year. Such colorful little wonders and their songs are beautiful. This is a Yellow Warbler.

American Robins are everywhere now. I don't think I've ever seen so many.

Not much of a picture, but this is a Marsh Wren. When walking through the marshes, these birds have the most interesting calls. They almost always remain invisible, hidden deep in the grasses, so when one lands a little higher on the grass, it's quite a treat to snap even a faraway picture of it.

The other day I was driving down the road and I spotted about 30 or more Canada Geese in a parking lot. Most of them were toddlers and teens. I got out of the car and began to take pictures - I only had my long lens on the camera, and at some point they gathered around me and I couldn't take pictures because they were too close! Soon more geese crossed the road, stopping traffic right in the middle of town, and I suddenly had an entourage following me back to the car. I felt like the Pied Piper!

I was at Hammonasset State Park one day and right beside the road was this Great Egret. He let me get quite close, so I was able to get some pretty good shots of him.

Such a beauty!

Nearby, in a fresh water puddle, a little Killdeer sipped water

Least Terns were fluttering over a pond and diving down quickly with a heavy splash, coming back up with small fish. Fun to watch them. These birds are listed as Threatened here, so it's always a treat to see them.

Red Winged Blackbirds are back in full force, calling out from the grasses. This one perched on a rail for me. Very cooperative of him!!

This time of year is the best for all the little babies! Just love seeing them. This one is a little Canada Gosling.

Ahh, the flowers!!! So nice to see color again! Yay! I just get so color starved in the winter.

Now, this was an extremely happy sighting!! A baby Piping Plover. They are listed as endangered and threatened, depending on where they are. The birds like to nest on beaches and when the nesting areas are located, the state fences around the areas and sometimes completely close the beaches. I got lucky this day because the birds were down by the water.

I kept my distance, using a long lens, and marveled at their camouflage. Sometimes I was looking directly at them, but my eyes just didn't see them.

I looked up at the sky one day and spotted this Blackbird chasing an Osprey. I always find it remarkable how these small birds actually succeed in chasing the big birds away!

The scent of wild roses is lovely now, as well as the Honeysuckle. Walking along a path one day, the sweet mixture of the two fragrances filled the air with a beautiful perfume. Note the raindrops. We're 23 days into the month, and this is the 18th day of grey skies and sporadic rain. Will somebody please send me some sunshine?

Well, I think we know what this critter is. He was standing by the road and when the car stopped, I quickly shot this picture.

One day I was out and spotted a small herd of deer. The rest of the deer moved away from me, but this one decided to turn and walk toward me. We looked at each other for quite some time and finally he got bored with my face and moved on.

This Cattle Egret doesn't belong here!! We used to see them in the ditches down south, but never, ever up here!!

This cute little Killdeer was trying to be invisible by hiding in the grasses. He would duck down and then pop up. Ha ha! I caught him!

Aw, a little baby bunny. They are everywhere now.

On another visit, I spotted the Cattle Egret again, this time with some Glossy Ibises

And then it was time to fly.
Until next time...

Thank you so much for all of your kind notes and comments. They mean a lot to me, even though sometimes I can't find the words to express my appreciation.

Mom is doing fine right now, but has been in and out of the hospital, nursing homes, back home, here, and then back again to all of those places so many times in the past year that, quite honestly, I have lost count.

Otherwise, everything is fine here. We have been pretty much housebound, unless we are doing things for Mom. Haven't made any trips to anywhere interesting, but hope we can take a break sometime in the autumn.

Well, take care and thank you so much for your visits. You all are so kind.