November 16, 2011

My Backyard in November

An unwanted visitor!


Harris's Sparrow


Black-capped Chickadee


Cardinal


Tufted Titmouse


Tufted Titmouse


Black-capped Chickadee

     Today, it is cold and blustery and is suppose
to get down to 24 degrees tonight. This kind of 
weather is usually what brings our Winter migrants.
We (my husband and I) hadn't put out any birdseed
for about a month.  We purchased new seed, put it 
out, then began having House Sparrow visits the first week.

     The next week we put out some suet and began seeing the 
Chickadees arrive.  Last week we had more frequent
Chickadee visits and then the Titmice began to come.  I love their
sweet little faces!  The last few days the Cardinals have
found their way back to our feeding station :-))  and we saw our 
first Dark-eyed Junco.  

     I looked out the window this afternoon...and lo & behold, 
there were 2 Harris's Sparrows!!  Next, we'll be waiting in anticipation
for the arrival of the White-crowned Sparrows.  I know the White-crowns
are here because we spotted them at the Chaplin Nature Center earlier this
week.  We also saw Harris's and what I believe was a Vesper Sparrow.  I
saw one that looked like a Harris, but had too much white coloration.  I
may have been looking at a Lapland Longspur.

I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!
I hope everyone gets to spend it with those you love :-)) 


November 12, 2011

A Walk in the Woods, Part 3

A leaf strewn path

 


 Doe a Deer
This sweet little doe was not afraid of me at all.
The light wasn't good enough for clear photos with my point and shoot,
but I couldn't resist showing her to you.  She was checking 
me out from time to time, but would shake her
tail and continue foraging.

 The Woods


 Coralberry



 Goldenrod



 Native Grasses of Kansas


 Coralberry


 The Arkansas River


Heart~shaped Redbud Leaf

The End.

Hi!  I want you to know it's the end of this series, but
not the end of my birds and nature blog.  Doesn't
that make you happy...HaHa!
Winter backyard birds are beginning to arrive, like
the Dark-eyed Junco we saw this week :-))
I'm looking forward to posting about them and
other naturey things happening here in 
middle America.

Have a GREAT week!! 

November 7, 2011

A Walk in the Woods, Part 2

 Bull Thistle 



Plains Chinese Lanterns 


Common Sunflower in Kansas 
The birds will really enjoy these seed heads.


Snow on the Mountain 



Maximilian Sunflower in Kansas 
http://kswildflower.org/flower_details.php?flowerID=163


Goldenrod 




Virginia Creeper
The Virginia Creeper turns a gorgeous red
in the Fall.  Here you see it clinging to this huge
Cottonwood tree. 

 
A quiet place in the woods to sit and take
it all in.  I saw a sweet little Doe...she wasn't
scared of me either.  The squirrels were busy. 
I could hear them scampering through the leaves 
making a rustling, crunching sound.

The woods are changing so fast.  I took a walk through them
last week with my family and the paths were thickly strewn
with fallen leaves.  It was exquisite walking the paths with
the thick carpet of leaves swishing and crunching under
our feet. 

Next week, a "Walk in the Woods" part 3.

Have a great week!  :-)




October 27, 2011

A Walk in the Woods


 On a beautiful sunny, warm October day, I decided it's
time to take a walk in the woods.  The wildflowers
would be presenting their autumnal beauty bathed in the golden light
of the Sun.  A great opportunity for a photo opp!
http://www.wichitaaudubon.org/CNCTrailmap.html

 Plains Chinese Lanterns
  
These are the seed pods of a Plains Chinese Lantern 
or Purple Ground Cherry plant.  The plant gets it's name
because the shape of the seed pod looks like
a Chinese Lantern.  The flower is a blueish/purple bloom and 
the fruit is like a cherry.  Native Americans made
jelly from the berries.
                      http://kswildflower.org/flower_details.php?flowerID=212

 Wingstem
 This is a pretty little yellow bloom called
Wingstem.  It's a wildflower native to Kansas.
 
 Snow on the Mountain
This native plant is one of my favorites.  I love the 
variegated, soft green leaves.


White Snakeroot
Pretty, but toxic to animals and humans.
  




Bull Thistle



 There are many different kinds of Goldenrod.  
I'm sorry but I can't figure this one out.
They are very pretty, though,  and really light up the prairie. 

My plan is to post again next week with more images
from Chaplin Nature Center.

sincerely,
cindy

 

October 19, 2011