Birding, Radnor Lake

All year I tried to get out to Radnor Lake in southwest Nashville to hike the Lake Trail, but timing was never on my side. Most of our Summer was very very oppressively hot. I missed Spring at Radnor and I had planned on getting out to the lake for Fall, but it never happened mainly because of the rainy Fall we encountered here in Tennessee. Today I made the drive over to the lake and as luck would have it the weather was perfect with temps in the 70's and a brisk wind that kept me cooled off as I made the three mile hike around the parameter of the lake.

As I walked the Lake Trail I first encountered this Ring Necked Duck, a Life List bird for me, perched quietly on a log near the bank. I snapped a few images and moved on.

A short distance away I happened upon what looked like the rest of the flock of Ring Neck Ducks swimming close to the bank also. There were males and females alike. The females are brown and tan while the males are black and white. Ring Neck Ducks have a smaller compact body with two toned wings and a ring around their bills too. Their breeding grounds are in the very far northern eastern United States and most of Canada. They travel as far south as Tennessee in Winter. They like small ponds and smaller lakes which is no doubt the reason I found them on Radnor.

Radnor Lake is a state park and has 1200 acres including the lake. With its close proximity to downtown Nashville and situated right smack dab in the middle of suburbia, Radnor is very popular with families and couples. Getting a parking space is not an easy feat, as I've tried in the past and couldn't get in. I think the holidays had a few folks out shopping which left the park with not as many visitors. I can't wait to get out to Radnor in Spring and Summer to see all of the greenery. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. ENJOY!

Linking to Saturday's Critters and Wild Bird Wednesday

Winter Blues

Winter I am done with you! 

Done with ice, sleet, freezing rain, snow, bitter cold, dark and dreary days. 

I am done with dry skin, slipping on sidewalks, sliding in the parking lot, scraping ice off car windows. 

I am done with wrapping my scarf tighter, putting the gloves on, taking the gloves off.

I am done with grabbing more logs for the fire, turning the thermostat up again, reaching for a fresh mug of hot coffee.

I know that most of you have had a much harsher Winter than I have had in Kentucky and Tennessee.

I know here the bitter cold cannot compare to that of the northern States, not to mention the Canadian Provinces. 

So forgive me for being done, but I simply can't take any more.

This week we had an inch of ice, the following day an inch of snow.

The following day the temperature dropped to sub zero whilst we attempted to dig out our lives. 

Then yesterday snow, sleet and freezing rain fell all within one evening's time. 

Today it is raining. A rain that brings icicles crashing to the ground.

A rain that makes for a dark and dreary Winter's day.

A rain that just will not stop and no doubt will bring with it flooding. 

One would expect on such a day to find Noah guiding the animals to the Ark 'two by two.'

I long for sunny days, bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds that slowly move across the sky.

I long for warm breezes that brush against my cheek and turns my frown into a smile.

I long for flowers in every shape, size and configuration on every walk, stroll or hike.

I long for Spring. 

And while I am longing for Winter to be done, I ask, are you with me? ENJOY!

Whooping Crane, Endangered Species

Ewing Bottoms is overwintering hundreds and hundreds of Sandhill Cranes, which have migrated down from Canada. Yesterday as I photographed the Cranes, water stood heavily in much of the farmland after significant rains last week left the area a bit waterlogged. And as luck would have it one lone Whooping Crane stood amongst the Sandhill Cranes.

Whooping Cranes, an Endangered Species and the tallest bird in North America, are threatened not only by their meager numbers, but also by climate change in the form of warmer temperatures and decreased rainfall. This threat could shrink the Whooping Cranes wetland habitat allowing foxes and lynx easier access to the breed's chicks in northern Canadian. Couple that with their southern winter habitat in Texas, where decreased rainfall and rising sea levels brings less freshwater inflow and potential flooding of the marshlands, and sadly, this species has much to overcome. Given this, I felt blessed to capture several images of this lone Whooping Crane yesterday. Such graceful looking birds. Its solid white body, black head, black legs and red face stood in stark contrast to the grays of the Sandhill Cranes surrounding it. ENJOY!