Saturday's Critters # 640

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters! Hello and Happy Saturday!

 If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

Happy Spring! Sending wishes that your Spring blossoms each day with happiness and joy!

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir

I am sharing a collection of photos are from my archives. Birding in the Spring is a great time to see migrating birds that just happen to just by on their way north. 

Click on images for better viewing.

The first couple of weeks of May is an awesome time to visit the Delaware beaches to see the shorebirds migrating and the horseshoe crabs laying their eggs.

These photos all taken 5-15-2015, hubby and I visited various birding hot spots to see the migrating shorebirds.  The hot spots we visited just this one day were Slaughter beach, Mispillion Harbor and the Dupont Nature Center, Port Mahon Road and Bombay Hook NWR.

Below a Ring-billed Gull, Laughing Gull, Dunlins and the Red Knot. 

 The Red Knot is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The Dupont Nature Center in Delaware was a great place to view the Red Knot and various shorebirds. There is a Red Knot in the center section of the photo below. The birds with the black spot on their belly are the breeding Dunlins.

There are at least three Red Knots in the photo below, can you find them.  The Red Knot migrates from South America to the Arctic and they stop at the Delaware bay area to refuel.  The Red Knot is a plump sandpiper, their breeding color is a rich cinnamon color below and a mottled gray with cinnamon edges. 

Delaware at one time was known to have the largest population of spawning Horseshoe Crabs. The Red Knot uses the Delaware beaches as a food stop, they feed on the Horseshoe Crab eggs.  The Horseshoe Crabs have been declining which in turn affects the Red Knot population. In 2023 there was a recovery plan to reverse a decline of the Red Knot. I would assume there would also need to be a plan to help with the decline of Horseshoe Crabs.

Hubby and I have walked some Delaware beaches turning over Horseshoe Crabs that get stuck upside down.  We are happy to have helped them out. I am not sure if there are limitations on harvesting Horseshoe Crabs, they are being used as bait and also for medical companies using the horseshoe crab blood.

I like this photo of the Horseshoe crabs and the tracks they leave behind heading into the Delaware Bay. 

Below are more Delaware shorebirds like the Dunlins, Ruddy Turnstones and gulls.

Below are a group of Ruddy Turnstones. 

Below are a group of Ruddy Turnstones and some Laughing Gulls. 

The beachy and sand bar areas attracted lots of birds resting and looking for food. 

Below are various gulls and all the brown spots are shorebirds like the Ruddy Turnstones, Dunlins and Red Knots. 

Dunlins in flight.

This Spring I am hoping to get to visit the Delaware beaches during the migration of the shorebirds.

I am wondering what everyone is watching lately? I am into the Virgin River series on Netflix and Young Sherlock and Scarpetta on Prime. My latest reading list has been Harlen Coben's " I will find you", Shari Lapena's "Everyone here is lying" and the latest in the series from LJ Ross's called "Berwick". They are either are from the Libby website borrowed from my local libraries or from Kindle Ebooks. 

I am linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday   I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.

Check out  Catblogosphere.com

Here is my linky:

Thank you for sharing your critters and post! 

Saturday's Critters # 437

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and happy Saturday!

 If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

Wow, Goodbye April.  The days and months are flying by. I am sharing some archived critters and photos from my travels.

Do you have a caption for any of these photos?

1.  Listen, I am talking to you! Laughing Gulls @ Curacao

2. Are you feeling crabby today?  Curacao 2012

3.  Family dining together. Find a spot to sit, dinner is served.  Bananaquit, Curacao 2012

4. Breakfast leftovers, we are gathering the crumbs of happiness. Curacao Bananaquit, Yellow Warbler, House Sparrow

5. Flamingos, Curacao Salt Flats. There is a stranger among us! 

6. Be Different, Harlequin Ducks with Heermann's Gulls.  Ediz Hook, Port Angeles Washington.  

I heard there was a sighting of a Heermann's Gull at the Baltimore Harbor recently, it reminded me of my sighting of this gull during one of our Washington State trips. 

7. Just chatting, our old dog Daisy talking with our Lop bunny Snowball. 

8. Our old dogs, Sunshine "I can hear you now"  and Daisy  "Lift your butt I smell something."  Shenandoah NP. 

9.  Daisy telling Sunshine, come on in the water feels good. 

Thank you for sharing your critters and post!

Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.

Here is my linky:

I am also linking up to Anni's blog party found here I'd Rather B Birding   Anni always has some beautiful birds to be seen on her blog, check it out!

Our World, My World

Happy Monday,  

In early October hubby and I were able to getaway to Chincoteague Island  Virginia.  We were still wearing our mask and keeping our distance and trying to stay safe and healthy.  A great deal of time we were either in our car or enjoying the outdoors.   We enjoyed the change of scenery with walks on the beach, seeing the wild ponies, lots of shore birds, fresh air and the sounds of the ocean. 

 1. Photos below of our walk on the beach, near Tom's Cove, there was a huge flock of terns mixed with gulls, cormorants and the Sanderlings were seen on the beach. 

 

2. Me and my shadow, walking on the beach at Chincoteague.

 

3.  The Chincoteague ponies were a distance away, some were seen in the corral. The wild ponies were being rounded up for a fall health check up. 

 

4. Some ponies were already in the corral, waiting for their health check up. 

 

5. Snowy Egrets, DC Cormorants, Great Egrets and White Ibis were plentiful, seen all around the Chincoteague NWR.

 

 

6. Lots of Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons and White Ibis.
 

 7.  Social distancing at the Chincoteague Island beach, also known as Assateaugue Island National Seashore. 

I'll have more to share on our visit to Chincoteague Island and the National Wildlife Refuge and National Seashore.

We are still hanging in there, happy and healthy.   I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy. 


What's happening in your corner of the world? Please check out and visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there.


 
Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day and a great new week!

 

 

 

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday! 

Hello, wishing everyone a great day and weekend ahead. 
I am sharing more of our trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey on Oct 30-31st. We stayed one night at the new Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for a total of $88. The Hard Rock Hotel took over what was the previous Trump's Taj Mahal, since it went bankrupt in 2009 and 2015. The rooms are beautifully done after being gutted, we loved the newly renovated room. We had a partial view of the ocean and to the right we could see the bay. 

"It is a wonderful day, I have not seen this one before."


The moon seen from our driveway before leaving on our NJ trip. 

The newly renovated Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. 

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is right on the Atlantic City boardwalk. 

Me and my shadow's view of dunes and Atlantic Ocean.

I am guessing these are the Laughing Gulls, I could be wrong.  

We were up and outside for the sunrise, the neighboring Ocean Casino has this ball on top of the building. It changes colors and messages. Below is the pumpkin ball. 

The message changed to the USA flag ball. 

"Slow down and enjoy life."

The ferris wheel on the pier changed colors, it looked pretty. 

"Happiness can not be far behind a grateful heart and a peaceful mind."


While watching the sunrise I saw rows of Cormorants or Black Ducks flying south. 

It was a beautiful sunrise.  

"When you start each day with a grateful heart, light illuminates from within." unknown

I am thankful I am retired and enjoying life. 
I am thankful to see the sunrise each day. 
A thankful heart is a happy heart. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday


Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Saturday's Critters #177

Saturday's Critters #177

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

I may be away from my computer and internet for a bit. I will visit your blogs and comment as soon as possible.  

Below, left to right are the Black Skimmer, Bonaparte's Gull with the orange legs and the rest are the Laughing Gulls.

Lots of Black Skimmers and various Gulls.

Ruddy Turnstone

Gulls and Skimmers in flight.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Saturday's Critters #137

Saturday's Critters #137

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

I have some Florida birds and a lizard, we saw plenty of anoles or lizards while visiting Florida.

Duck family, the little ones in the grass were so cute.

A Muscovy Duck, they are strange looking.

Laughing Gulls on a light Pole.

Anhinga near the lake.

This lizard has a long tail and weird looking feet. I hope you enjoyed my post and critters. I am looking forward to seeing your critters and post. As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

An InLinkz Link-up

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.