Brown Creeper - Birding at Bisset Park

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

Oprah Winfrey

Bisset Park in Radford, Virginia is a GREAT place to see birds. It is part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. I saw several Brown Creepers during my outing there on 01-28-12. They are so fast - and blend in with the trees so well. Bisset is also where I saw my spark bird - A Yellow-throated warbler.

Bluebird at Bisset Park

As long as there are bluebirds, there will be miracles and a way to find happiness.

- Shirl Brunnel

About the image: Taken 01-28-12 at Bisset Park - Radford, Virginia

Chickadee on Frosty Thorns

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

--Unknown

About the Image: Taken early in the morning on 01-08-12. With temps at 27 degrees things were quite frosty. It was one of those amazing mornings that even though it's cold on the outside - you are warm on the inside. The pounding in my chest was not from the exercise, but from this consuming emotion that seemed to take over my body ..... Thankfulness.

Linking up with the Creative Exchange - HERE

Great Blue Heron - One Step At A Time

A close up of the Great Blue Heron walking up the tree branch

A view with the GBH and the tree.

There is no one giant step that does it. It’s a lot of little steps.

~ Peter A. Cohen

About the Image: Taken 12-26-11 Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, VA

Misty Dawn Hosts Camera Critters - HERE

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Eyeing Me

There are many things in life that will catch your eye,

but only a few will catch your heart. Pursue those.

~Unknown.

About the Image: Captured 12-30-11 - Bisset Park - Radford, Virginia.

White-breasted Nuthatch - On the Climb

That man is successful who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much, who has gained the respect of the intelligent men and the love of children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who leaves the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

A Male Cardinal

A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.

Winnie The Pooh

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Play with life, laugh with life,

dance lightly with life, and

smile at the riddles of life,

knowing that life's only true lessons

are writ small in the margin.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

About the image: Taken on a foggy morning 09-25-11 - Gateway Trail - Blacksburg, Virginia

I believe this is a Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Not a bird a see very often so it was a thrill to see this one!

Female Cardinal and Her Berry Beak

Autumn is the eternal corrective.

It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity;
but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance.

What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon
- Hal Borland

About this image: I just couldn't pass up a bird with a berry in her beak. This was a dark picture - I was VERY far away - and it wasn't sharp. I did a bit of editing in Lightroom 3 and this is what I got. Still not very sharp and has a "painterly" look to it. I am pleased with the way the autumn colors in the background show through and I love that you can see her skinny legs :) The branches came together nicely to give her a "framed" look.

Female Cardinal - Peeking from the Pines

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

~ John Lubbock

Hummingbird Dance

On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined.

~Lord Byron

They weren't really dancing but it sure was FUN to watch.

Green Heron and His Reflection

Once you really commence to see things, then you really commence to feel things.

- Edward Steichen

Green Heron - 09-17-11 - Izaak Walton Park - Christiansburg, VA

Hummingbird in the Flowers

For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.

~Unknown

Hummingbird see on my walk today - 09-17-11 - Izaak Walton Park

Christiansburg, VA

Tufted Titmouse Posing for Me

Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?

~Fanny Brice

Wednesday Wings ~ Great Blue Flyover

A Great Blue Heron flew over as I was walking on a very foggy Sunday morning - 04-10-11 at Heritage Park, Blacksburg Virginia. What an awesome wingspan!
Spread your wings and let the fairy in you fly! ~Author Unknown

Eastern Towhee Close-up

Eastern Towhee surrounded by Spring.

Yesterday the twig was brown and bare; To-day the glint of green is there; Tomorrow will be leaflets spare; I know no thing so wondrous fair, No miracle so strangely rare. I wonder what will next be there! ~L.H. Bailey

Perhaps ....

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come. ~Chinese Proverb

Elusive Moments

Brown Creeper seen on my walk last Sunday 02-13-11

The more we try to catch hold of the present moment the more elusive it becomes. It is like trying to clutch water in ones hands. The harder we grip, the more it slips through our fingers.

~ Alan Watts

Wednesday Wings ~ Little Things

It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.
~John Wooden
When I saw this quote I thought of all the "little" feathers making it possible for this Tufted Titmouse to fly. Birds in flight are a constant fascination to me and any time I can get a shot of one in flight - or in take off mode I am thrilled.

Friday Feathers - Feathers of the Sun

A Yellow-rumped warbler seen during visit to Ocean City, MD at the end of December ~ The yellow feathers remind me of a little spot of Sunshine :)

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

~Irish Blessing~