… God has blessed all beauties of Nature;
He’s set His approval and seal
On all of His small, winged messengers
That fly through the air with such zeal.
~Gertrude Tooley Buckingham
bird
Testing the nest
A young sparrow discovered a wire nest in one of my metal yard ornaments and was trying to decide whether to test it out or not . She timidly stood on one side of the nest, gave it some rather deep contemplation, then hopped right in. However, it didn’t take long to decide that it was an awkward fit for her, and off she flew. One of the children’s books that my granddaughter and I enjoy reading together is “The Best Nest” by P. D. Eastman. I guess that this was NOT the best nest for this little bird.
“You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” ~Brian Tracy
Great Blue Heron
A Great Blue Heron poised on a fallen tree limb at Reelfoot Lake State Park.
“Poise: the ability to be ill at ease inconspicuously.” ~Earl Wilson
Great Egret
“Calmness is the graceful form of confidence.” ~Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
Red-Winged Blackbirds
A male and female Red-winged blackbird sitting in a marshy area near the Mississippi River.
The marsh, to him who enters it in a receptive mood, holds, besides mosquitoes and stagnation, melody, the mystery of unknown waters, and the sweetness of Nature undisturbed by man. ~ Charles William Beebe
Northern Flicker
I saw this stunning bird sitting in the yard using her curved bill to dig for insects in the ground. Though I was quite thrilled with my encounter, others didn’t share my enthusiasm. I was told that while beautiful, flickers can also be a nuisance — pecking holes and doing damage to both trees and houses.
“I am, as I am; whether hideous, or handsome, depends upon who is made the judge.” ~Herman Melville
Young sparrow
Waiting patiently …
Finally, some food! …
Any more??? …
Where’d you go? …
I want some more!!!
“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.” ~Barbara Johnson
Indigo bunting
An Indigo bunting spotted in a brushy area of the Black Bayou Refuge adjacent to Reelfoot Lake.
She had blue skin, And so did he.
He kept it hid And so did she.
They searched for blue Their whole life through,
Then passed right by – And never knew.
~Shel Silverstein
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
This Ruby-throated hummingbird looked content sitting on his perch in one of the bushes in our backyard. He would dart away to chase another hummingbird or get a drink from the feeder, but would soon return to his lookout on the same small branch.
“Living big and joyful and content is almost always the result of our finding satisfaction in life’s ordinary day-to-day pleasures …” ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Barn swallows on a line
“The real world, in my opinion, exists in the countryside, where Nature goes about her quiet business and brings us greatest pleasure.” ~Fennel Hudson
walking on a country road 