The fields surrounding the levee were filled with chattering birds …
and adorned with vibrant spring wildflowers.
“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
It’s always interesting to see what birds we can spot as we drive around the lake and the Mississippi levee. Here are some of our most recent finds.
You’ll get mixed up,
of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with
many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great
tact and remember that
Life’s A Great Balancing Act.
~Dr. Seuss
Birds seen recently around the levee and lake.
“If you’re not a bird watcher you won’t be very excited, though gulls are graceful in flight and striking in appearance. If you’re a bird watcher this makes you weak in the knees.” ~Bryan Pfeiffer
Purple Dead Nettles, with their pink tube-like flowers and burgundy upper leaves, were blooming along the Mississippi levee. Various types of bees were flying about among the wildflowers, attracted by their nectar.
Beautiful little Clouded Yellow Butterflies danced about over the wildflowers, with an occasional courting pair fluttering together in the air. The butterflies seemed too lively to stop and drink from the flowers.
This busy little bee, on the other hand, was sampling each little flower.
While watching the bees and butterflies, out of nowhere, a group of six eagles consisting of at least one adult and several juveniles, came swooping in from overhead. Their loud screeching and erratic flying stirred up quite a commotion.
After the eagles settled in nearby trees,
we started down the embankment of the levee to drive along some of the farmland back roads. Then we saw them. A group of Clouded Yellow Butterflies were sitting in the middle of the road, extracting salt and minerals from an area of sand and rocks.
They were a beautiful sight to watch!
“Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by a power and wisdom less than infinite.” ~Joseph Addison
What a joy to watch the eagles as they busily go about life along the Mississippi River.
“I have not yet lost a feeling of wonder, and of delight, that the delicate motion should reside in all the things around us, revealing itself only to him who looks for it.” ~Edmund Burke
Reelfoot Lake and the land along the Mississippi levee are favorite places to go for bird-watching. While some birds live there year-round, others migrate in and out at various times of the year, so you never know what you’re going to see. Here are some which were spotted between January and April.
“Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise.” ~Alice Walker
It’s that time of the year when the eagles are taking turns sitting on the newly-laid eggs in their nest. This lucky pair has a perfect view overlooking life along the Mississippi River.
On flooded land near the levee we also spotted a Pied-billed Grebe, some American Coots, and a Great Blue Heron.
“I sat there and forgot and forgot, until what remained was the river that went by and I who watched …” ~Norman Mcclean
These photos of an immature Dickcissel were taken back in May along the Mississippi levee road. Though hard to see, the bird has a small, green insect in its beak.
“Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated … but stupid lasts forever.” ~Aristophanes
We were excited to see a young eaglet sitting on the edge of a nest in a tree along the Mississippi River. A second eaglet could be seen lower in the nest, stretching its wings. Eventually one of the parents came back to the tree and sat in the shadow of a branch above them, dutifully keeping watch before settling back into the nest.
“I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.” ~ Helen Keller
This white pelican looked very comfortable sitting quietly with his two turtle friends on a log along the levee.
“The best kind of friend is the kind you sit with, never say a word and walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you ever had.” ~Steven Wright
walking on a country road 