This adult male grackle was foraging for food amongst the needles of a cypress tree. His shiny black plumage took on a glossy-iridescence when struck by the bright sunlight.
In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
After spotting three Sandhill Cranes on farmland near our house, I was curious to find out why the cranes were in the area. I did an online search and discovered that “Hop-in Refuge”, located not far from us in West Tennessee, is a wintering home to several thousand Sandhill Cranes each year. Used as farmland during the summer, it is then flooded to provide habitat for birdlife during the winter months. I was excited to go on a road trip in search of the Sandhill Cranes. We found that though the refuge is closed during the months of November thru February, there are plenty of cranes to see dotting the farmland in the surrounding area.
“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.” ~Unknown
We’ve had so many cloudy days lately, that it is good to see the sun — even if it is just peeking out from behind the clouds.
“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.” ~Elvis Presley
I was watching this squirrel scamper about in a pine tree, when suddenly he stopped and turned to look at me. I guess that we were both a little curious.
“The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” ~Dorothy Parker
During a walk on our country road, I heard a strange bugling sound that I was unfamiliar with. Looking around, I saw three tall birds standing off on the other side of the field. They were Sandhill Cranes searching for food in a harvested corn field.
“When we hear his call, we hear no mere bird. We hear the trumpet in the orchestra of evolution.” ~Aldo Leopold
The Snow Geese are back at Reelfoot Lake, and the Bald eagles are keeping an eye on them in hopes of acquiring an easy meal. Whenever a lookout detects a threat from an eagle, a call goes out to the rest of the flock, and the Snow Geese take flight.
“If you feel the urge, don’t be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. What do you think wild geese are for anyway?” ~Will Rogers
Driving along the levee beside the Mississippi River, I spotted an American Kestrel perched on a power line, hunting for insects and small prey. It is a small and colorful member of the falcon family.
“There are things we see with our eyes, sitting high and looking out. And there are things we see with our hearts, sitting still and looking in.” ~Philip Gulley
” … the darkening sky is streaked with splendid color as the sun drops slowly to sleep.” ~Unknown
I probably need a bumper sticker that says: “I break for barns”. I love the old barns that dot the landscape around West Tennessee. Many of them were built on farms that operated in the early to mid-1900’s, and are no longer being utilized. Most of these old structures, which richly add to the character of the landscape, are now in various stages of disrepair. It is sad to see these buildings of the past deteriorate and crumble, and forever change the ambience of the countryside.
“I always sort of swooned at the sight of the classic barn structures … where everything seemed rustic and weathered and made to age gracefully.” ~Richard Dean Anderson
Some squirrels don’t like having their photo taken. I liked this little squirrel’s attitude. He decided that if he was going to have his picture taken, he was going to put his best foot forward and show his good side.
“Work hard, love what you do, put your best foot forward and never forget the kid in you.” ~Derek Jeter
walking on a country road 