Best day!

Glorious 70 degree day! I walked dogs in 3 different parks and hiked a total of 10 miles.  I feel fantastic.  Lots of birds everywhere!  I love this time of year. 

Flying Squirrels

For my retirement, I'm going to specialize in rehabbing baby flying squirrels.  They are hands down my favorite animal to rehab. 

40 degrees

Today I had to put back on my long johns, winter coat and gloves.  On my first hike with a client it was 40 degrees with 20mph winds.  It was very cold.  I couldn't help but think about how much I dreaded getting out there today, but once I was there, I was so grateful to be able to be out in nature.  There are no bad days when you love nature.  So much to see everywhere you look.  Being in nature makes me feel truly alive and completely in the moment. I completely escape life and feel like a different person.  Somehow I have to find a way to get out there more.  I can't seem to pull myself away from spending far too much time on the internet doing useless crap.  I think it's time again to make a pledge with myself.  More time in nature or learning about nature and less time online, I need to set some personal limits. I want to be in good enough shape as I age to continue getting out there as often as I possibly can, that's not going to happen unless I start now. 

Good herp days

The reptiles and amphibians are on the move.  After a long cold Winter it's so wonderful to see them. I had a couple good walks in several different places to see all of these herps.  I have to say....I love Spring.  Birds and Herps.  Life is good, make that great! 

Birds are moving!

Musk turtle

Today I went on a much needed glorious hike with my side kick. There were lots of beaver sign all around the pond. A blue-gray gnatcatcher was the only new migrant. There is a pair of geese nesting. I watched a couple of ribbon snakes in and around the pond. Dozens of painted turtles were sunning on all the fallen trees. Next to the main turtle log, in a tree  that hangs over the water was a musk turtle!  What a cool discovery. I had read that they do sun in low trees, and now I know it's true. My head and heart feel much renewed after this wonderful spring day. 

Hawks flying!

I heard from a friend today that the Hawks were migrating in good numbers.  I was unable to get out to the watch because we were returning from the trip to PA to take my oldest son to his meeting place for his Peace Corp assignment to Namibia Africa.  I'm so proud of my son, we are going to miss him so much.  27 months of service.  We went for an evening hike and came upon our first toad of the season, he had some dried mud on him, I think he was just up from hibernation.  We are expecting rain tonight, I expect to see lots of toads out in the ponds tomorrow.  As we were leaving the park I told hubby I was expecting the pair of Coopers Hawks to be returning to their nest....and there they were, roosting fairly close to their nest location!  Awesome end to hard day. 

The Real Big Night!

We decided to head up to the Co. Park to check and see if anything was happening in the Vernal Pool, it was!  There were hundreds of Spotted Salamanders.  This is going to be a really good year for them.  We have had several days of light rain, temps just above 40 degrees.  There were also Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs.  What a fun thing to do with our sons.  It never gets old.

Big Night

I've been sick for quite a few days. It's been raining on and off....and I missed the BIG night!  It's ok though.  I may try and get out tonight and see if I can see a Spotted in the vernal pools as there are not all that many egg masses, I'm sure a few females are still around. 

Nature is everywhere

I hear a single Spring Peeper

 

There is always something to see while out driving around.  Just before seeing this beauty,  I watched our local leucistic Red-tailed hawk.  The Pileated was on Forester Avenue, in someones yard, I spied her while I waited for kids to get off a school bus.  Never curse getting slowed down by a school bus, look around....you never know what you are going to see. 

Happy Dance!

My first turtle of the year!  Most of our ponds and lakes are still frozen.  There were still people ice fishing on Greenwood Lake.  This beautiful snapping turtle was in a pond where I walk a dog, it was catching some sun in a spot that wasn't frozen. 

Happy Spring!

Today is the first day of Spring.  Friday, March 20 brings with it a celestial showcase, a trio of events that includes a new moon, at 5:36 a.m., a total solar eclipse, at 5:46 a.m. and the vernal equinox, at 6:45 p.m., all Eastern time.  This trio of earthy events has not happened since the 1600s.  For me, today I become the parent of all adult children.  My *baby* is now 21.  He entered the world at 4:50pm.  It feels good to be mom to 4 grown sons who are all making their own way in this world, each so unique and different.  They are all wonderful people.  I am beyond grateful that the universe gifted them to me to raise.  Today marks a big transition for me.  This past week I went though all our family photos and realized that I've been a good mom.  I will no longer beat myself up for anything they choose in life.  I did my very best with the knowledge I had at the time.  Today marks my passage into a new life. 

Tomorrow brings us a sad event.  We will honor my Mother in law who passed away on the 14th.  She and I shared a lot of the same passions.  Animals and nature.  I will miss her beyond words and wish we had more time together.  I am going to read two poems that I feel she would have liked.

Remember Me In Your Heart - Unknown

To the living, I am gone,
To the sorrowful, I will never return,
To the angry, I was cheated,
But to the happy, I am at peace,
And to the faithful, I have never left.

I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
 
So as you stand upon a shore, gazing at a Sparkling sea . . .

As you look in awe at a mighty forest in all it's spendor. . .

As you look upon a flower and admire its stunning simplicity . . . .

Remember ME.

Remember me in your heart:
Your thoughts, and your memories,
Of the times we loved,
The times we cried,
The times we laughed and
the times we danced,
 
For if you always think of me, I will never be gone from your life. 


Winged Jewel
With wings spun of silver and hearts of gold,
These tiny creatures our hearts behold.
With angelic features and colors so bright,
Make even the heaviest heart seem light.
The magical way they flit through the sky,
They appear, then vanish in the blink of an eye.
They're sending a message for us to retrieve,
Anything's possible for those who believe!

Hummingbirds were her favorite, so much so that her boys bought her a tattoo for her birthday one year.  I hope to give her loved ones a connection to nature to help heal their hearts.

My trip to FL with my oldest son is all but a blurr.  During the trip I was told my MIL was ailing, so kind of lost my heart for the trip and wanted to be home with my Bobby.  I did enjoy my  quality time with Jason.  Lots of kayaking, awesome trip to Corkscrew,  Jason let me take my time, and I think he also enjoyed seeing the birds and alligators. Also swam with the manatees, a bit anticlimactic compared to our previous swims many years ago. But always so exciting to be with a magnificent creature.  We had a wonderful time with family and friends.  So blessed to have so many loves in my life.  Came home and went straight to the hospital to help my husband passage into losing his 2nd parent.   And so.......life is for the living, and we must make the best of everyday.  I aim to do that.

Yesterday to heal my heavy heart , I went out to the black dirt region, birding.  I was incredibly rewarded and so happy I went.  Tens of thousands of black birds everywhere and over a thousand Snow Geese, lots of Blue Morphs and a Blue Morph Ross's Goose.  Happy dance....let the birding begin!  WOOP Spring is HERE! 

Long Winter

We are still experiencing lots of snow and sub freezing temperatures despite what the calender reads.  This morning it's 10 degrees out.  We are expecting another storm later on today.  I think it's starting wear on all the wildlife.  I had a Red-tail in the backyard hunting squirrels. We have been out snowshoeing which is a lot of fun, and helps you to enjoy what is. 

Can I just say....

I love Winter.  I really really love our Winter!  I know it's not always pleasant or comfortable, but I love it, each and every moment of Winter.  The cold, the snow, the grey sunless skies, the winter birds, the leafless trees, the quiet seemly empty forests, it's all so precious.  If I disliked Winter I would literately hate 1/4 of my life. Winter is my reality.  I choose to embrase it and look for all the best it has to offer.  This weeks blessing was a trip up to Frost Valley. Beautiful place where my oldest son has worked at multiple times over the last five years.  Wonderful to spend some time with him and meet all his coworkers.  It was ~13 last night and this morning we did a blissful snowshoe walk in 1 degree temps.  Awesome! 

You can't see beauty like this sitting in your warm house.  You have to get out there.  Life is happening now.  Do it! 

Trees

Red-shouldered Hawk

This bird has been around all Winter.  Such a beauty. 

Valentines Day Eagle trip

Today hubby and I went on a trip across the Hudson to look for Wintering Bald Eagles.  We located about 2 dozen birds total.  Always super exciting to see such stunning birds.  We also lucked on 2 Long-eared Owls.  Nice bonus for a wonderful couple of hours. Treated ourselves to a wonderful meal on the way home. 

Gyrfalcon!!!

I don't often get new birds on my life list.  Two days ago while on Face Plant I saw a post on a NY Bird group of pictures of a Gyrfalcon, at first I couldn't believe my eyes that the pictures were from  Wallkill NY!  Yesterday was out of the question for me to go and look for the bird as I had Nancy's funeral.  My friend Matt Zeitler got the bird at 3 pm.  These pictures are his.  I woke up this morning and decided I'm was out to find the bird.  Hubby and I drove around the area for a while, no one had seen the bird yet.  After about an hour I told hubby he can leave and he said no, he wanted me to see the bird. He parked the car where the bird was observed yesterday and not 5 minutes later we see the flock of ducks in the field right next to the car lift up, I knew in my heart that the bird was coming in.  He did!  We watched him dive bomb the ducks two times, and had amazing looks and he flew only ten feet over our heads.  Such a crazy adrenaline kick!  

Photo by Matt Zeitler

Photo by Matt Zeitler

Photo by Paul Bourdin

Today ranked as a top 10 birding moment.  Right up there with seeing my first Bald Eagle in Florida in 1978.  An adult and a juvenile on a nest, shown to me by my Grandpa.  Seeing a California Condor two times at two different visits to  the Grand Canyon.  Seeing Scarlet Macaws in Costa Rica.  Watching the class of 2002 Whooping Cranes flying behind an Ultralight. Last Winter seeing my first Snowy Owl. Birding never gets old, always something to look forward to. 

And can I add?.....I LOVE MY LIFE!  TRULY BLESSED TO GET TO DO WHAT I LOVE ON A DAILY BASIS! 

Full moon

This inspirational idea came from Fullmoon.info.

Dear full moon friends,

The full moon will be on Wednesday (or Tuesday for certain time zones).

Almost all people are searching: for happiness, for love, for fulfillment, for success, for recognition, for healing, for peace … for the unnameable something, which seems to be missing. This search leads us further away from ourselves, because we are looking outwards and hope for the fulfillment of a truth, that is inwardly already perfect. The less we search in the outer world, the more we will discover inside us.

NEW YORK = Tuesday * 3rd February 2015 * 06:08:54 pm (EST)