American Coot, September 30, 2015

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

ABC Wednesday
L is for Lettuce -  Lactuca sativa, a leafy green vegetable with many varieties that are eaten in salads and sandwiches.

Lettuce is easily grown - a container on a patio or balcony is sufficient. However, it requires cool temperatures to keep producing edible leaves. I sow the seeds early in the Spring and cover the containers on frosty nights. It bolts (goes to seed) when temperatures warm up. Lettuce seeds can be sown again in the Autumn and covered at night as temperatures get colder.

Wild Bird Wednesday

American Coot, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015, SOOC

The American Coot, Fulica americana, can be found all across the United States and parts of Canada on lakes, ponds, marshes, coastal bays and inlets. They build their nests in or next to clumps of reeds that grow in shallow water.

I think the water appears green because trees were casting their shadows on the water.

They eat grass, seeds, grain, and various aquatic plants.

Wednesday Waters

Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015

A view of the lake where we saw the American Coot, a Great Blue Heron, a flock of Canada Geese, several ducks, and a few turtles.

Have a great day!

For more on the letter L, visit ABC Wednesday: Click Here!

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For more water photos, visit Gemma for Wednesday Waters: Click Here!


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Sunflower Tickseed, September 28, 2015

Sunflower Tickseed, Bidens aristosa, Lee County, Mississippi, USA, September 15, 2015

Celebrating 4 years blogging!

Have a Wonderful Week!

For more macro photos, visit Macro Monday 2:  Click Here!

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Birds and Bees, September 26, 2015

I'd Rather B Birdin'

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, September 17, 2015

I saw two hawks last week.

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And they were both in the same old dead tree!

Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters

Prentiss county, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

The Goldenrods are blooming, and the bees are loving it!

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Scenic Week-Ends

Lee County, Mississippi, USA

One of our favorite walking trails brings us alongside this small lake.

Hope you have a beautiful week-end!

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Sky Watch Friday, September 25, 2015

Sky Watch Friday and Orange You Glad It's Friday

Cordova, Tennessee, USA, September 24, 2015

We've had partly cloudy skies and very pleasant temperatures this week. Now that Autumn is officially here, pumpkins are everywhere!

Hope you have a great day!

To check out the weather around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

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Wildflowers, September 24, 2015

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, September 18, 2015

All along the roads, wildflowers are blooming. There's a fence in there somewhere!

Happy Thursday!

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Killdeer and Wildflowers, September 23, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday, ABC Wednesday, Wildflower Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

Wild Bird Wednesday and ABC Wednesday
K is for Killdeer

Killdeer, Guntersville Lake, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

The Killdeer, Charadrins vociferous, gets its name from its call, a shrill kill-deee, or killdeer, or sometimes dee-dee-dee. Their range covers most of North America and parts of South America.

Easily identified by the two black bands across the breast, Killdeer are the most common Plovers in the United States. (Weird how that rock looks like it has teeth).

Most often seen near water, Killdeer probe the mud to find and eat worms, snails, small crustaceans, and insects. Their colors blend in with the rocky shore. I didn't see the second one until I loaded the photos onto my computer!
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Wildflower Wednesday

On the Natchez Trace Parkway, Lee County, Mississippi, USA, September 13, 2015

Mimosa microphylla, Littleleaf Sensitive Briar, is a native wildflower of the southern United States.  It is a member of the Pea family, but its thumbnail-size bloom is nothing like what you expect from a Pea.

The thorny stems are weak so that the plant trails along the ground. The pinnate leaves react to being touched by closing up, hence the 'sensitive' part of its name. The leaves also close at night and on very cloudy days.

I think this pollinator is a Hoverfly, Milesia virginiensis, aka Good News Bee. It completely ignored me as I was down on my knees using my macro lens. It was systematically working its way across the bloom, getting nectar and/or pollen from each tiny port.

Wednesday Waters

Tishomingo County, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

On Sunday we spent the afternoon at Tishomingo State Park. This view of Bear Creek was made from the bridge at the beginning of one of the hiking trails. Most of our trees are still green, but with cooler temperatures, we are beginning to see hints of Autumn color.

Hope You Have a Beautiful Day!

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Fishing From the Dock, September 21, 2015

Blue Monday and Through My Lens

Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015, SOOC

Last Monday we were watching the ducks close to shore when I noticed a Great Blue Heron at the end of the dock.

Sunny skies, a lake full of fish, keen eyes, strong wings - who could ask for anything more?

I almost forgot about the ducks!

I think they were eating whatever that is floating on the water.

Hope you have a beautiful week!

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Birds and Turtles, September 19, 2015

Camera Critters, Saturday's Critters, I'd Rather B Birdin', Scenic Week-Ends,
and Saturday Silhouettes

Camera Critters and Saturday's Critters



Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015

I think this may be a Yellow-Bellied Slider, but I am not sure. Very handsome, isn't it?

I'd Rather B Birdin'

Pied-Billed Grebe, Guntersville, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

Found on lakes, ponds and marshes all across the United States and parts of Canada, Grebes eat fish, small aquatic animals, and insects.

 

They have an amazing ability to adjust their buoyancy, and can sink down until only their heads are above the water.

Scenic Week-Ends

Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, USA, September 14, 2015

The birds on the peninsula are Canada Geese.

Canada Geese, September 14, 2015

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Saturday Silhouettes

Crow on picnic table beside Bay Springs Lake (Tenn-Tom Waterway), Mississippi, USA, September 7, 2015

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Hope You are Having a Great Week-End!

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Sky Watch Friday, September 18, 2015

Sky Watch Friday and Week-End Reflections

Lake Guntersville, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

We spent only a few hours at Guntersville last Friday, but I made a whole week's worth of photos for my blog. I hope you are not tired of them, as there may be more to come!

Happy Friday!

To check out the weather around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!

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NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Pied-Billed Grebes, September 16, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, and ABC Wednesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

Pied-Billed Grebe, Guntersville, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

Pied-Billed Grebes can be found on ponds, lakes, and marshes all across the United States and in southern Canada. They migrate to the Pacific northwest and southern areas of the United States in the Winter. During breeding season their bills are lighter colored with a dark spot (pied-billed).

Grebes eat small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects, but are especially fond of crayfish, which they crush easily with their stout bills. (National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds) 

They were fascinating to watch, diving down completely underwater to feed, then popping up to the surface again.

Wednesday Waters

Lake Guntersville, Alabama, USA, Friday, September 11, 2015

This handsome duck claimed a strategic position for watching the lake and the shore.

ABC Wednesday
J is for Jesus Christ

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Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

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Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, September 2015

Northeast Mississippi, USA zone 7

Lycoris radiate, Red Spider Lily

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Buddleia, Butterfly Bush

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Rosa Roxburghii, Burr Rose

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'Encore' Azalea

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Zinnia, named in honor of German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727-1759)

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Malvaviscus, Turk's Cap

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

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Lake Guntersville, September 14, 2015

Blue Monday and Through My Lens

Guntersville, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

Last Friday was a beautiful day to go to Lake Guntersville in northern Alabama. A breeze blowing off the lake made the heat bearable. Clouds came in later in the day, and we drove through heavy rain going home. Now temperatures are much cooler - almost like Autumn.

Have a Wonderful Week!

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AB's Barn, September 13, 2015

The Barn Collective and Straight Out of the Camera Sunday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, September 10, 2015, SOOC

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Have a wonderful day!

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Egret, September 12, 2015

Camera Critters, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Lee County, Mississippi, September 5, 2015

 Great Egret, Casmerodius albus

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Saturday's Silhouettes

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, September 1, 2015

This bird flew as soon as I stopped the car beside the road.  This one quick photo was all I could get.   Since the bright sky background caused this to be a silhouette, I am not sure of the feather's true colors. When I first saw it, I thought it was a hawk, but now I don't think so. Anyone have an idea?

Have a great week-end!

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NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.

Sky Watch Friday, September 11, 2015

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, September 10, 2015

We've had partly cloudy skies with only one small rain shower this week.  Earlier in the year they did some work on this dam, and now the water level is lower than it was.  Grass has covered what was the shallow end of the pond.

September 5, 2015

I expected this Great Blue Heron to move on to a larger pond, but he is still there.

Have a Beautiful Week-End!

To check out the weather around the world, visit Sky Watch Friday:  Click Here!


NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.