End of the Year: Birds, December 31, 2019

Our World Tuesday and Through My Lens

Click on the photos to see them at their best.

January

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus.

Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon.

February

Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus.

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus.

March

European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris.

Rufous-sided Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus.

April

Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus.

Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus.

May

Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula.

Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum.

June

Eastern bluebird, Sialia sialis.

Canada Geese, Branta canadensis.

July

Common Loon, Gavia immer.

Great Egret, Ardea alba.

August

Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris.

American Robin, Turdus migratorius.

September

Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis.

Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus.

October

Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura.

Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos.

November

Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus.

Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis.

December

Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe.

American White Pelicans, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos.

And my favorite bird this year and every year..

… a Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias!

Happy New Year!

Linking in today with Our World Tuesday and Through My Lens!

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

The Barn Collective, December 29, 2019

The Barn Collective and All Seasons

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 26, 2019

A new barn still under construction.
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Your bird for today is...

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2019

… a Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos.

Have a blessed day!

For more barn photos, visit The Barn Collective: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit All Seasons: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, December 27, 2019

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday, Signs 2,
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

Click on the photos to see them at their best.

1. Christmas Day (Sky Watch Friday)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, December 25, 2019

Sunshine and mild temperatures (70F) made holiday travel easier on Christmas Day.

2. Christmas cards

I enjoy sending and receiving Christmas cards. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

3. Royal Crown Cola (Signs 2)

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, November 21, 2019

Me and my RC

4. Pony (Saturday's Critters)

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2019

Pony - a small horse that usually has a thicker mane, tail, and overall coat than a full-size horse. Wikipedia

5. Eastern Phoebe (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 25, 2019

The Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, became the first banded bird in North America when John James Audubon attached a silvered thread to the leg of one in 1804. Source: All About Birds website

Have a wonderful weekend!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For more sign photos, visit Signs 2: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday,
For more animal photos, visit Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

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

Wilson's Snipe, December 26, 2019

Wild Bird Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, and Little Things Thursday

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2019

I am thankful for migratory birds! Because of migration, I get to see birds that spend most of their time in other parts of the continent. Wilson's Snipes, Gallinago delicata, breed in Canada and Alaska, then come south for the Winter months. But in some parts of the Rocky Mountains they are year-round residents.

Look for them at the edges of shallow water, probing the mud for crustaceans, snails and worms. They also eat insects, small frogs, and fish.

Have a blessed day!

Let us know what you are thankful for, visit Thankful Thursday: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Little Things Thursday: Click Here!

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

ABC Wednesday: Yellow, December 25, 2019

ABC Wednesday
Y is for Yellow - the brightest color the human eye can see. (Source: The Meanings of Colors)

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 1, 2019

I have been holding on to this yellow boat photo for awhile, waiting until we got to Y on ABC Wednesday!

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas!

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

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

Merry Christmas! December 22, 2019

The Barn Collective and All Seasons

"God's blessings to you!

Wishing you heartfelt joys,

happy memories,

and heavenly blessings

for a Wonderful Christmas

and new year."

Merry Christmas!

For more barn photos, visit The Barn Collective: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit All Seasons: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, December 20, 2019

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Signs 2, Floral Friday Fotos,
and on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, and I'd Rather B Birdin'

1. Mercury Outboard Motors (Signs 2)

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, November 21, 2019

Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboard Motors were made between 1939 and 1969. Mr. Kiekhaefer sold the company in 1969, and the name was changed to Mercury Marine. This sign advertises the Kiekhaefer Outboard Super 10 Hurricane that was manufactured during the 1950s.

2. Surprise! (Floral Friday Fotos)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 20, 2019

On November 19th, I bought 2 Amaryllis Bulb kits (each with a pot, potting soil, and a large bulb). The first one is blooming, but look what a surprise - white with pink streaks instead of "Amigo" red! An unexpected beauty! Now we wait to see what color the other one will be. Dare we hope for "Ferrari" red?

3. Good Food!

I found a Salmon recipe that is very good! Start with 1 pound of salmon.

Make a honey/orange juice/soy sauce marinade, add the salmon, and set it in the refrigerator for one hour, turning the salmon every 15 minutes.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2019

Discard the marinade, and bake the salmon in a foil-lined baking pan at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. It was very easy to make and absolutely delicious!

Here is the complete recipe at the Healthy Living website.
The recipe claims that one pound of salmon is 4 servings, but it is only 2 servings at our house!

4. Turtle (Saturday's Critters)

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, November 28, 2019

Just crawled out of the mud to enjoy the Winter sunshine!

5. Heron (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, December 19, 2019

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias.

Have a wonderful weekend!

and

Merry Christmas!

For more sign photos, visit Signs 2: Click Here!

For more flower photos, visit Floral Friday Fotos: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

And on Saturday:
For more animal photos, visit Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

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

Thankful Thursday, December 19, 2019

Thankful Thursday and Little Things Thursday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 18, 2019

I am thankful we have propane gas heat, and though I love a fireplace, I am glad those wood-cutting days are behind us!

I am thankful for nature's beauty. Amazing how a bit of sunshine can make dead leaves glow!

I am thankful we shelled all those purple-hull peas last Summer! Got a pack of them from the freezer last night, cooked them and made cornbread, and had a simple, but delicious, supper.

Have a blessed day!

Let us know what you are thankful for, visit Thankful Thursday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Little Things Thursday: Click Here!

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

Kingfisher, December 18, 2019

ABC Wednesday and My Corner of the World

Click on the photo to see it at its best.

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, December 15, 2019

Belted Kingfishers, Megaceryle alcyon, may be seen perched near rivers, lakes, and ponds looking for fish. They also have the ability to hover over the water. When prey is spotted, they dive into the water and grab the fish with their bills. Then they bring it back to a tree to beat it against a limb to kill it before swallowing it whole headfirst.

Have a wonderful day!

For more bird photos, visit Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit My Corner of the World: Click Here!

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

ABC Wednesday: X, December 17, 2019

As we go through the alphabet, X is probably the most difficult letter, but I found one!

"X" is a murder mystery by Sue Grafton. If you enjoy reading mysteries, I highly recommend Sue Grafton.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

and

Merry Christmas!

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

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

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, December 2019

The northeast corner of Mississippi, USA zone 7b

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, November 19, 2019

I usually buy Amaryllis bulbs each year to have indoor blooms for Christmas. This year I bought two bulb kits (pots, potting soil, and bulbs) - "just add water and enjoy!" There are more complete instructions underneath the paper lid.

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 15, 2019

Buds! but no blooms yet.

And outside...

… buds on the Hellebores..

Northern Cardinal, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 15, 2019

… and birds as bright as Christmas tree ornaments!

Happy Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day!

To see gardens around the world, visit Carol at May Dreams Gardens: Click Here!

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

Willy Nilly Friday, December 13, 2019

Willy Nilly Friday 5, Sky Watch Friday, Signs 2,
on Saturday, Saturday's Critters, I'd Rather B Birdin',
and on Sunday, The Barn Collective

Click on the photos to see them at their best.

1. Blue Skies (Sky Watch Friday)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 11, 2019

A fast moving storm passed through our area on Tuesday bringing a wintery mix of rain, sleet, and snow, but by noon on Wednesday it had all melted, and the sun was shining!

2. Coca-Cola (Signs 2 and The Barn Collective)

I found this Coca-Cola sign...

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 3, 2019

… on a barn.

3. Good Food!

Shiloh, Tennessee, USA, November 24, 2019

At Hagy's Catfish Hotel Restaurant: lemon-pepper grilled catfish with steamed mixed vegetables

4. Horse (Saturday's Critters)

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 4, 2019

There was a another horse in the pasture, too, but it turned away from me. This one seemed more friendly.

5. Red-shouldered Hawk (I'd Rather B Birdin')

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, December 4, 2019

Red-shouldered Hawks, Buteo lineatus, live in the eastern half of North America from the Great Lakes region southward into central Mexico.

Have a wonderful weekend!

For more weather-related photos, visit Sky Watch Friday: Click Here!

For more sign photos, visit Signs 2: Click Here!

For an interesting variety of photos, visit Willy Nilly Friday 5: Click Here!

On Saturday,
For more animal photos, visit Saturday's Critters: Click Here!

For more bird photos, visit I'd Rather B Birdin': Click Here!

And on Sunday, for more barn photos, visit The Barn Collective: Click Here!

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