Heron with Fish, October 25-26, 2016

Our World Tuesday and Wild Bird Wednesday

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 20, 2016

I always enjoy seeing the Great Blue Herons, Ardea herodias. This one was wading along the edge of Pickwick Lake.

Suddenly it plunged its head beneath the water and came up with a fish! Sorry this photo is so blurry, but there was a lot of movement: the fish was twisting and flopping trying to get free, the Heron was struggling to hold on to it, and water was flying in all directions!

Now it has a good grip on it.

It carried the fish to shore and laid it on the ground just long enough to turn it around in order to swallow it head first.

Great Blue Heron's throats expand so they can swallow surprisingly large fish.

Down it goes!

I thought a fish that size would satisfy it for awhile, but it turned around and waded back into the water to look for another fish.

Hope you are having a beautiful day!

For a variety of interesting photos, visit Our World Tuesday: Click Here!

And on Wednesday, visit Stewart for Wild Bird Wednesday: Click Here!

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission.
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Great Blue Heron, April 20, 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday and Wednesday Waters

Tupelo, Mississippi, USA, April 14, 2016

Great Blue Herons, Ardea herodias, are wide-spread across the United States and parts of Canada. The ones in the northern areas migrate south for the Winter. They are most often seen wading in shallow water, searching for food.

They eat fish, frogs, and small aquatic creatures.

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Happy Wednesday!

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

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

NOTE: Please do not use my photos without my permission

Ospreys, March 9, 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday, Wednesday Waters, and ABC Wednesday,

Wild Bird Wednesday and Wednesday Waters

Pickwick Dam, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, March 7, 2016

On Monday we drove up to Pickwick on the Tennessee River to check on the bird population. We saw only a few Gulls and Herons, but the great news is ...

High above the dam, the Ospreys are nesting again! Last year we saw only one baby bird in the nest. Let's hope for two this year.

Ospreys, Pandion haliaetus, are fish eaters, and can be found along the coastlines, large lakes, and rivers in both North and South America.

ABC Wednesday
I is for Intruder: Someone that is in a place or situation where they are not wanted 

Baby Squirrel, Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, March 3, 2016

"Surely, you don't mean me!"

(Yes, there was once a lid on the bird feeder, but a raccoon tore it off).

Have a wonderful day!

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

Great Blue Heron, February 24, 2016

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters
G is for the Great Blue Heron

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, February 1, 2016

Great Blue Herons, Ardea herodias, can be found over most of the United States and the southernmost parts of Canada. Birds in the northern parts of their range migrate farther south for the Winter. Fish are their primary food. Occasionally, they catch and eat small mammals and reptiles.

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, December 7, 2015

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Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday!

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

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

Ring-Necked Duck, January 6, 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday, ABC Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

Wild Bird Wednesday

Ring-Necked Duck, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, January 4, 2016

Ring-Necked Ducks, Aythya collaris, can be found along the United States coastlines, the Great Lakes Region, and on major rivers inland. They range north into Canada in the Summer months. Though they are named Ring-Necked Ducks, the easiest seen identifying mark is the white ring on their bills.

This is a male; the female is brownish with a white eye-ring and a white ring on her bill. They eat the leaves, stems and seeds of aquatic plants as well as worms, snails, insects, and small aquatic animals.

ABC Wednesday
Z is for Zippy's

January 4, 2016

I did not have a clue as to what to post for the letter Z this week. Imagine my excitement when I spotted this small fast-food restaurant in Pickwick, Tennessee!

It was not open when we were there, so I haven't eaten their food, but the menu was posted on an outside wall.

Wednesday Waters

Pickwick Dam, Tennessee, USA, January 4, 2016

The spillways at Pickwick Dam are open to let the waters of the Tennessee River through to prevent flooding upriver.

As you can see, the water is coming through so fast it creates a lot of turbulence. (That is bird poop on the right side, not icicles.)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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

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

Mockingbirds and Herons, December 9, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday, Wednesday Waters and Sky Watch Friday

Wild Bird Wednesday

Northern Mockingbird, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, November 26, 2015

Northern Mockingbirds, Mimus polyglottos, can be found in most parts of the United States. They are known for their ability to mimic other bird's songs. Mockingbirds like to perch on the highest point of the landscape, and they vigorously defend their territory.

Northern Mockingbird, Itawamba County, Mississippi, USA, November 25, 2015

They eat a wide variety of insects, fruits and berries. It is usually the male that builds a rough nest of twigs, and the female finishes it with a lining of soft plant material. They raise two or three broods a year, and both parents feed the young birds.

Wednesday Waters

Tennessee River, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, November 26, 2015

Thursday, November 26th, was a gorgeous day to visit the river - sunny blue skies with a good breeze blowing. We walked along the concrete walkway that slopes down from the parking lot to the edge of the river.

Great Blue Heron

There were several Herons flying around, swooping down, attempting to grab fish out of the water. A lot of fun to watch!

Tennessee River, Pickwick Tennessee, USA, December 7, 2015

When we were there again almost two weeks later, we were very surprised to see that the water level was so high that it covered the end of the walkway!

Hope you are having a beautiful day!

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

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

Great Blue Herons, December 2, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

Last Thursday we went to our favorite bird-watching spot, Pickwick Dam, on the Tennessee River. When water is released through the spillways, fish come through, too, and birds gather to grab the fish before they have time to swim deeper into the water.

Pickwick Tennessee, USA, November 26, 2015

You can see some birds resting on the channel marker in the left foreground. The white dots are gulls; the larger grey dot at the end is a Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, November 26, 2015

They challenge my ability to take in-flight photos. This photo is greatly cropped from a wider view. The grey background here is the side of the dam.

Great Blue Heron

I was able to get closer to this one on the river bank, but he was keeping a wary eye on me.
(But it is not as close as it seems, thanks to my zoom lens)

Have a Beautiful Day!

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Belted Kingfisher, November 11, 2015

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

ABC Wednesday
R is for Responsibility - being accountable for something within one's power or control.

David Crockett State Park, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA, October 7, 2015

I do not understand why we have such a problem with people throwing their trash on the ground instead of putting it in a trash can.  It is a disgusting habit!  As the sign says, it's everyone's responsibility to keep our land beautiful - Please don't litter!

Wild Bird Wednesday


Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, November 5, 2015

We were hoping to see Ospreys near this nesting platform, but were happy to see this female Belted Kingfisher instead. There was heavy cloud cover, so the photos are not as clear as they would be on a brighter day.

Kingfishers can be seen over most of the United States and Canada. They scan the water looking for fish and other small aquatic animals, then dive to grab their prey.

Wednesday Waters

Pickwick Lake, Tennessee, USA, November 5, 2015

A Gaggle of Geese!
Autumn leaves are falling fast. Below freezing temperatures are in the forecast for Friday night.

Have a Wonderful Day!

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

Puns and Pigeons, October 28, 2015

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

ABC Wednesday
P is for a Pun - a form of wordplay that suggests two or more meanings by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words (definition by Wikipedia).

Arab, Alabama, USA, September 11, 2015

The Arab, Alabama, sports team, The Arabian Knights, is a pun on the collection of ancient stories known as "The Arabian Nights."

All languages have puns, but they usually do not translate well from one language to another.

Wild Bird Wednesday

Prentiss County, Mississippi, USA, October 17, 2015

We call these birds Pigeons, but according to my bird book, they are Rock Doves, Columba livia. They are an introduced species, not native, and have established themselves in most of the United States and in southern Canada.

There are many color variations from white to very dark. When available they build their nests on cliffs, but a city window ledge or a bridge suits them just fine.

Wednesday Waters

October 11, 2015

Autumn Leaf floating downstream.

Wildflower Wednesday

Lee County, Mississippi, USA, September 13, 2015

Bull Thistle (aka Spear Thistle), Cirsium vulgare, with its prickly stems and invasive habits is classified as a noxious weed in some places, but isn't its bloom pretty!   It is pollinated by bees, butterflies, and Hummingbirds. Small birds (such as finches) eat the seeds.

Happy Wednesday!

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

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Outcrops and Ospreys, October 21, 2015

ABC Wednesday, Wild Bird Wednesday, and Wednesday Waters

ABC Wednesday
O is for an Outcrop - a visible exposure of bedrock on the surface of the earth

Tishomingo State Park, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

Quarrying or surface mining may result in man-made outcrops, but most are made by forces of nature such as erosion or earthquakes. This outcrop is relatively small.

Tishomingo State Park, Mississippi, USA, September 20, 2015

Other outcrops are huge! Tishomingo State Park in northeast Mississippi has an interesting Outcroppings Hiking Trail. It starts at Bear Creek and goes up, up, and up before it levels off and then comes down to follow the creek back to the starting point.

Wild Bird Wednesday

Osprey, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015

In North America, Ospreys, Pandion haliaetus, can be found on major rivers and lakes and along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They build bulky nests in trees or on the ground.

Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015

Fish are their primary food. They fly over the water, staring intently at the surface. When their prey is sighted, they dive into the water with their claws outstretched to grab the fish.

Wednesday Waters

Shoal Creek, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, USA, October 7, 2015

When we were at Shoal Creek in David Crockett State Park two weeks ago, the weather was very pleasant. Families were eating picnic lunches, and children were playing in the creek.

October 7, 2015 (Unidentified child)

Our weather is much cooler now - too cold to be wading in the creek.

Hope You Are Having A Beautiful Day!

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

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

N is for New Albany, October 14, 2015

Wild Bird Wednesday, ABC Wednesday, Signs, and Wednesday Waters

Wild Bird Wednesday

Blue Jay, Pickwick, Tennessee, USA, October 5, 2015

Blue Jays, Cyanocitta cristata, can be found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Blue Jays in the northernmost part of their range migrate farther south for the Winter. They bury acorns in the ground to retrieve for winter food. If they don't eat them before Spring, new oak trees grow!

ABC Wednesday and Signs, Signs
N is for New Albany, Mississippi, USA - birthplace of writer William Faulkner.

New Albany, Mississippi, USA,

New Albany is a town in northeastern Mississippi. The Union County Master Gardener Association helps decorate the town with seasonal displays.

The Tanglefoot Trail begins in New Albany. It was built on the roadbed of an old railroad track. Despite the sign's graphics, you can't really walk/bike all the way to the Gulf Coast. Perhaps someday all the different trails will be connected.

New Albany's Biscuits and Jam Farmer's Market is open June through September.

At the Tallahatchie Riverfest, New Albany, Mississippi, USA, September 26, 2015

For fun, food, music, arts and crafts, and lots of children's activities, the Tallahatchie Riverfest is the place to be. This little engine made delicious ice cream for the festival.

Wednesday Waters

Tennessee River, October 11, 2015

Tugboat with barges on the Tennessee River near the Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge in northwest Alabama.

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Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

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