Fauna & Flora

Southern Beauty

One of my all time favorite places when I am in Tennessee is Reelfoot Lake. I particularly love the cypress trees that grow up out of the water.

 Love the dragonflies there.

 There is a bird refuge at Reelfoot for injured birds that may or may not be rehabilitated and released back out into the wild. The eagle above is 'Sunny'. He is a permanent resident and will never be able to be released. The eagle below was due to be released in just a couple of weeks. Sunny was NOT at all happy that the new guy on the block was even in the same enclosure with him. He kept screeching at him and flapping his wings!

This is a Sycamore Tussock Moth Caterpillar

It was on a branch at Bone Lick State Park in Kentucky

 In the park they are also reintroducing buffalo. There was a small herd but they didn't want to come out of the shade so getting photo's was difficult.

 Just a wild flower at the park....

 Some of the flowers in the garden at The Creation Museum. Rudbeckia

 Who doesn't love coneflower's!

 Hibiscus....

 A couple more water lilies....

 A chameleon....

A walk around Darrell and Paige's yard and there is always something to photograph. I love, love, love this passion flower. They grow wild on their property.

 Cicada....the sounds of the south....

 Another dragonfly....

 ...and yet again.

 I posted photos of white squirrels in Kenton, Tennessee in a post several weeks ago. Paige and I visited there right after a heavy downpour. This little guys was drenched!

Beauty in the Smokies....

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly - Male

 Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly - Female

 Wildflower's at Cades Cove

 I didn't realize this but later discovered that this is a female
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. The male's are yellow with four black stripes on their wing. This is also the state butterfly of North Carolina.

 I am still trying to find out for sure but I 'think' this is a Blue Grosbeak. We were sitting out in our chairs under the awning watching him with his mate. He was continually going to get food and then feeding it to her.

 Is this awesome or what???!

 On the hike to Clingmans Dome I just stopped to catch my breath and take this shot.

 At the top of Clingmans Dome, in the fog, I caught a photo of this Cedar Waxwing.

 Hollyhock...

 The following day at Clingmans Dome another Cedar Waxwing in the sunshine!

Since we have been in Tennessee I have had a lot of time to just sit and observe my surroundings. Often that includes birds of different varieties, insects, flowers, rodents, turtles etc. Enjoy these latest postings. If you click on one photo you will be taken to a slideshow of all the pics I have just posted.

This little guy was hidden in the swamp at Walnut Log, TN

 Walking around Reelfoot Lake I saw this little beetle having it's breakfast. I love the colors.

 On Reelfoot Lake there are always plenty of turtles posing!

 When Paige & I were walking around their pond we came across this hummingbird moth eating it's prey.

 This was the first bird pic I took here on the Natchez Trace. It came to our camp shortly after we arrived.

 This fly landed on our window for several minutes. Personally, I think it is gorgeous! Gotta love green eyes.

 Just some flowers when we were out driving around.

 I bought this little feeder in Union City at Lowes. I take it with me to entice the little feathered critters. This little Tufted Titmouse came, picked out a sunflower see and proceeded to eat it's snack.

 Cardinal's are the one bird I have spent several years trying to get a great photo of. This isn't bad but it's not great. They give me a reason to keep coming back!

 Here at our campground we have several visiting squirrel's.

 Darrell found this turtle down by the mailbox. It was NOT happy to be captured and photographed. We took it down about ten feet from the pond and he raced into the pond and out of sight!

 These adorable little birds are Chipping Sparrows. They are smaller than a finch and so quick!

 ....and again.

 These two guys just hung above the feeder, waiting for what, I do not know.

 Here at camp this guy comes around three or four times a day. Since we are in heavy shade the lighting is not always the best.

 A little White-Breasted Nuthatch

 When I went to do laundry I took my camera with me of course. There along the building were these gorgeous Butterfly Bushes.

 ....and I heard an unusual noise and looked way up in this tree. Lo and behold there was a beautiful Red-Bellied Woodpecker!

 Dahlia's were one of my mom's favorite flowers. There were several planted around outside the laundry room.

So much beauty in Colorado.....

Colorado State Flower...Columbine

We took a hike up to Crater Lake below the Maroon Bells...it just about killed us! The rocks made it very difficult...well worth it though!

This mama and her baby were a bonus once we got there.

The aspens were stunning...

A shot of the Maroon Bells

.....and another

I found this beautiful little nest near where David and Sarah were camping...

She was sitting on these 3 little eggs.

Yellow-Bellied Marmot

This guy was not shy at all...he was only about six feet away...

I never tire of rabbits...this little fellow was just eating away!

See the grass in it's mouth!

I love wildflowers...one day I am going to compile all the pics in a book...

 This 'lady' was laying down and Michele thought she saw little ears in the grass. Most likely a mom with her baby....

This is where the ladies hang out....

Sitting eating lunch there were several feeders hanging above the tables...I captured a few shots....

A 'Lesser' Chipmunk

 Golden-Mantled Chipmunk

A Ring-Necked Duck?

And my favorites of the day...2 coyote pups!

While out in David and Sarah's back yard I put  a couple close-up lens on my Nikon and tried a little macro shooting. The pinkish flower is a bit over 1 inch in diameter. Each little cluster is less than 1/4 inch. Love the detail of God's creation.
The little white flower is about 1/2 inch in diameter....

Sitting outside of our camping spot at Loveland Station Rv Park, I have been trying to capture some photos of some of the birds that have been visiting the feeder that I put out. Today I was able to get a couple pics of the Blue Jay and the Yellow Headed Blackbird that's been visiting the past couple days. Blue Jays are different from the Scrub Jays and Stellar Jays that we have in the west.

I first saw one of these little beauties when I was at David and Sarah's here in Colorado last year.

Isn't he gorgeous!?

These guys don't sit still for very long...kind of tricky to get a good sharp photo.

On Monday the 3rd of June, Mike and I had the opportunity to spend several hours in the Rocky Mountain National Park. We were with a friend from Santa Rosa who is also a ranger at the park. What an awesome day! We will be going back soon, but here are a few snaps of some of the Fauna we were able to witness while there....

This Clark's Nutcracker sat and posed for several minutes.

As did this little fellow...I think he actually was hoping we would feed him!

This owlet has become quite well known in the park. We first heard about him from the Howard and Linda of RV-Dreamers. They got to see him a couple weeks ago. He still has a lot of fluff and was just amazing!!

After watching the owl for several minutes we saw a group of people pointing and staring up the hill. We went over to see what they were 'seeing'. About that time we were witness to thunder and lightening that was VERY close. I quickly snapped this photo and hightailed it to the truck!

This guy still has his velvet and part of his winter coat.

 When we arrived in Provo this Oriole was singing his heart  out!

Yellow Warbler

Yellow headed blackbird in Provo
at Utah Lake State Park

Wherever I travel I love taking photos of the wildflowers

Dark-eyed Junco

....and of course, I love chipmunks

...in Arches Natl' Park

I love the detail in this one....

Pinyons & Junipers shaped by wind and weather....
This was in Dead Horse Point State Park

One of my favorite spots on the Oregon Coast....Natural Bridges Cove
Brookings, OR

Great Blue Heron on the Rogue River

All I had to do was hang a feeder and I had a pair of Costa's
within just a few hours.

Love the purple!

Costa's Hummingbird

Osprey along the Rogue River

Alabama Hills....Mt. Whitney through the Arch Rock. Highest point in
the lower forty-eight states.

Alabama Hills

Alabama Hills

Camping out in Borrego Springs this little guy posed for about
two hours...