From the Bird & Nature Journal

How lovely your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God. As the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest to settle her young, my home is by your altars, Lord of hosts, my king and my God! Happy are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you! Psalm 84

Tucked into the rolling hills of eastern Pennsylvania, along the edge of the Pocono Mountains and the Slate Belt, our little pond is home and respite to all kinds of birds and mammals. And it's a big source of entertainment and wonder for me and my family. During this time of year, our yard sounds like an aviary, and we are awakened every morning by a symphony of bird calls. At night, we are lulled to sleep by the peep of the tree frogs and bass-like hum of the bull frogs in the pond.

Every year, something a little exotic makes its home here. Here are two birds I am delighted see and enjoy watching, the Green Heron and the Great Egret.

Join me at the Bird & Nature Journal for more details. 

April 27, 2011

Green Heron 

photo source:
http://stlucieaudubon.org/PhotoPages/photos1.html

I just spotted this cutie yesterday morning. As I was drinking my cup of coffee, I saw a strange bird that dive-bombed from the oak tree by the pond. "What was that?" He stood upright with his long neck sticking straight up; his body is about a little bigger than a robin's. I grabbed the binoculars and watched him observe his surroundings--mostly the male mallards eating breakfast on the pond. Then he finally started walking about, but with his neck still extended, and I could see his heron-like feet. That gave me a clue, and so I looked it up on my bird journal, and --voila!--I found the green heron. Yes, I remembered then that I saw him last year, but at that time I didn't see him with his neck extended, and he looks quite different when it's not. I'm so glad he's back! He has a very unusual call of "Kowp!" And he's loud, although not often heard. I'm so looking forward to watching his antics again this year.
Great Egret

photo by Max Blease

Isn't this bird beautiful? He spent all of last summer with us, visiting every day. It was a pleasure to watch him fish and hunt for small frogs.

He is not a snowy egret, which has black legs and yellow feet, crest feathers, and stands at only two feet tall. This Great Egret has black legs and feet, no crest feathers, and is 3'3" tall. He still-hunts. It's fun to watch him spy a meal, stand as still as a statue with his neck extended all the way, then (swoop!) go in for the goodies! He is peaceful looking and moves smoothly and gracefully.

I just now found the picture to post it! I hope he returns this summer.

P.S. Can you tell I love living here? After 22 years in the city, I think I'm finally home!



From the Bird & Nature Journal

beauty among the seed pods and dry leaves

Here are a few images from my  Bird & Nature Journal. Scroll past the Brief Intro and  Active Bird List to my newest Journal Entries so you can read what these photos are all about. Spring has sprung! Soon we can say, "Alleluia!" But, of course, we must wait until Easter Sunday. Today is Holy Thursday, the evening of the Last Supper. May Our Lord, Son of God the Creator, be in your heart tonight as you sit and wait with Him for just an hour in His garden!

a nifty experiment for the birds

an unusual sight in our house during Lent

The Great Egret and others

Great Egret, the Black-crowned Night-Heron, a Muskrat in the pond, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtails (at this very moment, six of them are feasting on the zinnias in the bright sunshine).

(photo copyrighted by Max Blease)

Visit Kathleen's Bird and Nature Journal. Scroll down to photos of the Great Egret for all the nature write-ups.

God bless.

Meemo in the Moonlight and Other Observations

Kathleen's Bird and Nature Journal

These last few days, I've had the pleasure of making a few observations about the gorgeous natural world around us.Click here to visit my bird and nature journal to read about Meemo in the Moonlight, Deluge at Dawn, The Great Blue Heron and Swallowtails. I also provide a terrific website that will help you identify any butterflies or moths that might be gracing (or attacking, as it might be) your yard and garden.

Scroll past the Brief Introduction to the pictures of the butterflies.

God bless!

Cool Off with Love Letters from Heaven

Summer is here and the heat is on! And my family and I are feeling it without air conditioning. Pool, here we come!

I thought you might enjoy revisiting some Love Letters from Heaven that could help you cool off, too. Don't forget, if you ever doubt that you are loved, just take a look around you. Evidence that Your Creator is crazy about you is every where. And it's all for you to take in with awe and wonder.

Enjoy!

(All photos copyrighted by Roger L. Blease. Please do not use without permission.)

river frost, along the delaware

cold waters

just a few months ago?

 Assateaque Island

this just looks too good right now

 view to a snowball

bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (I couldn't resist)

God bless.

Birch Beer and Fawns

(photo source: http://www.buckmanager.com/media/images/2008/04/fawn-in-grass-habitat.jpg)

I just wrote a new entry today in Kathleen's Bird and Nature Journal, called A Birch Beer Mist and Fawns in the Brambles. Scroll down to the June 23 entry.

After reading it, you might be interested in my homemade ice cream recipe. Easy as pie. It's irresistible piled high with fresh wild raspberries!

(photo source: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/16/22016712_766fda0441.jpg)

 

Enjoy! God bless.

It's a Jungle! Let the Little Bird Guide You

by Kathleen Blease

As you can see from my lack of posts this past week, I have been finding it very difficult to write. My writing is usually connected to my ability to pray and contemplate. When these two dry up, so do my words. Aridity.

Today, I visited A Solitary Bird, who posted a few paragraphs on aridity and praying with a book. I love the imagery of the bird drinking.

When we face these dry times, we should turn to spiritual books--such as the gospels or books written by saints--to help us settle and/or direct our minds. This is where the little bird comes in. Have you ever watched a bird drink water? It will dip its beak into the water and take a few sips. Then, it turns its face to the sky to let the water go down. Little by little, dip by dip, the bird replenishes itself.

Just as the little bird takes these drops then turns its face skyward, so we, too, should take a few words from God or a Heavenly saint. Then, put the book down for a moment and turn our faces to Heaven to contemplate these tiny bits of nourishment for our souls.

Don't be in a rush. Don't force yourself  to be productive again in this way. This certainly isn't the first time I faced such a dry spell of creativity and aridity in spirituality, and it won't be the last! Perhaps these times are designed for us by God to slow us down, to find a new path. Hey, sometimes it looks like a jungle out there, and finding the straight and narrow path takes time to cut through the overgrowth and cast away the unnecessary.  It can be a tedious chore that appears to get us nowhere. But suddenly, with the help of Our Savior, we find our new path. If we drink from His fountain, bit by bit, and turn our eyes to Heaven, even our aridity becomes a bountiful time. How's that for a paradox?

God bless.

Love Letters from Heaven

by Kathleen Blease

Don't let Holy Week go by without taking a moment to notice God's Creation, magnificent and just for you. His love is beyond human imagination. God is crazy for you!  He gave you His Only Begotten Son, so you can have eternal life with Him, our grand Creator, and all the saints and angels in Heaven. Take a look at some of His artistry. If earth is this beautiful, just imagine Heaven!

all photos are copyrighted by Roger L. Blease

orange unblended

I am with you

assateague island

some beauties are complete surprises

one baptism

Eater egg

where the oriole lives

man inspired

God's handiwork, from a hot air balloon

God bless you during this most holy of weeks.