Mostly Feathers, a little Fur

This view is of one of my favorite spots. I call it "the crossing" because of the wildlife that crosses this little stream in this location.

This is where I observed the change in a Sycamore seedling as winter approached...

Ten days later...

There is a benefit to frequenting a place so often that one can recognize subtle changes and patterns in nature.

The Amur honeysuckle, also called Bush or Late honeysuckle produces berries that last into winter in our area...

One can observe the ripening of the fruit by the number of birds that are attracted to the plant...

Cedar waxwings are fond of them...

As are starlings...

House finches like them...

And, as I recently learned...

So do squirrels...

For no particular reason, an American Beech tree...

Kinglets were plentiful this year. Here is a golden-crowned specimen...

A ruby-crowned kinglet  blue-headed vireo enjoys a brown marmorated stink bug...

It has been windy and cold recently. Blustering winds blew up this robin's, uh, tail feathers...

At "the crossing" a great blue heron caught a crayfish...

And followed that up by catching a frog...

The frog didn't go down without a fight...

A number of deer cross this small stream. The following images were taken over a period of many days...

I also get to see smaller creatures...

And lots of small birds like this tufted titmouse...

Goldfinches...

Some changing colors...

A chickadee after a tiny insect...

A splash of yellow...

A nuthatch has a secret hiding place...

Frederick County farm scene...

On an especially lucky day...

A juvenile eagle in the same area...

Staghorn sumac at it's most colorful...

A song sparrow...

Evidence of a yellow-bellied sapsucker...

A black vulture coming in for dinner...

Some color from a black gum tree...

If you have read this far I am fairly certain that you have escaped the ugliness that is our society; at least for a little while. As a final image, here is a Virginia creeper clinging to the hope of better days to come...

Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.