Nature – Page 34 – Wandering Dawgs

Breakfast In the Salt Marsh

January 20, 2019June 21, 2026Posted in Birds, Georgia, Nature, Photography, WildlifeTagged Coastal Georgia, Georgia Salt Marsh, Great Egret, salt marsh, White Ibis, winter19 Comments

When the tide is just right and the minnows in the water are plentiful, wading birds gather in the salt marsh in search of food. White Ibis, Egrets, Herons, and Wood Storks can often be seen feeding side by side in the marsh.

This morning my husband got my attention to show me a long line of white birds lined up on the railing of our neighbor’s dock. By the time I got my camera ready many of the birds had flown down into the marsh but there were still a few white ibis and great egrets surveying the area before diving in to eat.

20190120--morning-birds-(1) — White Ibis searching for breakfast in the salt marsh

20190120--morning-birds-(13) — Great Egret

20190120--morning-birds-(25) — White Ibis

20190120--morning-birds-(11) — Great Egret

It’s always entertaining to watch the white ibis as they feed. Usually there is a large group of them poking their long beaks under the water to capture fish. Suddenly, all of them will start wading through the water in the same direction in search of more food. They don’t stay long in any one place. Eventually, they tire of the area and fly off in search of better fishing grounds.

20190120--morning-birds-(77) — Ibis dining in the salt marsh

20190120--morning-birds-(17) — White Ibis dining in the salt marsh

I never know when I’m going to stumble across flocks of birds in the marsh but it’s always a treat when I see them. I was lucky to see them this morning and was glad to have my camera nearby.

Winter in the Butterfly Garden

January 14, 2019June 21, 2026Posted in Butterflies, Georgia, NatureTagged Butterfly Garden, hibiscus, Mexican Sunflower, milkweed, monarch caterpillar, monarch chrysalis, winter garden15 Comments

Although most of the plants in my butterfly garden are finished blooming for the winter, some of flowering plants continued to bloom in late December and early January.

The milkweed is blooming and attracting Monarch butterflies. Because Hurricane Irma destroyed my butterfly garden in 2017 there were no butterflies or caterpillars last winter. I replanted the garden in the spring of 2018 and in December, 2018 I was thrilled to find monarchs and caterpillars on the milkweed once again.

20190101-Welcome-New-Year-(10) — Monarch on milkweed in January

20181224-Caterpillars-(4) — Monarch Caterpillar

Two days later, this caterpillar had changed into a chrysalis.

20181226-Chrysalis-(12) — Monarch Chrysalis December 24, 2018

I checked on the chrysalis every day. A week later, on New Year’s Eve, it was starting to change.

20181231-Garden-(1) — Week old monarch chrysalis after rain December 31, 2018

I continued checking on it daily and I could see subtle changes each day. Just when I knew it wouldn’t be long before a butterfly emerged, I found it lying on the ground the morning of January 5. We did some research on the internet to find out if there was anything we could do to save it. We tied it to a branch with piece of thread and let it hang in a jar. It’s been over a week since then and still there is no change.

20190105-chrysallis-(6) — We rescued the Chrysalis after it fell on the ground on January 5, 2019

I wish there had been a happier ending to this post. I’m sad to say that our butterfly didn’t make it.

Reflections

August 29, 2018June 21, 2026Posted in Nature, PhotographyTagged Photo Challenge, Reflections, Wandering Wednesday11 Comments

When I was a lot younger I was too busy to notice a lot of the little details that occur in nature. I discovered later in life that if I slow down and look around me I can enjoy the beauty of something as simple as trees or birds reflected in still water.

20120108Fanning-Springs-and-Otter-Springs-(12) — Otter Springs, FL

20130105Little-Ocmulgee-(15) — Little Ocmulgee State Park, GA

20180221Silver-Springs-Glass-Bottom-Boat-(57) — An unusual looking palm tree in the Silver River

20091128-3Sunset-Isle-(60) — Yellow Crowned Night Heron, FL

Inspired by Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday photo prompt – Reflections

Bald Eagles of Alaska

August 16, 2018June 21, 2026Posted in Alaska, Birds, Nature, Photography, RVing, WildlifeTagged Bald Eagle, Photo Challenge, Wandering Wednesday16 Comments

Five years ago we were wandering around Alaska in our RV. As we traveled I was always on the lookout for wildlife and we saw plenty of it.

Along with the many land and sea animals, I enjoyed seeing the birds. The Bald Eagles were my favorite and there were more Bald Eagles than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. We saw them perched in trees, soaring overhead, and even in a nest in front of the Homer Post office. The most unusual sighting was seeing one fly right beside the truck as we drove along the Homer Spit. I was so busy watching him keep up with us that I didn’t get a chance to take his picture!

He was looking at me — Bald Eagle on Ninilchik Beach

Bald Eagle at Chilcoot Lake State Park, Haines, AK

20130621Day-37Fjordland-to-Juneau-(177) — Bald Eagle in the Lynn Canal between Haines and Juneau

20130621Day-37Scale-Eagle — Bald Eagle in tree beside Eldred Rock Lighthouse in the Lynn Canal

Mama and Baby Eagles across from Homer Post Office — Mama and Baby Eagles in Homer

Eagle soaring over bluff at Russian Orthadox Church in Ninilchik

Pair of Eagles — We spotted this pair of Bald Eagles as we cruised by on a wildlife and glacier cruise from Valdez

Inspired by Ingrid’s Wandering Wednesday photo prompt – birds

Late Summer in the Garden

August 8, 2018June 21, 2026Posted in Butterflies, Flowers, Nature, PhotographyTagged Butterfly Garden, garden, Gulf Fritillary, Photo Challenge, Swallowtail, Wandering Wednesday16 Comments

Most of the flower beds around our house are planted with drought tolerant plants that can survive the summer heat here in coastal Georgia. On the summers we take off on an RV trip I don’t have to worry too much about these established plants back home.

When we are home for the summer, I like to plant a butterfly garden. This year I added new milkweed, a butterfly bush, zinnias, black eyed susans, purple coneflower, and Mexican Sunflower to attract the hummingbirds and butterflies. With all these blooms I enjoy having cut flowers from the garden.

20180714Tomatoes-(8) — Cut Flowers from the garden

In addition to my flowers I had a small crop of basil, jalapeño peppers and cherry tomatoes. The peppers are still producing but the tomatoes and basil are gone.

20180714Tomatoes-(4) — Bounty from my little garden

Earlier in the summer we weren’t getting very many butterflies but lately the Gulf Fritillarys and Swallowtails have been visiting the garden regularly.