On the property next door to us stands this MASSIVE old Maple tree. I have to do some investigation, but I think it's a Sugar Maple. MTBR.....
 |
| Many dead limbs, ragged bark. |
 |
| Right in the middle of this picture, you can see what appears to be a baby hemlock tree growing out of the maple! |
On a walk last week, we found a bird house. Inside of it was a Chickadee and her first egg. I opened the box very slowly, not knowing if anything was in there. Mom flew out and stayed in a branch above while I snapped a picture of her first egg!
These three Dogwood trees are out in the front of our neighbor's yard. Last year, there were very few blooms. I was afraid that the trees were going to die. They are at least 50 years old, they were here when my former landlord's uncle moved in. The bark is ragged, and there are many dead limbs. But they bloomed like crazy this year once again!
Driving to work on the Hampstead Bypass (4/28) I happened to see this turtle on the side on my side of the road getting ready to cross! I pulled up to investigate, and it was a Snapping Turtle! Female Snappers will leave their home ponds in search of a place to breed and lay eggs, traveling up to 2 miles in some cases, and then return to the home pond again.
Trying to get this one across the road was a challenge. You can't get behind them to "chase" them, because they will do a jump and turn and snap at you! She got a hold of my shoe at one point! And she was not about to let go! I'm glad she got bored with it! She was, from top of shell to rear of shell about 16in.
A very nice man stopped (most everyone else just slowed down to gawk) and asked if he could help. I explained that we needed to get her across to the other side, as putting her back from the direction she was coming from would only result in her making another attempt at crossing.
Neither of had a box, shovel, blanket....nothing. BUT, he had an umbrella! So I said, "You put the end of the umbrella in front of her, and when she snaps, she'll latch on, and I will be able to pick her up from behind and we will carry her across". I think he thought I was nuts! He was able to stop traffic, and the plan went off without a hitch! I had to carry her crouched down just in case I lost my grip because if I did, I didn't want her to have more than a couple of inches to fall. My back and knees were mad, but we got her safely across!
I only wish someone had been there to take a picture of us doing our rescue...it must have looked hilarious!
 |
| Getting ready to cross |
 |
| Now safe on the other side, heading to her pond! |
 |
| Plowing her way through the tall brush. |
Cleaning up some junk on the patio (4/30), I found this Pickerel Frog in a large flower pot tray with filthy water. NO idea how he got there! We took him down to the pond next door and set him free.
On 4/27, bad storms were popping up all over the area. While we were eating dinner, a warning came on for us in Randallstown! The radar showed the storm cell "capable of producing a tornado" just south of us and heading northeast. Instead of running for safety, I ran to take pictures! The NWS canceled the warning just a few minutes later, but the cell was very impressive just the same!
Today, 5/4, was the BIG MAMA of all my birdwatching days! I have been seeing an Indigo Bunting (male) for the last 5 days and have been trying to get a picture of him with no luck. This morning, I was upstairs and looked out the window and saw several blue birds. I ran downstairs to grab the camera, thinking the Bunting had brought some friends. I had to take these pictures through the slots of the sun porch door because it was raining and I couldn't take the camera outside. As I was taking the pictures I realized that one of the birds was smaller. Then I realized that I was seeing some brown on the wings......WHAT? Dare I think? I came in to put the pictures on the computer and noticed a brown bird on my living room window feeder that I have not seen before. It had very distinct buff colored wing bars, so I grabbed the bird book and looked up Blue Grosbeak. BINGO!!!!
Sure enough, when I got the pictures on the computer I was able to see what I had for sure! And not only that, but in one of the pictures, I have a Grosbeak and the Bunting next to each other!
Just to make absolutely sure of what I was seeing, I sent the pictures to Keith Costley of the Baltimore Bird Club and he confirmed....and said he was "soooooooo jealous"! Imagine that!
 |
| Indigo Bunting on left, Blue Grosbeak on right |
 |
| Cardinal left, Blue Grosbeak right |
 |
| 2 Blue Grosbeaks |
|
Once upon a time, many, many years ago, there was an apple and pear tree orchard on this propery. Most of the trees have long since succumbed to age and disease, but a few remain. This one is closest to the house and has been a beautiful bloomer. But this year, with just a few scant flowers and no signs of leaves to come, we are witnessing the death of an apple tree.
While out quietly walking the property last Sunday (5/1) in the hopes of locating my wayward hound dog, this little doe and I spotted each other!
While weeding the front flower beds this past weekend (5/8), Steve found a baby toad!
