Monday, April 25, 2011

Spring on a Monday

There is a beautiful color or green that can only be found in nature in the Spring when everything is new.  The colors of the trees and the surrounding area are as bright and brilliant as they will be all year.  The canopy is really filled in after last weeks rain and a few warm days.  This morning I thought I caught a glimpse of a Bald Eagle.  While I have heard them and seen them at Jamestown Settlement, I thought I saw an Eagle this morning.  There are several pairs of Osprey over the wetlands.  Today there were five Great Egrets who were "courting" with what looked like a game of leapfrog.  One bird would fly a bit and then another would fly in to say hello.












Two Herons arrive for a Brief moment....

.....and then they were gone. 

Watching the Egrets, a Heron flew in for a visit.  ALMOST an incredible shot.



And then they were off again...one was there later in the evening

Easter Flowers on the Northern Neck

Happy Easter!!!  While I usually reserve this space for Greensprings pictures, I have to add these photos of wonderful color and beauty of our visit over the weekend to the Northern Neck of Virginia to places like Kilmarnock, Reedville and Fleeton Beach.




Butterfly on Azela

Azela


Flowering Dogwood

Bee on Azela

Pink Flowering Dogwood

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Around the Pond, Weekend Walks

Saturday, spring flowers

The calm after the storm, Sunday early morning


wetlands plants

Northern end of wetlands, near Rt. 5

Tree, Northern end

Moss, Northern end Wetlands

Mainland Farm

Great Egret Move Closer



The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > Outdoor water restrictions start May 1

The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > Outdoor water restrictions start May 1

Wetlands Footbridge

The bridge which leads across the wetlands is OPEN again after being closed all weekend for repairs and reconstruction. Thank-you to the two young men who were working so diligently.  Many boards had started to deteriorate. Happily the bridge has re-opened.


 

Tiny Turtle

This weekend, I was walking along enjoying the calm after the storms the night before when I noticed something black on the path.  It was the tiniest turtle I have ever seen.  I am being told it is a yellow bellied or a painted turtle.  After I do a bit of research I will repost my findings.

after taking a look, I sent the little guy on his way


small enough to fit on my watch

Sunday, April 17, 2011

This Weekend

I hope everyone in the area faired well in all of the watches and warnings on Saturday.  My family and I did manage to have a nice hike from one end to the other.  The puppies so enjoy running along Mainland Farm.  After hiking a good 4 miles, we returned home to discover my husband had lost his keys. He took off on foot to the one location that a dog had jumped out at us.  Little Chloe not only went after us yesterday but a man on a bike.  Anyway, took off on foot to locate the keys on one end and did not find anything.  We then returned to the house for our bikes to head back to Mainland Farm.  Half way through the farm, we discovered the keys in the grass.  The storms were coming in from over the James River and we sat for some time watching the wheat grasses sway in the wind and the sky get darker and lower.  When the rain started we returned home to the many storm and tornado watches and warnings throughout the rest of the evening.  The foot bridge across the beaver pond is still closed today for repairs.  Two guys are doing a great job at making the repairs and it will soon be safe for traffic.  The water is high on the wetlands after yesterdays storms, so please be careful around the water, especially the kids, because there is a current. 

It is Palm Sunday and this week is Holy Week.  Hope all my neighbors of the trail will be thanking God for our beautiful trail if not attending a service or two or the Triudum. 

The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > Greenspring Trail bridge closed this weekend

The Virginia Gazette, Williamsburg Virginia > News > Greenspring Trail bridge closed this weekend

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Lovely Spring Day

bright and lovely spring day

short tailed hawk

Short tailed hawk

lovely spring day


turtle on the pond

turtles

Bright sun over the park

Double Rainbow over Williamsburg