This old barn has seen a lot of sunsets, but its sunsets might be numbered as the side boards are already gone and its useful days are gone.
Sunset Barn
Picture of the Day for July 6, 2013
My pond some times has a Green Heron as a frequent visitor and on occasion, the larger Great Blue Heron visits and leaves foot prints on the pond floor several feet away from the shore. Great blue herons are waders and expert fishers. Herons snare their aquatic prey by walking slowly, or standing still for long periods of time and waiting for fish to come within range of their long necks and blade-like bills. The deathblow is delivered with a quick thrust of the sharp bill, and the prey is swallowed whole. Though they are best known as fishers, mice constitute a large part of their diet, and they also eat insects and other small creatures.
Great Blue Herons’ size (3.2 to 4.5 feet) and wide wingspan (5.5 to 6.6 feet) make them a joy to see in flight. They can cruise at some 20 to 30 miles an hour as they curl their neck into an S shape for a more aerodynamic flight profile. Despite their impressive size, Great Blue Herons weigh only 5 to 6 pounds thanks in part to their hollow bones—a feature all birds share.
Great Blue Herons have specialized feathers on their chest that continually grow and fray. The herons comb this “powder down” with a fringed claw on their middle toes, using the down like a washcloth to remove fish slime and other oils from their feathers as they preen. Applying the powder to their underparts protects their feathers against the slime and oils of swamps.
Great Blue Heron
Picture of the Day for July 5, 2013
A variety of birds may be seen near a pond, like colorful ducks, herons or song birds getting a drink of water. If the pond is large enough, it may be the home to Trumpeter Swans, which are the largest bird in North America and gets its name from its trumpet-like call. In a standing position, Trumpeter Swans are approximately 4 feet high. However, if the neck and legs are outstretched they can measure nearly 6 feet long from bill to feet.
Although more common today, the Trumpeter Swan was reduced to near extinction by the early 20th century as they were hunted for its feathers throughout the 1600s – 1800s. Its largest flight feathers made what were considered to be the best quality quill pens. It was a good thing ball point pens were invented.
Every year adult swans go through a flightless period in which they molt all their feathers at once thus making them flightless for a 1-2 month period of time. This typically occurs during the warmest months, namely July and August. During this period they are particularly vulnerable and may act more secretive than usual.
Trumpeter Swans may form pair bonds as early as their second winter and some may nest for the first time at three years of age. Most Trumpeters, however, don’t nest until they are four to six years old. Trumpeter Swan cygnets (young birds) are typically hatched gray in color.
Trumpeter Swan Family
Picture of the Day for July 4, 2013
4th of July – Independence Day
In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
The explosive fireworks put brilliant colors into the sky but mother nature can put dazzling colors into the sky with lightning displays, the flashing light of the firefly bug, sun dogs in the winter sky and spectacular summer rainbows. I wonder if the frogs and dragonflies in the pond enjoy nature’s show as much as I do.
Rainbow Over the Pond
Picture of the Day for July 3, 2013
Since it seems that I have started a pond theme for this week with the frogs and dragonflies, I might as well continue the theme with a water lily. There may be a single water lily here and there or a solid mass of lilies covering the surface of a pond.
Water lilies create shade and protection for fish in landscape ponds, and they provide a gentle resting spot for frogs and dragonflies. They also bloom periodically dressing up the water surface.
White Water Lily
Picture of the Day for July 2, 2013
There is a lot of activity around ponds in the summer including the darting flights of dragonflies reaching speeds of 34 mph.
Dragonflies are important predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, wasps, and very rarely butterflies.
Dragonflies
Picture of the Day for July 1, 2013
The summer sunset are a little easier to take a photograph of since the fingers don’t freeze but they might get bit by bugs instead but it is always nice to see a pretty sunset.
Summer Sunset
Picture of the Day for June 30, 2013
On a warm, lazy summer Sunday afternoon, young children may play near a pond and maybe they might spot a green frog hiding in the cattails. Even if they don’t spot one, they might hear one croaking up a storm.
Green frogs will attempt to eat any mouth-sized animal they can capture, including insects, spiders, fish, crayfish, shrimp, other frogs, tadpoles, small snakes, birds, and snails.
Northern Green Frog
Picture of the Day for June 29, 2013
Picture of the Day for June 28, 2013
This Belted Galloway calf looks as disgusted that the rainy days as I am. The Belted Galloway is a heritage beef breed of cattle originating from Galloway in the west side of southern Scotland, adapted to living on the poor upland pastures and windswept moorlands of the region. The exact origin of the breed is unclear although it is often surmised that the white belt that distinguishes these cattle from the native black Galloway cattle may be as a result of cross breeding with Dutch Lakenvelder belted cattle. It is the belt that gives them their name.
The distinctive white belt found in Belted Galloways often varies somewhat in width and regularity but usually covers most of the body from the shoulders to the hooks. The white contrast to the black coat, which may have a brownish tinge in the summer, sets the breed apart with its striking color pattern. Because of this distinctive look the cattle are also called as “Oreo cookie cows”.
“Oreo Calf”
