Seeking Squirrel

“As long as one keeps searching, the answers come”

- Joan Baez quotes (American Singer and Song Writer, b.1941)

Innocence

“Being part of the natural world reminds me that innocence isn't ever lost completely; we just need to maintain our goodness to regain it.”

-Jewel

The squirrel I feed in my yard

Don't be yourself - be someone a little nicer.

~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Turtle

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.”

- James Bryant Conant




I found this little guy as I was kayaking on Little Bradford Lake. He had some buddies with him but as soon as I came closer with my boat, the rest of them slid back into the water.

Raft

This is a Common Loon nesting on a floating raft made by local Loon Rangers in Gaylord, Michigan. This raft keeps the babies safe from predators which is especially important as Michigan's Loon population is declining.

It is important to note that you should never get too close to a nesting Loon. They are very sensitive and will abandon the nest if disturbed. Best to use your zoom lens from a far distance. They typically have two loon chicks which learn to swim within a day. I hope to get photos of the babies soon!

Barred Owl

“A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard; Why aren't we like that wise old bird?”

-Author Unknown



This is a Barred-Owl that I was able to meet in person at the Kirtland Warbler Festival recently. As he was injured and cannot be released back into the wild, he is used for education by a wildlife rehabilitation organization.

Everyone have a safe Memorial weekend! Remember those who sacrificed who us and continue to do so!

Great Horned Owl

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.

~Martin Buber



*Rescued Great Horned Owl - now part of ARK's wildlife education program.

In the moment

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Red Squirrel

Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem.

~Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

Morning has broken

Morning has broken,




Like the first morning....





Blackbird has spoken,





...like the first bird.




Praise for the singing, praise for the morning



Praise for them springing fresh from the world.


Sung by Cat Stevens. Lyrics by Eleanor Farjean.

I wanted to share one of my glorious mornings I had this weekend with you.

Sweeter Side

This Gray Squirrel was so ferocious this past weekend - chewing big holes on my new wooden bird feeder. When I went outside to shoo him away, he crawled up into the tree and immediately looked so sweet and vulnerable. Hmmm....well I guess I'll be getting a baffle for the new feeder, but I'll leave some peanuts on the ground nearby. I'm a softie.

Wild Ducks

Wild ducks and tomorrow both come without calling.

- Russian Proverb

Snowy Nose

This little guy was raiding my bird feeders all morning. I let him. He looked so cold and I knew he was hungry. This isn't a sharp photo but I liked the snow on his face. Hoping for warmer days ahead for my black squirrel!

Juvenile Bald Eagle in Flight

“Eagles: When they walk, they stumble. They are not what one would call graceful. They were not designed to walk. They fly. And when they fly, oh, how they fly, so free, so graceful. They see from the sky what we never see.”

- Author unknown

Eastern Gray Squirrel

I was interested to find out that the Eastern Gray Squirrel will interbreed with the Black Squirrel and that they will have litters that contain both color types. I will need to examine my Black Squirrels and Gray Squirrels more closely up at the log cabin! The Gray squirrel lives most of his life in and around one tree and is the least social of all the tree squirrels. Now that I think about it, the Black Squirrels do not hesitate to eat at the bird feeder with me standing right there and a couple have even run up to my feet to beg for food - but never the Gray Squirrel. I guess he will remain my shy one.

Blue Jay in a snow storm

It is 28 degrees at the log cabin and big fluffy snow flakes are coming down. I watched this Blue Jay flit from each of my bird feeders until he came to rest in this tree - perhaps to take shelter and enjoy the snowfall as well.

Red Squirrel

"If we had a keen vision of all that is ordinary in human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow or the squirrel's heart beat, and we should die of that roar which is the other side of silence."

-George Eliot