Thursday, February 18, 2010

walk at guthrie beach


walk at guthrie beach, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Brants flying by ..

Common Goldeneye


Common Goldeneye, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Not a great shot but we were excited to see Common Goldeneyes for the first time while counting birds at Harkness. We also saw Sanderlings for the first time (so cute!). And we saw 23 Common Eiders .. which are, apparently, out of their normal range for this time of year .. so I had to prove that we saw them. Luckily I took pictures. It was cold but a nice walk.

Sanderling


Sanderling, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Harkness


Harkness, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

cold walk at Harkness


cold walk at Harkness, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

mallards


mallards, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

snowy pier


snowy pier, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Backyard bird count begins. Most interesting sightings .. 2 hooded merganser and a red-breasted merganser. Kids spent a long time collecting shells and seaglass. Then we went to S's for tea. Later had a visit from Grandpa B delivering valentines. :)

L and the mozzarella she made

Hello, chicken!


visiting the chickens, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

visiting the chickens


visiting the chickens, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

snowstorm


snowstorm, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

tied together!


tied together!, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

icy shoreline


icy shoreline, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

red-shouldered hawk


red-shouldered hawk, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Love the expression here!

red-shouldered hawk


Watched this red-shouldered hawk fly across our windshield, grab a mole or shrew out of the ditch and fly back up to a tree. Here it is holding it's fresh meal. We also watched it eat (while being circled by angry bluejays.)

Broad-winged hawk


Broad-winged hawk, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

common merganser


common merganser, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Northern Harrier


Northern Harrier, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

brave kids in the cold wind


brave kids in the cold wind, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

icy river


icy river, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Took a side trip on the way home. We took a short COLD walk on the CT river. The sun was nice .. the river was icy. The ice was breaking up in some spots and cracking and moving .. when it hit the rocks it sounded like music, like wind chimes. We saw all kinds of cool birds .. I will post the faraway but still cool shots here too. It was so great to get out and see some incredibly beautiful scenes. It was necessary for me to be reminded that there are parts of winter that I love and would be unhappy to miss!

S'mores :)


Bushy Hill, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Our fire!


Bushy Hill, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Bushy Hill


Bushy Hill, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Gathering sticks and tinder for our fire. Yellow birch bark worked wonders getting the fire going with all the wet snow.

animal footprints


animal footprints ?, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

in the meadow

While L was at class, e and I took a long walk .. he pretended to be a killdeer and I was a fox and he acted like he had a hurt wing so I would chase him and he could lead me away from his nest. :)

valentine bear


valentine bear, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

We look forward to driving by this bear on the way to the nature center and we wonder how it will be dressed. The kids are hoping for St Patrick's decorations next month.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

dissecting squid


dissecting squid, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

dissecting squid


dissecting squid, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

squid ink


dissecting squid, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

graffiti icicles


graffiti icicles, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

birthday party fun


birthday party, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Hygienic art kids


Hygienic art kids, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Hygienic art kids


Hygienic art kids, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Hygienic art kids with their art


Hygienic art kids, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Hygienic art kids


Hygienic art kids, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Hygienic art kids


Hygienic art kids, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

Hygienic art kids


Hygienic art kids, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

dressing up with the Mystic Paper Beasts

rock painting at fiddleheads


rock painting, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

hygienic art day


hygienic art day, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

thirsty cat


thirsty cat, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

at the farm


at the farm, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

playground


playground, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.

quiet winter sunset


sunset, originally uploaded by hobbitsmama.