Baby Bird

All posts tagged Baby Bird

Lots of Winged Beauties and a Little Squirrel

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 25, 2010
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Carriage Road Male Cardinal

Tufa Terrace Flight School Northern Mockingbird Baby

Tufa Terrace Flight School Northern Mockingbird Mom

Floral Trail Orange Brown Moth

Carriage Road Small Squirrel

Sunday and as I head out  a sidewalk regular calls out “You hike on Sundays too!”, I reply ” God is in the Mountains!”  I head up the Tufa Terrace Trail when I enter the park, always excited by the surprises Nature shares with me.  Today is flight school and I was blessed to see the baby Northern Mockingbird from Jul 11 flying from branch to branch and Tree to Tree with it’s mom. This baby has a beautiful voice I could not forget from out first encounter. It was a perfect start to my morning hike.

When I reach the Carriage Road I see a Male Cardinal, I set to take a photo, there is a flash of green and I have a brief glimpse of a juvenile female Summer Tanager. The amazing Male Cardinal is a glorious red nestled in the bright green. He spends several minutes shifting on the limbs in a steady breeze.

As I move to the stairs that lead up the Dead Chief Trail I see a lovely squirrel  behind the fence in the hospital grounds.  It is the first squirrel I have seen up close since the heat wave began about a one and a half weeks ago.  I am so happy to see this small creature and enjoy watching it scale a tree and leap over my head to the other side of the trail.  A Male Cardinal appears above me on the trail landing on a limb and it makes an X as I look up.  A sweet Tufted Titmouse is looking down at me as I am photographing the Male Cardinal.  For so long the birds seemed invisible as they were nesting and raising their young.  I am so happy to hear their song and see them moving about the park.

As I near the top on the Short Cut Trail a tiny Black-Capped Chickadee is peering at me through a tangle of vines. My sighting is a wonderful morning surprise.   Once at the top of Hot Springs Mountain I head along the Hot Springs Mountain Trail.  Just past the Pagoda I hear a lovely Cardinal song and while I am looking for birds above me a Male Cardinal lands on the ground next to me.    He pick up seed and flies up into a Tree behind me.

I continue my hike and taking Upper Dogwood Trail when I reach North Mountain.  It is unusual to be alone on the trail on a Sunday, I am enjoying the peaceful meditative Forest sounds. At the top of the Upper Dogwood I head down the Lower Dogwood Trail.  The birds are all high in the Tree tops serenading the Mountain as I make my way to the Floral Trail.

As I near the bottom of the Floral Trail I am escorted by a beautiful Orange and Brown Moth.  A final farewell as I leave the trail is a given by a sweet Tufted Titmouse.  When I reach the Arlington Lawn I see a swarm of dragonflies speeding back and forth.  In the bright sunlight they remind me of the golden snitch in the Harry Potter films.  It has been another wonderful morning in paradise.

Take a moment to heal in Nature.
Love,
Lee

Bunnies, Baby Birds and a Sweet Chipmunk

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 25, 2010
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 5 Comments

Lower Dogwood Female Cardinal And Chick

Lower Dogwood Male Cardinal And Chick

Lower Dogwood Male Cardinal

Peak Trail Eastern Cottontail

Tufa Terrace Chipmunk

It’s been a busy two days so I have combined photos from yesterday and today.  I started my hike yesterday with lovely Bunnies (Eastern Cottontails) grazing in the grass on the Peak Trail.  As I crept into the glen slowly not wanting to startle them.  For half an hour I enjoyed the beauty of these graceful creatures.  As I slowly back up I glance to my side and saw I had attracted an audience. I imagine somewhere out in cyberspace are photos of me photographing the bunnies.

I ended yesterdays hike with a hilarious encounter with a sweet perhaps pregnant Chipmunk. I noticed it was climbing down the Tufa Rocks and coming toward me as I stood on the Tufa Terrace Trail.  It came closer, closer and shot between my feet then headed up the terrace.  After a moment she turned around and came back toward me and between my feet again.  She went up a stump and sat in from of me, I can see the 106 degree heat has her feeling itchy. I think she is either pregnant or recently so.

This morning I hiked up the Dead Chief  to the Short Cut Trail and up to the Mountain Top.  The thunder storms from the night before  and dark morning skies has the residence of the park hidden away. I decide to hike down the Mountain on the Hot Springs Mountain Trail to the Honeysuckle Trail and onto the Floral Trail.

I cross over to North Mountain and hike up the Floral to the Lower Dogwood Trail.  I hike around the north side of the Trail, a surprise awaits me as I reach the west end.  A sweet Northern Mockingbird Juvenile is in the Tree above me.  It looks down at me then flies up to a top branch, picks a berry and holds it out for me to see.

Further along I see a flash of red moving through the Trees, a male Cardinal lands on the low branch.  It does not stay long and moves to were a female is nesting with a new chick. It is a blessing to see this beautiful family in the Forest today.  I cannot wait to get home and share my adventure with my Husband Rick.

Play in Nature everyday!
Love,
Lee

An Old Friend Returns and Baby Birds

Posted by Lee Hiller on May 28, 2010
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Hot Springs Mountain Trail Spiderweb Disc

Promenade Northern Mockingbird Baby

I decided to get an earlier start this morning and I head directly up to the Dead Chief Trail and connect with the Short Cut Trail.  An old friend reappears as I begin the incline of the Short Cut Trail, with each step they call out to me.  I look and climb, excitement fills my heart when I look up at a long dead Tree.  Wings Spread embracing the Tree is my friend a Red-bellied Woodpecker.  I called out and they turn to looked my way and then hug the Tree again.  We had a lovely conversation and I feel so thankful to see them.

At the top of Hot Springs Mountain I carry the elation of see my dear friend who followed be through the Forest all winter. The Trail is lush and Green from the previous nights rain and with each breeze the Trees share the droplets coating their Leaves. Glistening up ahead is an amazing Spiderweb, it looks as if they are creating a vinyl LP.  Weaving a silver thread musical masterpiece.  Nature’s creatures are inspired to great artistry.  To my side I spot another beautiful red top Fungus pushing it’s way into view.  I am in awe of how the Forest Fungi fight through the to the surface.

When I cross over to the the west side of the Hot Springs Mountain Trail signs of last nights rain is everywhere.  Soggy paths with standing water and Wildflowers drenched with rain.  I connect with the Honeysuckle Trail and then head down the Floral Trail.  As I near the bottom a I look up in the leaves and see a sweet Tufted Titmouse.

I head to Fountain Street and then the Promenade to cut across the park to the Post Office.  On the Promenade I can see a lovely Squirrel on the Tufa Terrace high is a Tree nibbling on leaves.  It leaps though the branches and down to where I am walking.  A female Cardinal is in the shade of a large Tree, a couple with a dog go past and she flies up into a nice green leafy Tree.

As I near the exit to the Park  I see a Northern Mockingbird sitting on the handrail ahead of me.  She appears to be waiting for me, I am about to see a wonderful sight.  What she shows me is her babies tucked safely under a bush.  They are so gorgeous, fluffy and curious.  What came next was flight school, Mom took her babies on to the hospital and one by one each flew across to a nearby Tree.  I am so excited, I can’t wait to bring Rick back later to see it for himself…

Later Rick and I did return to see “Flight School” and this time there was both Northern Mockingbird and Sparrow Babies.  Nature blesses us in so my ways!

Open your eyes to what Nature is trying to show us.
Love to You ALL!
Lee

PS the Big Beautiful Hibiscus was on Central Avenue outside the Antique Store.

It’s Spring Nesting, Nurturing and a New Bird

Posted by Lee Hiller on May 18, 2010
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Promenade Baby Northern Mockingbird

Promenade HSRC Fence Northern Mockingbird Berry

It is the first morning in a while that I could see the Mountain clearly, no rain and no fog. A perfect hiking day mild temperatures and patchy skies.  As I enter the park I notice the fragrant air does not feel as heavy, it makes breathing much easier.  Even though the humidity is lower the pollen count is high and the city is covered in it’s yellow dust.  I feel blessed, for the first time in my life I am not suffering from allergies including those related to pollen.

At the beginning of the The Tufa Terrace is a delightful cluster of Fungi.  Little gray and brown umbrellas nestled around an old stump. Spectacular new Wild Roses are appearing every day along the terrace, their beauty a perfect start to my morning.  I hear a noise above and look up to see a yellow and white Fixed Wing Single-Engine 1969 CESSNA flying over the park. The sky is a perfect Arkansas Blue, the view from above must be amazing.

As I connect with the Carriage Road I hear this odd bird call, it sounds like a screeching cat.  When I stop to listen more carefully it switches to a series of tones similar to a Northern Mocking Bird.  As I head up the Dead Chief Trail I see a male Cardinal and a dark unknown bird.  The male Cardinal is doing his best impression of a crooner singing to the rising morning sun.  Suddenly the dark bird (I learn later is a Gray Catbird) sings and I know now this is the bird I have been hearing the past week along the Carriage Road.

When I reach the Short Cut Trail I can hear another male Cardinal and spot him in a Tree up ahead.  Although not coming close he does stay visible, moving so I can clearly see him.  Movement below and his motives are revealed,  a female Cardinal is gathering leaves in her beak for nesting.  The male has been acting as a decoy until she can get safely back to their nest.

I hike across the mountain top over to the Hot Springs Mountain Trail.  Lovely Wild Roses are appearing along the trail in two glorious shades of pink.  The green of the trail is lush, its color reflects on everything along the path.  There are times in the forest I feel as if I am being followed, this was one of those moments.  It has been so quiet and I cannot immediately locate my companion in the Trees.  A flicker in the leaves, a large Blue Jay is moving slowly along the path.  Usually the Blue Jays are noisy warning the Forest of my presence, today I am being quietly observed.  The dense green leaf cover has given it perfect camouflage.  I am thankful to have this guide moving through the Forest with me.

When I reach the Honeysuckle Trail I decide to head over to “The Wedding Chapel”, to sit and listen to the birds.  For the first time I decide to take photos from the inside. Looking at the rock pillar in the back corner I start to giggle, I never realized it looks like a Tiki totem.  This is the perfect place to sit for a moment, close my eyes and soak in the beautiful song of the Forest.  Later as I slowly open my eyes I see a lovely Black Swallowtail Butterfly gliding along on a delicate breeze.

I count my blessings as I head down the Floral Trail, it is glorious in the Forest this morning.  When I reach the Fountain Street Wall at the Fountain Trail I see a Squirrel foraging in the clover and another in a Tree. Two male  Robins are battling over territory as a female gathers nesting materials below.   I turn to see I have been noticed, a squirrel is walking along the wall right toward me, I have been made.

On the promenade the the birds are singing and in the Trees I can hear the chirping of babies waiting for food.  Above me a Northern Mockingbird land on the Light post above me.  It twists it’s head and looks at me with a single eye, then flies over to a nearby Berry Tree. From there it lands on the fence that boarders the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Hospital, below a baby waits for a feeding.  Two House Sparrows sit watching  between the spears of the fence.  A sweet female House Sparrow lands on the fence to my right with a blade of glass in her beak.

At the entrance I stop to take a deep breath filling my senses with the sweet perfume of Magnolias.  Thank You for following me through the Park today, I Love knowing you are there.

In Nature we are cradled in the infinite beauty of the Universe.
Love to You ALL!
Lee