Carol

Persimmon with varying light source.

I want to try nature journaling as a way to expand my love for nature.  I often take pictures of my garden, but actually drawing and painting what I see will give me a deeper appreciation of the subjects.  I liked Holly's journal style the best, a feast for the eyes.

Activity 2:  I didn'teven realize that there was bird friendly coffee.  I will be taking a look in the grocery stores to see what is available.  We have been recycling for years and are careful to never leave any trash anywhere but a trashcan.  I do have a few windows that could probably be made safer for birds, so I'm going to look into that.  I do grow a lot of Brown- eyed Susans that I leave standing in the fall for the Goldfinches to eat the seeds.  I also enjoy feeding the birds.

Activity 1:  I have been using the Merlin App to record and identify birds which I keep on a Life list there.  I also have a Life list on my Audubon App for those birds that I have identified without recording them singing.  I have used both Apps to identify birds and love having so much information handy right on my phone.  I don't have a journal yet, but could type notes on my phone if needed. Activity 2:  I have signed up on eBird to receive alerts for birds I need for my Life list and also for rare birds that are sighted in my local county.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Activity 1:  While recently visiting the coast of North Carolina , I was able to observe a Great Egret fishing in the marsh.  Standing stock still, or carefully moving through the water, he would tilt his head from side to side before quickly stabbing his beak into the water and pulling out small fish. Activity 2:  My birdfeeder is such that only small birds are able to perch on it for any length of time.  Chipping Sparrows are able to fit nicely and will stay and gorge themselves.  Chickadees, while small, don't tend to stay long, opting instead to grab a seed and fly to a branch to sit and open it.  White-throated Sparrows will perch on the feeder and also pick up seeds from the ground.  Other ground feeders include Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves and Dark-eyed Juncos.  Birds that take from the feeder include Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches and even Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers who hang on just long enough to grab a seed and go. Activity 3:  While sitting in my backyard I identified the following birds by their songs.  Tufted Titmouse, American Crow, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, White-Breasted Nuthatch and either a Red-shouldered Hawk or a Blue Jay. Using the Merlin App, I was able to determine that I had missed identifying a Northern Flicker.

Activity 2:  For year- round residents I picked Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, and Tufted Titmouse. For part year residents I selected White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and Yellow-rumped Warbler.  All of these birds are visitors to my yard. It will soon be time for my selected part year visitors to leave for the summer to be replaced by Wood Thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers and Summer Tanagers. Activity 3:  Summer male American Goldfinches are a sunny yellow with black cap and wings.  During winter they become a drab brown color.  A Common Loon is beautiful in the summer, sporting black and white checkered feathers, and a solid black head.  All this turns to drab gray above with white below in the winter. Activity 4:  I like to visit various parks and greenways in my area.  Birds I would expect to see now include Robins, Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, White-throated sparrows, American and Fish Crows.   In the summer I may see Scarlet Tanagers, Summer Tanagers, Wood Thrushes, Red-throated Hummingbirds, Great Crested Flycatchers and various swallows.

Activity 1:  I looked out my window for 15 minutes and saw the following birds.  White-throated Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Downy Woodpecker and heard an American Crow.