Today's Flowers: Berries

Friday was unusually warm and I went for a walk at the NC Art Museum Park. I knew the cold weather was returning soon which motivated me to take advantage of a little warmth.

We had very cold weather prior to some warmth moving in so the flowers are pretty much all gone.

I thought these berries looked a lot like little red flowers so I'm using them for Today's Flowers this week.

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Photohunters: A Glass and Creativity

Creativity went into producing a glass pitcher as well as the other glass wares below.

Creativity exudes from the glass are in the next shot.

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Nature Notes: the end of November

I like the way I can spot more of the birds in the trees in late fall and winter.

On Thanksgiving morning I watched this cardinal having his own feast.

He was enjoying the bittersweet berries.

These berries aren't edible for human consumption but birds love them.

The day after Thanksgiving I spotted three cormorants at Shelley Lake.

They like to perch on the old dock pilings.

It was a cold afternoon and there weren't too many people at the lake.

A friend was visiting and we had walked all over downtown in the morning and then around Shelley Lake in the afternoon so I worked off some of my Thanksgiving dinner from the day before.

 I wish I had the little boy above's energy.

It's starting to feel and look like winter.

There are more and more gulls arriving.

I enjoying seeing the gulls who arrive in the late fall.

 The evergreen trees around the lake keep some green going even after the deciduous trees are bare.

 The gulls were flying low along the lake.

There were a few Canadian Geese hunting for food on the dam.

It looks like I have a collection of bird bath ice which is the result of providing the birds with fresh water.

We had a beautiful mackerel sky Saturday night.

I'm posting early but you can click here for the home of Nature Notes.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

Nature Notes: Changing Fast

We are heading into winter weather wise.

The bulk of the leaves left the trees over the weekend with a few exceptions.

The first few shots were take early last week and these same trees are mostly bare now.

I usually cover about 7 days in my nature notes.

This time of the year there is a big difference from the way my world is looking over the span of a week.

The American Robins above look like they are having a party.

 

In the shot above the female cardinal is on top and the male cardinal is way down on the bottom. 

The male cardinal above is eating something tasty on the crepe myrtle tree and the female cardinal is taking a break below.

I've been seeing bluebirds, doves, chickadees, towhees, nuthatches and many other birds but most of my shots seem to be of cardinals.

The sparrow and cardinal below are having a drink together.

I like the way a few leaves clinging to a tree look.

I don't particularly like the fact that trees are growing in my gutters.

 The bluejay has a wind blown look.

 

I think the bird below is a starling.

The past couple of days I had to remove ice from the bird baths once in the morning and once again in the early afternoon.

The female cardinal hopped in as soon as I gave her some warm water.

Another cardinal was debating whether to drink or bathe.

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