More on plastics

Back when I was on the road full time, I became alarmed at the amount of plastic. It was just floating around everywhere I looked, on roads, on trees, on beaches. For a few years after that, I refused to get anything plastic. Do you know how hard that task was? I bet you do. Now we can be all negative about this problem or we can find solutions. I favor finding solutions. Buy Recycled! Do any of you have some ideas on how to be part of the solution?
By the way check out this post from SEANET blog just in case you are not sure just how far reaching this plastic problem is: http://seanetters.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/more-sad-plastic-related-news/

Late Migration Spotty Migration

Dawn asked a good question. How long do the Tree Swallows stay?
Well, this year is an odd year. Generally the hordes of Tree Swallows come in Mid-October and build to wow factor flocks by the end of October. They are noticed by everyone driving the Jekyll causeway. By Thanksgiving, they start to taper off . This year the birds would come in and then thin out. They appear to be late but I have observed that in most of the migration this year. Has anyone else noticed that the migration of birds is spotty and late?

Tree Swallows return

I was driving down the Jekyll causeway when I saw them. They are finally here. Oh, there were one or two days when we had large numbers of Tree Swallows But now they are back in hordes. They are amazing. At least 3 weeks late but still amazing.

Common Eiders

On Saturday, I was getting ready for a demo of etching for Glynn Art's gARTen ART pARTy. I had just finished my new etching, when I got a call. Two Common Eiders were floating off Sea Island.
Thank heavens Bill Flatau spotted them for he could get me onto Sea Island. This is Bill's picture. Nice shots! Sea Island is a gated community and someone has to let you on the island. I jump into my van and went. I was not the only one there. As rare birds tend to do they attract a crowd of happy birders. Happy birders see other neat birds. Besides the female eiders there were thousands of Black Scoters. This is the first time I have seen these birds down here in several year. It is nice to see so many.Not a bad day a new etching and a couple of year birds.
Another one of Bill's images. Thanks for sharing, Bill.

Monarchs on the move

Today was a beautiful day. Here is an image to share. The monarchs were everywhere at the southend dunes.
At the top are two Gulf Fritillaries and then count the Monarchs on this blooming Baccharis

Looking up

Funny what you see when you look up.
An Osprey perched on the top of a tree on the Fancy Bluff Creek Then the Wood Storks just a little lower How about a Roseate Spoonbill just flying up and over the marsh grass It is important to look up and over to your left when you come on Jekyll. Two adult Bald Eagles often sit on the power poles. They are a young couple.
As an artist, I love to look up into the live oaks. Gosh, what a design!

A quiet walk

Well, I am a little behind in blogging. Here is an attempt to catch up. Last Thursday, I had a quiet walk on the southwest end of Jekyll. If you don't know this already, it is my favorite place. It is easy to get to the path. As I walked the catbirds were everywhere on the beauty berry. A monarch also enjoyed the bright purple berries.

Once on the beach, I found American Oystercatchers, Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, and a large collection of gulls and terns. The birds were restless and the flew at drop of a hat. I moved slowly down the beach and found this thing that looked like a jelly fish. What kind of jelly fish, Georgia?

Here is another view. Does this help any in discovering what it is?
One of the last birds I found sneaking in the rack was this Piping Plover. It is good to go on a quiet walk. Each time I do I learn something. I will close with the image of muhley grass. It is the soft feathery purple grass. A Sedge Wren encouraged me to move on and get on with the day.