Sunhine and Rain.....Contrast Needed......

- Sunshine and rain....we've had both the last few days. Today is sunny, a breeze, and mid 70s...with perhaps the brilliance of this glorious day a needed contrast to the storms that swept across much of the southern and eastern USA a few days ago. Mother Nature is often beyond description. While we are blessed to enjoy and appreciate the wonder of nature, as in these photos, many across our great land are suffering today. Thoughts and prayers.

- What is still blooming currently? Dogwoods....for about a month now! Unprecedented in my notes. The Black Locust is blooming locally, as is the Multiflora Rose, a species introduced from Japan in the 1860s that, due to prolific habits of survival and reproduction, has spread rapidly across much of the USA. It often forms inpenetrable tangles...but seeds are food for many species of birds and the showy white flowers are not unattractive. Also, the Pinxter Flower and Wild Azaleas are beginning to bloom in the woodlands across our area.

- Photos.....top to bottom.....(click to enlarge).....

1) The male Northern Cardinal....can't get enough of this species....this one enjoying a moment of rest after several of my sunflower seeds......

2) A Pink Dogwood in an area yard.....

3) Male (on left) and female Wood Ducks....taken at a distance - on Lake George....love is in the air.

4) Female Northern Cardinal (right) and one of the mainstays at my feeders....the Tufted Titmouse.

5) Caught this Red-Bellied Woodpecker trying to evict a grub from a crevice in an oak......

6) A female Downy Woodpecker taking a break after visiting my suet cake....

7) This photo should have perhaps taken the top spot....this male Pileated Woodpecker seems to be searching the trees for something....most likely it's mate, which had just flown from one of my feeders nearby.....

Everyone's Talking.....and a Bald Eagle

- A blustery April day in southeast Tennessee, after another rain event yesterday and last night...the creeks and rivers are full.

- Everyone seems to be talking about the dogwoods this spring. The Tennessee woodlands, as well as residential areas, seem to be full of the showy white flowers of Cornus florida (add subspecies name of rubra for pink (rubra in Latin actually means 'red').

- No doubt this is in part due to the above average rainfall this spring as well as several warm, sunny days. This is 'showtime' for the dogwoods....as this angiosperm is quite inconspicuous and seldom noticed any other time of year.

- As shown in the photos, we have Pink Dogwoods, White Dogwoods (top photo) and we have some specimens that have both pink and white flowers (next to top photo)! Actually, considering the latter, this tree is most likely two trees growing together since youth, and some of the white flower have already faded, but it is beautiful!

- Don't expect woodland dogwoods to be as showy and full as the ones in these photographs (taken near our office). Wild specimens near the edge of a forest, or in fields have a better chance to be full of blooms like the ones in the photos.

- Also, have a local bird photo that is a bit unusual....next to bottom. While traveling just north of our Dunlap office, spied these brilliant white birds in the trees over a waterway. Pulled off the road for a closer look. Turned out to be Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis). Some of the birds appeared to be asleep in the tall trees....had their yellow bills tucked beneath a wing. - The Bald Eagle in the bottom photo seems to be angry...perhaps the chosen prey had escaped. This photo was taken by Frank Kahoun within our properties a few days ago.

The Color of Spring.....

- A beautiful spring day in southeast Tennessee....brilliant sunshine, a breeze, and the creeks are roaring after 2+" of rainfall last evening.

- The Redbuds (Cercis canadensis) are blooming currently, so the Flowering Dogwoods (Cornus florida) are sure to follow soon.... in fact, some dogwoods are already blooming in the lower elevations.

- It is a great time of year to be a birder....lots of activity. Most all species are in the process of nest building, egg laying, or courtship displays. Saw an Osprey in flight over the Sequatchie Valley this morning, and a Bald Eagle was seen near Lake George, within our properties, last week.

PHOTOS....top to bottom.....

- The Northern Mockingbird (Genus: Mimus)....our state bird....uncommon on feeders....but perhaps curiosity got the best of this one....

- A never ending battle....this Gray Squirrel would not be denied my sunflower seeds.....

- Two male Purple Finches and a male Goldfinch.....

- Two male and two female Goldfinches.....

- What more can I say? Is this the most striking of all the birds? Typically nervous on my feeders, and they never hang around for very long.....this male Red-Headed Woodpecker seemed to be enjoying a rather peaceful moment atop my suet cake.....