Years ago when I was living in downtown Harrisburg and met the ex, and we decided to move to the Philadelphia area, I was over joyed I'd be living in center city Philly. To my dismay he broke it to me that we would be living in the rural countryside of Bucks County. Needless to say, I wasn't over joyed at first. Luckily, and by chance, a love affair took place with me and the charming, quaint area...now one would have to sand blast me out of the area. It really is the best of both worlds. The picturesque, English like county side, the little river towns, fresh farmers markets, and the eclectic and eccentric characters that live here. On the other hand one is only 40 minutes to center city and an hour and half to NYC. After spending Easter away with family and visiting with me dear old, old, and I do mean old, good friend and sister Mame, aka David Dust, I came back and got my ass out of doors to enjoy the breath taking weather we had last week and got back into my outdoor exercise regime. In the warm months I head up the road by 6 minutes to Lake Galena, to do my jog and walk around the lake, a lovely, picturesque park, a 7 mile, heavily wooded trail around the lake, and frankly one of my favorite outdoor spots in Bucks County. The whole place encompasses around 356 arces.
On that run I also took my camera to capture the continued awakening of spring...and see what are not my Usual Suspects. Being only minutes up the road, its's amazing the different birds that habitat there.
Eastern Bluebird
The trails I jog on
The flowering trees were beautiful, and just about finished now.
The lake is home to numerous Blue Heron
A common Merganser
At one end of the lake is a very nice nature preserve. The tortoises were out getting a early jump on tanning!!!
I was lucky to spot this Kestre, the smallest of the falcon family. There are several up at the lake and this one caught a field mouse.
A Lesser Scalp I believe, not sure
One of many docks around the lake
I have no idea what these bird- crane like species is, but they all stick together and just sat there. They had long bills too.
A Yellow Rumped Warbler. Had a very pretty song.
After two runs this week, my legs are feeling it, so I took it easy this weekend, with exception of going over to Lambertville for the annual Shadfest yesterday. Today, one of the usual suspects, a dove has been roosting for an age on the sill.
The only time he left was when the carnage happened. A Red Tailed hawk swept down and caught a poor tit mouse right off the branch. I heard the loud tweeting, and reminments of feathers flying. The dove then came back and has been roosting ever since. The Casa attracts all types. It's also nice to be enjoying a nice spring for a change.
WOW!!!! Those are amazing pictures. I love the area you live in. When I visit, I always hate leaving to come home. Im going to start telling everyone your my sexy birdwatcher friend. I have always enjoyed that lake.
ReplyDeleteYou've got the best of both worlds!
ReplyDeleteLoverly, loverly, loverly. Enjoyed all the
ReplyDeletepictures. xxoxoxoox :-)
After a run like that, no wonder you legs are sexy. That lake looks huge.
ReplyDeleteMistress, you got yourself some great pictures!!! I love all the flowering going on too. I don't think we have been to Lake Galena since the kids were younger. We'd take a picnic over and spend the day watching the boating going on. I think it's great you get outdoors and enjoy the nature. Just thinking of WALKING around that lake gives me cardiac arrest.
ReplyDeleteI love birds, but I think water fowl are my favorite. I can see now why you'd want to stay there. I also enjoyed the short back story how you ended up there. The heron are simply stunning! Would you ever move back to Harrisburg you think? I know your mother lives there doesn't she?
ReplyDeleteHarrisburg is a nice area, but I don't see moving back there. If anything, my mother has talked of moving here.
DeleteThis post has made my day. Such a beautfiul area you live in. I also enjoyed your convaying of a love affair began with the area. I can certainly see why.
ReplyDelete"a yellow rumped warbler" - did that bird remind you of any humans (yellow rumps) that you know? inquiring minds wanna know...
ReplyDeleteYour a bad influence.
DeleteI think it's great you have such wonderful places to get out to and enjoy. When you close to a city environ, it's hard to get out in places like this and it's even better when you see so much wildlife. I bet you see some nice mens running too!!!!
ReplyDeleteI adore Bluebirds!!!! Love the one with one sitting on the Keep off Dam sign. They are very hard to attract to yards though. I have no luck. Happy jogging!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Some days you make me melt. You have a beautiful soul.
ReplyDeleteYour making me blush Tim. A sweet compliment.
DeleteVery peaceful! What an array of wildlife there and so close to your backdoor. I can only imagine the sunsets there would be stunning. Thank you for sharing this...made my evening more happy.
ReplyDeleteI love when you go all Lowell Thomasy! The pix are beautiful. The tortoises are adorable. That little bluebird looks like the offspring of a jay and a robin. So cute! I'm be good, and not saying anything about the yellow rumped warbler. Actually, I can kind of hear the peace while looking at all of these pictures. I've got another camping trip coming up at the end of May. I think I'll pay more attention to my surroundings. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm "being" good. Sorry, I didn't mean to lapse into ebonics :)
DeleteHell, I slip into ebonics myself some days tootes. Was Lowell Thomas into nature or something? I don't know I could pull off a mustache.
DeleteYou know, I never knew what he looked like! I was thinking of his narration of his travelogues back in the day, well before my time. You do these mini travelogues that I enjoy so much, hence the comparison. Hmm, I hope I don't have the wrong person here. He always ended these little films with stuff like "As the sun sets on the little island of so and so.." Is there anyone out there old enough (and willing to admit it) to correct me if I'm wrong?
DeleteLowell Thomas did indeed have travelogue vignettes in movies. I saw a documentary on him once.
Delete@Cello Josh- Thank you! I seem to be having these "senior moments" more frequently.
DeleteWhat an incredibly beautiful area and ALL of the bird photos are fantastic. I love the Eastern Bluebird!
ReplyDeleteI love them too. Even though it's only minutes up the road, I can't get them to feed here. They must like the lake atmosphere.
Deleteif there is one thing you know, it's your way around a bird.
ReplyDeleteOh man I love places like this! That is quite the jog my friend. The real treat is seeing all the wildlife. I wonder though, do any yellow rumped warblers check out your rump?
ReplyDeleteGreat pics
A very peaceful place to spend a morning walk, an afternoon picnic or evening stroll. The amount of creatures there is quite a treasure. I could see myself hiking those trails.
ReplyDeleteI too enjoyed the sensational photos.
ReplyDeleteThat place looks amazing. I'd love to visit a place like that, but the ones in my area are in the middle of Redneckville.
ReplyDeleteYou are one truly at nature. I too admit Bucks County is a charming place.
ReplyDeleteSO beautiful. That’s a flock of cormorants on the water.
ReplyDeleteIs that what those are??? I had the feeling you or Mr DeVice would know. I had no idea we had them here.
DeleteThey are indeed cormorants. Or Shags, as Dinahmow calls them (the names are somewhat interchangeable).
DeleteMs Scarlet will be livid when she finds out you have cormorants, too. Unless she already has found out and her envy is preventing her from commenting...
Shall I send her a few????
Delete!!!!!!! I have just seen them!!!! Send them home immediately. They are obviously confused and think they are in Norfolk.
DeleteSx
Trying to round that up is fearing Scarlet. Maybe a whiff of tuna will lure them.
DeletePretty place, and two legged "wildlife?"
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to run, though I'd be stopping every few feet to snap a picture!
ReplyDeleteI did. Every quarter of the 6 miles I would snap pictures.
DeleteOhhh would LOVE it I feel my daily walk were this pretty!
ReplyDeleteXoXo
I'm not surprised you soon fell in love with your new surroundings. And it really does look like the English countryside. Except for the turtles and tortoises - Are they native? I would have thought it'd be to cold for them (until Summer kicks in, of course).
ReplyDeleteWe do have turtles and frogs years round, but I think they must hibernate into the ground in winter or something. I'll have to research that. I'm already hearing a certain frog from the stream at night that neighbors my boidior windows.
DeleteI LOVE this post! What a great place so close to your door.
ReplyDelete