The Toads of Charlestown Meadows

Tom and I have taken long walks almost every day since the beginning of this sheltering in place.  We walk around the perimeter of his community - Charlestown Meadows.  Today as we walked past a little tiny pond I noticed a few toads looking very much like they were in love.  I ran back to our place, got my big lens and my macro, put on my knee high boots and then spent a wonderful few hours photographing these wonderful creatures.

Baby Praying Mantises in the Daffodils

O.K.  guys, it is that time of year again.  I ventured from Tom's house back home to have lunch with Yumiko. I checked the windowsill and was thrilled to see the praying mantis egg sack was alive with little babies.  They were crawling up the little glass container where they had been hibernating for the past five months.  I brought them back to Tom's house and took them outside to the edge of the woods filled with daffodils.  Took my camera and macro lens and voila.  The little guys did their magic.

Dancing in the Daffodils

Look at that Little Face!

Social Distancing?

Red Crowned Cranes in the Snow wins First Place!!!! in Betterphoto.com Contest - Woot!!! Woot!!!

Birds of Charlestown Meadows

Well, as you may know, because of the Coronavirus Valley Forge National Park and Eastern College Pond have both been closed up tight.  The parking lots are roped off. I think you could even get a ticket if you are caught in Valley Forge, so.... today I just went into the woods behind Tom's house and spent a good three hours.  Oh it was so good.  So much opportunity.  I spent a good hour watching an Eastern Phoebe.  While I was photographing him, a pileated woodpecker flew directly over my head and landed on a nearby tree.  He started to dance and before I knew it another pileated landed near by on another tree.  I was not quick enough to get the two of them both well posed, but you will get the gist.

Eastern Phoebe

Pileated Woodpecker in Love

Red Bellied Woodpeckers Discussing Corona Virus

Pulling Bark During the Time of the Coronavirus

Magic in the Woods Today

The Birds are Still Singing!

The Carolina wren in Valley Forge this afternoon

Bluebird and the Blossoms

Ahhh, the bluebird in Valley Forge yesterday.  I walked and walked and walked and finally there she was!

First Date

Very warm yesterday in Valley Forge and the little chipmunks came out of their hibernation and said hello!