Assateague National Seashore

Happy Thursday,  I wish everyone a happy day!

I am sharing some photos from our visit to Delaware & Maryland shores. Ocean City and I have some photos from Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland. We made a few visits to the park during our trip to the beach. 

The first photo is the sunset from Ocean City Maryland inlet.

Ocean City Maryland

Not sure if these are Ring-billed Gulls, Ocean City, Md?

Assateague Island National Seashore

"Make peace of mind your priority."

This may be a flock of Snow Buntings, we never did see them on the ground or close up. We just watched their flight pattern. 

Assateague Island National Seashore. 

"Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on the beach."

My Saturday's critter post has more of my wild pony photos. 

A view of the park's beach.

"Find your place of peace and carry it with you always."

I am thankful for our national parks and national seashores.
I am thankful to walk on the beach, even on a cloudy day.

I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Pied-billed Grebe

Happy Monday, I wish everyone a great day!

This week I am sharing the Pied-billed Grebe. I see them often lately, they were in Florida, Maryland and seen on my last visit to Pennsylvania. The Grebes are cute waterbirds. Often while trying to get a shot of them they will dive just as I want to take their photo.


The Pied-blled Grebe is also known as a Dabchick. Isn't Dabchick a cute name!

Small, stocky and short necked birds. They breed throughout the United States. they have a chicken like bill. In the summer their bill is enhanced with a small black band.

They feed on small fish and frogs. They dive for about 30 seconds, especially if they feel they are in danger besides looking for food.

I was surprised to see this large group of Pied-billed Grebe at the Lake Apopka wildlife drive in Florida.

As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.


Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Maryland Heights, Harpers Ferry Maryland

Hello and happy Thursday!

I am sharing some photos from Aug 9th. The almost full moon and our 4.2 mile hike to the Maryland Heights overlook at Harpers Ferry, Maryland. This is National Park land and you must either have a park pass or pay at the pay box near the trailhead.

My morning started off with a view of the moon setting.

The 4.2 mile trail, was a steep hike to the overlook at Maryland Heights and Harpers Ferry Maryland. We had to stop often, I guess we are not used to hiking the steep hills and elevation change of 1519 ft.  We stayed on the Overlook red trail, but there is a blue trail that heads to a Stone Fort used during the Civil War. If you take the blue trail add 2 more miles onto your hike.

In the mosaic below are some wildflowers, a blurry Eastern Towhee, some spiders webs and one of the biggest beetles I have seen in Maryland. I believe the beetle is the Eastern-Hercules-Beetle. This beetle was as long as my index finger or longer. I heard many birds during our walk, like the Pileated Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmouse and Chickadee, Cardinals and Blue Jays. We also saw a few deer running across the trail. Sorry, I could not take photos of the birds and critters.

The view looking down at Harpers Ferry, the Shenandoah River on the left side meets up with the Potomac River which is on the right side. Two closer bridges, one is a pedestrian bridge for the Appalachian Trail and the other bridge is for working CSX and other trains. In the far distance, top of the photo is Route 340 heading to Charlestown West Virginia.

From the overlook I zoomed in on the St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

I also zoomed in on this white barn, way in the distance in Harpers Ferry. I will share this barn with Tom's Barn Collective on Sunday.

Can you see the little white spot on the top of the photo below?  The barn looks like it is hiding in the trees. That is the barn in the photo above.

A view of the Potomac River from the Maryland Heights overlook. In the summer months, rafting companies take many people on the Potomac for both tubing and rafting. My hubby and I along with some friends did the tubing years ago.  I did my first post on River rider, Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry West Virginia is a National Park. There are many historical buildings you can tour, I love the views of the rivers. It is a gorgeous area, where Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia all meet.

Even though this was a super hard hike, hubby and I would like to do this hike again when the trees are turning colors in the fall. I found out about this hike from searching the internet for various hikes in our area.. 



My thankful list for today:
I am thankful for Google, I am able to research hikes, trips and much more. The internet is a wonderful thing.
I am thankful for your visits and your comments.

"Be thankful for all the troubles you don't have." 

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you Tom for hosting The Barn Collective

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday