Tap, Tap, Tap

I was taking a bag of trash to the large trash can outside when I heard this muted tapping sound. I looked around, but didn't see anything, so I checked out a tree on the edge of the woods. I had seen a woodpecker there a few weeks ago. I looked around and didn't see anything and then I heard the tapping again. I looked up at the tree again and saw a perfect round hole toward the top. While standing there a feathered head came out and dropped wood chips. So I started to take some pictures. Yes, I carried the camera out to the trash can, because some birds had been visiting the feeder. I took some images that afternoon and then took some more in the morning when I took the dog outside. According to our "Sibley's Backyard Birds of the Mid-Atlantic & South-Central States'' it is a pair of Red-bellied Woodpekers. I will keep my eyes open for when the little ones are hatched and poking their heads out to see the world. It's great to watch nature and to capture it with the camera.

Spring in Eldersburg

The great weather in Carroll County (sunny and in the 60s) has allowed me to get some yard work done. I may be in the minority as I carried my camera along with the rake. Flowers are starting to bloom, buds are reaching for the sky and green sprouts are breaking the ground .

Piney Run Park Again

I took one of the granddaughters to Piney Run Park to play on the playground equipment this week. I shot a few entries on the park in the winter with a coating of snow and ice. This is a good contrast as Spring comes to Carroll County.

Visiting Sykesville

We had an errand to run this afternoon into Sykesville, which is a few miles down the road. Sykesville is a quiet, little town just south of Eldersburg, which was visited by J.E.B. Stuart on his way to Gettysburg. After four days of rain, we got a break today as the sun came out around 10 a.m. I took advantage of the sunshine to walk around downtown Sykesville. I got a few good images around the town. Remember that the day after a storm the sky is a nice shade of blue. If you get a chance, Sykesville is a nice town to visit. The town sits in southern Carroll County along the Howard County border.

Wet Morning

All week, we have heard that rain was coming. When I went outside this morning with the dog it was wet. I carried the camera outside and shot some images of buds on the trees and water droplets on leaves and the first flowers of the year ready to bloom. One of the images was shot with my 500mm mirror lens. I love the doughnuts made by the lens. Carroll County is to receive three to five inches of rain this weekend. It's hard to believe that a few weeks ago the ground was covered with snow.

Piney Run

Well, I made it to Piney Run Park this morning. It wasn't as fruitful as I hoped, but I got a few images to share. I saw three swans enjoying the water, but never was able to get a good image. I will keep trying. I love to shoot nature and Spring is coming. There have been a lot of geese in the air over Carroll County the past week.

Morgan Run

The snow is disappearing, so I thought I would stop by Morgan Run to snap a few images. The water was running high from the snow melt. Shirley went along with me, which I always enjoy. One of things that upset me at Morgan Run was the trash laying around. People if you carry it in, carry it out. The snow is going fast and I hope to stop by Piney Run Park tomorrow.