Lake Hiking Adventure

From this picture it looks like we are exploring some fun, exotic island.  You never know where Nature Notes from Nadvornia will take you! The birds we saw made it feel like a fun adventure too. 

Lead Birder has been talking about Dickcissels for a while now, which I have never even heard of before, and I finally got to see my first one today!  There were two calling back and forth to each other in the tippy-tops of the tallest trees.  I strained my camera lens to get a good view. 

 Dickcissel singing back with all his might. 

 The kids were so excited when we got to the top of the hill and the lake filled the horizon with a sparkling splash of brilliant blue. 

Down we traversed toward the shoreline, excitement tempered with hesitation.  "Was that a rattlesnake I heard?!"  "There's a huge spider web across the trail with a big bug in it! But it's okay because it looks like a mean bug."  "Mom, can you go first?" 

Just as we finished fighting through the worst part of the over-and-undergrowth, the shoreline came into view again.  And then something magical happened: we startled a Painted Bunting! Lead Birder and I both saw it, so it is a confirmed sighting, and I admit we immediately started jumping and hugging each other.  When you see a bird like that, there's no questioning what kind of bird it is.  As he said later, "When you see a new bird like that, it just fills your whole body with happiness! I'm sorry I complained about the trail, Mom. That was worth it."

He tried to follow it further down the shoreline, but that magical moment, that glamorous glimpse, was to be the only one for us.

That's okay though! There was still spectacular splashing to be had! Last one in the water is a rotten egg!

It looks like they only got their feet wet from the pictures, but that's because once they got further out I put the camera down and joined in.  They got completely, deliriously drenched in the marvelous waves. Then it was time for the long, hot climb back. 

Drenched and dirty backsides are a sign of fun times past. 

On the way back we saw butterflies, bees, buzzards, and bald eagles!  We saw a male Summer Tanager and Swallows and Martins too, but they don't work with my alliteration there. :)

Beauty everywhere!

The kids stopped to notice interesting things as well, like these, and like the tiny ant we watched carry a grasshopper leg across the trail. 

All in all a memorable trip between the painted bunting, the water fun, and the carrying of the toddler the entire way up the mound and the way back.  Like I said, always an adventure in Nadvornia, and usually involving crying of some sort.  But the pictures make it looks so peaceful... 

We came home inspired to try to draw our own Painted Bunting and to read up more on that beautiful bird. 

Some great renderings indeed, but as always, an even greater reminder of how awesome an artist the Creator is- how great is our God!