Birthday Hike, treasures and a serenade

Howdee all,

I had a very nice birthday…My kind of Birthday..no big parties…just nature and a few of my favorite people. I would have loved a few more of my favorite people to join us..but they are too far away from NC. 

Poor tick sick Jeff decided to join Sicksta Adele and me for a hike at San-Lee park in Sanford,NC ..he was dragging…lack of energy..but he plugged along slowly.

My intention was to get an early start to see some birdies..but we had and inch of rain in the morning…which Adele and her garden loved…so we got a late start…  The sun was out when we started our hike and we saw a few critters..not many birdies out…Did see a Black-throated blue warbler, and a few others..but not many birdies for some reason.

This is not a birdie..tee hee..look at the nostrils on this fellow!Can anyone help out with the ID on this turtle? Pretty non descript shell.

I googled turtles in NC..but didn't see any photos similar.

I bet Jim from Ohio Birds and Diversity would know..he might know all of my critters and plants here today.

ernotherus oderatus: The Common Musk Turtle (Thanks Ben Warner and Julie Zickefoose) The Tulip Poplars were in bloomI I adore their flowers! and that sometimes you can find Morels under or around the poplar trees.

none today.

Sicksta Adele said this was a Trillium leaf…I wonder what color flower this one has? I guess burgundy.

Look at these sweet little flowers ..below..…they flower over the leaf…Sicksta told me what they were..but I forget…I am allowed to forget…I am a year older.…tee hee

I bet Jennifer would know..she seems to know all these woodland flowers. Check out her blog, A passion for Nature.

Running Strawberry-bush (Euonymus obovatus) Thanks Jennifer!

Wanderin weeta would know what this is…she loves all these little creatures.the smaller the better…she takes out her microscope...and studies them and writes about them in her blog.

common grove snail, Cepaea nemoralis; Thanks Wanderin weeta

It was so nice to see all of these little creatures in the woods…treasures…each one of them.

Thanks for coming to my birthday party little critters.

You MUST click on this photo below…

look at his skin..doesn't it look like millions of beads.

  This critter was difficult to photograph for some reason..I just couldn't seem capture its stunning colors..   So we had a lovely hike and got a bit wet as it rained for the last half hour of it..luckily we had our raincoats.

We went out for a late lunch at the Garden Cafe in Sanford. I had a Ruben sandwich and spinach salad..of course Ice tea..I am in the south, must have ice tea..sans the sugar..

For birthday dessert..

Chocolate chip cheesecake cake..three layers..cake on the outside layers…cheesecake in the middle..

Yummm

I did not hike in these knock off crocks below…but I did walk around the Yard in them when we got home.

trying to find the singing bird…that was singing a Birthday song to me…tee hee..

Its all about me on my birthday!

He was difficult to spot …hiding way up high in the conifer…but there he/she is…

Wood Thrush

So here is my Happy Birthday song..I took the video by accident..I was sitting on the ground listening….and then tried to find the thrush by eye..then binos..then I pick up the camera to see if I can get a photo..

LOL

close your eyes…turn up the volume and just listen!

Thanks for coming to my Birthday Party…It was fun having you join me.

Now

I am giving you a party favor….just in case you haven't yet seen this 

check it out..

I have the photo link in my sidebar..but you can click on the link below as well.

Inside Birding, Bird Like the Pros

Enjoy!