Sunset on 2012

As midnight approaches on New Year's Eve

I'm reminded there is always a new day and a new year

Photo is sun setting on the Amazon River at Mamirua Reserve, Brazil in 2005

Poem below by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

 

 

“Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Collected Poems and Translations

Black-capped Chickadee

 

They often grab a seed and fly to a tree to eat,

making if more difficult to photograph without blur

It's Snowing!

For me it is difficult to photograph

Tuted Titmouse

In addition to the baffle above my other feeder, I'm trying this weighted squirrel-proof feeder. So far both feeders have been safe from the squirrels. Do you think the squirrel engineers are working on a way around my devices?    :>)

Carolina Wren

Northern Cardinal Pair

And so far the Squirrel Baffle above the feeder is working!

Must Get New Bird Feeder!

Tomorrow I go "Squirrel Proof" if that is possible!

Finding Nature in Places Less Visited

I wrote this article some time ago for Nature Photographer Magazine and never sent it in. So I will just publish it here with a link to my website:

http://www.charliedoggett.net/TRAVEL/PlacesLessVisited.aspx

and oh yeah, the photo here is of a yellow-winged bat in a tree at Bird Safari Camp on the River Gambia in West Africa - neat huh?

Celebrate What's Right with the World!

Dewitt Jones' weekly photo has become a special blessing of nature for me. Check them out!

http://www.celebratewhatsright.com/images  Join his mail list to get your weekly nature photo.

Nature Journaling

The November-December 2012 issue of Tennessee Conservationist magazine has an excellent article on nature journaling for all ages that I recommend. And I also recommend that magazine as one of the best nature magazines anywhere, but especially if living in or near Tennessee. There is also a very good Sierra Club article online about Nature Journaling with a free downloadable PDF file template. From it this introduction:

John Muir, a founding member and first president of the

sought to preserve wild places and is considered the Father

of Our National Parks, and especially of Yosemite. Muir

wrote in his journals about the beauty he saw in nature.

He drew pictures detailing information about plants,

animals, mountains and landscapes. He used his

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

of Our National Parks, and especially of Yosemite. Muir

wrote in his journals about the beauty he saw in nature.

He drew pictures detailing information about plants,

animals, mountains and landscapes. He used his

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

wrote in his journals about the beauty he saw in nature.

He drew pictures detailing information about plants,

animals, mountains and landscapes. He used his

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

He drew pictures detailing information about plants,

animals, mountains and landscapes. He used his

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

animals, mountains and landscapes. He used his

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Martinez, California.

x

Martinez, California.

x

Martinez, California.

Sierra Club, studied and cared about wilderness. He

sought to preserve wild places and is considered the Father

of Our National Parks, and especially of Yosemite. Muir

wrote in his journals about the beauty he saw in nature.

He drew pictures detailing information about plants,

animals, mountains and landscapes. He used his

journals to compose letters to friends, articles, and books

to share his love of nature and enlist people’s support to

preserve wilderness. Marion Parsons, a mountaineer and

early Sierra Club leader who helped him write his last

book, tied red ribbon around his writings to organize

them in his "scribble den" at the family ranch in

Caribbean Flamingo

On a cold, windy day at Nashville Zoo

Palmetto Curves

Shot at Nashville Zoo Unseen New World Aviary last Friday. Hope for something neat at zoo tomorrow.

Winter in the Woodlands

Beautiful in any season!

Three Blogs!

In case anyone stumbles upon all my blogs, let me briefly explain. The other blog is an  adventures blog is just that, telling about adventures I am experiencing that are not always about nature. It is
http://www.charliedoggettadventures.blogspot.com

This blog is more dear to me and if I tire of two, it will be the one I continue. "Nature Notes" is my effort to highlight at least one experience I have in nature each day (or nearly every day). It is also my substitute for a "Photo-A-Day" gallery which I have done on Pbase before, where I will try to feature a new nature photo each day. This keeps me alert and into nature photography which I love. Enjoy!
http://www.charliedoggettnaturenotes.blogspot.com

And after making this post originally, I have added a spiritual blog: http://www.charliedoggetthisspirit.blogspot.com

Flocks in The Woodlands

On the way to lunch I walk through "The Woodlands" at McKendree Village. Today every tree was loaded with birds, seemingly on every branch and me without my camera! As I walked back up to The Woodlands after lunch it was as if the birds said "Good Bye" as in unison thousands of birds swooped off the trees into a huge omeba-shaped black cloud and flew off to some other woodlands along their journey. It is awesome and uplifting to experience this movement in nature! (image copied from web)

House Finch

One of many visitors for breakfast this morning.

Frosty Zoo Entrance Today

As I entered the Nashville Zoo this morning for my shift I stopped just off Nolensville Road to admire the frosty ground and stream. Here's just two of several fun shots along with my usual animal shots.

"The prescence of God is the finest of rewards."

The title is a quote is from the book and movie "The Life of Pi" where Pi describes two instances where he felt that God had come close to him. This is how I feel when I am outdoors and close to nature. The movie is a delightful story with beautiful nature and spirituality that is real but not good Christian doctrine as it suggests all religions are simply different paths to God. The photo is of Bear Den Landing on the upper Mississippi River in Minnesota at the exact spot where the ashes of my brother Jerry were spread. It is one of many "God prescence" places I have experienced.

Morning Frost

This morning's frost was crisp and cold but the fallen leaves still show their strength and beauty. Shot through my kitchen window. For more photos of small bits of nature, browse my photo gallery or more specifically this close-ups gallery. Enjoy!

Hoodoos

I'm playing with blogspot.com and not sure I will follow through on my Retirement Adventures Blog, so will play with this a bit and may or may not decide to be a blogger. This photo is me at Bryce Canyon in August as part of the Caravan.com Grand Canyons Tour of Arizona & Utah. These rock formations called "Hoodoos" are simply beautiful!