What in Creation - Nature Filled Tuesday

I must be not feeling well, because I thought most of the day yesterday was Monday. Then I realized this morning it was Tuesday and I had forgotten to post about our nature week. I have been participating with Nature Filled Tuesday for a week or two now and I really love how we have been focusing on the nature that we can see all around us if we just take the time to look.

Well last Friday, the girls were with their Savtah (grandmother in Hebrew) after they finished at Music Camp. I was going to pick Stephen up around 1 from his tutoring appointment at the library. I had my camera (which is very unusual) in the car, because I was taking pictures of the girls at camp.

Parking at the library is always an issue - there just aren't enough spots. So I waited for one to open up and then snagged the first one that did. So I was parked by the end of the building where there were some bushes and then some trees bordering the edge of the parking lot. And to my amazement I was about to enjoy the strangest yet neatest animal display that I can ever remember.

I began watching this bird. At first I was not sure if it was a bird, but after zooming in on the animal with my camera I was assured that this was indeed a bird even though I had never witnessed this type of behavior before. Here is a picture of the little bird I saw first.

A little while later I saw the mom (or dad - not really sure which).She perched on the stair railing right in front of my van so I was able to get a very close look at her. I was then able to identify the bird when I returned home in the bird field guide that we had gotten from the library a few weeks ago. According to the field guide this is a brown thrasher.

She didn't sit there very long. I am totally surprised that I was able to take these shots with all the cars driving in and the people walking directly in front of my van within 3 feet of the shrub where the bird had it's nest.

Next I was witness to this interesting ritual of the bird thrashing around in the ground searching for what I think was parts for it's nest. The mother then brought stuff back to the nest (I guess) while the baby proceeded to sunbathe.


A few minutes later I was able to watch the baby bird do this very weird, yet interesting thing. It was so funny. I caught it on video. I hope you are able to enjoy this video.

The sound of the baby is my son. We were sitting in the van with the A/C running. The clicking sound is my camera zooming and refocusing while I tried to keep up with the quickness of the birds.

Now to end this very nature filled week I want to share a photo of a tiny little grasshopper. Audrie found it outside and brought it in. She was holding it. Then I realized she had been holding it by it's legs and I'm pretty sure she broke off part of one leg. So I had her put it in one of my planters outside. Later on when we went to check on it it was no longer there. So I'm hopping it jumped home to rest.

Have a great week, and be sure to let me know how your week was full of nature.