Category Archives: Birds

Even the poison ivy looked pretty!

Posted on April 10, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

10 April, 2016 Even the poison ivy looked pretty! It was so gorgeous when we went to the river this morning, even the poison ivy looked pretty! And there is a lot of poison ivy at … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, cedar waxwing, Flowers, Fun, James River, Pony Pasture, raptors, red-shouldered hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), whitetail deer | Tagged bryan park, cedar waxwing, Fun, james river, nature, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, red-shouldered hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | 2 Comments

A few thousand words

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

3 April, 2016 A few thousand words Not really – only about 750. The title is based on the expression “a picture is worth a thousand words.” If you’re in central Virginia and it’s early spring … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, ospreys, Pony Pasture, raptors, red-shouldered hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), squirrels, whitetail deer | Tagged bryan park, Flowers, Fun, james river, nature, Ospreys, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, red-shouldered hawks, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | 2 Comments

Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Happy Sunday!

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

27 March, 2016 Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Happy Sunday! Happy beginning of Spring, at least if you’re in the northern hemisphere. And Happy Easter, if you’re so inclined. I just returned (~8:00 Sunday evening) from delicious late Easter Brunch at … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, Dogs, Fun, raptors, red-shouldered hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged bryan park, Dogs, Fun, nature, outdoors, People, Red-tailed hawks, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles! | Leave a comment

Highland County Maple Festival, 2016

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

21 March, 2016 Wren and I made it to the 2016 Highland County Maple Festival on the cold, gray, snowy final day – Sunday, March 20. And it was fantastic! Here’s a tree in front of Evelyn’s Pantry, a slight … Continue reading →

Posted in American Kestrel, Birds, Dogs, Fun, highland maple festival, People, raptors, Rivers, Shenandoah Valey, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged American Kestrel, Fairlawn Farm, great pyrenees, highland maple festival, maple syrup, monterey virginia, red spotted newt, Wayne Jenkins | 1 Comment

I’ll have to ruminate on it

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

13 March, 2016 I’ll have to ruminate on it I’ve actually watched a deer ruminate at Pony Pasture twice this week, and today I took a shaky five second video. Here’s a still photograph from when … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, daffodils, Flowers, Fun, James River, mockingbirds, ospreys, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, robin, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), whitetail deer | Tagged bluebird, bryan park, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, james river, nature, Northern mockingbird, Ospreys, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | 1 Comment

Batman has a utility belt

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

6 March, 2016 Batman has a utility belt Batman has a utility belt, I have a jean jacket: This morning I took five dogs to the river; I needed extra pockets. Thank goodness it was perfect … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, cats, Dogs, Fun, James River, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), whitetail deer | Tagged cats, Dogs, Fun, james river, nature, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | 2 Comments

Life goes on

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

21 February, 2016 Life goes on My mom recalls me living in a box. One of my siblings wrote “Didn’t you once spend a night in jail for punching someone?” Reactions to my last blog post … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, daffodils, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, hyacinths, James River, Northern flicker, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers | Tagged daffodils, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, hyacinths, james river, nature, Northern flicker, outdoors, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles - human AND dog smiles! | 6 Comments

Change your evil ways

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

14 February, 2016 Change your evil ways I was kicked out of the dorms at VCU for starting a fire then out of VCU itself for my poor academic performance. Late 1979 or early 1980, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, James River, raptors, red-shouldered hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers | Tagged bluebird, Fun, james river, nature, red-shouldered hawks, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers | 7 Comments

The kindness of strangers

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

7 February, 2016 The kindness of strangers A young man I spent time with once bolted into the ladies room. And immediately undressed. And more. I’ve depended on the kindness of strangers. A bit of photography … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, buffleheads, Downy woodpecker, Fun, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, robin, Starbucks | Tagged buffleheads, Dogs, Downy woodpecker, Fun, james river, nature, outdoors, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, robin, Smiles - human AND dog smiles! | Leave a comment

Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Jay McLaughlin

31 January, 2016 Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play Kids threw poop at me. “It was twenty years ago today,” give or take a month. Not when I was a kid – when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, disability, Dogs, Fun, James River, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), whitetail deer | Tagged disability, Dogs, Fun, james river, nature, outdoors, People, Pony Pasture, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, smile, Smiles - human AND dog smiles!, whitetail deer | 6 Comments