Tag Archives: nature

Ask the Birds of the Air

Posted in Birds, Healing, My thoughts, Nature by

I continue to distribute my book “Look at the Birds”. If you haven’t got a copy download from Kindle Amazon.co.uk If you are a mobile phone person, having a copy on kindle is easy to access when you have a minute to spare. I can quickly read a book on kindle.

I am encouraged after reading from Job yesterday.

Job 12 v 7

Ask the animals and they will teach you.
Ask the birds of the sky and they will tell you.
Speak to the earth and it will instruct you. Let the fish of the sea speak to you.
For the life of every living thing is in His (The Lord) hand.

Two dolphin have been swimming in Strangford Lough these last few months. They appear near the ferry on the Strangford side.

Their appearance is attracting many visitors. The dolphin are responding to all the attention. They jump and twirl in the water.

My son told me he has noticed the dolphin are attracted by music he plays in his vehicle. My grandchildren are delighted. They get to swim with the dolphins nearby in Strangford Lough.

Mother Sea Gull still on Duty

Posted in Birds, Motherhood, My thoughts, Nature by

My neighbour told me the sea seagull that nested in my chimney had three chicks. The nest must have been a bit crowded, hence one of the chicks taking time out on my neighbours roof. I heard and saw this chick regularly. It whistled to let the mother know he wasn’t far away. She often stood guard over it and attacked anyone walking on the street below.

I prayed one evening and asked God to allow me to see the chick I rescued from my neighbours fireplace. Later on I saw one of the young standing on a refuse bin . Was it my rescued friend? See photo. It looked strong.

Elizabeth my friend told me she saw the young gull that evening as well. It walked down the middle of the road and halted traffic behind it. It flew up onto a roof afterwards.

She has recounted the story of rescuing the seagull from her fireplace to friends.
One man said he knows of people who don’t rescue a bird from their chimney. The thought of a bird covered in soot flying round their living room deters them from going to the rescue. The RSPB advise not to go near seagulls for fear of bird flu.

The other two young chicks have moved to a rooftop opposite. Their mother stays nearby but is not so aggressive. The young still make their whistling noise to get attention and more food. They must be able to fly a short distance. See below recent photos.

Top picture below chick who has flown the nest. Next picture shows mother to the tight and two other young. Next picture shows one stretching his wings.

Even though I now live far from the seaside I’m still looking at the birds.

Check out my book Look at the Birds on Amazon.

Daffodils at Dusk

Posted in My thoughts, Nature, Restoration by

Daffodils at Dusk

Four weeks ago the daffodils in our front town garden were beginning to bud. They blossomed and produced a stunning , bright, fresh, spring display of gold.
Two weeks on we had an overnight fall of snow which weighed heavily on the daffodils. They were bowed down for two days till the snow melted.

The daffodils have recovered from the ordeal. They have lifted their heads again to enjoy a few spells of sunshine. They are signs of hope of better days of warmth and recovery.

Nature speaks of the Glory of God. He created all life around us. Praise Him.

A Sign in the Sky

Posted in Birds, My thoughts, Nature by

Last Friday night Brendan and I were driving to a friend’s house outside the city. Up ahead of us in the sky we saw the full moon silhouetted between two blocks of flats. It hung in the sky larger than normal. We drove on outside the city. The moon was high in the sky but not looking so big. Did we see an optical illusion? The moon can be seen all over the world when it is night The reason the moon looks bigger is because at this time of the year the moon is closest to the earth on its path around the earth. It is a sign that the season has changed. We have moved from winter to spring.

I enquired from my friend if she saw the moon.  Yes, she said.  It is called the Worm Moon because the worms begin to move through the soil as the land gets warmer.  I enquired more about the Worm Moon.  A farmer friend told me the worm is a farmer’s best friend.  The quantity of soil each worm moves is fantastic, maintaining the health of the soil.  It causes the nutrients on the surface of the soil from dead leaves, animal waste and other debris to be passed down into the lower layers of soil. The movement of worms in the top layers aerates the soil.  The seeds the farmer has planted absorb the nutrients and oxygen the worms have pulled down from the surface.  

As I looked up at the moon that evening, I took my eyes off my immediate difficulties. I am amazed how everything is in order in nature. I agree with the scripture from Psalm 65,

Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders.  

From where the sun rises to where it sets you inspire shouts of joy. 

I am happy for the change of season. These last weeks have been cold, wet and windy. I am enjoying the sunshine. The daffodils lift their heads and the tulip buds open up in full colour. The birds begin to pair up again to build their nests to rear their young. By the time the nest is built and the young have hatched there will be plenty of worms available under dead leaves or in the vegetable patch to fetch for the hungry mouths.

Gathering Shells

Posted in Holiday, My thoughts, Nations, Nature, Travel by

Robert Louis Stevenson said

It is a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for collecting shells than to be born a millionaire.

I’m staying in Tarbert, Scotland. The local people said “Have you been to the shell beach yet? I was telling some folk that I collect sea glass and shells to make mosaics. I call it my hidden treasure.

Tucked away out of sight along the coast at Tarbert are two shell beaches. Other inlets nearby are covered in rocks. For some reason only two small inlets are covered in broken clam shells, pink, white, brown and orange with hues in between, lie stacked up on the shore. The waves for years have broken the shells into small pieces.

The tourists would never find it. Access to the beach is hidden at first glance. If you follow a well worn path under the ferns, over stones and bared roots of trees you will reach the beach. Perhaps Robert Louis Stevenson, who was from Scotland, knew about it when he penned the words I have quoted.

Bird Singing in the Night

Posted in Birds, Family Friday, Holiday, My thoughts, Nature, poetry, Prayer by

Outside my hotel window

It is the dead of night

Wem

A bird is singing Is he announcing good news? Is he calling for attention. Like the multitude of heavenly hosts praising God. When the angel announced Jesus birth to the shepherds. Singing Glory to God in the highest. And on earth good will to all men. There is room for me in the Inn. In a soft plush bed Because He was born in a straw lined manger. The Christmas street lights are bright

Early Morning Visitors

Posted in My thoughts by

Wednesday was a bright sunny morning here on the shores of Strangford Lough. There are always plenty of birds out enjoying the winter sunshine just as much as I do.

We threw out some scraps to feed the usual birds in our garden. But today a group of gulls flew in and frightened off all the locals.

Gulls in our garden

The Almond Blossom

Posted in My thoughts, Nature by

Snowdrops coming out of the earth welcomed my new year. Daffodils are beginning to open, trumpeting spring and brighter days. They have withstood the strong winds of winter.

I am excited to see my Almond tree blossoming in the full light of any sunshine that comes. It is indigenous to Mediterranean Climates. There it is known as the first tree to blossom. My walled garden is a good place to grow.

Brendan and I travel to Israel at this time every year. My Almond tree draws my mind to the Almond trees that line some streets of Jerusalem. Blossoms will be appearing there too, symbols of warmer and better days. I hope to see them soon.

I find it fascinating that each plant knows it’s time to emerge from the earth and put forth its shoots and flower. We can learn from the different species. If we trust God he will cause us to grow and blossom when it’s our time.

The bible tells us in Jeremiah that the Almond Branch is a symbol of God’s faithfulness. He will do for us what He promised. He will bring about our time to blossom just as the earth causes plants to come forth in their time. Let us be patient as we wait.
Let us learn from the farmer as he gets on with other activities waiting for his crops to grow and he will receive his harvest.

Gulls Feasting at Strangford Lough

Posted in Ireland, My thoughts, Nature, Provision by

The tide is high at Portaferry today. But instead of troubled waters and sea weed washed up over walls by storms, the sea is calm. The sun is glistening off the water and it’s warmth is concentrated in a bay near our home. Other parts of Northern Ireland are covered in snow. People are not venturing too far. More cold temperatures and storms are forecast.

On my way home I took this video of a flock of sea gulls gathered in the bay to feed off insects in the seaweed disturbed by the rising tide.

Sea gulls flit about, dive and fly. They don’t stand at the edge of the water to feed. They are nervous creatures and rise up out of the water at the least noise.

This scene cheered and warmed my heart today. I hope you enjoy it too.

I enjoy watching birds as Jesus told us. Every time I study them I am reminded of God’s care and blessing.