Sublime Sunday Exploring the Forest with Wild Flowers, Birdlife and Woodland Scenes...

Now that summer is upon us it is a joy to go out and take in all the growth and blossoms and know the birds are busy nesting. They give me heck when I get to close to their nesting spots.

Come along and let's go explore...

Bruno Beckon Us To Come

Bruno Bird Watching

Perhaps it was this yellow-bellied sapsucker he was watching.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Peaking Out From Maple Tree Trunk

Here is that guy grooming himself with the lovely bird song of the warbler too!

The reason they are called sapsuckers is they drill lines of holes in tree trunks to get the sap that flows from them and also the insects that the sap attracts.

You can see the work of the sapsucker in the image below.

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker on Tree Trunk He Had Drilled Holes Into

I think the sapsucker must be nesting around the head of our lane for he is always giving us heck when we walk down that way.

Here is a photo showing the underside of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, they are quite a colorful bird.

Close Up Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Showing the Underside

Or it may have been the American tree sparrow that Bruno was watching.

I think they may be nesting further down the lane for I often see and hear the pair of them there and in the photo below it looked like the male was bringing some nesting material or perhaps it is food - what do you think?

American Tree Sparrow with Food or Nesting Material in It's Beak

JJ surprisingly lead me into the wetlands (I didn't think cats were suppose to like water) where he was exploring.

There was plenty of new growth there with the marsh marigolds still in bloom, lots of horse tails coming up along with some ferns and what was making a lovely combination was the white flowers of the bunch berries coming up with the marsh marigold. Plus you can't miss the wild mint which is coming up in abundance here and lets of it's aromatic smell when stepped on or brushed against. It makes a great tea along with the Labrador tea leaves which is also coming up in abundance but on higher, dryer ground.

JJ Exploring the WetLands

Careful JJ

Ferns and Marsh Marigolds Growing in the Wetlands

Mossy Wetlands Dotted With Marsh Marigolds and Horsetail

Close Up of the Bunch Berry Blossoms in with the Marsh Marigold Blooms

JJ Being a Dare Devil

JJ Stopping to Smell the Flowers

I don't think they smell very much but a flower that has a lovely scent is the honey suckle which is in full bloom right now and oh so sweet! I love sucking the nectar out of them too!

Raindrops on the Freshly Open Honeysuckle Blooms

On the higher, drier ground we find...

Labrador Tea Plants in Bloom

In the next photo you will see there is lots on new leaf growth on the Labrador Tea plants.

The leaves on this plant are evergreen and can be harvested even from under the snow in the winter.

Close Up of the Labrador Tea Plant Showing Lots of New Leaf Growth

Here is a photo of the bunch berry blooms that also grew in the same area as the Labrador tea plant along with a similiar looking plant (leaf wise), the star flower.

Close Up Bunch Berry Blossoms

Close Up Star Flower in Bloom

Back in the pine meadow behind our house the forest floor is becoming a mat of false lily of the valley plants which are in bloom now.

Carpet of False Lily of the Valley in Bloom

Close Up Blossom of False Lily of the Valley

I like to look into the forest at the now lush green under story. The one tree in the next photo looked like it has seen better days - the woodpeckers have really been doing a number on it!

A View Into the Forest Past a Woodpecker Damaged Tree Trunk

Bruno and JJ Having One Last Look Around Back at Our Yard

I'll leave you with the call of the loon as it heads back to the safety of the water in the lake at the end of our road.

Here's hoping you had a lovely sublime Sunday and celebrated a father on this Father's Day!

This is my Amazing Nature Contest June #4 entry. See details here

My feathered friends are for the #FeatheredFriends community hosted by @melinda010100

The photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.

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