I have posted before about the wildlife observatory spot that is just down the street from us. Well, we have been visiting our spot more and more frequently. Usually at least 1-2 times a week; daddy has even been getting in on the fun! Everytime we go we look for our regular friends: the turtles.
Sometimes we see them out sunning, sometimes not. One time daddy walked down with the girls and they said they counted 14 turtles! Sometimes when we go we only see 1 or 2. This past time we went we saw some new little friends: a mommy duck with her ducklings! That was pretty exciting! We have also seen some birds that we’ve never seen before, as well as many wildflowers that peak our interest. We believe we even found a patch of rhubarb growing down there.
Does anyone know what this bird is? This is as close a picture as I could get. It’s a black bird but there is bright orange/reddish either on the wings or just on the side by each wing. You can especially see the bright orange when they fly! We have seen quite a few of these birds down there everytime we go! Update: Jaclyn wins the guessing game: it is a red-winged blackbird! 
As well as taking nature walks, daddy and Uncle Peter have also taken the kids fishing down there several times! The kids LOVE this! Each time all of the kids catch several fish! It’s pretty amazing when they come back telling me about the fish they caught! Of course, we are putting them back…but it’s the thrill of the catch, they are so excited! And I think it’s a great way to spend the afternoon…with daddy and Uncle Peter, a few cousins, out in nature.
I’m so thankful for our little “spot.” So many great things about it…close enough to walk, lots of nature to explore, and we have always been the only ones down there! Isn’t it beautiful?
Charlotte Mason says:
“That the child should be taken daily, if possible, to scenes—moor or meadow,
park, common, or shore—where he may find new things to examine, and so add
to his store of real knowledge. That the child’s observation should be directed to
flower or boulder, bird or tree; that, in fact, he should be employed in gathering
the common information which is the basis of scientific knowledge” (Vol. 1, p.
177).
and this:
“Out-of-door nature-study lays the foundation for science” (Vol. 3, p. 281).I just don’t think there is any better way to learn about God’s creation…than to be out there in it.
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