Red-breasted Nuthatch

This very active little bird is the only North American nuthatch that has an eyestripe and rusty underparts.

The Red-breasted Nuthatch gets a special view of everything, by looking at the world upside down. They are able to descend head downwards on branches and tree trunks.  This is how they search for food.

.... Or, if you are lucky and patient enough, like I was, they will come to your hand!!!!

 See video here:

Nuthatch eating from my hand!!

Little Red-Spotted Newt

The Red-Spotted Newt is also known as the Red Eft; a specific type of salamander.  They have three stages of life: (1) the aquatic larva or tadpole, (2) the red eft or terrestrial juvenile stage, and (3) the aquatic adult.  This little guy is a juvenile and is just about two inches long.

After two or three years, the eft finds a pond and transforms into an aquatic adult. The skin turns olive green, but they retain the black-rimmed spots.

This little newt is navigating through some freshly turned up dirt from the timberjack skidder blade.

They can live 12 to 15 years in the wild, and may grow to five inches in length.  Newts can coexist with fish, which also makes them common aquarium pets.

Sea Glass

The beautiful sea glass I collected!!

Sea Glass is found on saltwater shores.  It is recycled by the sea, worn by waves, tumbled naturally by the currents, wave activity and other elements found in the ocean water such as rocks, sand, salt, and other beach debris.  Sea glass is a product of both man and nature.  Jars, bottles, and glass were carelessly discarded and tumbled by the ocean to form these colorful gems of the shore.  The frost and pitting of genuine sea glass is how you tell it was made by nature.  Another name for sea glass is mermaid tears.

Sea glass is used to make jewelry, create art, or simply put in a jar for display.  The very rare colors are orange, red, and yellow.  I was excited to find all three in the same day.

 

I also found this natural heart shaped rock!!