Scorched Earth near the Cahaba River, Alabama

Scorched Earth on a hiking trail along the Cahaba River in Birmingham, Alabama

Stones and Reflections on Black Creek, Fultondale

Stones and Reflections on Black Creek at Black Creek Park in Fultondale

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek

Taking a cue from its mother (seen here), this juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron has taken to a tree at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama, where it remained until any semblance of danger passed.

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Yellow Crowned Night Heron Hides among the Foliage

This Yellow Crowned Night Heron stalks Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama, on a daily basis. When I first spied it on this occasion, it was contentedly fishing, but upon hearing some nearby dogs, it took shelter in a nearby tree, waiting for the danger to pass.

As much as I would have liked to coax it to resume its fishing activities for my photographic benefit, that seemed unlikely to yield a productive result. So I contented myself with photographing the bird in its attempts to escape the local canine populace.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly at Black Creek

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus) at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Orb Weaver Ready to Pounce

This Orb Weaver builds its nest nightly above by back patio and patiently awaits the arrival of any unwitting prey, of which there seems to be an abundance. And each morning, she quietly folds up her web, tucks into a nice corner to wait out the day and begin the process anew come sundown.

Common Mullein at Black Creek Park, Fultondale

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) on the Rails to Trails

at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama

Spurred Butterfly Pea on the Rails to Trails, Fultondale

Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum) on the Rails to Trails

at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama

Happy Trails at the Cahaba River, Birmingham

Hiking Trail at the Cahaba River in Birmingham, Alabama

Blue-Tailed Skink Nest with Eggs, Fultondale

We have always had an abundance of Blue-Tailed Skinks around the house (one of which previously made an appearance on the blog with a story about Darby, here).

Recently, while I was tending to the compost bin, I found beneath it a nest of Blue-Tailed Skink eggs, and you can just see a part of momma skink's tail in the photo.

I kept tabs on them for several weeks, and one morning went out to find all the eggs hatched. And of late, I have since seen quite a few of the baby critters about.

Reclamation of the Jet Pep, Morris, Alabama

Whenever man-made objects are left too long derelict, nature invariably begins its reclamation project. The process here is rather far along, and it will be soon that the Jet Pep in Morris, Alabama,  is entirely encompassed.