Friday, June 25, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hummingbird
I've been thinking about my Granny a lot this evening. For the first time, I saw a hummingbird outside my window at this house. He was a handsome little thing, very dark blackish-grey with possibly a red cap. But, you know...they are pretty hard to see after all, so I'm not too sure. Regardless, watching it flutter and greet the sweet blue star Lithodora in the front yard, I thought of Granny right away.
There is a a very sweet smell, locked in my memory, of smoldering, steaming heat of August in North Carolina. Crossing the field to Granny's house where she and I can sit out on her porch swing - watching the birds.
Rocking back and forth together as bright red cardinals paraded around her feeders. Talking, not talking, it never matters. It's just nice to be and be together. Granny loves hummingbirds. And, I love Granny.
Rocking back and forth together as bright red cardinals paraded around her feeders. Talking, not talking, it never matters. It's just nice to be and be together. Granny loves hummingbirds. And, I love Granny.
Monday, June 21, 2010
The bug winner
But! For some REALLY cool pics and other cool things check out:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2010/06/the-bug-winner/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2010/06/the-bug-winner/
Birding and Camping = Merriment
Was a great week for birding! On our path to South Beach last weekend, Dad and I walked at Ankeny - discovering new trails and connections between paths - and then headed south to Finley. What an amazing, gorgeous day!
We took some pretty shots and had a lot of fun! The goldfinches were out in bright groups and I think my favorite new bird was the male Blue-winged Teal that casually graced us with his presence at Ankeny. Sorry, no pics of him though.
this page is a work in progress.
:)
We took some pretty shots and had a lot of fun! The goldfinches were out in bright groups and I think my favorite new bird was the male Blue-winged Teal that casually graced us with his presence at Ankeny. Sorry, no pics of him though.
:)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Cedar Waxwing
I've been hoping for a long time to see a Cedar Waxwing!! Today was my day =)
at my happy place
Friday, June 4, 2010
May 15 excerpt - A day off, Part 2
Afternoon; Finley NWR
3 herons perched in a tree
A squabbling Yellowleg or perhaps a Virginia Rail, with an attitude, followed me while staying quite hidden in the watery brush along the path. I couldn't get a very good look at him.
More hunting osprey and a pair of cinnamon teals. Came around a bend and found a heron perched serenly on the tip of a post, sticking up from the water, deeply intent with it's head peering upwards towards the sun. The moment moved me immeasurably.
About another hour later, I stopped along the way (one of many stops) and met both ends of life's spectrum. It was the most unsuspecting moment! A startled cottontail stood it's ground as I walked by just two feet away. And crossing the path, yet another rabbit was there, staring me down. I turned my back to it - allowing it the freedom and opportunity to hop away. As I turned back, it's retreating white bounce sent me giggling! Moments later, a glance to the sky found the customary buzzards. But, also huge, ominious and heading straight towards me, with more purpose than a buzzard often shows, was an adult bald eagle. The only eagle I saw that day - and it flew right above me, no higher than the trees.
As I took note of all this, the bunnies reappeared - seemingly playing a game of chase which my arrival must have temporarily ceased - and resumed their hide and seek as thew grew comfortable with my presence. And also from the bushes, a small family of primly dressed quail rushed across the road, where I just stood, to dine in the field there before fleeing to the briar patch and out of sight. I presume they were rushing off to a theatre in the bramble - to see an opera or play of some such.
(not my picture, but so cute!)
3 herons perched in a tree
A squabbling Yellowleg or perhaps a Virginia Rail, with an attitude, followed me while staying quite hidden in the watery brush along the path. I couldn't get a very good look at him.
More hunting osprey and a pair of cinnamon teals. Came around a bend and found a heron perched serenly on the tip of a post, sticking up from the water, deeply intent with it's head peering upwards towards the sun. The moment moved me immeasurably.
About another hour later, I stopped along the way (one of many stops) and met both ends of life's spectrum. It was the most unsuspecting moment! A startled cottontail stood it's ground as I walked by just two feet away. And crossing the path, yet another rabbit was there, staring me down. I turned my back to it - allowing it the freedom and opportunity to hop away. As I turned back, it's retreating white bounce sent me giggling! Moments later, a glance to the sky found the customary buzzards. But, also huge, ominious and heading straight towards me, with more purpose than a buzzard often shows, was an adult bald eagle. The only eagle I saw that day - and it flew right above me, no higher than the trees.
As I took note of all this, the bunnies reappeared - seemingly playing a game of chase which my arrival must have temporarily ceased - and resumed their hide and seek as thew grew comfortable with my presence. And also from the bushes, a small family of primly dressed quail rushed across the road, where I just stood, to dine in the field there before fleeing to the briar patch and out of sight. I presume they were rushing off to a theatre in the bramble - to see an opera or play of some such.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
May 15 excerpt - A day off, Part 1
Noontime - Ankeny
Osprey galore! Easily half a dozen flying overhead. Watched one casually eat a sushi lunch just 15-20 ft above in the tree just in front of me and learned it's call. Lovely, staccato pulses, finished with the hawking caw that lingers in my ear.
Sw my first grebe today! I glanced up and there it was in its exotic glory before ducking beneath the water's cover.
One small, golden yellow glimpse high in a tree - disappeared before I caught a better look. gold finch most likely.
And also new today, a white bird. black tipped wings - just like a chocolate covered strawberry - rather large - perhaps bigger than a seagull - longer wing span, black cap and golden pronounced beak - but seemingly much smaller beak and body than the white pelicans i'd seen before. ((still, weeks later, I am unsure what this bird was. Research came up with the Caspian Tern - a beautiful bird...but not usually seen migrating through this particular area. Yet, the pictures look so much like what I saw! Since then, however, I have seen more white pelicans lingering at Ankeny, and I now doubt my memory of this mystery bird - it's beak especially. i could have sworn it was thin and not overtly long and also quite orange.. and not anywhere near as obtuse and easily distinguishable as with pelicans. I suppose I'll never know for sure.))
American White Pelican:
http://www.mcssb.com/photos/Birds/American%20White%20Pelican%2012-10-05.jpg
Moving on. I also saw squaking, exquisite great blue herons and my beloved coquets - the barn swallows.
As the grebe appeared again I was reminded of the gangly teenager - not yet the beauty she will become - yet still she is becoming. Such an awkward elegance.
Two white pelicans
One cinnamon teal!
Met a nice gentleman and we talked a bit about my mystery bird, he suggested it could be a gull of some sort.
From there I drove to William Finley Wildlife Refuge - 10 miles south of Corvallis. I was very excited to finally go exploring there. I'm so pleased to have gone and can't wait to go again this month!
Osprey galore! Easily half a dozen flying overhead. Watched one casually eat a sushi lunch just 15-20 ft above in the tree just in front of me and learned it's call. Lovely, staccato pulses, finished with the hawking caw that lingers in my ear.
Sw my first grebe today! I glanced up and there it was in its exotic glory before ducking beneath the water's cover.
One small, golden yellow glimpse high in a tree - disappeared before I caught a better look. gold finch most likely.
And also new today, a white bird. black tipped wings - just like a chocolate covered strawberry - rather large - perhaps bigger than a seagull - longer wing span, black cap and golden pronounced beak - but seemingly much smaller beak and body than the white pelicans i'd seen before. ((still, weeks later, I am unsure what this bird was. Research came up with the Caspian Tern - a beautiful bird...but not usually seen migrating through this particular area. Yet, the pictures look so much like what I saw! Since then, however, I have seen more white pelicans lingering at Ankeny, and I now doubt my memory of this mystery bird - it's beak especially. i could have sworn it was thin and not overtly long and also quite orange.. and not anywhere near as obtuse and easily distinguishable as with pelicans. I suppose I'll never know for sure.))
Caspian Tern
American White Pelican:
http://www.mcssb.com/photos/Birds/American%20White%20Pelican%2012-10-05.jpg
Moving on. I also saw squaking, exquisite great blue herons and my beloved coquets - the barn swallows.
As the grebe appeared again I was reminded of the gangly teenager - not yet the beauty she will become - yet still she is becoming. Such an awkward elegance.
Two white pelicans
One cinnamon teal!
Met a nice gentleman and we talked a bit about my mystery bird, he suggested it could be a gull of some sort.
From there I drove to William Finley Wildlife Refuge - 10 miles south of Corvallis. I was very excited to finally go exploring there. I'm so pleased to have gone and can't wait to go again this month!
The way they do
Songbirds kiss
open blue
with symphonic chorus
coloring the day
in a watercolor wash
open blue
with symphonic chorus
coloring the day
in a watercolor wash
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Memorial Day Birding
First day trying out the new little Olympus!
cute "catty"pillar :)
killdeer!
These are noisy litte munchkins - surprisingly loud for their size. I adore them. They scurry - it's sweet. And, their chicks look like tiny cotton-ball fluffs!
duskies
and a pair of Cinnamon Teal if you look closely.
Hungry Osprey
There have been several pairs of Osprey out lately. Their flight patterns while fishing are amazing!
Juvenile Bald Eagle (JBE):
JBE
American Coot!! <3 They're so cute!
Slumbering White Pelicans in the background
Another peak at the JBE... just an hour later.
Heron =)
Red-winged Black Bird
(and one of my favorite pictures of the day)
Barn Swallow
Seeing the little barn swallows this time of year is so exciting! The way they flit and flutter from place to place and weave around one another like little sprites makes me giggle everytime. But this little one posed for several minutes for me - claiming the NWR sign with glamorous integrity.
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