My daughter and her boyfriend put up a hummingbird feeder this spring. Their first visitor was a real treat. They didn't know which one it was but kept telling me about this bird with the incredible glowing chest.
They said that in the sunlight, it looked like he had a light on his chest.
I couldn't wait to see him myself so one evening, I went over for a visit and stayed in the yard until he arrived.
It was a beautiful Rufous Hummingbird and his mate. He alternated between the feeder and the huge Horse Chestnut tree that was in bloom in the back yard.
This feisty little bird with a whole lot of attitude, chased off all other hummingbirds then left as he continued his migration up north.
I did some reading on the Internet and took a few pictures but none of the pictures came close to showing the way his little chest glows in the light so I attempted to paint him but I think I'd have to put reflective, fluorescent paint to come close.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Dusky Flycatcher
This spring for about 3 weeks a plain little bird took up residence on one of the phone wires just above the office. This determined little fellow called all day, perhaps he was looking for a mate.
I am a great fan of birds but this guy had one song and he never took a break. With him so close to the office, I got to hear him sing it all day. I tried to take pictures but he would fly away the moment I took out a camera so I wondered how I would ever identify him.
Today I spotted a gray bird with a yellow chest sitting on a wire above a nut tree. I've learned to take my camera everywhere so I snapped a few photos. I don't have a telephoto lens so I couldn't get a very good pic but while I was looking him up on the Internet, I found a site with bird songs. I figured he was a flycatcher of some sort so I started going through the whole list.
While looking through the bird pictures and listening to the songs, I stopped to listen to one called a Say's Phoebe and there was my annoying little song bird from work. If you click on the link and then on the arrow that says LISTEN http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=291 you can hear what I had to listen to some days for the whole shift.
These are the pictures I was able to capture, the closest I was able to come was a Dusky Flycatcher as it had quite a yellow body. If any of you know for sure I'd love to hear from you as I've never seen one before.
I am a great fan of birds but this guy had one song and he never took a break. With him so close to the office, I got to hear him sing it all day. I tried to take pictures but he would fly away the moment I took out a camera so I wondered how I would ever identify him.
Today I spotted a gray bird with a yellow chest sitting on a wire above a nut tree. I've learned to take my camera everywhere so I snapped a few photos. I don't have a telephoto lens so I couldn't get a very good pic but while I was looking him up on the Internet, I found a site with bird songs. I figured he was a flycatcher of some sort so I started going through the whole list.
While looking through the bird pictures and listening to the songs, I stopped to listen to one called a Say's Phoebe and there was my annoying little song bird from work. If you click on the link and then on the arrow that says LISTEN http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=291 you can hear what I had to listen to some days for the whole shift.
These are the pictures I was able to capture, the closest I was able to come was a Dusky Flycatcher as it had quite a yellow body. If any of you know for sure I'd love to hear from you as I've never seen one before.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
For Mothers
I haven't had time for art, haven't gone anywhere close to nature or birds for inspiration since I'm painting the ceilings in my house but I have been enjoying reading all of the entries you fellow bloggers have been making.
It's wonderful to see incredible pictures and read about what's happening in all the different parts of the world. What a great invention is the internet and blogging is.
I recently received an email with a story for mothers that I shared with Judy Adamson, a wonderful artist I met on Zazzle and someone I consider a friend http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.com/ and she recommended I share it with all of you so here it is, I hope you enjoy it:
Not Just Another Mother
========================
A few months ago when I was picking up the children at school,
another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming
with indignation.
"Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded.
Before I could answer, and I didn't really have one handy, she
blurted out the reason for her question.
It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's
license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman
recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain
how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or
are you just a .....?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily.
"I'm a mother."
"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...
'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the
same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and
possessed of a high-sounding title like official Interrogator or
Town Registrar.
"And what is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it, I don't know. The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and
Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up
as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant
words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement
was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you
do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself
reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother
doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would
have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already
have four credits (all daughters)."
"Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the
humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14
hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more
challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards
are in satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as
she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to
the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new
career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in
the child-development program testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt triumphant!
I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! I had gone on the official
records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to
mankind than "just another mother."
Motherhood...what a glorious career.
Especially when there's a title on the door.
It's wonderful to see incredible pictures and read about what's happening in all the different parts of the world. What a great invention is the internet and blogging is.
I recently received an email with a story for mothers that I shared with Judy Adamson, a wonderful artist I met on Zazzle and someone I consider a friend http://judyadamsonartanddesign.blogspot.com/ and she recommended I share it with all of you so here it is, I hope you enjoy it:
Not Just Another Mother
========================
A few months ago when I was picking up the children at school,
another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming
with indignation.
"Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded.
Before I could answer, and I didn't really have one handy, she
blurted out the reason for her question.
It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's
license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman
recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain
how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or
are you just a .....?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily.
"I'm a mother."
"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...
'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the
same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and
possessed of a high-sounding title like official Interrogator or
Town Registrar.
"And what is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it, I don't know. The words simply popped out.
"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and
Human Relations."
The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up
as though she had not heard right.
I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant
words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement
was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you
do in your field?"
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself
reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother
doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would
have said indoors and out).
I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already
have four credits (all daughters)."
"Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the
humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14
hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more
challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards
are in satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as
she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to
the door.
As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new
career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs, I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in
the child-development program testing out a new vocal pattern.
I felt triumphant!
I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! I had gone on the official
records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to
mankind than "just another mother."
Motherhood...what a glorious career.
Especially when there's a title on the door.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Need Help
On my way to my evening job, my husband spotted a bird in the parking lot. He was unable to fly and was flopping around. I picked him up, then thought better of it and set him in a nearby garden and went into work, telling myself that if he was still there when I came out, I'd take him home.
I was hoping he just got stunned by a car or something and would have flown away but no such luck, there he was, still looking no better.
I'm don't know much about bird anatomy but I don't think his wing is supposed to bend in that direction and he seems to be having a hard time standing.
I've never been able to walk away from an injured bird and have so far rescued two seagulls, a sparrow, a duckling and now this one. These things often don't end well, but I thought I'd rather take him home where he could have either a chance to recover or die peacefully.
I've tried to identify him on the internet in case he survives so I'd know how to care for him but the closest I've been able to find is maybe a juvenile blackbird?
I know that some of you are better informed about birds and so I'm hoping this picture might be enough for a guess.
Does he look like a juvenile blackbird?
I was hoping he just got stunned by a car or something and would have flown away but no such luck, there he was, still looking no better.
I'm don't know much about bird anatomy but I don't think his wing is supposed to bend in that direction and he seems to be having a hard time standing.
I've never been able to walk away from an injured bird and have so far rescued two seagulls, a sparrow, a duckling and now this one. These things often don't end well, but I thought I'd rather take him home where he could have either a chance to recover or die peacefully.
I've tried to identify him on the internet in case he survives so I'd know how to care for him but the closest I've been able to find is maybe a juvenile blackbird?
Does he look like a juvenile blackbird?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Surprise Visitors
They were tasting all the flowers the neighbors recently planted.
We've seen a number of deer in the neighborhood but this is the first time we've seen them during daylight.
They both appear quite young and maybe mom has new ones to look after so they're on their own. This is a safe area with no hunters and many people who love nature live here so I'm sure, they'll find their way back to the wild. In fact, many of the neighbors were out visiting and watching just across the street from them.
It was certainly a nice surprise.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
California Quail
I went out to get the newspaper off my deck this morning and noticed the sun on the irises that had just begun to bloom.
A friend brought some of these purple ones to work one day and they filled the whole room with the scent of Grape bubblegum. He was kind enough to share some with me.
The pink/yellow ones were left on the side of the road by someone who redid their yard and so I rescued them.
While I was outside a male California Quail (whom I suspect is nesting in my hedge) flew up on the deck. I snapped this picture of him as he warned his mate. He called to her and she flew off the roof and they hid until I left. I'm not sure what that is flying past behind her. I didn't see any other quail but we do have a little Kestrel watching the bird feeder.
I was glad to catch a picture of these quail as I had just done up some new paintings of them.
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