Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Random pictures

Here are some random pictures from the last few weeks:

Arrow-leaf balsamroot in bloom, late May.


Apple blossoms from our young apple trees, late May.


Chipmunk.


A puddle by a drainpipe on a neighbor's property. See the little black dot on the pipe?


It's a fledgling blackbird. The parents were twittering anxiously overhead as I took these shots.


With Lydia and Lihn (Younger Daughter's Quaker parrot) in the garden.


I usually bring Lydia out to the garden with me and let her wander while I work. I call her the Guardian of the Garden.



Here she is, zonked out at the base of the Stanley plum tree.


"Huh? What?"


Five red-winged blackbird eggs.


Their nest is in the cattails of our pond.


A rain squall.


Although we've had some warm days (even one or two hot ones), this spring has been remarkably wet and chilly. On June 11 we dipped to just a hair above freezing. Thankfully the tomatoes didn't die.


On such days, the warmth from the wood cookstove is welcome (even in June).


Naughty robin, eating my strawberries.


Don has a faithful audience as he presses hamburger patties for our neighborhood potluck (it was our turn to host).


It's currently daisy season.




Suddenly we have cedar waxwings in the garden. Gorgeous birds.





Notice the one on the left has just caught a butterfly.



However they're also after the strawberries.



Lydia greets the neighbor's alpacas.



Morning sun through some fog.




Dawn sky.


I'm still waiting for the killdeer eggs to hatch. Because the chicks are precocial, the incubation period is fairly long -- 28 days -- and since this couple has nested smack in the center of the garden, it's preventing us from doing anything heavy-duty (using the tractor to bring in additional tires for beds, for example). I can't even pull weeds around the area. I'll be glad when this nest hatches.


Both parents incubate the eggs. It's charming to watch the "changing of the guard" -- the bird getting off the eggs does a little bowing-pecking ritual to its mate, and makes barely-audible cooing sounds, before relinquishing the nest.



Enjoy the spring.

9 comments:

  1. Your photos are always just stunning. You have a good eye!

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  2. Beautiful pictures!! Seeing an actual Cedar Waxwing has been on my 'bucket list' for years. At last! Saw one resting on a powerline across my yard. So excited!

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  3. Wow, what awesome photos. Just think of the complexity behind these creations. Yes indeed, God exists! Thanks for sharing.
    Montana Guy

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  4. Loved the photos. Looks like time to spread some netting over the strawberries.

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  5. Wonderful pictures! Cedar waxwings are quite handsome birds.

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  6. Beautiful photos! The last few would be awesome framed and hanging on the wall.

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  7. I sad a bad word when I saw that bird with a butterfly in it's beak. I know, circle of life kind of thing, but still, I really like butterflies...

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  8. Your photos are beautiful. I especially liked the second one with the sunlight through the fog. Seeing shafts of sunlight always reminds me that God is always very near.

    Here in southern Indiana, we could use a little of your coolness. It has been an unusually warm and dry spring. Every day in June has been over 80 degrees with 7 or 8 days over 90. My plants are sunburned and need to be watered frequently. Blessings for a beautiful summer and bountiful fall!

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  9. I saw all the waxwings and your comment "suddenly we have waxwings" and my immediate thought was "you have berries". I rarely see them unless the cedar trees have berries. Then I will have a big flock for a couple of days. They are beautiful - enjoy! Natokadn

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