As I returned from my walk yesterday, I heard a bird song in the Ponderosa above me.
I looked up and saw this guy…
He almost looks more like a painting!
Here’s one of his buddies…
One can’t help but smile when hearing the pretty little songs they sing!
May your day be filled with beautiful music…Sing a song of your own!
“Look at the purdy yellow bird!” I can hear my mother-in-law say in her country southern accent.
She loves yellow and she loves birds…. so a yellow bird typically tops her list of pleasures (really close to “red birds”, a.k.a. cardinals).
My husband commented this morning on seeing a bird that he’d not previously seen. He said they were hopping around everywhere and were really enjoying the elm tree. However, he had so far been unable to identify them.
So in the briskness of the morning, I stepped out to see what I could capture.
This little guy caught my attention with an array of antics to feast on buds on the tree. He was among the previously unseen flock. With a little research, we concluded he is an Audubon’s Warbler.
While I was out there, a number of Evening Grosebeaks were making rounds between the elm tree and the pond. This male really stuck out to me.
I could spend hours just sitting and watching these birds along with the other wide variety that feeds and drinks here.
These are for you, Kathleen….even if you can’t see them.
Enjoy!
Spring has sprung and with it lots of animals are coming out!
I went out in the field the other morning… the prairie dogs were all over the place.
This one saw me in the distance and took off from one hole toward another.
Once in the new hole, he ventured out to look around for his buddies.
Then he disappeared for a few minutes. When he came back up he was quite emphatic about informing the neighborhood of the intruder laying on the ground only feet from his hole (me).
While these critters are quite good at leaving soft spots all over the area, they are equally efficient at aerating and fertilizing the soil!
Many consider prairie dogs to be pests. Once upon a time, I was in that number, not hesitating to shoot them.
When it became clear to my family that we are ALL one…yes, even the “rodents”, we chose to allow them to share our property. The entertainment value we gain from them is immeasurable.
What do you consider a nuisance that you could actually enjoy being entertained by?
The ponds are finally thawed, so… the robins are back! Of course one of the flickers is back too.
This morning as I watched, a robin and flicker were standing fairly close together.
As far as the flicker was concerned, his space, as well as the space of everyone directly adjacent to him, is HIS!
He proceeded to let the robin know he wasn’t welcome in that space!
The robin did not take off without a fuss, but the flicker was enough bigger that he didn’t argue long!
Of course that left the flicker quite satisfied with himself!
A different robin seemed quite content to stay out of it and continue his bathing ritual on the other side of the pond.
I hope you enjoy seeing animal pictures as much as I enjoy watching them live!
A couple days ago, I spoke out that I would like to see something extraordinary to photograph.
Ah, but how the universe is kind to provide that for which we ask!
Yesterday, I walked into the living room at the front of the house and, per my usual habit, I glanced out the front window.
My heart jumped and adrenaline pumped when I saw this “little” kitty (a.k.a. BOBCAT) walking across my front yard. Of course I grabbed my camera and ran to the office window, at which point, he looked right at me.
Next time, I purpose to open a screen-less window upstairs in order to get a clearer picture!
In all the time we’ve lived here, other neighbors have seen cats and still others had livestock attacked by bobcats. This is the first time I’ve personally seen one.
What a gift…it happened just two days before our 25th anniversary of living here on this property!
I was grateful he had no interest in my son who was burning wood in the fire pit in the back yard!
How I love the way nature chooses to entertain us!
A new day brought in a New Year with the sun glistening on fresh snow.
The crispness of the morning with the clean white snow sparkling in the sun is our cue to remember that each day is an opportunity to start fresh.
Allow the light you were created with to shine for all the world to see.
Happy New Year!
Today I share just a taste of lights from Christmas Eve.
Last night we drove through Albuquerque to see lights.
This particular set up was in a huge display on a Rio Grande Blvd property.
A small portion of our Christmas tree…
Lighted garland and bow in a corner…
May you find a gift and blessing in all that comes your way, and be a gift to the world around you.
Merry Christmas!
In November, I learned about the Landscape Dreams Photo Contest (sponsored by Santa Fe Creative Tourism, in celebration of publication of Landscape Dreams, a New Mexico Portrait with photographs by Craig Varjabedian – author of numerous photo books and a 1991 Emmy award winner).
Of three photos I entered, I learned today that Enchanted Sunrise Over San Pedro is among the prize winners, and I now share it with you!
The way the sun bounced light on the clouds as it climbed up over San Pedro peak was indeed enchanting.
Enchanted Sunrise Over San Pedro is now available for purchase in a variety of mediums. Click here to visit my Fine Art website. While you are there, check out the other images available. Feel free to pass it on to others.
I was about to step out of the car to get the mail when Matt said, “Look! There’s a hawk…looks like he’s caught something!”
I looked and saw the hawk just a foot from the road and grabbed the camera instead of the mailbox keys!
Just as I did, he flapped his wings up and looked like he was pouncing on whatever it was he had.
He then really noticed me and just looked right at me.
Then gave me a beautiful display of the underside of his left wing. He was probably actually blocking something small from getting away.
Praying for his prey?
As some cars approached he took off to get away from the road. Of course his take-off stance was rather low.
He perched on a power line. At one point I could see something in one of his talons. He bent his head down to his feet and next thing I see is … well, something hanging out the side of his beak. My guess, a small bird.
I LOVE the where I am and the opportunities I have to share beautiful creatures with the rest of the world through my photography.
Per my usual practice, I looked out the back window to see what sort of fowl was visiting the ponds and fountain. What I found instead was dancing water!
Yes, dancing. The wind was dancing with the water!
Use your imagination…..the water in each of these could be a long flared skirt….like that of flamingo dancers. Go ahead, turn on the music in your mind!
Here’s a sweeping move…
Here’s one “running” with the skirt trailing wildly behind…
This one is being twirled in the air…
This one is being set down allowing the skirt to slowly fall…
Take a moment today and see what beautiful dance nature produces for you!