Three doves and a dragon.
Sunset nebula.
Intermission: Major Tom Peepers practicing his noble stances. Mona Lisa and Sleepy look on from the nest.
Ghostly
Snakebite, dragon and a bunny
Snakebite
Cloud Shapes
Tag: birds
Let Them Eat Duck
Major Tom Peepers out of the nest, Mona Lisa getting ready to get out of the nest.
All three owlets got out of the nest tonight. Sleepy finally got out but then fell back into the nest. Daddy Owl caught and something and brought it to Mama Owl. They tore it apart and then Mama Owl flew it over to the owlets and fed them. Dinner turned out to be a duck. It got too dark to get decent photos of the whole feeding, but Mama Owl tore pieces of the portion of the duck she had, gave the smaller pieces to Major Tom Peepers and Mona Lisa, and the largest portion to Sleepy. Sleepy is the runt, and Mama Owl is taking extra care of him. Since it’s late, I put the photos in a gallery that you can click on and have a slide show of the owlets getting out of the nest and the feeding.
Swainson Flyover
Under a clear blue sky, the sun sinking low, a Swainson’s Hawk flew over head. Susan Hunter corrected me on my naming of the hawlk. Thanks, Susan. The only clouds were far to the south behind Mia’s Tree.
Triple Delight
Major Tom Peepers, Sleepy, and Mona Lisa.
Yellow iris working on blooming.
A black hawk was circling in the distance.
A noble hummer.
This sunset was from two night ago. I forgot to post it.
The Sacrifice
I buried a raccoon pup at dawn
Found him by the steps
Heartless and emptied
Secretly sacrificed
Under half-moon? Rose at two
Such a mystery
With last rites fitting any innocent soul
Tucked in under spadefuls of sandy soil
Laid to rest, secured for eternity
A spark of life lit
Snuffed, sacrificed
So much misery
The poem above was inspired by a poor baby raccoon, gutted and left near our doorstep. I don’t know what killed it, but it seemed very sacrificial. I’m packing several day’s worths of photos into this post because of the possibility that other things will come up, and many of the photos not get posted.
Click on the galleries below to see a slideshow of the photos in their correct aspect ratios.
Grosbeaks, Hummer, and Towhee the Line
I am Wood Duck hear me roar!
Got Your Goose and Goslings with Cormorant
Cooper’s Hawks’ Hanky Panky
Fuzzette, Major Tom Peppers out of the nest with Mona Lisa and Sleeping still in the nest, Mama Owl, Daddy Owl, Daddy Owl, Mama Owl, Daddy Owl
Critter Daze and a Few Flowers
Major Tom Peepers and Mona Lisa wearily watching a flock of crows fly overhead.
Larry Lizard “posting”.
Drumstick Allium. There are a pair of Wood Ducks hanging out in Gabriela’s Cottonwood.
Lady Banks.
I can’t resist dandelions. The bats were being batty again.
Bazooka’s First Bats
As the dusk turned to darkness, bats fluttered around, buzzing by me with their quick, erratic flight patterns. I tried my best to focus on their silhouettes and capture their erratic movements. These are the results of Bazooka’s (my large 400mm lens) first bats.
Bazooka’s first squirrel.
Bazooka’s first Night Heron at night.
The Night Heron at night brought to light.
Fuzzette
Under crystal clear, blue skies I made a very interesting discovery.
Fuzzette, Fuzzy, and Nora Owl
Fuzzy has a big sister, Fuzzette, who Nora Owl finally allowed to come out into the world so we can admire her beauty and cuteness.
Ducks in a row.
Fuzzette
Sucker
Fuzzy
Fish
Osric Owl napping in his outpost about 200 feet from Fuzzette, Fuzzy, and Nora Owl.
Bucky Bullfrog
Fuzzette
Marina’s Incognito Pear Tree looking rather pear-shaped.
Nora Owl napping with her ear tufts blowing in the wind.
And you thought Unicorns were equestrians!
Fuzzette is rather intense.
Tulip tortured by the heat and sun.
Fuzzy wide-eyed and presumably bushy tailed.
Lady Banks
Fuzzette has expressive eyes.
Tulip with a slight blush of pink.
Osric Owl doing ear tuft semaphore.
A sunny bunny.
¡Adios muchachos, muchachas!
Dancing With Daddy Owl
Eye Eye Eye
Cary Kingfisher: “Eye see you Paparazzo!”
Finnegan Finch: “Eye see you Paparazzo!”
Terrance Turkey Vulture: “Eye see you Paparazzo!”
Mama Owl: “¿Qué pasa Paparazzo? ¿Te gustan las plumas de mi cola?”
Cary Kingfisher who happens to be a Belted Kingfisher: “I’m outta here! ¡Sta luego Ese!”
Off Center & Not Even 