Tuliptree Blossom with Guest
Another Day at Work
Apis Workers' Party
Predator
Some of Your Beeswax
Sedum Bumbler
Look of Defiance
Chicory Bee
Bumbling Bees
Garden Cafe
Buzz By Here - To Infinity and Beyond
Pick Your Poison
Blind Side Attack
On a Mission
Honey Bee on Sedum
Covering the Cosmos
Center of the Cosmos
Three's a Crowd
Popular Spot
On A Pedestal
Big Harry Fireworks Display
To Impress the Girl
Different Perspective
Sweet Ride
Perfect Little Piggies B&W
Flipping the Light Fantastic
Festival of Flights
To the Crowd's Delight
Amish Go Round
Wondersome One
The Stars In Her Eyes
Tuesday's Child
Sleeper Hold
Considering the Next Move
Sugar and Spice
Front Porch Portrait
Caged Competitor
Early Adoration
Child In the Ligtht
Stroll Through the Weeds
Attention Grabbing
Eye Contact
On the Line
Eyes of Wonder
Rounding the Curve
Troubadours of Basin Spring Park
Down by the Creek
Sun Day
Catching Some Light
EAA Fireworks
Hear Me Roar
Birds
Pheasant Friends
I was driving home yesterday afternoon and I noticed a flash of color in the tall grass of the ditch along the road. I pulled my camera out of it’s case and doubled back. When I got there, these two, gorgeous, ring-necked pheasants were moving in the grass.
When I first spotted them while driving by, they may have been sparring, but now that I’m closing in they decided to head for the hills – literally.
They ducked into the very tall grasses (taller than me) that filled the ditch. I followed, crossing the muddy ditch water, hoping to get a clear enough view to snap a good shot. Beyond the tallest grass was a very steep hill. I chased them up the hill expecting them to get spooked enough by the pursuit to just fly away. They didn’t fly and I kept following.
I could usually see one or the other moving through the brush, but never in an area where I could get an unobstructed view. Finally, a little further up the hill, where the cover wasn’t so thick, I was able to snap a couple of frames. They continued to move and soon were back into thick brush, now among trees where I couldn’t follow.
As I always suggest, if you like this image, you’ll love the larger version – available by simply clicking the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame option or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Bluebird Family Brunch
This is a family of eastern bluebirds. The gal standing tall in the back (on the left) is the mother. The rest are her offspring from 2014 hatch. They’ve come together to share a mid-morning brunch of mealworms in our backyard.
This female brought two broods into the world this season.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.
Poolside Perch
An American Goldfinch (male) clings to a stalk from a blooming hosta while eyeing the refreshing waters of the garden birdbath. The bright yellow summer plumage makes him a standout.
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Next Generation
Another generation of Eastern Bluebirds emerge under the watchful eye of the previous. The father joins the son for a breakfast of mealworms, served daily on a tree stump in our back yard.
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Pelicans On Blue
There seem to be more pelicans hanging around the lake shore than I remember in years past. These birds were gracefully gliding by in the early morning light.
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High Five Fly By
This female ruby-throated hummingbird seemed to be offering (and expecting) a high-five as she zipped by.
I finally got around to taking some hummingbird photos yesterday. I’m a bit rusty at the high-speed skills it takes to snap one of these. I’ll have to get out there more.
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Bluebirds – Father & Sons
Let me introduce you to our neighbors – the Eastern Bluebird family. This is a father and two of his offspring. There are four of these youngsters hanging around, having hatched this spring.
It’s hard to get the whole group together for a family portrait – though I’m working on it. The mom is busy sitting on another clutch of eggs. She does emerge to eat, now and then. I just have to convince them all to eat at the same time.
I’ve been supplementing their normal diet with meal worms…placing them on this tree stump in our yard. I’ll be posting more of the family in the near future. Stay tuned.
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All You Can Eat Bluebird Buffet
A mother’s work is never done. This female bluebird laid the eggs, sat on them until they hatched, spent all day, every day foraging for food for a brood of six. A week ago, they were big enough to leave the nest. Still, this dedicated mama gathers as much food as she can carry to her young waiting safely in a nearby tree.
We offer the bluebirds meal worm in this ceramic dish. It’s our small way of helping a working mother.
About a week ago, I posted a photo of the baby bluebirds before they left the nest. You can them here: Overflow Seating
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Singing for Supper
These young tree swallows are hungry and waiting for mom to serve up lunch. They are only about a week old, but growing fast. There are six in this nest box; one of several around our property.
Normally, when you open the nest box to look in our their progress, these young birds are very calm and sleep-like. I trick them to stretch and open their mouths my faking them out with a little whistle. When the mom returns with food, her motherly chirp will perk them up and they open up for the meal she’s brought. So, all it takes it is a little chirp of a whistle and they all bob up, mouths open, waiting. Don’t worry, they don’t stay hungry and wanting for long. Within in moments after close up the house, the parents are flying back in and out with food for them.
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Overflow Seating
Every spring we look forward to the return of bluebirds and tree swallows. We have next boxes around the edges of our yard to encourage homesteading. It’s always a treat to see them building their nests and then watch as the eggs hatch and the babies develop.
This is a view inside a nest box claimed by Eastern Bluebirds. These baby bluebirds are becoming quite cramped in the small confines of the nest box. Though you can’t see all of them, there are five youngsters piled on top of each other. In a short time (I’m guessing a week or less), they will leave the nest.
When looking in on this crowd, we had to be sure none of them spilled out…which they almost did.
To get a better, larger view of these babes, click on the photo.