Rainy Day

The dismal, cold days and rain just continue, but spring is persistent, and evidence is everywhere. The cherry trees are showing more color every day, and the raindrops on them look like diamonds.

Of course, I had to photograph the birds too.

She was yawning, I guess - just sat there and opened her mouth this wide.

The goldfinches are starting to turn.

And Ollie doing his parakeet act!

Uh-oh................

It's a cold Sunday morning - I had a little time before going to work, so I thought I'd go out on the porch and see what was going on. All was very tranquil with the bluebirds, who had already stuffed themselves with mealworms...

The wren was singing its heart out...

Then there was a rustling of wings and a dove flew out, narrowly escaping being brunch...and, oh boy, this guy was on the look-out.

The young Coopers had to look for something else; he was pretty brazen, using the nestbox as a look-out....

I wish you well; but please hunt somewhere else...

Ta-da!

"And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils."
William Wordsworth

For the Birds

The little chestnut-sided warbler is one of the birds we enjoy who winters in Mexico and central America, and spends his summers as far north as the Boreal forests.

I sell shade grown coffee in Backyard Boutique - not so much because I particularly want to sell it (there are two coffee shops in the shopping center, and I prefer selling food for birds to food (?) for people), but just to raise awareness, and hopefully people will begin to request shade grown.

I got this from another blog today - I'm not much of a "joiner" or a "signer", but I have signed it and wanted to share it..
http://www.saveourborealbirds.org/petition/referral/index.php?lng=nca

If you haven't read "Silence of the Songbirds" by Bridget Stutchbury, it is very well-written and powerful in its explanation of the global nature of bird conservation. It's a good read - buy one, or request it at your library.

Springtime in Washington

Ahh...springtime in Washington - I'll have to brave the subway and go into the city soon - it's cherry tree time in Washington! Hopefully we won't get another freeze and ruin the blossoms. It's still pretty cold, especially at night, so it doesn't feel much like spring, but it's sure starting to look like it.
This tree is in my yard - it blooms again in fall, but not this fully - I love it.

And a close-up of one of the perfect blossoms...I was too lazy (and my hands were freezing!) to change lenses and use a macro, so this was done with my big glass...

The cedar waxwings seem to enjoy this redbud - I only see them in spring and fall, but some of my customers tell me they had them all winter.

The goldfinches stay here year-round - they are pretty drab in winter, but the glorious colors are coming back - on the bird and the redbud!

Cedar Waxwings

These images are very nearly the same, but since this gorgeous fellow was so cooperative and turned his head both ways, and let me creep closer and closer, I thought he should have more than one photo posted. There were several - not a big flock as usual - but this one stayed off to himself and posed. The redbud made a beautiful prop, but the closer I got of course, the less of the buds showed. I hate the branch shadows, but it was 10:00 AM, and he was out in the bright sun.

Proud Mom

My daughter just redid her web page - Have a look and you'll understand my pride in her.
http://www.rdavidphotography.com/

Pass the Happy News Along

When my daughter was in kindergarten, they sang a little song that I still hum when birds are singing and flowers are budding..Some of the pictures are awful, but they tell the wonderful story of spring.

Little birdie in a tree, pass the happy news along.

Sang a song so cheerily - pass the happy news along.

Pass the happy news along,

Listen to the birdie's song.

Spring has come and winter's gone.

Pass the happy news along.

No, I wasn't lucky enough to see the fox again today - this a fuller view from yesterday.

Easter Morning

I was really tired and overslept this morning, and couldn't get to church. But Easter is about Life, so I had my own Easter celebration in my own cathedral with my daily visitors, as well as one I only see occasionally.

They all celebrate life every day that they have!

He was stalking something, and stood very still long enough for me to get off several shots. Isn't he gorgeous? Sadly, he has no place to go - we have crowded him out...Good hunting, fella (but not birds, please.)

Speaking of Bluebirds.....

A couple of years ago someone brought a little baby bluebird into my shop. They had found it on the ground all by itself, with no sign of its parents or where it had come from. It seemed as if it could not possibly survive, but I didn't see any injuries. I called around and finally found a rehabber who would take it the next day if I could get it through the night. With her instructions, we started on an unforgettable adventure.

It was magical holding it. It felt so fragile.

The little thing was so pathetic - scared and weak; John and I, of course, fell completely and hopelessly in love with it.

She told me to soften dog food in water, and give it tiny bites every 30 minutes until night. (every 30 minutes?!!) OK, it was a bluebird, so every 30 minutes it was. We made it a nice bed in a box and kept it in the closet, with the door cracked so we could hear it. By the morning, it would open its mouth up and cry when I would open the door. We were completely enthralled.

It made it through the night, with tiny feedings of its dog food baby cereal...and I thought I was done with midnight feedings long ago. It was swallowing well, and its legs were much stronger.

It was a little spunkier later that day, when we turned it over to the rehabber. Happily, it thrived in her care and was released back into the wild.

These wildlife rescue people will have a special place at the rainbow bridge...This is hard work, and they deserve a lot of credit.

Early Bird

I woke up at 4:30 - just anxious to get some things done so I will have a little time outside before I have to leave for the store. I've been busy getting spring ordering done for Backyard Boutique..lots of great stuff is on the way. We're in a bluebird frenzy right now. Our area is blessed with a huge bluebird population, and we have a hard time keeping boxes, hardware and mealworms in stock! Yay!

For store updates, here's the website: www.backyardboutique.com, and the galleries are at www.imagesofnature.smugmug.com.

I did get a little photo session in before I went to work yesterday - the morning chorus was lovely.

Last year I had a nest of titmice in my second box - I hope they use it again.

Sparkling in the sunshine -

I guess the little white throat won't be here much longer - I'll miss his singing.

Too cute!

I love it when they puff all up! It was cold and windy.

This was a little soft, so I just "painted" a canvas! He has been feeding her off and on for several days, but yesterday evening, he was really getting into his groove. They both flew to the feeder several times with big mouthfuls of nesting. There are 3 feral cats that hang around nearby, and I'm nervous!

Cheating a Little

I just haven't had time to really post anything since the one I had to remove because of spam. There are still so many photos to review and edit from the Florida trip. I have posted some in my gallery. It can be reached through http://www.backyardboutique.com/; then just going to Galleries.

These are a few from a short trip in the very bright light yesterday. I shouldn't even post the tree swallow image, it's so bad, but they were really funny, and I couldn't get any closer...hopefully you can see them "yelling" at each other.

Out of Control!

I couldn't help myself...I had to post this guy......he wants you to know he's a bird too! Feathers, wings, beak.....