Wings n Things

Hello again..

2009-11-10T09:15:00.021-05:00

The dog noticed this guy in our neighbor's yard on her walk one day last week. We grabbed cameras and clicked away....I was inching closer flat on my belly till it was apparent that the little sharp-shinned wasn't going anywhere. He was unmarked, but acting dazed - we guessed he must have flown into something. He kept closing his right eye, and didn't react to us very much at all.

Looks like he's about had it with us in his face, doesn't he?

WINK!

We captured him fairly easily and called our friend at the VA Raptor Conservancy. We were able to take the bird to a volunteer, who transported him to the conservancy. I had word later in the week that he did recover and will be released soon. Hooray!

I just hope he doesn't ever see Ollie!

This is Olivia. I have always called my resident female Camille, but then I never had one for 7 years before the last Camille. This one is a little different -I thought she should have her own name.

Eeee, eee, eeeeeee!

Ditto.

And on a different note.....

Lane 2, Nick David, First Place !

Lane One, Nick David, First Place.

This one was close! Lots of Phelps record times on the board to the left.

All Star!

Just for a smile...

Before going to work....

2009-09-03T09:07:00.003-04:00

I spied a titmouse in the bird tree....

A hummingbird posing for me......

Another - as cute as can be...

A lady for Ollie...whoopee!

And Ollie - my favorite to see!

This is what I've been waiting for - and Ollie let the female drink before he did - I think he's found one who suits him!

News from our gallery

2009-08-22T07:10:00.003-04:00

We have 10 artists exhibiting in The Gallery at Backyard Boutique...every third Thursday we have gallery night from 6 - 8 with nibbles and the artists meet and greet. It's very enjoyable, and we're actually selling. The gallery itself occupies the front 1200 sf of my store space. Bird shop and online still crippling along.

Back again....

2009-08-06T18:39:00.005-04:00

Both of the tiny Carolina wrens stayed busy feeding this cowbird stow-away. I didn't see any baby wrens - I guess this one took up all the room.

Just look at the size difference.

More, more, more!!!

And to add insult to injury, he seems perfectly able to get his own food!

I thought Ollie had found a new mate......

This lovely young female was with him for a few days - but he sort of ignored her, and now I haven't seen her since last week.

I have missed blogging, but just never seemed to have the time to sit down and do it. Today I looked at of my favorite blogs, and these are photos I've been planning to post. I'll probably only get to this every few weeks, but I'm still here!

Summer Clips -

2009-07-15T09:46:00.002-04:00

Ollie - still alone. He has had interested ladies, but he isn't interested.

Serenity..

My older grandson, Jack, after swim meet.

The younger one, Nick (8), high-fiving and showing off his muscles - he's threatening records all over town this year.

Move over, Michael Phelps!

"Teddy Bears' Picnic"

2009-07-03T11:09:00.006-04:00

Remember that song? Well it was very fitting at Shenandoh yesterday! We saw more bears than we have total in all our other trips to the park. They were close, but behind a lot of brush.....They were all over the place - several times along Skyline Dr we stopped to watch them.

I see you, but bet you can't see me!

I got a bazillion fawn shots!

I loved this one with the grass blowing.

"God's in His heaven; all's right with the world."

Something different...

2009-06-24T12:40:00.002-04:00

The young RB is growing up.

BAD HAIR DAY

Still a lot of activity in my backyard. But still, no Camille. Ollie and the kids are OK, but Ollie still
sits looking out over the yard.

Life goes on...

2009-06-22T12:00:00.004-04:00

Fathers Day pose..

I can do this!

This seems to be all that is left from 5 eggs..

Still no sign of Camille. I knew Ollie was feeding fledglings, but I had only seen one since my tripand Camille's disappearance, but Friday two beautiful babies came to the porch. A couple of times an adult female has come, but Ollie drives her away. She sat for a long time in the bird tree, just looking - This is the second time Ollie has lost his mate (the first time, house sparrows trapped her in the box and killed her). That time he was showing his "real estate" to another female within a couple of hours.

Good-bye to Camille

2009-06-17T08:38:00.002-04:00

This is Camille - This was her 6th summer in my backyard....She and Ollie raised at least 60 beautiful babies during that time. But she's gone - my neighbor came over daily last week while I was gone, and saw her every day, but I haven't seen her since I returned on Thursday. Ollie comes and is caring for at least one of the 4 fledglings, but he sits and calls and calls. This is the part I hate.

I missed you!

2009-06-12T19:59:00.003-04:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been able to post anything or even look at your posts. Needless to say, I've had a wonderful time tonight catching up!
I've been working on my website, beginning a juried nature art gallery in Backyard Boutique, and this week, I drove to Atlanta to spend a couple of days with my mother. The drive is 10 1/2 hours, but half of it is through the mountains, and is beautiful. I had wonderful driving weather, and enjoyed the time with my mom, although it's just terribly sad to watch her decline (She's 91)
I lived in Georgia for the first 43 years of my life and never saw a bluebird, but I had taken Mother out to the porch to sit, and a pair of bluebirds flew down to a branch very close to us. She doesn't see much at all, but she declared she could see them - I hope so.
The Gallery at Backyard Boutique is coming along well - we have some very talented artists (all mediums). I've made a start on the gallery webpage. If you go to my regular one,
www.backyardboutique.com you can click on gallery and there you are. (My daughter did the "Splash Page," and it has really helped...our stats have soared.) Things are still slow, but I think it'll get better.
My camera rode shotgun all the way to GA and back, but I was in a hurry, and didn't make a single picture along the way, but boy, I saw some beautiful scenery and skies.
Life is good - busy, but at least never boring.

I couldn't help myself......

2009-05-31T11:28:00.003-04:00

I couldn't stand it - those two photos from last week were driving me crazy...So let me present - Bambi and Thumper! (Thank you, Adobe!)

Pleaseeeeee......

2009-05-29T10:35:00.002-04:00

Two more underneath....this is GOOD!

Thumper

2009-05-27T08:26:00.004-04:00

John (Maine Nature Photos) commented on my last post that only Thumper was missing. So yesterday I went out and whistled up a bunny. Here he is - Thumper! I don't think I'll be looking hard for Flower - actually there is a skunk somewhere out in the woods behind my house - I can't sleep with the windows open!

Oh, Shenandoah!

2009-05-21T18:57:00.004-04:00

Finally - it's spring in the park (Shenandoah Nat Park - my favorite spot; hope I don't get shot there now!). Flowers, butterflies.....

More butterflies....

and BIRDS!! This Canada warbler is a first time for me....he was really high up!

Catbirds aren't particularly exciting, as we have them all over the place at home, but he just looked so beautiful,

And this guy I'm not real sure about. I thought it was a great creasted flycatcher (it's some kind of flycatcher), but it sure had a strong black eye line. He was funny with his cap sticking straight up!

John got these scarlet tanager photos - When I saw him, he wasout of decent reach, even with the uber lens.

Taking off.

Willard, it's time! I watched this doe through the brush for a long time, trying to figure out why she just looked at me and never turned to leave. Then I glimpsed the chestnut color under her, and the enchantment began! I couldn't have been in a worse spot for trying to see and get some photos without making them nervous.

So sweet.

It was very new - actually I was surprised it was already here - it seems a few days early, and the weather has been so awful. He was wobbly, but curious.

Looking for food, or comfort - or both.

This is my favorite - if you enlarge the photo, he seems to be looking at a tiny violet on the ground, a la Bambi. I don't think that was really the case, I think he was just unsteady. I spent a few minutes not breathing, then reluctantly backed out to leave them in peace. It was beautiful.

Notice -

2009-05-19T15:11:00.000-04:00

May 19, 2009

Dear Helen,

Loaded weapons in our National Parks?

It's already passed in the Senate.

Your action is needed today to keep our parks safe.

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives may vote on a bill of great concern to those who cherish our national parks and the wildlife they host.

Believe it or not, we're talking about the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act. What does credit reform have to do with national parks? Nothing. Yet, astonishingly, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., has attached a rider to the bill that would allow individuals to carry loaded weapons in national parks. Take action now.

If the bill passes with the rider attached, anyone would be allowed to carry loaded weapons – including semi-automatics – in our national parks.

Can you imagine the implications for wildlife poaching and visitor safety?

Not only is this a dangerous idea but it makes no sense attaching it to a bill that seeks to help Americans in difficult times.

This bill passed the Senate last week. It's now up to us to stop the rider – take action now.

The gun effort has been widely opposed by park rangers and seven former directors of the Park Service who say it would increase the risk of poaching and vandalism of historic resources and put visitors at risk.

Please tell your Representative to stop this ill-conceived idea and to keep our beloved parks free of loaded weapons.

Sincerely,

Kathy Kilmer
The Wilderness Society

Fluffy Contest

2009-05-18T12:50:00.002-04:00

I just love it when they get their feathers ruffled!

"Dumb dove! Look at me!"

Well, I'm not playing your silly games - I'm eating!

Just Passin" Through...

2009-05-14T11:13:00.003-04:00

White-crowned sparrows don't nest here, but this one made a brief stop Sunday morning.

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-09T21:37:00.002-04:00

Storm Across the Valley.......SWF

2009-05-07T20:16:00.003-04:00

We were just tired of the rain, so decided to drive out to Shenandoah Nat Park and look for misty, cloudy landscapes......When we got there, the sun came out and there was actually blue, blue mountain sky, but as we drove along Skyline Dr, the storms came rolling back in. This was looking out over the Shenandoah Valley, with double storms. I can almost always put a John Denver song to beautiful scenery......"There's a storm across the valley; Clouds are rolling in......."
For more skywatch photos, go to: http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Guess who came for dinner.....

2009-05-06T06:37:00.003-04:00

I look forward to the rose-breasted grosbeaks' visits in the spring. I saw one briefly Monday. He was eyeing the feeding station, so I figured he'd be back, and hoped I'd see him. Sure enough, he was back yesterday at dinnertime.

Just posing...

Trying the nut cake...he loved it!

A litle safflower from the squirrel buster....

Now one more glamour shot in the dogwood tree.....

At Backyard Boutique - Still getting artists interested in the Gallery at Backyard Boutique...It's looking good.

Going, going....

2009-05-04T11:16:00.004-04:00

The pink blossoms are giving way to lush green leaves - and more hiding places.

We seem to have a catbird triangle - not good in any species!

This is the bird tree.....anybody know what it is? It has cherry-looking bark.

All Wet!

These seed cakes are all pecans, peanuts, and sunflower seeds...they LOVE them.

Waiting her turn....

Uh oh, hey what's with the screen?

Look at all those blue layers!

I will be posting some store and gallery news here - I just can't keep up with two separate blogs. My online store guys have me twittering, and face booking, and posting on Craig's List - it seems to be helping, but I feel silly..."Twitter"? what? Bear with me - I'm pedaling as fast as I can!

Bird Studio in a Pink Dogwood....

2009-04-26T12:05:00.007-04:00

Spring!!!

2009-04-25T07:42:00.003-04:00

I pulled this out from the cards to send - spring is finally here! This will be all for today, because we have our Earth Day festivities at the shopping center. Have a wonderful week-end.

black and white and red and yellow!

2009-04-13T18:29:00.005-04:00

The goldfinches are putting on their spring clothes!

This morning I saw a flurry or red and yellow in my "bird tree" and was treated to probably 10miinutes of shameless flirting between these two flickers. I was so hoping they would move out to the front of the tree, so there wouldn't be branches in front of them; but I guess they were being discreet.
That is the most wonderful tree - but it's getting so tall it might hide my big snag behind it soon....then the tree surgeon will have to come work on it a little. (I don't even know what it is, but I love it because all the birds love it.

Back Blogging..

2009-04-09T21:26:00.007-04:00

I apologize for this being way too long, but it might very well be 2 weeks again before I can get back to it. The problem is, when I post, I take forever to look at all your wonderful blogs, so I keep putting it off till I have time - and that never happens. So here is a look at my backyard, at the birds enjoying my Mr Bird pecan log, and a couple that we got today at Occaquan NWR nearby. There are a couple of shots at the end that are pretty bad, but the white-throated sparrow and the dove seemed to be deep in conversation, and the cardinal pair was just so lovely. There is a surprise at the end. I just looked at most of the blogs I normally follow...everything is so beautiful. Most of these photos are too dark, but they were fine till I posted them....????

Look at me...I can stand on one leg!

Back in town..

Windy day...

He sat there a long time, but he would never move from behind that twig.

Sweetie..

NO, NO, NO, NO! It's not for you!

YUMMY!