Eastern Screech Owl

With a phone call at dawn, I was informed by a friend that an Eastern Screech Owl was making an early-morning appearance at the entrance to the place it calls home, on the property belonging to our friends.  This location has all the right elements of an ideal habitat, and the owl seemed to be quite comfortable and happy in it's home!  Here it is checking me out as intently as I was checking it out!

After a while it went deeper inside the hole, becoming invisible to me.  Learning that it usually comes out again late afternoons, I planned on returning later in the day, under brighter natural light, and with the hopes of capturing a few more images--perhaps from a different perspective, perhaps other poses, and perhaps even establishing a trusting, non-threatening relationship with this bird as we become more familiar with each other.



When I returned this afternoon, a delightfully gentle and light snow was falling, but the wind was blowing really, really hard.  The owl was indeed visible--in fact, this time it's body extended forward from the hole it inhabited, the wind ruffling the feathers on it's breast.   It turned it's head as soon as I approached and with big, blinking eyes, the owl looked directly at me. 

 After a while, with an air of indifference, it nonchalantly turned it's body away from me, pushed itself in a little so it was flush with the wood, and it closed it's eyes, remaining that way for some time.

I'm looking forward to returning on a sunny day. The rusty colors of this Screech Owl's feathers become more brilliant and a deeper, brighter shade of red under direct sunlight, as my attested by my friend, and I'm eager to see it for myself.


And whooooo knows what other wonders I'll come across!  This particular spot is abundant with wildlife!


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The Gift - A Pileated Woodpecker

My attempts to walk in the woods yesterday failed, as the ice and snow made it exceptionally difficult to manuever over uneven ground.  I was limited to roadside photography while driving around town, and luckily on these back roads that are less traveled, I have a bit more freedom to drive slowly and observe my surroundings closely, pulling over now and again for a shot of something or another. 

At one point I got out of my car and walked over a bridge to photograph some ducks swimming in the river, when something caught my eye.  A twig had fallen straight down - and now stood upright in a little patch of snow.   A cross!  That's how it appeared to me, anyway--as a symbolic cross.

Sometimes when I'm out with my camera hoping to capture some object of nature, nothing seems to present itself.  Sometimes I could be out for hours and then one thing will appear or I'll get just one single shot of something incredible that makes it all worthwhile.  Today was one of those days.

You know by now that I always interpret things I see in nature as gifts.  The 'cross' I saw seemed to become a 'sign' as well ~ a sign for something better yet to come, and it caused me to pause and linger over this area.  It was then that I heard a solitary, hollow WHACK! of what sounded like a hammer striking wood.  A second strike led me to follow the sound to an old sycamore tree.  The 'hammer' was the strong bill belonging to this red-crested Pileated Woodpecker.  I watched in awe at this large bird using it's bill--not repetively like the smaller woodpeckers, but with a singular blows to the wood--to extract what it wanted.

                I was able to take a few steps closer for a few more shots without alarming the bird.

For those of you who live on or near the river or spend time fishing it's waters or strolling along it's banks as it winds itself through woods, perhaps this is a common sighting.  I've learned these birds will remain in an area all year long, raise their young, and forage for food there, so it's likely seen my many.  Perhaps you, too, perceive this and things like it as gifts--because they are indeed for everyone--everyone who recognizes it as such.  Either way, I pass this gift along to those who might not have the chance to see one firsthand.

May you never tire are lose an ounce of awe or fascination each time a gift is presented to you!

Horse Farm in the Snow

I love taking this route home, driving through this horse farm.  No matter the season, the weather, or the time of day, the sprawling scenery exudes peace and beauty--joy, to this harmonious soul! 

Recognize the ridge in the background?  Many of you, over the years, have climbed to the top while "bashin' it up" at our house!

         As I stood taking the above photo, behind me was this giant 'wave' of snow that stretched about
         a quarter of a mile, at least!

Hearty Feathered Friends

A 'sick day' and a 'snow day' rolled into one, I took advantage of being home today and spent time photographing the hearty birds that didn't seem to mind the precipitation that fell all day long.  Most of the photos were taken from an open window overlooking the woods.  I, myself, didn't feel hearty enough to actually be outside today, so instead I did the next best thing--I sat bundled up, tissues handy, kept a steady flow of hot tea in me, and watched the flurry of activity of these birds.  It was a nice, restful way to pass the time.  Four of these 10 different bird shots--the chickadee, the goldfinch, the sparrow, and the titmouse--were from inside another window; I couldn't resist the opportunity for those close-ups.  The others were in their natural settings, shot from my homemade 'blind'.  Enjoy! 

                 Today's post is dedicated to my sister, Diane, who has her own set of wings.

(Wow, I just noticed that in the last two images, the two birds struck an identical pose and are even perched in the very same spot!)

Corrections A-Plenty!

Thanks to Kat and her friend from the audubon and to Eileen, Kathy, and Jacque for your responses identifyig the little grey bird from my previous post as a Northern Mockingbird.  Not that I doubted any of them, but once I actually used my reference books (what a novel idea) the descriptions and behaviors matched perfectly to what I observed. 

Also, the hawk I thought was a Red-Tailed Hawk is not !  It's actually a Red-Shouldered Hawk.
(Thanks again for your help in correct identification!)  And really, looking at the images again and the ones from my reference books, it's so clear (DUH) not only by looking at the tail, but the colors and patterns on the feathers, particularly when in flight, is a dead giveaway!  See the differences?


Yesterday's Red-Shouldered Hawk:

...and a Red-Tailed Hawk:

Yesterday's Red-Shouldered Hawk in flight:

Red-Tailed Hawk in flight:

While I'm owning up to my incorrect information, I also referred in yesterday's post, to Canadian Geese, whereas the correct term is Canada Geese.

Thanks everybody for keeping me on my toes!

You know.......  I do what I do with this here blog because I'm so passionate about trying to capture the wonder and beauty of the natural world and share it with others with the intent that it might stop someone--anyone--in their tracks for a moment or two, to really 'see' or 'look' for themselves at the world around them, and hopefully the peace and joy it brings into my own heart is also felt by someone else when they witness for themselves, from their own perspective, nature in their own backyard.  I don't claim to be an expert in any way--neither my photography nor my writing nor even the information!  I see what I see and merely wish to share it.  Thanks so much for accepting it, appreciating it, and enjoying following it! 

And of course if you ever reach a point that you wish to be removed from my regular email 'prompts', please just reply to one and use the word "remove" as your subject. 


Here's a cute little Tufted Titmouse (or is it??  Ha!) to end this post!

Red-Tailed Hawks

I was out taking some landscape photographs a couple days ago, walking back and forth across a bridge...  to and fro each side of the road while following some birds...   (some of those images will follow)  ...when suddenly I noticed a lone red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree across a field.  I realized it had been silently watching me the whole time!  My instantaneous reaction, as always, was to quickly shoot, but as soon as it saw me raise and point my lens on it, it immediately took to the sky.  I found it fascinating that it seemingly knew my intent at the exact moment I focused on it, therefore purposefully flying away.  This was the one and only shot I got.  When I viewed it later on, I liked the image even more because of the bareness of the picture--a good depiction of the stark winter day. 

Today, driving very near to my home, I caught, out of the corner of my eye, a very similar and familiar scene.  It was the same-shaped figure sitting among more densely-branched trees, and I recongnized it immediately.  I got out of my car and walked pretty close to this hawk and not only did it allow me to take a few (okay, many) pictures, but it also fanned out it's tail feathers for me, almost like a young lady would spread her skirt in a curtsy, just before lifting it's wings in preparation for take-off.  It then flew directly overhead (toward bluer skies) and across the lake to another cluster of trees.  Here's the sequence:

                   Here are a few of the landscape images...  and some of the birds I followed that day.

While taking the above pictures I heard the loud chatter of a pair of kingfishers.  You always know when a kingfisher bird is around, once you can identify it's sound.  I was able to follow one that perched on a nearby tree for a moment before flitting off in it's usual zigzag flight pattern.

                                                  Canadian geese waded in the frigid water.
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Delightful chirping signaled that there were eastern bluebirds around!  I spotted this pair, then caught the male in flight.

                               Off to another part of the same river, I came across this small island.

                                           Can anyone identify this bird?  It sang a pretty song.

                     This old silo caught my attention as well as the tree in the following picture after that.

A steady chirp called my attention to this downy woodpecker just as I was returning to my car for my journey home.

Vacated the Premises

                                        The inhabitants of these homes have left for the season.