Red seems to be around every day. But the only time he sits still for a photo is when he’s at the Bird Buddy feeder! Otherwise, when I try to get his portrait, he flies away so quickly that I’m left with an empty photo.
This House Sparrow knows how to strike a pose!
Papa Quail keeps watch on his brood. It’s almost baby quail season!
A squirrel likes it when I put out a block of birdseed. They aren’t able to access the bird feeders.
Have you noticed the moon this week? I took photos of it over several days. March 3 was the day it was full.
This was taken on March 1.
A friend of mine texted me from Dubai yesterday. She and her husband were traveling for a safari in Nairobi and had a brief layover there. Which turned into four days! I told her to please let me know what they return safely to the United States! We had dinner with another couple over the weekend who were traveling to Israel this week. They have changed their itinerary and are going to Turkey instead. I think I’d rethink that trip, too.
Which photos do you like best?
Would you be comfortable traveling this week to the Middle East?
There is so much turbulence in the world today. Traveling to Asia and Middle East is not wise
I agree. It’s not the right time to travel there. I don’t think our neighbors should go to Turkey this week!
I agree. The war may stop in a few days, or escalate- one never knows.
Too much uncertainty.
Exactly.
I just got a text from my friends. They are still stuck in Dubai. A bomb went off a block away from where they are staying.
Oh no. I hope they make it home safe.
They are going to Nairobi for a safari. I wish they were just headed home. At least they got out of Dubai today after a drone strike by their hotel last night!
Oops! I was also thinking that Africa was a safe option for those who wanted to travel
I’m sure Africa is safer than the Middle East. I just would like them to be home!
Very true Elizabeth. Staying at home is the best option these days.
I think so!
🤗🤗🤗
I like the last moon shot …there’s a dimension to it that’s really pleasing to the eye. I don’t think I’d want to travel there right now
I was excited with that photo. It turned out better than expected. I hope my friends got out of Dubai.
Keep us informed!!
She just texted me. They are boarding their flight, which was supposed to be last Saturday or Sunday? She said they had a drone strike near their hotel last night. She can’t wait to get out of there.
Thinking of you during this💕
Thank you! She was one of my best “mom friends” while the kids were in Catholic school with her daughter. Then they moved near Chicago, but we stay in touch.
I’m really looking forward to baby quail season, lived vicariously through your blog.
😊
I hope we have some quail families and nests close by. I’ve found two in planters. But one planter was next to the garage and the parent quail abandoned the eggs!
Oh, Elizabeth…the pic of the house sparrow is a winner! I love it! 💝
Thank you! I really like the sparrow photo, too! 💕
Xo!😘
🥰
Your friends are very brave, I hope they will be safe. I love seeing baby quail!
Thanks. I am waiting to hear from them. They were supposed to get a flight out yesterday. A two hour layover turned into days.
The moon photos are beautiful! I’d not feel comfortable traveling to the Middle East. My cousin has lived and worked there for ~20 years; he makes really good money, but times like this leave us all worrying about his safety.
I’m glad you enjoyed the moon photos. I was very excited with how well they turned out. I tried moon photos last year in my first photography class and they didn’t turn out.
I would not want to be in the Middle East right now either. My friends were supposed to have an hour or two layover in Dubai and they’re stuck.
I did see a video about those layovers. Interesting.
I asked for an update if they get on a flight today.
I was supposed to go on a safari in Nairobi when I was working as a teacher in the UAE. My husband cautioned me as it was not safe at the time. Shortly after I left, a foreign teacher was stabbed in a bathroom. It was an odd story. While we all made good money while there, there were definitely times as a single woman I was uncomfortable. I’m glad I have visited Israel and the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman). I still know a few teachers still over there as they just kept working since 2012. They never returned. Wow.
The oddest was that the story of the teacher being stabbed was never publicized that much and a lot was unknown. I heard about it through another teacher over there. I am definitely glad that my husband stayed with the home in the states for the year although I did miss him. It was a challenging time but he stayed with his job here and the house. We had a great vacation when I returned and we went to the Cayman Islands.
While in the Army, Mike worked with Military Intelligence focusing on the Middle East and parts of Africa. We were heavily vetted for the jobs there. I think if he had not been working and stayed with me like some husbands of teachers, I might have been very worried about his safety and observations as his training was so good. I would have been constantly on alert, so it worked well. Some of the husbands who came along were a little bored at times as jobs could be hard to find if you did not come with a job. Anyway, glad I went and glad I am home.
Thanks for sharing your experience in the Middle East with Mike.
Well, I remember being there it seemed the less I shared of my husband’s background, the safer it was. I shared the first week there that my husband was retired military and his past. One man from London promptly told me, “I would not let anyone know.” There were always these big guys hanging around some of the foreigner hotels and places in Abu Dhabi. So, I just kept quiet and kept going.
You had to be very aware of your surroundings and what information to share! My friends just boarded their flight to Nairobi.
Wow. What a story!
Yeah, I still want to go on a safari! I’ve been to Busch Gardens..Mike has been to Nairobi but I have not. I would not take bets on me going anytime soon.
I have been to Busch Gardens in British Columbia. I have no desire to go on a safari.
My friends are supposed to get on a flight to Nairobi in two hours. I hope it happens. She texted me this morning and said a bomb or missile hit right next to their hotel last night. They were supposed to be out of there yesterday.
Wow, I hope they will be safe. Prayers for them.
When you’re known around the globe like Red, you get to pick your spots. He’s the George Clooney of the birding world! Debonair in a tux … but on the run. Just gotta be grateful you get any time at all with him. Ha ha. And yes, I don’t think I would be comfortable traveling in the Middle East right now. Well wishes for your friends.
Yes, Red is the George Clooney of the birding world! Great analogy.
As for my friends, I got a text from them two hours ago and they are still in Dubai. They were supposed to get a flight yesterday, that didn’t happen. She said a bomb hit one block from their hotel last night and she was terrified. Her husband slept through it! They are scheduled to leave in a couple hours. I hope and pray it happens!
Wow, so scary. Sounds crazy. In a small way, it reminded me of my daughter’s experience leaving the peace corps. She was in Peru when the pandemic hit. They had soldiers and armored vehicles in the street. Her plane supposedly was one of the last flights out. They were weee all packed in a truck, trying to get to the airport. Looked like something out of a bad war movie. She got out but there were some moments of craziness. Good luck to your friends
That is a very scary story about your daughter! It reminds me of an interview and magazine story I wrote about a group of young American swimmers in Santiago 1973. Bullets were going through their windows and tanks driving down the streets. The presidential palace was bombed. That was way before cell phones and texting, so the parents in the USA had no contact with their kids.
My friends are boarding their light out of Dubai right now!
Wonderful selection Elizabeth. Can hardly wait for the little Quail chicks. No to travelling anywhere near there
I’m so relieved our friends boarded a flight a few minutes ago! After the drone strikes near their hotel last night, she couldn’t wait to get out!
I can’t wait to take photos of the quail chicks!
Beautiful photos’ my dear Wickham.
Thank you!
Welcome dear Wickham and keep rocking my dear .
Beautiful photos, Elizabeth! Love the house sparrow. Wasn’t it your birthday as well? Happy birthday!
Thank you! Thanks for remembering my birthday, plus liking my photos!
That sparrow looks like he has his modeling job downpat. LOL!
I would definitely NOT be flying to the Middle East right now!! I hope your friends make it back safely!
Yes, the sparrow is like Madonna in Vogue — Strike the pose!
My friends got out of Dubai yesterday, but had a drone strike next to their hotel their last night. They went to Nairobi for a safari and sent me photos today. Also, I’m worried about the neighbor who switched Israel for Turkey — but Turkey got bombed too yesterday!
😄
Cool about the safari.
That would have been scary about the drone, glad they made it home. I would love to do that sometime.
I would not have gone to Turkey! Scary!😪
I got photos yesterday from my friend on safari. She got an amazing about wildlife photos. Turkey does not seem like a good idea!
Very cool! Did she see elephants? I know my friend loved the giraffes. She said it was amazing to see them move so gracefully!
She sent me photos of elephants, giraffes, cheetas, lions, gazelles and hyenas!
Awesome! What an experience!
👍🏼
Papa quail is beautiful!
The males are very beautiful.
I never get tired of looking at the moon in person, or in photos!
Nope, not going to the Middle East right now.
Actually, there are a lot of places you won’t catch me going to in the future….I might just park it here in Florida and Georgia forever. 🫣
I was so happy that my moon photos turned out so well. That was the first time it was a success for me. I feel like I want to stay in my Arizona desert out in the wilderness for the time being!