“Something to talk about.” Red and friends.
These are birds and the squirrel that I photographed in the last week or two. I never get tired of watching and photographing them. I am not posting the quail babies or momma and papa quail, since Wednesday’s Bird of the Week was all about quail.
This is my favorite photo I’ve ever taken of Mrs. I posted it on a photography group I follow on Nextdoor and it was selected as the featured photo of the week. Someone commented and asked me how I knew it was a Mrs. and not a Mr. Well, as you can see Red looks a little bit different than Mrs. I think people who aren’t familiar with Northern Cardinals don’t recognize the female as one.
This is a Harris’s Antelope Squirrel heat dumping. Stretching out and lying on his tummy is how they cool down in the heat.
Our backyard bully, the Curve-Billed Thrasher.
Another bully bird, a Gila Woodpecker.
A House Finch resting on a cactus.
My second most favorite photo of Mrs. I love her olive-green color.
Red is wondering why he has to share birdseed with the squirrel.
I love Bonnie Raitt and this is a great song. I’ll never forget the news story in 2025 when she won her 13th Grammy for “Just Like That.” The reporter wrote about how an “unknown” won Song of the Year.
Happy Friday! What are your plans for this weekend?
What is your favorite photo and why?
These pics are amazing Elizabeth. I can see why the photo group recognized that photo. Love all of them. I like the photo of Red because he’s usually by himself. Interesting to see him mix and mingle a little. With all your pics, I’m starting to have a preference for Mrs though. I like the subtle red more. And to my way of thinking, the squirrel is summer sledding! Looks like fun!!!🛷🛷🤣🤣🤣😎😎😎
Thank you for the encouraging words. Red and Mrs. are my favorites too. Whenever they show up I have to grab my camera. My yard is usually full of gray doves and quail. It’s hard to believe that I never picked up my camera until January last year. Now I take photos every day.
EA, these photos are great and so much fun! I too love the one of Mrs. all puffed up 🙂 That squirrel and Red surrounded by the hungry babies are great as well.
Thanks! I was so excited with the Mrs. photo. I had no idea I had captured it until I downloaded it on my computer. The babies are full grown finches or sparrows. I’m not sure which. They are a much smaller species — the same size as the quail babies.
I agree that the female cardinal on the horseshoe is a very nice pic. They’re all good, though. I love your photography.
Thank you so much. I’m working on it. I’ve been doing photography for exactly one year and four months. I’ve learned a lot and keep trying.
Wonderful photos!
We call the heat dumping maneuver splooting up here. Same position, funnier name.
😉
That is a better name for heat dumping. 😅
Beautiful photos, Elizabeth, I find it amazing how animals scatter when humans approach, but the squirrel and Red recognise each other as safe.
Thanks! There are three squirrels that run around with the birds. They do get along.
Congrats on your photo being featured! It’s a great shot. Though, I’ve got to admit the sprawled out squirrel is my favorite photo today.
I was excited to see the squirrel out the window posing like that for me!
the very top.one of red. omg what a great photo. just everything about it!! weekend. hmmm…bone density test today😆, party tomorrow in afternoon then tea society dinner, Sunday is supposed to be nice so maybe long walk with dog maybe moma.
I’m so glad you enjoyed that photo. I had no idea that the little finches had their mouths open when I took it. It was quite the surprise! I had my bone density test a few months ago. Next is the colonoscopy 😅 The rest of your weekend sounds fun.
💕hope you enjoy yours as well!!
Monday morning at 6 a.m. my husband has a knee replacement. The doctor told us to have a relaxing weekend. Sure!
ha
😅
Well, hope the knee replacement goes as planned, we shall see. Even bird packs have bullies. Rule of nature. Our bully here is the crow, sometimes they get too smart for their own britches.
Crows are supposed to be the smartest bird. My neighbor was telling me that they remember you and your face is imprinted on their eyeballs. Then they share the imprint with other crows!
There are also a few myths about them. The bird you mentioned I am friends with. They love us as we keep away the crows with wind chimes. A gentle reminder to not be bullies to the other little ones. Some think that crows in groups of 3-5 bring good luck and a change of fortune, so I guess my neighborhood is in for some good times. But now they inhabit the pines down the way.
We have wind chimes in our courtyard to keep the birds out. They seem used to them now.
The crows don’t like bright wind chimes, so we have bought very vivid colored chimes and are not putting more water in the bird bath as they were using it for their personal dumping ground.
Smart!
I love all of these — but the squirrel heat dumping is just so good!! I love it!
I’m so glad you like the squirrel heat dumping. I read about it and it was fun to see it!
So cute!
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Amazing!! Love all….but the “heat dumping”…absolutely precious!!!
❤️😉❤️
Glad you like my photos. The front paw of the squirrel sold me on it! 💕
So good!!!!! ❤️😘❤️
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“Absolutely stunning! The level of detail in this shot is incredible.”
Thank you!
Love all the photos but especially the squirrel! He/she looks so comfy heat dumping! LOL Great song too!! I haven’t any plans for the wekeend and that’s fine with me. I’m going to allow it all to unfold and see where it takes me! Hope you have a great weekend!
Thanks! I loved that photo with his front legs stretched out.
Me too!!
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Such great shots! I especially love the heat dumping. I mean, who wouldn’t?!?! Adorable!