I’m watching birds early in the morning while sitting outside writing my morning pages. Then I pick up my camera while sitting at a table inside. I’ve seen three separate families of quail. They are small families with the largest having four babies, then another with two and the final family has mom, dad and one baby.
House finch on a young saguaro.
A Harris Hawk stopped by and the little birds flew away.
Mrs. arrived for a snack. A House Finch tried to intimidate her, but she stood her ground.
I hope you enjoyed my photos that I took over the weekend. Happy Father’s Day to everyone and have a great week!
Two baby quail with poppa. They are the tiniest I’ve seen. I think they just broke out of their eggs!
I missed Red hanging out in our yard for three full days. I was so worried he’d abandoned us. Or, perhaps he thought I’d abandoned him. I honestly believe we had a bond, because when I’d go outside, he’d show up. I’d drive up our driveway and he’d sing to me from a nearby tree. I was inside for two full weeks, post surgery and Red disappeared. Fortunately, I had a Red sighting on Monday and heard him singing while I sat outside — now that I’m able.
Red taking off for who knows where! Below, I spotted Red near our feeder across the yard.
I caught a Gilded Flicker in flight. That made me smile.
Here’s a Gila Woodpecker and below is a Flicker.
Getting my Nikon out with my telephoto lens after more than two weeks of not using it — also made me smile. I used it for all the photos above, looking out my casita window. The photo below, I love for the morning light.
I’ll finish this post about what made me smile with a selfie I took with my iphone. It’s a goofy photo of my new look taken in the reflection of our sliding glass doors.
I have been taking photos out my casita window with my iphone. I don’t feel up to using my Nikon with my heavy telephoto lens. So, the photos may not be as crisp and clear as they could be. But I’m happy to spot Red and take his photo any way I can.
Today, I have my first post op appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. There was a hint that at two weeks post surgery she would take off the cast and I’d be in a boot. I sure am hoping for that. I’m feeling confined and restricted in my cast. It itches under there! Plus, I am bound to a knee scooter and getting around is not that easy. I discovered something that I never noticed before. Every single doorway or sliding glass door we have, has a step or a barrier to entry to the outside world. With two good feet, I completely missed that. Now it’s quite a challenge, for example, to get to the car for a ride from hubby to a doctor’s appointment.
Red on a barrel cactus next to my pink flamingo.
I learned from new friends who live two doors away that our casita was an add on. They’ve lived here since our development was built close to 20 years ago. Our husbands were chatting at a neighborhood social night in our neighborhood park. They discovered they had a friend in common. The neighbor went to the Naval Academy and my husband’s best friend went there, too. The neighbor was friends with my husband’s best friend’s older brother — who also went to the Naval Academy. Isn’t that a small world?
I veered off track for a moment. Back to the casita — it was built for the prior owner’s mother, who must have been old and needed her space, but also something suitable for someone needing a secure and safe space. I’ve found it to be ideal for me while I’m recovering. For example, the shower is made for handicapped — which I am right now. It has a bench and bars strategically placed for me to hang onto for dear life.
I’m hoping for the best in my healing adventure. I’ll give an update next week after visiting the doctor this morning.
This Harris’s Hawk made an appearance yesterday, which is my second or third sighting since I began my beginning photography class.
Harris’s Hawks
You might notice the difference in photos? The first one, I took yesterday. The hawk was on the next door neighbor’s roof after I shooed him out of our yard. The photo with two hawks was taken in December before my class began.
I used to love it when the hawks came to visit. But now I’m a mother hen looking out for Red, the Mrs. and their nest. When the hawk decided a good place to hang out was next to the Reds’ nest, I got in his face with my camera. He didn’t like that and landed on the roof next door.
This Mr. Harris Hawk right next door to Red and Mrs.’ nest. It looks like he could be staring into their nest — which could bring a new meaning to “empty nest.”
I got these photos of Red and the Mrs. after the Harris’s Hawk flew away.
Before my photography class and getting to know my beautiful cardinals, I believed nature should take its course. Now I have one eye nervously glancing out the window whenever I see a large bird fly by. I’m right out there with my telephoto lens to snap pictures, which also scares away the predator birds.
My next adventure is to learn some of Adobe Photoshop. I’m beginning today, and am thankful for a professional photographer friend of more than 30 years who has offered to help!
What are your thoughts on my wanting to interfere in nature and being protective of Red and his wife?
Throughout our neighborhood, the Palos Verdes trees are in full bloom. The bright yellow flowers against the blue sky are so gorgeous.
This is how beautiful our driveway looks right now. Most of the year, the plants are brown without blossoms.
Even the saguaro in our backyard is bursting out in blossoms. A Gila Woodpecker is taking advantage of the nectar from one blossom.
I took the saguaro photos Monday. Today there are seven blossoms. I’m taking pictures each day to see how the blossoming crown progresses.
This is the walkway from our driveway to our courtyard and front door. I have never seen it look so “Springy” before.
Then there’s RED:
I decided to take a few more photos of the saguaro blossoms for this post and guess who showed up? He landed right in front of me and started singing with all his might! I think he wondered why my camera was pointed at the cactus — and not him!
Here is Red singing his heart out! None of the photos today are edited, cropped or touched. My professor’s last words of wisdom for us this week was we can start editing in Adobe Photoshop — but it has a steep learning curve. I’m thankful for the lessons I’ve had with this professor and that he didn’t let us crop or edit — we had to be aware of what our photos would look like untouched.
Even the bees are buzzing today!
Happy Spring and thanks for going on my photo journey with me.
Perhaps it’s time to get back to writing and editing my manuscripts?
Red has been hanging out in the backyard. He’s often with the Mrs. Every time I try to get a photo of the two of them, they fly off. Once they were sitting together on a rock and I watched Red feed her birdseed!
I woke up yesterday with a sore neck, shoulders, back and hands. I attribute it to photography. I spent hours over several days working on my final project. Then, yesterday I went golfing with a friend. We haven’t been out for 18 months. We figured the lapse in time, because we drove to a public course with a driving range and were told the range is for members only. We asked when that happened and they said “17 months ago.”
Waking up today, my arms are hurting along with the other parts. No longer am I achy. I feel achy breaky.
I’ve completed my redo of my photography final, but the instructor threw in another twist. He added a research report due on Sunday. I’m supposed to find a photograph or photographer whose work has been taken out of context from the original intent. I’ve googled various phrases to try and find something.
I found an iconic photo of The Beatles with Muhammad Ali. The context is that it was during The Beatles first trip to the US after the Ed Sullivan show in 1964. Ali was known as Cassius Clay and he had an upcoming fight with Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston. Clay was 22 years old and not the famous person he would become. The Beatles wanted a photo with Liston but he refused. The Beatles publicist arranged the photo with Clay. Today, it’s a photo of some of the most famous people in the world. But back then, it was not.
I wrote it up, but I don’t think it’s really hitting the right note. Not so much out of context. So, back to research. If you have any ideas — I’ll be forever grateful!
Here are two photos with settings my photography instructor suggested. FYI, these aren’t part of my redo of my final project, just photos:
A Gila Woodpecker landing on the fence.
A House Finch on a cacti lawn ornament.
Any ideas for my research report?
What difference do you see with the new settings my instructor suggested, including the photo of Red above?
I’ve discovered a new place to sit for my bird watching and photography. It gives me a new view or perspective. Notice I’m looking up at the Gila Woodpecker on our fence, rather than taking the photo at eye level.
Here’s another photo I took where I’m almost level with a chipmunk — ground level so to speak.
Our house came with a sunken pool bar. I feel like I’m sitting in a bird blind, like hunters use to take their shots. Armed with my camera, it feels good to sit. Standing, I have a lot more motion taking photos. Sitting helps me get rid of motion blur. It also gives time for birds to get used to me and for me to be patient for some good shots.
My husband glanced out the window and thought I was sitting on a bar stool in the pool! He wondered what the heck I was doing to get a photo of Red.
No, I was comfortably sitting in one of these chairs, across the pool from my Bird Buddy feeder and where the birds come through the fence into our yard.
Isn’t it interesting how a new point of view or perspective changes your outlook?
Here are a couple photos I took this weekend, in my “bird blind.”
I was so excited with this photo that I went online to order a print. This is the first time I felt my photos were worthy enough to be hung on a wall. Next, is my second photo to be framed. Yes, it’s of Red, which I took last week.
Here are more photos taken from my new perspective:
Here’s Mrs. Red. I didn’t get good ones of Red this weekend, but the wife’s turned out well. I may have to get a print of the second Mrs. photo, too.
Here’s a Starling I caught next to a saguaro on the Bird Buddy feeder.
I spent most of my weekend getting the house ready for three guests who will be with us for a week. They are entered in the National Freshwater Spear Fishing competition in a lake nearby. Two of them were here a few weeks ago, scouting the lake for the competition. Our first guest arrived Saturday — after we were asleep — and left for the lake before we got up. What a perfect guest!
What were highlights of your weekend?
What do you think of my new perspective for photography and bird watching?
