I put a birdseed block across from the pool bar yesterday. I enjoyed sitting quietly in the second chair from the left to wait and see what happened. I like hanging out to shoot photos of critters because I’m at eye level with them. They don’t seem to notice me when their appetite gets the better of them.
Here are photos I took from the pool bar, bird blind:
A mourning dove was the first to bite.
Then came a solo quail.
Pretty soon, the quail had friends.
Another quail shared the block.
Squirrel!
Red came into the yard a few times, but he’s been so quick it’s hard to get photos. Here’s two I managed to get:
I liked how the morning light hit Red’s crest and legs.
Here’s a profile pic of my handsome guy.
I hope you enjoyed my pool bar shots of dove, quail, squirrels and sparrows. Red too!
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?
I caught this Gilded Flicker hanging out in a tree.
Leaving for my morning walk these blue flowers caught my eye.
A view of the pool bar and waterfall. The swim up stools are on the other side of the countertop.
Walking past our house I noticed these flowers for the first time ever on the side of our house. It looks like bougainvillea and I’d like to plant more. I wonder where this one came from? Maybe it hasn’t bloomed before.
My husband said he’s noticed them. So I guess I’m in a fog while I start my walk.
I knew once my walk was over, I’d have to get out my camera and tripod to take pictures of the bougainvillea. But then I thought, why not try shooting things in the yard without the tripod. If the shots turned out fuzzy, I’d do the extra work with the tripod. I’m satisfied with my “freehand” photos.
Glass flowers by the fireplace. They glisten in the sun.
This tortoise is hiding in a corner of the yard.
The prior owners were into yard creatures. At first I thought they were tacky, but they’ve grown on me. Friends gave me a birthday present of pink flamingos from Costco. At first I thought those were tacky, too. But I put them in the yard with all the other crazy things. They fit right in.
The birthday present pink flamingos grace our yard.
A friend of mine from college went hiking with us when we first moved to Arizona. She stared out our windows and said, “You sure have a lot going on in this yard.”
Isn’t that the truth?
While I was writing this, a huge Harris Hawk soared into the yard. I yelled because he was after my quail. He flew powerfully overtaking a quail in flight. But I scared him before he caught one. He decided to hang out on our fence and survey the area. The quail all scattered into the brush.
I’ve tried multiple times to catch a hawk in flight with my camera. They take off so quickly and get hidden behind trees and brush. I have failed so far!
It’s so hot I’m taking my walks at dawn to beat the heat. The clouds are blocking the sunrise.
We’ve had a hot week and I’ve been swimming rather than walking each day. Our pool in the backyard is a nice temperature so I jump in and kick or swim. I swim laps at the Y a couple times a week too.
It’s weird not to walk every morning after not missing a day since I recovered from knee surgery.
The other morning I woke up at 4:45 a.m. and got out the door for a walk at 5:15 a.m. It was beautiful with birds singing, but I felt a little unnerved with coyotes howling nearby. It sounded like a large pack. I almost turned back to the house, but courageously kept moving on. I actually turned back momentarily only to discover the coyotes howling sounded near my home. Onward and forward seemed like the prudent choice.
Here are the photos I took during my early morning walk.
I love the colors of the mountains and desert in the early morning.A saguaro topped by a bird.I had been watching this century plant waiting for it to bloom. This was a sad sight.This was the century plant two weeks ago.
The oldest quail babies hanging out with their mom and dad in our pool bar. We have three families from wee babies to these teenagers.
If I wake up early enough to beat the heat, I go for my walks at sunrise. If I wake up later and it’s too hot — I jump into the water. Thankfully our pool gets a lot of shade during the day, so the water temperature is still cool.
What is your favorite way to start the day? How are you getting exercise?
A view of our backyard. You can find me most days across the pool on a zero-gravity recliner with a book.
The board meeting was a snap. I get so worked up over nothing. The people were kind. They were nice. I’m making new friends. I now know what’s going on in the neighborhood with landscaping, pickleball and budgets. The people were appreciative that I volunteered with another woman to continue the newsletter. My newsletter partner is making my job easier. She has lots of ideas and gathers information for stories.
Without us stepping up, the newsletter was going to stop.
I finished it in a few hours after the meeting. I’ve emailed it to be proofread and to get feedback. I’m very happy with it. Pleased in fact.
Now I have to wait for the Board’s approval. I’m not anxious anymore. I’m relieved it done.
It’s good to get out of my comfort zone once in awhile. Especially, when I’m getting too comfy on the couch or chaise lounge reading and not wanting to leave the house.
My daughter told me that it’s not normal to worry as much as I do. She said I need therapy.
In any case, I’m very happy and relaxed today. Feeling fine. I’ve beat my husband two days in a row in ping pong, too.
If you missed my post yesterday about losing a night’s sleep being a worry wart, you can read it HERE.
Huge thanks to my son. While I was taking care of him post surgery, I worked on the newsletter (getting everything done except for the Board meeting news). He said, “I love newsletters and doing layouts. Can I work on it? I never get to anymore.” (FYI, he helped with their swim team newsletter and was in charge of the website while in high school.) He put in two hours changing the standard Apple Pages template into something unique. Thank you dear son! They love your work. I couldn’t have done it without you. You know you’re on the hook for each issue, right?
Why do you lose sleep — or do you? What’s the biggest worry in your life right now?
