Nature Study

Birds and blooms pt. 1

I’ve seen a few birds out and about lately. We’ve had a return to some chilly, overcast, damp weather that hasn’t been conducive to venturing into the great outdoors, but whenever possible we’ve tried to get out and enjoy some sun.

I’ll save the blooms part of my title for tomorrow — after I learn more about ferns. But here are some of the birds I’ve seen…

 

Male wood duck. My wood duck pics are almost always blurred for some reason, but this one comes close to focused.

 

I thought this might be a female red-winged blackbird, until...
...it squawked, revealing itself to be an immature male. Even dull-colored birds are beautiful with their feathers spread.
Here's a mature male, brightening an overcast landscape.
Female junco, hung out to dry.
Neighborhood Pavarotti.
Mockingbird -- best look I've gotten at one.
And then it flew away...
Yellow-bellied sapsucker. He pounded all day, trying to attract a female, and listened carefully for response...
"Anyone? Anyone?"

Older Daughter drew a cartoon of him in his lovesick spring state of mind.

I hope he found someone. We saw this female a few miles away. Maybe she came at his call.

There’s more to our schooling than nature study. Really there is. It’s just not as photogenic. India under the Moghuls, calculating the volume of rectangular objects, doubles-plus-one facts, lists of prepositions, dictionary skills, readings, and writing assignments just don’t seem… like subjects I care to revisit in this space. But the endless array of creatures around — new ones, and familiar ones appearing in new lights — are a different story. So many varieties, and so much to learn.

3 Comments

  • DebD

    I loved Red-Winged blackbirds…I just wish they made a prettier call.

    We had a beautiful red-headed woodpecker in the yard yesterday but he was much too fast for me to get a photo. Hopefully, he’ll come back soon and I’ll be quicker with the camera

  • Amy

    Well, I for one (though I know there are more!) am so glad you share your discoveries with us! I like the new black blog background, too!

  • Janet

    Thanks, Amy. I like how photos look against the dark background, and the type seems pretty easy to read with this one.

    Deb, I’d love to see a red-headed woodpecker. We have some downies and hairies, and a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers I’d love to photograph in flight. No luck so far, though!