I Spy With My Little Eye.....Sweet Birds

I've been on a number of walks since we have moved to Elbow, most of them training my new dog that we rescued from the SPCA in Saskatoon. I will have a post just about her I promise. Now during one of my walks I did manage to spend a few hours just watching the birds, there are so many kinds out here that are different from B.C. Some birds I know right away, but these sweet ones I couldn't tell you for the life of me what they could be. So if you happen to know what kind of birds these are I would love to hear from you :)))

Back On Line But Moved to Saskatchewan

Oh dear it has been awhile hasn't it, but I do have a good excuse as to why I haven't been posting. Our family has had a very huge change. We left the Island and B.C for a better life in Saskatchewan. My husband got offered an opportunity that we couldn't refuse and we took the bull by the horns shall we say.

It was a huge move for the family and we are still adjusting to the dramatic changes that have happened. I'm looking forward to the future with a much needed change and new start away from city stresses. For the first time since I was a child I can go out at night and actually see the stars outside, because where we live now there are very few street lights. So when it gets dark Wow it's dark outside.

Above are some lovely pictures that I've taken since I've moved here.

For Mom...Hummingbirds Do Bathe

Well this little series is for my Mom. About a week ago I was telling her that there was a female hummingbird who had taken a liking to my water fountain in the back yard. She laughed, but while I had her on the phone I said " Oh Mom I wish you were here the hummingbird is taking a bath in the fountain!!! I had never seen that before....she got all excited and wanted me to take some shots the next time I was outside reading. She didn't have to wait long because the next time I went out with my book there she was at it again. I hope you enjoy these cute little shots..not really based on quality, but rather capturing a moment in time watching a hummingbird take a bath.

Albino House Finch

Albino's beautiful but a mystery. I was out on mother's day when I heard some house finches in one of the trees just off the trail I was walking on. When I spotted the Albino Finch...at first I thought my eyes were deceiving me but after taking some pictures it became instantly clear at what it was. Genetics interesting subject really all it takes is one code to change in the DNA molecule and change occurs whether positive or negative. More leaning into the negative if you really research the statistics of it all. Genetics was one of my favorite subject and to this day still captures my mind to the endless possibilities that can happen in the DNA molecule. The Albino is one of them.

Male Versus Female Birds ~ Example The Peacock

I have always wondered why the male species of just about all varieties of birds in the world are the most colorful. It's not like that for the rest that live on this planet. You can't tell one Zebra from the next they all look the same. Consider the hippo is one better looking than the other??? No I would say their not. So why the difference in birds??? It's a quandary for me really and I find no logic in it at all other than the male must convince the female that they are the best and have the better genes to continue the line. Never the less their colors are extraordinary and amaze the senses. The way the males dance, prance and try to grab the attentions of the female are an art to watch. Male Peacocks are the most exquisite dancers and have a display of feathers that would knock your socks off. Nature at times can be mysterious....but even at that I love the fact that not everything is so cut and dry.

Bald Eagles and Blue Heron

Well I finally found a Bald Eagle....it's days like this that I wish I had an SLR with a 400mm lens. I feel though that the images I did manage to capture across the pond are lovely and I'm very proud of them. Took me a year and a half to run into these beautiful birds....and they stayed in the trees for a very long time. I also managed to get a spectacular picture of this Blue Heron....I definitely enjoyed my walk. Went home with a smile on my face an a lift to my steps!!!

The Call Of The Male Hummingbird

Today was a great day lots of sunshine and the calls of the male hummingbirds were everywhere. Not hard to find them at all today. This fellow was just in the meadow behind my house and I was extremely lucky I could practically reach out and touch him. No excuses for some great shots.

In the shot above I caught him having a great stretch!!

In this shot the humming bird was caught in a strong head wind and it took him a bit to land on the branch in front

Caught the beautiful colors of his head....the sun hit his feathers just right....lovely isn't it.

Finally his close up.....I had a great time taking these. Spring is definitely in the air.

Woodpeckers

One thing I have found the most challenging about taking photographs of birds is the fact that they are never still for a moment. I have been trying since I started my blog to get some decent pictures of Woodpeckers, Downey and Hairy Woodpeckers I think are the hardest to get. These two shots I managed to get in the UVIC Gardens. I've compared these two shots with others I've tried to get in the past....I've improved in clarity, but still have to work in the quality I think. My son Corey was watching National Geographic the other night and they had a special feature on woodpeckers all around the world. One interesting fact I learned was how the Woodpecker protects their delicate brains from the intense impact when they are drilling for bugs and burrowing into trees to make nests. Their tongues actually contract and circumference their brain to cushion the impact!!! Impressive I think so....I had always wondered how they could drill without knocking themselves out cold. Now I know why....

Ruby Crowned Kinglet ~ I Finally Found One

This Ruby Crowned Kinglet is a great find for me.....I knew we had them here but they are so hard to find. They love to hang out in the thick undergrowth. Last year I managed to get a picture of the beautiful Golden Crowned Kinglet which you can find in my past history. I have to tell you these shots where a challenge for me....one I tracked this male for over an hour to be able to get a clear shot of him. He only came out three different times to quickly grab a bug then just a quick head back into the bushes to my frustration. I tried my best to get a shot of the top of his head for you to see the beautiful red crown, but he just was too fast for me to get the shot. I'm hopeful that now that I've located their Habitat that I might find them again and get some better pictures of their beautiful head. Nothing quite like it.

A Rare Find!!! American Bittern

What a wonderful day it was here in the city. Lots of sunshine and plenty of birds to see, I really lucked out today I saw allot of species and managed to get some decent shots off. Of course I could have used a telephoto lens today to get the best shots off of this amazing American Bittern. This bird was at Swan Lake today, and very hard to get pictures of apparently. This bird is shy and doesn't like allot of noise or people for that matter. I would have missed this amazing bird if it wasn't for two birders already there taking pictures of it as well. I'm thank full for them both, because I don't see well they were able to show me where to look. Took me awhile to see the Bittern, the bird was well blended into the background.

Goldstream Park Part 2 ~ The Sands Of Time

Time what a precious commodity...like sand in an hour glass it just slips through your fingers so fast that you can't believe that it has slipped by you. I'm finding that now that I'm working two jobs...good intentions end up being put on the shelf for later. I've started a new job at the hospital I now work 8-1600 Monday to Friday, I'm in my second week there and I'm defiantly going through brain melt...it should subside soon though as things are starting to click in my brain with working between two data bases and 8 Excel spread sheets!!! Where I input data from one system into another. Wow!!!! allot to learn...but I've always been up to the challenge...just exhausting that's for sure. So since my new job is 90% Computer work now coming home and sitting in front of another one has not been a motivator for me that's for sure. For my post today I have finished my day at Goldstream for you...with I believe some lovely pictures of song sparrows and some scenic shots I hope you enjoy them.

Blue Heron Caught In Willow Tree

When I was at Beacon Hill Park the other day I spotted this Blue Heron in a Willow tree having a nap. It didn't take long for the Heron to wake up and I tried my best to get as close as possible to get a decent snap of this wonderful bird. I have in the past tried to get good shots of them, but my light wasn't very good or they were too far away for my camera. I'm happy with the shot I got of this magnificent bird. I went back to work yesterday...man was it hard after being off sick for a week. I got tired fast and easy and it was smokin busy. Life on a Surgical floor...Tonight I will catch up will all of you and see what you've been up too. Till then have a wonderful day everyone!!!

A Fresh Kill ~ Cooper's Hawk

Yesterday I couldn't stay in the house for 5 more minutes!!! I have been couped up in my house since Tuesday last week and I couldn't resist heading outside for a small walk. Was I ever rewarded!!! A Cooper's Hawk had just done a fresh kill. Please don't ask me why I was able to get this close, but I'm thrilled with the result I'm able to post for you today. The pictures unfortunately are in the wrong order...but I don't think it really matters. I left most of the gross shots out...the first shot is as gross as I wanted to get. Not appealing seeing a kill...but the beauty and power with this bird is breath taking and I wanted something this dynamic for my blog. Nature isn't nature without the realization that in order for some animals to live others must die. Sad yes I can't say I wasn't affected by this kill...I'm a very sensitive person so I felt it from beginning to end.