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Late one afternoon I watched my resident Allen’s Hummingbird go through a stretching routine as he preened in the last rays of sunlight. Seemed he was happy that day… and so was I 😅
(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/1000 @ f/8, ISO 4500, edited to taste
…is a few minutes of their time each day
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This morning, I went out to check on the Western Grebe family at a local wildlife preserve. I was surprised to see the mother feeding a feather to one of her young! This behavior is actually quite common among grebes. They often eat their own feathers while preening, which then line their stomachs. This feathery lining can help protect their digestive systems from sharp fish bones. Eventually, they regurgitate the feathers in a pellet along with the bones and other indigestible bits.
Western Grebes are almost always in the water, where they dive for prey or rest on the surface. They can disappear for long periods during dives.
Setting off crisp black-and-white plumage with a yellow bill and red eye, the slender Western Grebe is an elegant presence on lakes and ocean coasts of western North America. Along with its close relative, the Clark’s Grebe, it’s renowned for a ballet-like courtship display in which male and female “run” across the water in synchrony, their long necks curved in an S-shape. These water birds rarely come ashore, instead taking long dives to catch fish and other aquatic animals.
The oldest recorded Western Grebe was a female and at least 11 years old when she was found in Minnesota, where she had been banded.
(Nikon Z8, Nikor 600/6.3, 1/1250 @ f/8.0, ISO 450, edited to taste)
Yesterday's rain sent me on a photographic quest for dewy roses. Instead, my lens found this stunning Morning Glory, as if it were waiting just for me. It was a truly delightful morning.
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A bit of Information on the Morning Glory.
"Guilt by association" often leads to unfair judgments, even in the garden. Consider the tomato, long thought poisonous because it's related to some toxic plants. Similarly, many gardeners wrongly dismiss the lovely morning glory as a weed. This misconception arises from its common name shared with a few invasive species. Yet, positioned correctly, the morning glory is a truly attractive and beneficial addition to any landscape.
(Nikon Z8, Nikon 100-400/5.6 +TC 1.4, 1/1000 @ f/9, ISO 2500, texture by Kathleen, edited to taste)
I'm not referring to my favorite childhood TV show about a crime-fighting rancher with a plane. While "Sky King" was a beloved icon for many in the 1950's, especially in the aviation community, that's not the King I'm talking about.
I'm talking about the Peregrine Falcon, the fastest animal on Earth. These incredible birds typically cruise at 25-34 mph, but when they execute their hunting dive, known as a "stoop," they can exceed 200 mph—even reaching speeds of 240 mph! To achieve this breathtaking velocity, they tuck their wings and streamline their bodies. They even have specialized cones in their nostrils to protect their lungs from the intense forces at such high speeds.
(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/1000 @ f/8.0, ISO 720, edited to taste)
A wonderful and incredibly colorful feathered friend is exploring my yard this morning. There's nothing quite like the vibrant beauty of a bird gracing your yard to brighten the day.
I know he looks hungover, but actually I caught this Allen's Hummingbird preening after a run through the sprinklers.
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Allen's Hummingbird:
The Allen's Hummingbird, a vibrant spectacle of copper and green, signals spring along the Pacific Coast. Males are particularly dazzling, flaunting brilliant reddish-orange throats as they perform intricate aerial displays for females. These elaborate shows involve swinging in broad arcs, then soaring high before diving back down with a sharp, distinctive squeal produced by their tails. While many spend their winters in Mexico, some Allen's Hummingbirds remain in Southern California year-round.
These remarkable hummingbirds breed within a narrow strip of coastal habitat stretching across Oregon and California. Interestingly, males and females opt for different environments during this crucial season. The male establishes a territory in open coastal scrub or chaparral, prominently perching on exposed branches to oversee his domain. Females, however, once mated, seek out denser thickets or forests to build their nests and raise their young.
The Allen's Hummingbird is an exceptionally early migrant among North American birds. Some northbound individuals begin their journey from wintering grounds as early as December, arriving on their breeding territories by January. This early arrival coincides perfectly with the abundance of flowers brought forth by winter rains.
Like other bird species, Allen's Hummingbirds cleverly use their feet to regulate their body temperature. When facing cold conditions, they tuck their feet against their bellies while in flight to conserve warmth. Conversely, when temperatures climb, they let their feet dangle, allowing for efficient cooling.
These tiny, resilient birds can also be surprisingly long-lived. The oldest recorded Allen's Hummingbird was a female, at least 5 years old when she was recaptured and rereleased in California in 2009, five years after her initial banding in the same state.
(Nikon Z8, 100-400/5.6, 1/1600 @ f/8.0, ISO 2800, edited to taste)
On a recent visit to the Eastern Sierra, I spotted this Handsome Chap enjoying a bit of breakfast in the morning light. We made eye contact and then went on our separate ways. It was a delightful morning !!
The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel:
Often mistaken for a least chipmunk, the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is distinguished by a larger size, more robust body, shorter tail, and stripes that do not extend onto the sides of the head.
They are found at all elevations in rocky areas, edges of mountain meadows, forest openings, tundra.
The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel's diet consists of fungi and leaves of flowering plants; other foods include buds, seeds, nuts, roots, bird eggs, insects, and carrion.
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels hibernate from October to March or April. Breeding occurs shortly after both males and females emerge from hibernation; one litter of five young per year.
Saw this little guy this morning, a feathered blur of a bird clutching an a bit of treasure as he zoomed past.
Who says acorns can't fly? The Acorn Woodpecker is proof that with enough caffeine and dedication, anything is possible.
These birds are basically feathered hoarders, living in huge groups and stuffing thousands of acorns into tree trunks for a rainy day. Gotta admire their commitment to a good snack.
(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/2500 @ f/6.3, ISO 8000, edited to taste)
(Best viewed large)
Seems most of us have, at one time or another, been faced with the prospect of Scratching Out a Living…
🎶 Boss keeps a screaming
The phone won't stop a ringing
Working like a farm truck
But nothings ever good enough
Gotta get some me time
Don't need another frown line
I'd Johnny Paycheck 'em fast
But lord knows I need the cash
Hands on clock are barley even ticking
Scratching out a living 🎶
“Scratching Out A Living” by Emily Ann Roberts
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The California Towhee:
California Towhees scratch the dirt as a primary foraging method. They are ground-feeding birds, and about 70% of their diet is found by rummaging through leaf litter and soil.
This scratching behavior is often referred to as the "double-scratch" or "two-footed backward hop." They lunge forward and then quickly hop backward, kicking with both feet to displace the leaf litter and expose the seeds, insects, and other food items they are looking for.
Their diet consists mainly of seeds from various grasses and plants, but they also eat insects like beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, especially during the breeding season. They will also eat berries and acorns. This scratching technique is a highly effective way for them to uncover these food sources.
California Towhees are essentially large sparrows, with a sparrow’s short, rounded wings, long tail, and thick, seed-cracking beak—but towhees are larger and bulkier. The long tail and short wings can give this bird an ungainly look in flight.
Few birds are as uniformly matte brown as a California Towhee, except for a rusty patch under the tail (called the crissum, giving the bird its scientific name) and around their bill. Males look the same as females.
California Towhees hop or run on the ground but tend to stay close to the protection of low shrubs and trees. When not foraging they may perch on shrubs, rooftops, and backyard fences, to sit and chirp for long periods. In flight they look out of practice, using lots of wingpower to travel short distances.
(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/1600 @ f/8.0, ISO 2000, edited to taste)
2023 Photo 180/185 It's fully summer now, and a hosta blooms in a pot on the front deck. ©2023 John M. Hudson
Ce gros-bec casse-noyaux est une nouvelle espèce ajoutée à ma galerie Flickr.
Merci de votre visite et de vos commentaires. Ils sont très appréciés. Bon mardi à tous !
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This hawfinch is a new species added to my Flickr gallery.
Thank you for visiting and for your comments. They are greatly appreciated. Happy Tuesday everyone!
...Too Little and Too Much
- Finnish Proverb
Spotted flowers growing curbside during one of my trips to the beach. Out came my camera for a quick shot.
The Common Poppy, Papaver dubium, is a variable annual, growing to about 60 cm in height. It generally flowers in late spring to mid-summer. The flower is large and showy.
The flower stem is usually covered with coarse hairs that are closely appressed to the surface. The capsules are hairless, elongated to more than twice as tall as they are wide, tapering slightly at the tip, with a stigma generally less wide than the capsule.
(Nikon Z8, 180-600/6.3 @ 510 mm, 1/800 @ f/8, ISO 560, edited to taste
2023 Photo 188/177 Tooth Barkington the cairn terrier, aka The Tooth, has been busy on the living room sofa snuggling up to Mama as she recuperates from major abdominal surgery. There is no that the love of a devoted terrier is helping to speed healing. c.2023 John M. Hudson
#little_nurse_dog #little_monster #rat_patrol #canicula_invictus #mighty_bitey #the_bad_dog_in_a_good_dog’s_body #obnoxiousteenager #bigbadtooth #littlebigtooth #MrT #T_Wrecks #TERRIERANYSAURUS_WRECKS #thetooththewholetoothandnothingbutthetooth #toothbarkington #tinyjawsofdeath #happylittlemonsters #cairnterrieristshaveweaponsofmastication #pterrieranadon #terrieranysaurusrex #velocirapterrier #pawsofdestruction #razortoothterrier
Le Rouge-gorge familier est un oiseau au comportement solitaire et territorial.
Merci pour vos regards , favoris et commentaires qui sont très appréciés.
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The European Robin is a solitary and territorial bird.
Thank you for your looks, favorites and comments which are very much appreciated.
My thoughts today are with those who are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Helene.
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The Black Phoebe:
The Black Phoebe is a dapper flycatcher of the western U.S. with a sooty black body and crisp white belly. They sit in the open on low perches to scan for insects, often keeping up a running series of shrill chirps. Black Phoebes use mud to build cup-shaped nests against walls, overhangs, culverts, and bridges. Look for them near any water source from small streams to suburbs, all the way to the salt-sprayed rocks and cliffs of the Pacific Ocean.
Although it mostly eats insects, the Black Phoebe sometimes snatches minnows from the surface of ponds. It may even feed fish to nestlings.
The male Black Phoebe gives the female a tour of potential nest sites, hovering in front of each likely spot for 5 to 10 seconds. But it’s the female who makes the final decision and does all the nest construction.
The oldest Black Phoebe on record was at least 8 years old when it was recaptured and released during banding operations in California.
(Nikon Z8, 600/6.3, 1/800 @ f/8.0, ISO 800, edited to taste)
Il m'a fallu de nombreuses heures d'observation pour prendre cette photo de ce martin-pêcheur, qui a finalement décidé d'attraper ce petit poisson.
Merci pour votre visite, vos favoris et vos commentaires.
Je lis chaque commentaire attentivement et ils me font très plaisir.
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It took me many hours of observation to capture this photo of this kingfisher, which finally decided to catch this little fish.
Thank you for your visit, your favorites, and your comments.
I read every comment carefully, and they make me very happy.
2023 Photo 183/182 From the Blue Ridge Parkway's Pine Tree Overlook in Virginia I watched a lot of weather activity on the evening of July 2, including shafts of rain from a passing storm partially obscuring Sharp Top up at the Peaks of Otter and a stroke of lightning hitting over near Bedford. 2023 John M. Hudson
La Pie-grièche écorcheur est un de nos plus jolis passereaux.
Le mâle adulte est facilement reconnaissable.
Son manteau est d'un châtain clair vif.
Le dessous est nettement saumoné.
Voici une nouvelle espèce qui a rejoint ma galerie Flickr.
Merci pour votre visite, vos favoris et vos commentaires.
Je lis chaque commentaire attentivement et ils me font très plaisir.
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The Red-backed Shrike is one of our most beautiful passerines.
The adult male is easily recognizable.
Its coat is a bright light chestnut.
The underparts are distinctly salmon-colored.
This is a new species that has joined my Flickr gallery.
Thank you for your visit, your favorites, and your comments.
I read every comment carefully, and they make me very happy.
A common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) sitting on our Golden Barberry. A 4-image, handheld focus stack.
PLEASE: Do not post any comment graphics, they will be deleted. See info in my bio.
Ce fut une merveilleuse rencontre en 2025 avec cette chevêche d'Athéna et son regard si particulier…
Merci pour vos visites, vos favoris et vos commentaires tout au long de l'année, ils sont grandement apprécié.
Je vous souhaite, ainsi qu'à vos proches, un joyeux Noël et de bonnes fêtes de fin d'année.
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It was a wonderful encounter in 2025 with this little owl and its very distinctive gaze…
Thank you for your visits, favorites, and comments throughout the year.
they are greatly appreciated.
I wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Première rencontre magique avec la chevêche d'Athéna.
C'est l'un des plus petits rapaces nocturnes de France.
Sa tête est aplatie avec un front bas, ses yeux sont jaunes sous des sourcils blancs froncés, ce qui lui donne un air sévère.
Merci de votre passage, de vos mises en favoris et commentaires.
Je lis attentivement chaque commentaire et ils me font très plaisir.
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First magical encounter with Athena's owl.
It is one of the smallest nocturnal birds of prey in France.
His head is flattened with a low forehead, his eyes are yellow under frowning white eyebrows, which gives him a stern look.
Thank you for stopping by, for your favorites and comments.
I read each comment carefully and they make me very happy.
One morning I spotted a Peahen and her chick foraging for breakfast at a local park. I managed to snap a quick shot when the chick turned around to check me out. Then mom and chick ducked under a fence and were out of site. It was a good Day 😉
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The Peacock:
Peacocks and peahens (known as peafowl) are members of the pheasant family. Although most people call them all "peacocks," the word really only refers to the male bird - male peafowl are peacocks, female peafowl are peahens, and babies are peachicks!
The peacock has some of the brightest feathers and one of the most impressive courting displays of any bird in the world. The Indian peacock has very flashy plumage, with a bright blue head and neck, but the Indian peahen is a drab, mottled brown in comparison. The male needs his bright feathers to attract a mate, and the female needs to be able to blend in with the bushes so that predators cannot see her while she is incubating her eggs.
The peacock’s back and belly have iridescent feathers in a scale pattern. But the thing that the Indian and green peacocks are best known for is—not the tail! These peacocks have a long “train,” which most people think is their tail. Actually, those long feathers are the male's tail coverts, or the feathers that cover the base of the tail. The train is covered in ocelli, which are round spots that look a lot like shining eyes.
When a peacock is in his second year, he grows his first train, but it has no ocelli and is not as long as a full-grown male’s. The train gets longer and more elaborate every year after that. At about five or six years of age, it reaches its maximum splendor.
Indian peafowl have a range that includes India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka; while green peafowl are found in Southeast Asia. However, both species follow a certain routine every day. They roost overnight in large groups in tall, open trees. That way they are safe from predators during the night, and the males can travel through the branches.
Peafowl forage on the ground each day for grain, insects, small reptiles and mammals, berries, fig, leaves, seeds, and flower parts.
Peahens have a big job: they raise their chicks all by themselves. The peahen makes a scrape in the ground and lines it with sticks, where she lays three to eight light green or tan eggs. She sits on them almost constantly for about four weeks.
Peachicks are able to walk and forage on their own right after they hatch, but they are very vulnerable. It takes two weeks before they can flap up into a tree for safety, where they crowd on both sides of their mother and are covered by her wings.
At four weeks, the young grow crests, and at two months they look just like their mother (both males and females) but are only half her size. It is not until their second year that the males achieve their mature coloring. Out of every six chicks that hatch, usually only two survive to join the rest of the group.
(Nikon Z8, 600/6.3, 1/1600 @ f/6.3, ISO 11400, edited to taste)
Comme tous les corvidés, le Geai des chênes ne chante pas, mais son répertoire vocal est très riche et il n'hésite pas à crier la plupart du temps.
Le geai est capable d'imitations parfaites, la plus célèbre étant celle de la Buse variable.
Omnivore, il se contente le reste du temps de graines, ou de glands.
Glands dont il est très friand et qu’il entrepose à la belle saison dans de multiples cachettes en prévision de l’hiver.
A cet effet il possède sous son bec une petite poche appelée « poche de peau » dans laquelle il peut stocker jusqu’à 5 glands.
Je lis attentivement chaque commentaire et ils me font très plaisir.
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Like all corvids, the Eurasian Jay doesn't sing, but its vocal repertoire is very rich, and it doesn't hesitate to scream most of the time.
The jay is capable of perfect imitations, the most famous being that of the Common Buzzard.
I read every comment carefully, and they make me very happy.
Hope I've got the identification of this Duck correct. Let me know if I made a mistake.
Male Redheads are a dapper mixture of cinnamon head, black breast and tail, and neat gray body. Females and immatures are a plain, mostly uniform brown. Redheads have black-tipped, gray bills, and in flight they show gray flight feathers.
Redheads flock together on lakes and other bodies of water but migrate in pairs, which are formed in December or January through elaborate courtship rituals. Unpaired redheads migrate together in a “courting party” that can be up to 25 individuals strong, enabling them to find a mate within the group.
The pair bonds are established yearly through a long courtship process. Males begin this process through neck-kinking and head throwing displays while emitting a cat-like call. If interested, the female produces inciting calls towards the male while performing alternate lateral and chin lifting movements. The male then swims ahead of her and turns the back of his head towards the female. Once courtship is finished, the two birds are paired for the year. The male initiates copulation by alternating bill dipping and preening dorsally towards the female, upon which the female may return to the male.
Redheads breed mainly in seasonal wetlands such as the prairie pothole region of the Midwest. In migration and winter they group into large flocks on the Gulf Coast, as well as along the Great Lakes and in lakes, reservoirs, bays, and along coastlines across the southern U.S.
(Nikon Z8, 500/5.6, 1/500 @ f5.6, ISO 560, edited to taste)
2023 Photo 172/193 Still looking for the right setting for a commissioned landscape of the Maury River running through Goshen Pass in northwestern Rockbridge County, Va. There was more water after a couple of days of rain, but not much of a sky and none of the fog that I was hoping for. Still, this isn't such a bad photo if one concentrates on the river rocks, the trees and the reflections. ©2023 John M. Hudson