View allAll Photos Tagged birding
My thoughtful wife recently ordered some new types of bird food and feeders for me. Yesterday morning I spent some time placing them in a new location within the back yard that should allow me to get some closer shots with them at the feeder, and then once the weather gets better, I can place myself between the feeders and the woods to get some hopeful tree shots as they come in closer for their inspections of the "food".
Within three hours of setting things up, got some nice first visitors to the new digs. One of the new stands here looks all nice and pretty. This guy quickly took up the post position, following perfect form as presented by the metal model there :))
Really liked this lighting and the details that it afforded me with the capture.
I'd just got back from the dentist this morning and walked in the house and looked out the back door to see these birds sitting on the fence...they got scared and hid in the snow!! Woke up to 3-4 inches of white stuff! Ewww....bad roads!!! Sam said the birds are Quail.....or Grouse....I think Grouse!! :)
I spied this bird out my kitchen window. As weak as I am on my flower identification, I am even less of even an amateur on bird types.
For now, this is a RHGB (Read Head Gray Bird), as opposed to the assortment of LGBs (Little Gray Birds).
Tuesday 02 May 2017: Sangda (3710 m) - “Last Pass” (4425 m) - Phalyak Pass (~4315 m) - Phalyak (3175 m)
6am special delivery from Val - a chest infection combatting beverage, which turned out to be ginger and honey plus one of her oregano capsules (with their very menthol-like aroma). Very effective.
No more eggs (we’d had some pretty much every day on this trek), so spicy potatoes and two types of bread - puri and chapatti. Pack lunches were handed out - tibetan bread, cheese, butter biscuits, dried apple rings, dried papaya and A Mini Snickers!!!
Very bright out so more photos before we set off straight up the hillside above our school camp, joining the trail (avoiding the road) up to a cairn which brought stupendous views back to the passes and the Dhaulagiri Massif behind us, north and south to the snow clad peaks and ridges that create the gorge of the Chalung Khola, and east to the Annapurnas.
Magic ... until Sam and I got told off for going too fast, which put me into a contrary mood for the rest of the morning.
Contoured round the hillside below the road, joining it for a section at the snout of snow coming off the snow covered range to our south. I think we all caught the sun on our right sides from the snow glare there. We continued on along the road, winding along the mountainsides getting ever-improving views to the east…
The traditional “plank” photos and prayer flags at the official "Last pass" (a somewhat underwhelming cairn at the side of the road), followed by a grotty stretch of mud and shale porridge that put me into an even worse mood, which was a shame as the route was really rather marvellous.
I perked up when we reached the end of our high altitude valley, and Phalyak Pass: stunning views over the Kali Gandaki (गंडक ) Gorge, from Annapurna (लोमान्थाङ) to Mustang (मुस्तांग) - north to the red and ochre pinnacles of Upper Mustang and the valley of Lo Manthang (लोमान्थाङ), straight ahead and south the long, long range of mountains - Annapurna II (7937 m) and IV (7525 m), Annapurna III (7555 m) and Gangapurna (7455 m), Annapurna I (8091 m), a Nilgiri (maybe) and Tilicho Peak (7135 m); the Thorong La (5416m) easy to spot, and the green, green pools of crops and orchards around the villages of Kagbeni (कागबेनी) and Muktinath below. Just wonderful.
A super descent, getting greener all the time, with a particularly steep section down into a narrow waterfall gorge where the snow still lingered in the shade. Easy going - accompanied all the time by the amazing views - to the final cairn pass at 3710 m, which brought magical views of Annapurna and Phalyak village surrounded by fields and orchards, with a river flowing through it on its way to join the Kali Gandaki. Val reckoned the village was at least 3 times bigger than on her last visit 10 years ago. We could see the yellow domes of our tents pitched on a rooftop near the new “fort”.
Juniper bushes, purple and magenta primula, yellow gorse brightened up our route as we zig zagged between sweeps of the road, making a speedy descent towards Phalyak. Pasang met us with a kettle full of orange squash and metal cups - thirsty work.
The day was still bright as we stumbled along the rock-strewn road into Phalyak, up a side lane to our “hotel”, and up a steep ladder staircase to our rooftop tents. Next door, an orchard of apple trees in blossom. Veg noodle soup was served in the dining room soon after our arrival, followed by tea and biscuits. Extra veg in the soup from Phalyak’s market gardens.
Zonked out in the tent to the tune of horse bells (and occasional dog barking) until dinner, a feast of fresh veg in coconut milk sauce with pasta, custard with preserved mango for pudding. Bed soon after. Yes, another night of sporadic sleep thanks to cough and snot - plus too hot!
Our last night under canvas :(
Read more on SparklyTrainers: Val Pitkethly's Dolpo Expedition 2017.
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This is an Amakihi. A native Hawaiian bird. It is sitting on a blooming Sandlewood bush at Hosmers Grove park on Maui. All natural light and PS changes to the background.
Je ne m'y connais pas du tout en oiseau... Photo prise sur le sentier du littoral. Rimouski.
I know nothing about birds...
Version noir et blanc: www.ipernity.com/doc/rpdaoust/34592977
This pillow is a gift for my friend, Cindy B. The embroidery pattern is from the book, Little Birds.
A bird caught in wires. Lucky Peak Nursery, Boise National Forest. Forest Service photo by Sean Dahlman. OCt 28, 2018
Nov. 29. I was originally inspired by an illustration, but it just hit me as I was editing, how similar to the pigeon lady on Home Alone 2 my 'story' is becoming, and the fact that I haven't showered in a week. Please read the part of which I most relate to. (while not judging me too hard, I have feelings, sue me...and also, I want to say Kevin is wrong. What the hell does he know about love or anything? ..psh rollerskates.. you'll see what I mean, just read)
Bird Lady: The man I loved fell out of love with me. That broke my heart. When the chance to be loved came along again, I ran away from it. I stopped trusting people.
Kevin McCallister: No offense, but that seems like sort of a dumb thing to do.
Bird Lady: I was afraid of getting my heart broken again. Sometimes you can trust a person, and then, when things are down, they forget about you.
Kevin McCallister: Maybe they're just too busy. Maybe they don't forget about you, but they forget to remember you. People don't mean to forget. My grandfather says if my head wasn't screwed on, I'd leave it on the school bus.
Bird Lady: I'm just afraid if I do trust someone, I'll get my heart broken.
Kevin McCallister: I understand. I had a nice pair of Rollerblades. I was afraid to wreck them, so I kept them in a box. Do you know what happened? I outgrew them. I never wore them outside. Only in my room a few times.
Bird Lady: A person's heart and feelings are very different than skates.
Kevin McCallister: They're kind of the same thing. If you won't use your heart, who cares if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it'll be like my Rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won't be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose.
Bird Lady: Little truth in there somewhere.
Kevin McCallister: I think so. Your heart might still be broken, but it isn't gone. If it was gone, you wouldn't be so nice.
I wonder what this bird is thinking of by looking at me !!
Thank you for your comments on the picture above.
When there are no bugs and the birds are close enough to be photographed. Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo). Heavily cropped .
Golden Naped Barbet. ID credit: Jasnnie Mark Jainol.
Up Close with Nature: orionmystery.blogspot.com/
I went outside and thought I'd see if the birds would eat out of my hand. They did. Probably at least 20 or so (until my arms got tired). I laughed so much my cheeks hurt. My cousin took the pics.
Sorry for being so far behind. I was in Houston for two weeks and just returned late yesterday.