Back Yard: Northern Flicker

I've been wanting to do some back yard bird photography. The rain finally broke this afternoon and I went out to see who I could find. The first bird to catch my eye was this northern flicker. Later I found his or her nest in a nearby tree.

In the Trees

Edwin B. Forsythe NWR also has a wooded area. I stopped for a bit on my way out and got a few photos of the birds frolicking there. Including the orchard oriole, a new bird for me.


Catbird



Orchard Oriole



Some kind of warbler

Common Tern...I think...

Each time I visit Edwin B. Forsythe NWR it seems that a different bird steals the show. Today it was the common tern. (lets consider that an estimated identification) I spent A LOT of time photographing these cute, busy fliers. I missed out on hundreds of awesome shots because I'm too slow with the manual focus. (See my tumblr blog for one that did work out.) But these give you a good idea of what was going on.

Delphinium at Mt. Cuba Center

Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve

Lots to see today at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. The bluebells were just passing their peak and still very beautiful. The redbud and dogwood trees were stunning and the ground was speckled with many other beautiful wildflowers. And the sky...well, it was amazing, full of big lofty clouds and brilliant blues! A beautiful day. Now if only I could lose that sensation that little things are crawling on and biting me. Is paranoia a symptom of limes disease?? (which as far as I know I don't have but since the dog has it... I'm SOOO glad we don't let the dog sit on the couches, cough, cough.)

Flowering in the Wild

One of my favorite things about this area is the abundance of items flowering in the wild. This spring has been quite brilliantly colored. Driving through neighborhoods azaleas burst with unlikely colors, competing with the equally intense flowering trees. It's like living in an Easter basket, almost a little too much. But in the wild, well I just have a weakness for tangled up bunches of stuff. And what's not to love when those tangles include flowers.

Lilacs!

Through the Branches

Happy Easter!

Ruddy Ducks

These cute little guys are Ruddy Ducks. I'm so sad that their bills won't turn blue here on the east coast. I guess they only do that during breading season which happens out west somewhere. But they sure were adorable hanging out in New Jersey at the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR.



Keep an eye on those feet!

In the Tulips

It was just too beautiful today to stay inside. We ventured out for a walk at Longwood Gardens. A beautiful day and beautiful flowers, what more can you ask for?

Swarthmore College does spring!

I drove by Swathmore College on the way home the other day. I just had to go back to take some pictures. These are all different trees and one bush.

Osprey at Edwin B. Forsythe NWR

Watch Out!

Whenever I go to Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge I drive up to the specially constructed fee depository. Today I diligently wrote down my license plate number and deposited my $4. Returning to the car I looked up and saw this guy watching me! He was REALLY close. Scary close considering how big those claws are!!!

Rainy Days

More nail holes and zip ties on tap for today. I have big plans to do some outside work soon, both in the garden and artistically, but today looks like rain. So instead I'm looking forward to a lazy day of pounding holes in canvas while watching old movies.

Context is Very Important!

Late Tuesday night I put my hand in my jeans pocket and pulled out this note.

The first time I read it I didn't think anything of it. In fact I took it with me because, having given instructions to someone else, I was NOT going to hang my work myself and I didn't want there to be any confusion.

But the second time...

Hideout

Judging by the droppings this is a favorite hideout for deer. LOTS of deer. Probably the same deer that shared the Lyme's disease with our poor beagle. Soon it will be impassible to humans. But until then I'll sneak around with the camera.

Hobbies

How many times do you need to repeat the same activity before it's considered a hobby? I'm not sure but I think I've exceed it in the category of "taking pictures of my family in front of the paintings I made for them." You know, that category. It's wildly popular... Somewhere... Whatever, I like it. It's my hobby.

Objection

This was the site that greeted me yesterday morning. I love the snow, but let me tell you, I'm done. The snow was NOT good to me this year. I slid off the road enough times to develop a healthy fear of mailboxes. Of course, the new tires made a big difference, but snow and me, we need to spend some time apart. I'm thinking 7 or 8 months will do it. I'm sure by then I'll be ready to repair our friendship. After all you don't break off a relationship of 39 years just because of a few rough, or rather slick, patches.

Surging Ahead

We stopped by Great Falls National Park in Maryland recently. Lots of rain and melting snow caused recent flooding and the water levels were still pretty high. There's something about rushing water surging over rocks!

I've been laying pretty low lately, not many images to share, but yesterday I had a big break though in the studio. Could be some good things are about to happen. I'm working on a canvas version of the boxes (see previous post). I think I'm going to put it together with zip ties so today I'm going to try my hand and putting some gromits in the sides of the boxes. Sounds like fun right?

Mucking Around

Mini Blog Exhibition 1

I keep images I like in my "screen saver" folder. I've decided to curate them into mini blog shows. Today's exhibition starts with an image by artist Nichola Kinch that might be my favorite sculpture ever.

"The Other Side of the Mountain" Nichola Kinch

STEVEN PARRINO, Universal Mafia, 1992, Enamel on canvas, 72 x 103 inches

Arlene Shechet