05-JUN-2016
Plymouth Rock
Nope, not the traditional site of the Pilgrims' landing on a rock at Plymouth, Massachusetts! Rather, this is a Barred Plymouth Rock chicken, a pretty fellow, I think. It was standing near the sidewalk when I walked by and seemed to pose for me. What could I do, except shoot a picture?
06-JUN-2016
Aerial Acrobatic Expert
I learned that this is a Violet-Green Swallow. The Violet-Green Swallow has dark eyes mostly surrounded by white, Emerald green crown and back and glossy purple wings and rump. It is a gorgeous small bird That summers in the Northwest. As with all swallows, they are true expert aerialists, but without any tightrope or other apparatus. They perform their aerobatics in the open sky, like the barnstormers of old, as they feed on flying insects using acrobatic twists and turns. I was fortunate to see this one at rest in Delta Ponds, as they are usually on the move.
07-JUN-2016
Not For the House
This is a Male House Finch, seen at Delta Ponds. I don't know where they got the name, but I don't think you would invite them to live in your house. :) On the other hand, you can easily draw them to your backyard feeder!
Information about the House Finch:
•House Finches frequent city parks, backyards, urban centers, farms, and forest edges
•The House Finch was originally found in the western United States and Mexico. In 1940 a small number of finches were turned loose on Long Island, New York, after failed attempts to sell them as cage birds (“Hollywood finches”). They quickly started breeding and spread across almost all of the eastern United States and southern Canada within the next 50 years.
•The oldest known House Finch was a female, and at least 11 years, 7 months old when she was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in New York in 1985, the same state where she had been banded in 1973.
08-JUN-2016
The Iris in Art
The Iris is probably the second most painted flower in art, after the rose. It is certainly lovely to look at, a delight to the eye! The Iris will add elegance to any garden.
"The Iris in Art"
"The iris has probably second place as the favored flower in great art. After the rose, which is surely No. 1, irises appear in paintings by Leonardo daVinci, Durer, Renoir, Cezanne, van Gogh, (whose famous painting “Irises” set an all-time auction price in recent years, selling for over 53 million dollars), Gauguin, and of course, Claude Monet."
"Irises also have a medicinal history, the roots being used in preparation for medicines for skin infections, syphillis, dropsy and stomach problems. Today, it is still a drug widely used to purge the liver."
09-JUN-2016
Camas Field
I have been offline for a few days with computer down. It is good to be back. I saw this field of Camas just off N. County Farm Road in Eugene and thought it was pretty. Hope you do too!
10-JUN-2016
Come on, sing me a song!
I loved the pose of this pretty little song sparrow. And the lighting was really nice, adding to the bird's appeal, especially the way it added a highlight in the eye. I really like the result and hope you do too.
15-JUN-2016
In Just the Right Light!
When I saw this Big Leaf Maple bud standing out in all its glory in the most beautiful direct light, I just had to photograph it. The P900 was the only camera I had with me, but it came through for me very well! I love all the wonderful detail in the shoot.
16-JUN-2016
Slowly Moving In!
This is a Red-eared Slider turtle seen at Delta Ponds. They are 'slowly' moving in and we see more and more of them there. The Pond Turtle is the native species and seem to be losing out to this newer resident.
About the Red-eared Slider: "It is the most popular pet turtle in the United States and is also popular as a pet in the rest of the world.[2] It has, therefore, become the most commonly traded turtle in the world."
"It is native to the southern United States and northern Mexico, but has become established in other places because of pet releases, and has become an invasive species in many areas, where it outcompetes native species. The red-eared slider is included in the list of the world's 100 most invasive species published by the IUCN."
17-JUN-2016
Glad to Meet you!
This is a very friendly guy I met at Delta Ponds. He was with a friend who told me his name, which I quickly forgot! Anyway, it did look like he was glad to meet me. I was convinced of it! He willingly slobbered on me! And the funny thing is I said smile as I was about to shoot the picture! He looks like he understood. :) He's a dog I would love to have!
18-JUN-2016
Drawing Flies
Can you see the flies on this Pond Lily bud? I see three of them! :) I didn't know that the flower would grow on such a long stalk, but I see examples of this in photos online. So I guess it is just something I hadn't seen before. Anyway, I want to go back and see it when the flower is fully in bloom. I saw this Pond Lily at Delta Ponds.
19-JUN-2016
This Could be an Oldtimer!
I didn't realize that small birds could be fairly long lived. Then I read the following website and learned that a male Spotted Towhee, like this one, was recaught and released in California was at least 11 years old at the time!
"•The oldest recorded Spotted Towhee was a male, at least 11 years old when recaught and rereleased during banding operations in California.
•Geographic Variation Nine subspecies show weak to moderate variation. The Oregonus subspecies is the darkest, evidently what we have in Oregon.
•Status and Distribution: Common. Some populations are largely resident; others are migratory. The most migratory subspecies is arcticus. Resident south to Guatemala. Subspecies are oregonus (Oregon to British Columbia), falcifer (coastal northwest California), megalonyx (coastal central to southern California), clementae (certain Channel Islands); arcticus (Great Plains), montanus (Rocky Mountains), falcinellus (south-central California to Oregon), curtatus (primarily in Sierra Nevada), and gaigei (resident in mountains of southeastern New Mexico and western Texas). Migration: fall primarily September–October; spring March–early May; earlier in Pacific states than interior. Vagrant: subspecies arcticus is casual to East."
20-JUN-2016
Aerial Acrobat
I love Cedar Waxwings. They are beautiful birds and marvelous flyers. In summer you’re as likely to find them flitting about over rivers in pursuit of flying insects, where they show off dazzling aeronautics for a forest bird. That's what some of them were doing when I saw them at Alton Baker Park. Once in a while they would land on the bridge rail, giving me a chance to get some photos.
Cedar Waxwing Adult ID - Sometimes ragged brown crest, Black mask, white on forehead, Yellow belly, Unpatterned wings (sometimes with red tips to feathers)