My weekly potpourri gathered from the archives features... Looking back, as I did last month, when I reviewed my photos from a single month in the past to see how far I had to get into the month to find all five of the memes featured in this page. I will try for two for each theme, and since Critters occupy such large share of my portfolio, I removed a limit on my faves in this category, as spring is in the air! This post features February, 2012. I reached my goal by the 16th of the month. So much to look forward to this month! CRITTERS: First look at baby Bald Eagle, February 2, 2012 Cattle Egret, February 5, 2012
Sandhill Crane. February 5, 2012 White Peacock, February 16, 2012: The eaglet is growing up rapidly (February 17, 2012):
Eastern (Yellow-eyed) Towhee arrives, February 29, 2012, my "half birthday" which comes around only every 4 years (can I get any longevity credit for that? This is only the second time in my whole life that I will be 50% on my way to 80 years old-- the first was when I was 40): The Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are feeling amorous, February 29, 2012 (can't wait to see them nesting next month!):
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS, ________________________________________________
FENCE: Mary Lou on Chapel Trail boardwalk, February 2, 2012 Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa).
________________________________________________ SKYWATCH: Tree Swallows, February 13, 2012 (yes. I kept my mouth closed!) Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy ________________________________________________
REFLECTION: Double-crested Cormorant, February 13, 2012 Motled Duck, February 15, 2012 Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James ________________________________________________
Also: Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart ________________________________________________ Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display ________________________________________________
The morning was clear and the air was still over the lake, just before sunrise: A female Belted Kingfisher flew by. The light was poor but I tried to bring the photo back to life: The shadows lengthened: On our local wetlands we occasionally hear, but seldom see, my favorite woodpecker, the crow-sized Pileated Woodpecker. For two days in a row, just after sunrise, as I was watching for eagles on the peninsula on the lake in the wetlands I spotted two. The Pileateds were roosting on a dead pine that protruded high above the densely packed Melaleucas, about 0.3 miles (~480 meters) to the north of my position. Yesterday they simply disappeared before I approached about halfway. This morning one stayed high in the tree as I closed the distance. Although I was out in the middle of the gravel road, in full view, I walked slowly without swinging my arms, hoping the woodpecker would stay in place. Suddenly an adult female White-tailed Deer moved in from among the shrubs that bordered a small field on my right. I stopped and she stared at me, trying to identify me. I too stopped, and waited while one, then another yearling appeared from the shrubbery: The third deer had an opaque cornea and obviously was partially blind:
She tilted her head to look at me with her good eye:
I edged to the right, hoping that if the deer fled they would pass right in front of me. They did move in the direction of the guard rail that will one day border the temporarily abandoned and unfinished highway. The deer then took turns jumping over the rail! (If the video does not appear in the space below CLICK HERE)
After getting great shots of them jumping, I continued to move towards the woodpecker. It was still in the tree, a male, as evidenced by the red line over his "mustache." Suddenly he seemed to realize that I was looking at him and he took flight. Then I heard the typical slow and loud drumming and I knew it was from their favorite site, an older power pole, so I crept towards it. Sure enough the male was there. I could not get a clear shot as he was partly obscured by the wires. He did not stay long. On my way home, only one door from the house, two more woodpeckers provided a splendid bonus photo-op! This is the male Red-bellied Woodpecker on a tree next to the sidewalk, showing all possible views of his head:
________________________________________________ Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display ________________________________________________
