H is for Hawk

Song - Bird On A Wire by KD Lang

Ever since we returned from Tahoe, I have been waking up with the morning sun.  To my delight it is a beautiful time to enjoy the birds.

The little Black Capped Chickadee.....

.....and the Oak Titmouse waiting his turn at the feeder......

.....several American Goldfinch's nibbling at my Salvia........

.....a grumpy looking Black Headed Grosbeak - that plops onto the feeder and chases all the other songbirds away......

And almost every morning I wake to a hawk calling but he seems too close to the house so I go out on the deck and spot a bird about the size of a Robin that is making this hawk-like noise.  But he is too small and does not have a raptor type beak. As he flies away, I notice the red feathers under his wings and realize that he is actually a Northern Flicker!

The next morning, I am ready for him with my camera.

 

Isn't he a beauty?

Love that morning light on him!

 (If you click HERE, you will open a new tab from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Then click on the top call - The Kyeer Call to play - doesn't it sound like a Hawk?) 

I also caught this little Hummer sitting patiently waiting for the sun to warm him up.

And yesterday afternoon, I spotted this Red Shouldered Hawk in front of our house.  A big guy with beautiful wings that I saw when he got tired of his "photo shoot" and flew away.

"Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings."  --  Victor Hugo

 

Take a Peek Outside

Song - I Dream of Spring - KD Lang



It is only February 2
and generally my garden
still looks like winter
but after a few days of sunshine,
nature is beginning
to awaken.



The Garden in Winter today.....but look closer...

Our Tulip tree

You must get close, very close to see the small changes going on.

The Climbing Hydrangea is beginning to bud

As is the White Lilac

A Dogwood bud

I like to put my Macro lens on my camera when I stroll around my yard. It forces me to pay close attention to the little details.

Usually the Quince is one of the first signs of Spring

 

Or the Snow Drops

And the Forsythia

 

The Grape Hyacinth surrounds my garden with little purple & blue suprises

 

An old Hellebore hiding under a fern in my shade garden


 

I love the scent of Narcissus - don't you?

The Daffodils will be out soon

Around the corner, in the bright morning sun, 

I smell something beautiful and I see my Daphne plant is in full bloom

 

Under planted with little sweet Pansy's

The Strawberry Madrone is beginning to bloom

And a little Sea Foam rose made an appearance today

Looking at the first photo of my Winter garden today, would you ever expect so much was going on?

"A single rose can be my garden, a single friend, my world." ~ Leo Buscaglia