Frequent Flyer

Song - Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band

New Year's morning we woke to the shrill of hawks calling to each other.  Some were far away in the valley and some were in our own backyard.  I looked out from the deck and saw this guy in a dead tree down our creek.  His tail looked like a raccoons.

He let me get quite close but kept and eye on what I was doing.  After about 40 photos, my bare feet were beginning to freeze to the ground but one second later another hawk flew into a nearby tree. They are Red-shouldered Hawks and smaller than a Red-tailed Hawk.

She was a bit smaller than the first hawk so I am assuming this one is female and the first is a male.

He watched her as she called to him and then they both flew away together.......how romantic to start 2019 off with a whirlwind romance!



"If you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans." 
--Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

In Flight

Song - Fly Like an Eagle by the Steve Miller Band

Titmouse

Right after I took the photo in my last post (of Baby Huey - the extra large baby Mourning Dove) my beloved camera died.  Just stopped working - suddenly.  I had two full batteries and I tried them both but she was a goner. 

Female House Finch

I was devastated and felt lost.  It's like going somewhere without a purse or cell phone.  You know you will survive but it's a little unsettling.

Crow

So last week I knew I would have to take it to our local camera store to be repaired - it took me three days to adjust to the idea of being without a camera for awhile.  The man at the store was very helpful and quoted me repair prices and length of time I would be "camera less". 


SIX WEEKS! 

Chickadee

But right now I can hear you saying "But Jeanette, how did you get all of these photo's that you are inserting in your blog?" Well......

American Goldfinch

......the helpful camera man told me that for just a few dollars more than the cost of the repair, I could get a whole new camera body that all of my old lenses would fit on. 

Yes!  They were having a SALE!

Green Hummingbird that is imitating an Oak leaf

Be still my heart!  You mean I could walk out of this store with a new working camera? 


What a concept! 



A store that sells cameras!!!

A Hawk that was chased up into this tree by that little Hummingbird!

Now I have to tell you that part of me felt guilty, as my old camera was only four and a half years old.  And it feels very un-ecological of me to not repair my ailing camera but then I would of had an outdated camera that still had a lot of worn parts.  Kind of like putting a new engine in a 1967 Volkswagen - there are still other parts of the car to be considered. 

Titmouse & House Finch

Weighing all of this information while holding a bright shiny new camera was a little like holding a new puppy.  Hard to put down (maybe just one more sniff of puppy breath).


I was a goner......

Forgive me world - I purchased the new camera!

You WHAT?

Yup, I did. 

I could hardly wait the three hours to charge the new batteries before I could start rapid firing my new partner in crime.


And I have to say, I am loving her!

THE END