Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Ruby and friends

Happy Wednesday, y'all! Before we begin I have a little update on the bird that I saw in the cemetery on my mother's birthday. (I almost typed birdday...obsessed much?) The bird I saw that day was the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. What's so amazing about this discovery is that my mother's favorite color was red―specifically ruby-red. That I saw this particular bird when I asked my mother for a sign brought me to tears when I finally made the connection (I first thought it was the Acadian Flycatcher, but a bird friend corrected me). Now I envision my mother up in heaven with rubies in her crown. :)
I tried so hard to get the perfect shot of this Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but these guys flit around faster than gnats.
My goal was to get the red crown on the head. This was the best I could do. Sigh.

Brown Thrasher


He was gorging greedily on suet.

I think this Rufous is giving me a little lip.

I rounded a corner and heard high pitched shrieking. I barely got this shot of the wood ducks
fleeing for their lives. Seriously, they made terrifying sounds as though in a horror film.

Another Eastern Phoebe

Red-tailed hawk (?)

Cedar Waxwing

Downy Woodpecker

Thanks to Stewart for hosting!

56 comments:

The Cranky said...

These are beautiful captures Gail; and so many of them you don't see around here!

beth said...

the patience you have to capture what you see is astonishing !! thanks for sharing that special bird with us....i love his "red."

and i like happy bird-day :)

xo

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Great shots Gail!

rainfield61 said...

Those birds look sometimes like a think.

Do they think too much?

Tricia said...

Wow! These shots are great, Gail :)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I have never seen a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I love Brown Thrashers! I used to see them all the time when I was younger.

Karen said...

Wonderful captures! That Phoebe is darling.

hootnonny said...

Awesome images, Gail. Your mom w/ a ruby crown is so sweet!

Evelyn S. said...

Your bird images are so wonderful, Gail! I can only imagine you trying to capture the Kinglet's darling red crown. I love the hairy woodpecker, too. Actually, as I said initially, your bird photos are so good!

TexWisGirl said...

the kinglets are such tiny things! so glad it was special to you. :)

love the thrashers! wish i saw them here! remind me of mockers.

and you can post a phoebe every single day if you like. adorable!

Rosie Grey said...

What a wonderful story, Gail, and your photos are amazing as always! Love them all!!

Anonymous said...

So many great shots! I always said cemeteries have great birds.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Oh Gail.................speechless every picture is so perfectly beautiful. Amazing.

What were the wood ducks fleeing from?

Lisa Gordon said...

What a wonderful story, Gail, and he surely is a cutie. I just love the little Easter Phoebe though. So tiny, and so precious.

Happy day to you!

Anonymous said...

They're beauties, but the Ruby-crowned Kinglet is exceptional, Gail!
The Phoebe still makes me giggle & I love how the ends of the Red-tailed Hawk's wings turn up in flight & those Cedar Waxwings are sooo smooth looking, like skin, not feathers!

Phil Slade said...

Those kinglets are the US equivalent of our European Goldcrest Gail, always on the move and never giving a chance to me with a camera in my hand. It was a good attempt and the following shots of the Brown Thrasher certainly made up for any disappointment you felt.

Linda said...

Hi Gail, your photos are really beautiful!

Ruth Hiebert said...

The Kinglets are almost impossible to photograph.This at least shows some of the red. The Red-tailed Hawk picture is amazing.

Anonymous said...

Love that splash of ruby red. These are all wonderful!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Love the image of your mom in rubies. Beautiful shots!

HansHB said...

Lovely bird-post!
Well done!

Anonymous said...

What great captures you have had on such a special and emotional day! Nature does tend to soothe the soul. Big hugs, xoxo

Suzan said...

I'm always so surprised that you're able to get the smaller birds at all since they zip around and are constantly on the move. How wonderful that you "listen"! You're blessed!

Amy Burzese said...

With a bird I always look at the eye first to see if it is sharp. You do a great job.

Patrice said...

Another WOW post - I'd love to go birdwatching with you sometime. You've got a great eye!

Brian King said...

Lots of great birds! I've seen the little Kinglets before, but have never photographed one. Same for the Thrasher. Love the hummingbird and hawk! I think the hummingbird is giving you some sass! :-)

Pat Hatt said...

Wonderfully captured, seen many here, but never took a picture I fear.

Anonymous said...

noW that's a sign our loved ones must be watching over us!! fantastic captures1

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots, Gail. The little Ruby-crowned Kinglet is an adorable bird.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Only someone with a vivid imagination could call that little red marking a "crown," but you did manage to capture the color in your photo. What a great picture of the red tail on the hawk. We see them all the time around here, but...for me anyway...it's very hard to distinguish the red tail. Love the brown thrasher photos, too. He was much more cooperative than the Kinglet.

Unknown said...

I so loved seeing all your birds today! The story about your Mom made me teary and your Rufous Hummingbird comment made me laugh! Thanks so much!

Dave said...

Great captures!They are so colorful, I especially love the Wood Duck

Dave said...

Lovely bird pictures Gail - Dave

Stewart M said...

That Brown Thrasher looks like a good value bird! And I think if the hawk is not a red-tailed then it should be!

Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW.

Stewart M - Melbourne

PS; one of the (many) things I like about WBW is trying to work out what the birds are from thumb-nails.

eileeninmd said...

Gail, great collection of birds. I love the cute Kinglet and the Thrasher is cool. Cute hummer, I am looking forward to my RT HUmmer to return. Great shots!

Rajesh said...

Very beautiful birds.

Unknown said...

I Think your ruby-crowned kinglet looks perfect. I love the shot you got. What a beautiful sign. Once again I have to say your photos are amazing. LOVE them.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Just divine photography ~ all them ~ birds are lovely!

Thanks for your comments ~ slow to respond (had flu bug)

Anonymous said...

More fabulous bird shots!

renae said...

Oh Gail! Thank you for your nice words.

I know, I have a thing with Quail and my brothers passing. My cousins have a thing with a Robin and their Mom's passing. I love stuff like that; that God reassures us with his most obedient of species; the birds.

HAVE A FABULOUS DAY, GIRLFRIEND!!!

Anonymous said...

Gail your update about the ruby red connection to your Mom touched my heart.
These birds you so beautifully captured are awesome. I love them all.

Charlotte Wilson said...

So glad that you got your sign from heaven. Your array of birds is amazing. I never see so many different kinds of birds in my back yard. Finches, robins, wrens, doves and starlings. None of the exotic ones that you have photographed so beautifully.

Deanna said...

Again, gorgeous captures. You are the queen of bird photography!!

Jori said...

You are the best bird photographer ever! Love the first shot especially!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Gail I am imagining your Mother with Rubies in her crown too Hugs
Beautiful pics. B

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

Ruby looks amazingly cute and you can see that little bit if ruby red too - she/he is my favourite!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

I loved seeing the images as well as reading what you wrote, for I live in KY and I could hear your Southern accent working in;') I know what you mean about a sign from heaven...one day I may share about my momma passing over and the fragrance of Gardenias...her fave flower that came after she had passed away. Beautiful Thrasher images...all of it was just great~

Elisa N Viajes said...

Great shots!
Nice to meet your blog
Elisa, from Argentina

Reena said...

Beautiful captures Gail! Loved the thrasher. I chuckled about those ducks making such a fearsome racket.

Tammy@Simple Southern Happiness said...

That was a blessing to to see the Ruby Kinglet, I so hope it did your heart good. Sometimes GOD knows we need some physical blessings and he sure sent that bird. Just like when I needed something and I went on the porch last summer to spot that small Katydid on my plant. Its GOD's way of a delightful distraction from our troubles.

Keeping you in prayer!
Hugs to you.

Dianne said...

you are so talented in capturing these photos!!

Dianne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hootin Anni said...

Hawks, are so difficult to ID [my opinion]!!!

But the story behind the Ruby Crowned just blew me away!! Wow. I think I'd have fallen to my knees in prayer and awe if that happened to me! That is an omen, and a good omen at that. Wonderful. I'd have that photo enlarged and framed. Just saying.

Have a glorious weekend.

Justine said...

oh my goodness I envy you your birdlife! these are such amazing pictures and what patience you have

Rosemary Aubut said...

Gail I can only hope that you are putting these great photos into a book??? I would buy it for sure. Check out blurb.com it is a great resource!

Cindy said...

Beautiful story about the Ruby Crowned Kinglet. I'm so happy you got your sign. Awesome photos.