Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Iris and April

Tuesday was the only day available to me this week to check out the barred owl situation at Bluebonnet Swamp since it was closed on Monday and rain is expected for the rest of the week. I'll start with what I saw as I left the swamp and save what I saw at first for last. :)

These irises were clumped together near a small pond at the entrance. There were several little boys lying around the perimeter, their arms buried in water up to their shoulders, trying to catch crawfish. A worker at the center had to keep them from picking the irises and using the flowers as bait. The imagination of little boys is too cute!




Meet April! 
She first appeared from the nest on Monday, April 1. (Please note that I do not name any of the wildlife at the swamp myself―my birding buddies are in charge of that.) We don't know if this is a boy or a girl, but I guess because he/she appeared on April Fool's Day, the name seemed appropriate. April is so small that my camera's AF has trouble zeroing in, perhaps because of all the fuzz and surrounding leaves and limbs. There were three of us with different models of Canons, and all had a bit of trouble in that regard. Therefore, not my best work, but at least you get an idea of what we're seeing from several hundred feet away and about 30' up. Hoping another babe emerges soon, as Barbara and Barry usually produce two.
I'll be working from home Thursday and Friday, so my blog visiting may be a bit sporadic. Thank you all for your kind comments and visits. It really does brighten my day!


54 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

adorable baby barred!!! SO cute!!!

TexWisGirl said...

also meant to compliment you on those gorgeous iris photos! :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photography of irises and that little bird is adorable ~ ^_^

hootnonny said...

A wonderful surprise! Love the irises!

Amy Burzese said...

Those flowers are fantastic. And that little April is the cutest thing I've seen in a while. Kudos.

Anonymous said...

Beeeautiful flower, love the vibrant colors - April is a precious lil babyl! =)

Anonymous said...

OK I'm going to have to get with the master! My pics don't come out like that!! Teach me ..Grasshopper is ready to learn some tricks... April is precious btw. Big hugs on this cold LA day...what happened to spring???? xoxo

Cynthia Schelzig said...

What stunning shots!!! Just gorgeous!

Gone Country said...

Awe, what a cutie pie April is! And those Iris shots... stunning!

Phil Slade said...

Well we'll all watch with interest for sure Gail and I wouldn't mind betting there's more where that came from. What is amazing is that they leave the nest so early - advantages and disadvantages. Like the name you guys chose but it wasn't difficult was it? Hope she is a girl or we need a new song a la Johnny Cash.

HansHB said...

Great flowers! Lovely colours!

Anonymous said...

those iris' are delicious and that little teeny owl is adorable!

Buttons Thoughts said...

WOW your photos always get me every time. That Iris is beautiful and the fuzzy owl is adorable. I love the names:) B

Lisa Gordon said...

Gail, your irises are absolutely gorgeous, and what a precious little one, April is!

Suzan said...

Beautiful Irises and adorable April!! Really - the flowers are so sharp and HD!! Bet it has been fun to watch April grow!

Stephanie said...

The Irises are glorious! Beautiful pictures, Gail, and April is precious :) Thank you for sharing your gift of photography with us.

Hugs to you,
Stephanie

Patrice said...

It's great to see little April!

Karen @ Pieces of Contentment said...

The hatchling is a cute little ball softness! LOVE you iris photos Gail - amazing definition, colour and light.

Chatty Crone said...

The little bird was so beautiful as well as the flowers - I see a lot of God's handiwork there. sandie

EG CameraGirl said...

Love the irises and the owlet. It sure looks so cheerful in your part of the world right now.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Wow! Those irises really pop in your photos. I think the second one is my favorite, but they're all gorgeous. And the owlett...so precious. As for the name, I guess "April" is a nicer name than "Fool." :)

Unknown said...

What an amazing capture of that little gal/guy. And your iris shots are gorgeous.

I do love visiting here to see your photos..

Hugs~

Karen said...

Loving the iris!!! Cute baby owl too.

Anonymous said...

Oh, so precious! And that iris...oh, so beautiful!

Brian King said...

The flowers are gorgeous! Wonderful color. That owl is just a little fuzzball! Very cute!

Anonymous said...

Holy smoke -- wow-- you are blessed to capture this sweet tiny thing.. April is a fine name.. I had a hard time focusing on the blue bird I trying to capture a few days ago and so it's not a very good photo at all but I did see my first blue bird and it's a thrill - I can believe you were thrilled to capture April.. way to go -- awesome photos..
Hugs

Anonymous said...

Okay now == I want to comment on your flower photos..gee whizzzzzzzzzz gorgeous shots..the richness of the color shades are stunning!!
Today these are my favorite photos...
Hugs

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Oh the baby! Hi April!

Hootin Anni said...

Y'know, in all my days, I've never tasted crawfish. Okay...now back to your post. That April is just too precious for words!!! Adorable. And of course your photo is topnotch. Oh those iris, be still my heart. Such vividness and once again, your photos are sooooo beautiful Gail!!!

Don't work too hard.

Anonymous said...

Wow wow wow - how beautiful!

rainfield61 said...

And your Iris has brightened my day.

Happy working.

Charlotte Wilson said...

YOu and your friends have been so blessed to see this sweet baby! And your irises are gorgeous!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

April is so beautiful!! Can I adopt her and keep her?? :)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

The owlet is so perfect. Delightful. And I love the iris. My daughter's favorite flower so it is very special to me too.

beth said...

you make me feel happy and spring like.....thank you !
xo

renae said...

Oh Gail!!!!!! Baby April is adorable. I showed HM and he was so taken by your photo. My HM loves wildlife, natural habitats and such. He should be a Birder but his eyes and a camera don't work. He has the oddest vision. He doesn't wear glasses for distance at all but up close in a camera is zilch. Poor dude. He would love it. We have doves and quail in our neighborhood and he feeds them!

Thank you sweetheart for your compliments on my outfits and such. I just learn from nature. hahahahaha, not really. I learn for other fashion bloggers and magazines and Pinterest all rolled up together. Oh and my ydd is great at it. She doesn't have patience for a blog. FB nearly drives her insane as it is. hahahahaha. She coaches me, a bit at times, too.

renae said...

I have to come back. I read Tex WizGirl's comment as I was leaving and yes, I meant to say those Iris's are A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!!!!!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love the Irises,but April takes the prize in cuteness.

Nancy said...

The beauty of that precious new life just gives me chills....And what do you say about the Iris but they are gorgeous.....

Donna said...

I adore April...so precious. And those iris make me long for spring blooms that are just starting...can't wait to see these same iris in my pond.

renae said...

Oh yay Gail! I am inspiring you? Oh that is so nice to hear. Above all else on my posts, I aim to inspire. YOU JUST MADE MY DAY!!!! Happy hunting down the cutest clothes ever, okay?

I still have to stare at your iris photos here. = BEAUTIFUL!

momto8 said...

what gorgeous photos! wow. Gods creation is amazing!!!

Evelyn S. said...

I haven't been visiting any blogs the way I should, so I missed the baby owl post. How wonderful! That fuzzy little thing is precious. As for the (Dutch?) iris---the color and focus is truly fantastic, Gail.

Jori said...

Stop it! Too much cuteness for my eyes!! That baby is completely adorable! What wonderful photo's!! The iris are absolutely stunning! Happy weekend!!

Cloudia said...

Thank you for these lovely captures of my absolutely favorite flowers.




ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° > <3

A Creative Grace said...

That first one is amazing Gail and the little April is cute as anything!

Hilary said...

Oh my.. your iris images are just stunning. Oh but that wee barred just steals my heart. What a fuzzy little snookums!

Rambling Woods said...

oh lovely color and cute cute owl..thank you Gail...hugs..Michelle

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Stopping back to say congrats on your POTW!

Tabor said...

Congrats on your POTW. I have owls in my yard...but can never find the nests. I envy you very much.

TexWisGirl said...

yay on another POTW!

Merisi said...

Gorgeous flowers, color and light, just what one dreams about on dreary winter days! Adorable little baby owl.

Congratulations on Hillary's Post of the Week Award,
cheers,
Merisi

Unknown said...

That iris is stunning - it could/should be made into a postcard!

Rosie Grey said...

Aaaaww! Welcome April!! This is so wonderful, Gail, such a lovely surprise to put at the end of your photos! And the irises are stunning - I love that vibrant color! Thanks so much for bringing this beautiful world on my screen!