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!

LINK

Ruffles

We are now hosting our very own Rufous Hummingbird. This little guy seems to have displaced Pierre, our beloved Ruby-throat, taking residence in the large crepe myrtle tree. Rufous hummers only winter in these parts, so hopefully Pierre will return when Ruffles migrates farther south. He's quite a character and we are enjoying his company however long it may be.

This is Ruffie's tongue. He may have been trying to catch an insect.

Showing off his green head.

Flashing his gorget.

LINK

Flora and Fauna, Part I

I thought you might be getting tired of my bird-centric posts, so this is my attempt to mix it up just a bit.

Jane Magnolia at my neighborhood entrance, 2/5/13

Oops, another bird. Sorry. Brenda the Barred Owl, Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/1/13

I think this is a swamp oak at Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/1/13

Noticed while on the levee photographing the eagles. The insect is a bonus. 2/5/13

Dried plants at Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/5/13

Not sure what is sprouting from this tree at Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/5/13

Downy Woodpecker, Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/5/13

The lizards are in abundance at Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/5/13
I think he's giving me the stink eye.

Rufous Hummingbird, Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/2/13

Bluebonnet Swamp Part III

I was finally able to get some halfway decent shots of the Rufous at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, my go-to place at the moment for lots of bird activity. There are a few dedicated volunteer birders at Bluebonnet that have graciously helped me find the hot spots, and for that I am very grateful.

Being coy perhaps?

Not the clearest shot, but I liked the colors in his gorget.

Still not as sharp as I'd like, but look at those little feet!

Meet Brenda, the resident barred owl. These were taken January 23, 2013. I so wish the light had been better and that she was sitting on a lower branch, but wildlife is wildly uncooperative. I saw both Barry and Brenda today and had several opportunities for good photos, however, the light was again uncooperative. If I had brought my tripod I probably could have done better. Laziness never pays off.

The titmice are super cute and super fast. Look at that faux hawk, big brown eyes, and tiny beak. Precious, right? They are also stealthy experts at getting seed from the feeder in 2 seconds flat. Thank goodness for high-speed continuous shooting mode.

Above my head I heard persistant clacking noises as though from a woodpecker. Imagine my surprise seeing this industrious titmouse jackhammering away at some sort of seed.

Wishing everyone a pleasant, fun-filled weekend! I am going to a bird watching expedition at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow. That's seven A.M. people! Hope I can hang, for I am NOT a morning person. I'll do it for bird shots, though.