Category: Birds

Green on Green

A Female Anna’s Hummingbird, Jamestown Beach

Typically, one goes to the beach to walk the shore, pick rocks or shells, or to see and listen to the waves crashing on the shore. But Jamestown Beach offers the best of the beach, as well as the woods, and this young female built her nest there.

Holding on to a branch she kept steady as I moved closer to her and surprisingly she didn’t blink an eye as I lifted my camera to focus to get this image. Those are times when I feel at one with nature and so eternally grateful for the solitude it provides.

Man in the Moon?

A Bald Eagle Makes a Statement in Front of the Moon

Our national symbol is often seen in many locations but until I discovered this one posing in front of the moon, did I really appreciate it as such.

Although not draped in the flag or singing the national anthem, his presence in this spot, in front of where mankind still chooses to travel, speaks to me about the importance of preserving nature here on earth as well as reaching for the stars.

Yippee!

A Juvenile Eagle Appearing to Leap for Joy

One never knows what to expect when visiting the Dungeness Landing, and so it was on this particular day.

We had friends visiting from Tacoma, and while showing them the local birding sites, we counted over 30 eagles at the Landing that day…yes! And because that was and is such a rarity, I think I captured over 3,000 pictures of them with this one being one of my favorites.

To me it signals the joy of spring, warm weather, and new life, and I couldn’t have said it any better than this delightful creature.

Pretty as a Peacock

A Male Peafowl (Peacock) in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC

Victoria is fabulous city and Beacon Hill Park, located in the center of the city, is one of its crown jewels.

In this park you will find any number of peafowl. Yes…male peafowl are referred to as peacocks, and female peafowl are referred to as peahens, but aside from that, these beautiful and people-friendly birds frequent the park, and as you might guess, visitors feed them, which undoubtedly brings them in.

The park is also a haven for herons, eagles, songbirds, waterfowl, human adults needing a break from city traffic and noise, and children seeking a petty zoo experience.

In addition to the above, you’ll find beautiful plants, flowers, trees, and fountains all in close proximity to downtown, Parliament and the BC Museum.

But the big draw for me is the birds. And I’m grateful that this particular one posed for me so beautifully. It’s a BC souvenir that brings me joy whenever I see and share it and I hope you enjoy it as well.

Townsend’s Solitaire

A Townsend’s Solitaire Perched on a Lichen Covered Branch

Tucked among the trees along the Levee trail in Sequim, this wide-eyed solitaire caught my attention immediately and rightly so since it was my first encounter with one.

Solitaires nest on the ground and love Juniper bushes as well as their berries, so I was very lucky to have spotted this one on a branch above ground and within range of my camera.

And although the Levee Trail has changed dramatically in the last few years, one thing hasn’t; the birds still find a suitable home there.

Another Pavarotti?

An Eaglet Exercising its Vocal Chords

Shrieking at the top of his lungs, this youngster not only commanded the attention of his nest mate, but that of surrounding birds – and humans.

In this neck of the woods, his shriek is pretty much unmistakable, and certainly not comparable to Pavarotti, but that profile certainly reminded me of the grand master, and I found the look on the face of his sibling to be as equally entertaining.

These two were nest mates on Marine Drive a few years ago and with any luck and given enough food, they stayed in our area to build their own nests and to raise their own families.

But as far as brotherhood is concerned, eaglets, unlike humans, pretty much leave their attachments to siblings far behind and focus on survival – and maybe due to all the noise…

Pretty in Pink

An Anna’s Humming Bird Feeding on Flowers

While photographing hummingbirds and songbirds at a friend’s house here in Sequim, I was told that planting Catmint is one of the best ways to attract these beauties. So if you hope to bring them to your backyard, consider adding this plant to your landscape.

And although I recently added Catmint, and planted any number of other flowering plants in an effort to increase my chances of attracting them, I find they’re more interested in my feeders than anything else.

So given that, I bring in my feeders when the plants are in bloom. That forces the hummers to look elsewhere and it helps increase the likelihood of me getting to photograph them on something other than a feeder.

And if you have a good way to attract them and you’re willing to share, please let us all know by making a comment.