Thursday, December 31, 2009

Joie de Vivre!


My New Years Wish to all ... Joie de Vivre! A wish to enjoy whatever treasures of life you may! I was in my studio in December when I looked out my window and saw "something" on a neighbor's dock. I had my camera and leaned out to try a few shots. Not the best, it was a long view of 3 of my most favorite animals ... otters. (2 on the dock, 1 in the water under the dock) What animal could exhibit the Joie de Vivre as much as the otter? Energetic, playful and smart! They rob our crabpots and our fish nets, and even when we have no catch to offer they eat their own catch on our dock steps and leave remains. You have to love them for their Joie de Vivre!

Red bellied woodpecker


My pecan loving woodpecker.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Feels like Sunday


With holidays, the typical flow of the week is lost. This little one may have the same feeling as the weather has played against those out to collect her, Sunday being her only day of rest.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Buffie trio


Three female buffleheads, one on a dive.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Taking flight


A cormorant takes flight on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Live Oak with Hummer


Our winter hummingbird way atop a live oak. Not much bigger than a single leaf.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Sapsucker


A female Yellow bellied sapsucker woodpecker.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Good things in small packages


Here she is just a couple days ago, our winter hummingbird. She is spotted almost once a day, drinking sugar water and on sunny days flitting about the live oaks. We fret when she is not spotted and rejoice the next day when we see she is still around.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Golden-crowned Kinglet


The crown is gold and reddish and seen in flashes of color as the busy Kinglet searches for food.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

December Bluebird


Catching some sun on an otherwise cold day.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tool, cont.





And so she flew off to another tree with her pecan and began rapping again. She flew away and left behind you can see the pecan placed in another tree hole.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Use of a tool?






I spotted this Red bellied woodpecker after hearing some loud and plastic sounding rapping. She was first spotted in the crotch of a tree and soon I saw what she was attacking ... a pecan! She was using the tree as a holder. More evidence tomorrow!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Leaves and Birds


Vine leaves and sparrows are silhouetted against the cold evening sky.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Young eagle


From earlier this year, a young eagle passes overhead. The blue sky is a contrast to the grey/white of today due to another coastal storm.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Forsythia nest


Tucked up into a Forsythia bush, this nest most likely held Mockingbirds.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Camelia


The bloom is so nice, in color and form.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Fogged in


The fog was pretty thick earlier this week.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Snow Geese


A flock of calling Snow Geese pass overhead.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Dreary Day Wren


The Carolina Wren on a recent cloudy day.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Ode to Catbird


I was concentrating on a woodpecker, when this pretty thing flew up out of the brush.

'C' is for Catbird
Feathered in a
Parson's gown,
That hides beneath
the Scarlet down!

(original poetry, Faune 2009)

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Ring Necked Pheasant


Not a native bird, the pheasants are released by nearby shooting clubs. Some make their way across the marsh and are seen along the edge of a wood or a road. Could a bird be more fanciful? The colors and patterns are a fiber artist's envy!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Warming Doves


Brrr! The freezing temps this morning gave everyone a slow start. These Mourning Doves are fluffed up against the cold.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Exposed


Leaves are gone, but the trees still surprise. This is a good time to spot nests. I found this one high up in a crepe myrtle tree. I suspect it belongs to a Brown Thrasher.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Just One More


Just one more Robin photo, just one more berry?

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Green tomatoes


Wish we could let them vine ripen, but the threat of a freeze forced the picking of the nicest tomatoes. Eating fresh tomatoes from the garden in December seems fair, as we'll have to wait until July for the next ones.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Evening Robin


The Robin perched in a hackberry tree. The hackberry (sugarberry) tree provides food for many. The trees were loaded this year and even after the strong storms there are still berries to be had.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Winter Robin Trio


Three Robins vie for perch positions near berries.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Winter Robin


One of a flock of robins and grackles that were spotted yesterday feeding on berries.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Honeysuckle


Today's chill is a contrast to yesterday's warmth. Wild honeysuckle is blooming! Even my forsythia bush has been tricked into producing a few flowers.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Buffleheads


The water level has been quite high due to all the rain and the temps have been on the warm side for December. May be two reasons why no ducks are here. So from January here's a shot of some 'Buffies.'

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

October tree frog


Another pretty frog.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

November tree frog


A pretty brown tree frog dangles on a nandina bush.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Kinglet


Itsy bitsy, the Ruby crowned Kinglet is a regular cold weather visitor. The male has a touch of red on the crown of his head. This Kinglet is in the same live oak tree as the Hummingbird from yesterday ... you can see from the leaf size how tiny the Kinglet is.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Hesitant(?) Hummingbird


I have a Hummingbird hanging around. I was sure all my summer birds were gone, so I suspect she is passing through. Accounts of winter hummers in Manteo have been written.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Pied-billed Grebe


Too cute! This little one in winter dress is often seen diving along the causeway.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Oh, Canada!


The White Throated Sparrow is one of our early winter residents. He sings of his summer home in Canada.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Count your Blooms



This tropical Turk's Cap bush is loaded down with red flowers; little Spanish dancers on a green stage. A frost will kill it to the ground, so we feel lucky to have the blooms in late November. The plant will come back next year from the roots.
I read that it is also known as the sleeping hibiscus, as the flower petals do not open.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Eat your greens


A peek into one of my cold frames, full of a peppery mix of greens. These baby greens make a great salad or sandwich topping, a great fresh treat in the colder months.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Cactus bloom


Another dreary day. Let's brighten it up with a cactus bloom. I think the Christmas cactus bloom is just as pretty as an orchid .

Monday, November 23, 2009

Magnolia pod


I love the detail and the color in the magnolia pod.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Napping on the Currituck Sound


Two Ruddy's take a nap in the sun last November. The sound was soft and still just like the recent pre storm days. It will be hard to find a day like that from here on throughout the winter.

Friday, November 20, 2009

And the cormorant laughed


A small group of local mallards and a couple cormorants dress up a pier.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Song Sparrow Deux


Temperate weather: great for opening windows, getting that walk in, cleaning up from the storm and taking a little time to spot the birds.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Just Ducky


This pretty little Ruddy scoots along on quiet afternoon. You can spot her foot tucked up along her body.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Nor'easter on Currituck Sound


Most of the rain has passed, but the winds are still here and now they are truly nor'east. I took a quick walk out on the pier and it's rough. Here's a shot of the sound about 11 am looking south east and yes, that's a tough little Ruddy surfing the waves!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Just Yesterday on the Currituck Sound


It's blowing a gale today, white caps are rolling in from the east. But yesterday, it was so still you could hear the ocean. The sound and sky were washed in the same blue, going on forever. I had to steal a few moments of quiet watching.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Get out your Woolens


The swans have been coming through the past few days. I've seen large flocks and small family groups, and one warm night just heard their distinctive whoops as they flew over unseen. These are my favorites and I hope to get some nice photographs this year. But, do open your cedar chest. The swans usually beat the cold weather by a couple weeks.