Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Around the Yard

I thought by now that I would have some new photos of the Bay and shorebirds - but sometimes good tides and weather just don't cooperate! First there was day-long drizzle - then - yesterday we had very heavy rain - early on there was 2 inches (50mm) in 2 hours then steady rain for the rest of the day! So I must put up with yard birds again. I realize these have some interest for an overseas birder - but I really really want to be out on my kayak on the bay!
Early summer and the jasmine that I planted against the fence is in heavy flower. I wish I could find a way to waft some of the perfume along the www!!!

The other afternoon I heard and saw a Figbird (Sphecotheres viridus)  high in one of the trees in my backyard.

When I looked closely at what I was photographing it was different from others I had previously photographed. A young male bird is colored like a female. The male bird has a bright red patch of skin around the eye and the female is brown around the eye and streaked color on the front. Here are photos of both that I took some time ago.
Male Figbird

Female Figbird

For more scenery from around the world visit Our World Tuesday

and for more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

18 comments:

  1. Hello down there :-) I love the smell of jasmine and your bird close ups are great. I hope you get some sun for those lovely birding adventures.

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  2. Hello Mick, your Figbird is a cool bird. Great shots of the male and female. The jasmine is pretty! Happy Monday, enjoy your new week ahead!

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  3. Oh, I do love your colorful, beautiful captures for the day, Mick!!! What wonderful birds and the scent of jasmine is the best!! Thank you for sharing the beauty!! I hope you have a great new week!!

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  4. I love the smell of jasmine!
    Hope you'll come link up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/11/basilica-shrine-of-saint-mary.html

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  5. I'm sure it won't be too long before you are gliding silently out into the bay. In the meantime thanks for your yard photos particularly the jasmine ones.

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  6. Lovely shots of our feathered friends and nature ~ You will out in the bay soon!

    Happy Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  7. the jasmine is wonderful! the figbirds are unique looking!

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  8. It sounds like you are suffering the same frustrations as I am. It has rained and blown a gale here for a week now and I'm like a caged tiger desperate to get out in the wild.

    I think your figbirds are a great consolation prize and i would be more than happy to photograph such a striking bird. Hope it improves soon - for both of us.

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  9. Just knowing there is such a thing as a figbird makes me unduly happy for some reason. And it's a beautiful bird too! I wish you could send me some

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  10. Ack ..l I hit send accidentally. I'd love to have some of that Jasmine aroma! The picture is so lovely. I can almost smell it !

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  11. Your Jasmine is lovely! Ours is in flower too. We also have Figbirds around the yard but they prefer the powerlines when I head outside.

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  12. Love that figbird...never had heard of it before. Love that beautiful jasmine! Of course you'd rather be kayaking! :-) But your garden finds were great, and I enjoyed them.

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  13. Keeping my fingers crossed that your weather improves soon! In the meantime, thanks for brightening our day with your jasmine. Ours is out of bloom until March. The Figbird is a new one for me so thanks for continuing to post your yard birds!

    Take care, Mick!

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  14. We have that kind weather over here. love that beautiful backyard pictures, especially the male

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  15. Such pretty shots of the jasmine!

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  16. I love both the jasmine and the figbird. November has been grey and wet here and I've taken very few photos.

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