What a fun time to go out into the yard, right after a nice rain shower. We have had a lot of rain this spring, which is a little unusual for Northern Colorado. I’am not complaining, just enjoying. The little Columbine sits just under the eve of our upper deck so didn’t get rained on.
Photos taken May 26, 2014. Canon EOS 70D, Canon Macro EF-S 60mm
`Large yellowish bill (more yellow during breeding season)
`Darker red wings and tail
Female:
`Yellowish below, slightly darker above
`Yellowish bill
`Olive-green upper parts
`Orange-yellow under parts
Facts:
`Tanager is from language of Tupi Indians of Amazon region, who called these brightly colored tree-drelling birds tangaras
`Most common North American tanager in its range – eastern and southern United States
`Song is Robin like and is a repeated Pick-a-Tuck
`Eats mostly bees and wasps and known to catch them right out of the air
`Habitat: Pine Oak woods, willows and cottonwoods, along streams
`Likes peanut butter and cornmeal from your feeder
~Neotropical migrant
~Vulnerable to habitat loss and forest fragmentation
`Host to Cowbirds, uncommon {yeah}
`Usually monogamous and many appear to remain in pairs all year
`Information taken from several sources including: Stokes Field Guide to Birds and Smithsonian Handbook Birds of North America, NGS Birds of North America
Going to get a cool drink of water
A beautiful male Summer Tanager
Large Yellowish Bill
While camping at South Llano State Park in April of 2014, I captured these photos while sitting in a bird blind. It was a thrill to see this beautiful Summer Tanager up close. I also saw the female, but didn’t manage to capture her with my camera. She was pretty shy!
“The Field Sparrow told me about this water slide”
Black Swallowtail Butterfly (I played around with the vibrance on this photo
This gorgeous Butterfly flitted around our camp site feeding on these lovely pick flowers. She didn’t stay long, perhaps a few seconds and away she flew.
I never did get a sharp photo, but that doesn’t matter. I love the beauty of this delicate butterfly, the colors of the tiny flowers and lush grasses, and the image it suggest….
For some reason these pinecones, stopped by other vegetation from falling to the ground, caught my eye. They are Longleaf Pine tree, pinecones. Big!
A very young Longleaf Pine Notice the looong needles!All grown up Tall, straight and strong, the Longleaf Pine!Mixed in with the Longleaf Pines – the Turkey OakA Stink Bug crossing the roadRed-bellied WoodpeckerWhite-throated SparrowCarolina Jasmine Vine Almost ready to bloom“Want to race Kloudy”, Skye asks“I.am trying, I have shorter legs you know”“I give up”“I’am tried, after my big race” Kloudy“Mom, will you come get this pine needle out of my way” Skye
Photos taken March, 2014 (1st/2nd) at Blackwater River State Park. These are a few of my remaining photos from our visit.
Today, we drove about forty miles to Rocky Bayou State Park in Niceville, Florida. It was a short and pleasant ride! After setting up and walking the girls, we drove out of the peaceful, treed park looking for some Florida seafood. We stopped at a small restaurant called the Big Fish Grill, which overlooked a marina and enjoyed a delicious late lunch.
We decided after lunch to take a drive. We drove a big loop through Niceville, Fort Walton Beach and Destin arriving back at the park. Whew, lots of traffic, shopping centers, restaurants and high-rise hotels and condominiums!
Before we leave this area, heading west, I want to walk on the beach. I remember visiting Fort Walton Beach with my Mom and younger sister when we were kids; Dad always stayed home. We spent some fun vacations here swimming in the gulf. It sure is different from what I remember; of course that was a long time ago!
Tonight will be chilly, low of 37. Tomorrow we plan to visit an Air Force museum.
Wolf Song Blog 