Grabbing a Glimpse of Nature
I awake to pounding sounds on the roof. It’s dark outside. Summer has drawn to a close; it’s October with its uppity and down weather that brings a cold snap and early snow. Slowly I approach the window grabbing my first glimpse of nature for the day. I observe a Steller’s Jay pounding with beak on a sunflower seed—apparent attempt to crack open the shell.
Steller's Jay
My hanging bird feeders attract birds year round. It's only in the last few weeks after most of the summer migratory birds departed did a group of Steller’s Jays appear.
Each day before dawn these Jay's arrive to take offerings. Steller's Jays and other year-round bird residents spent most of the summer months in the nearby Ponderosa Pine forests. Now, perhaps with less competition from the summer birds, the Jays begin daily visits to the feeders.
WINTER COMPANIONS
These winter companions provide me with my first glimpse of nature each morning. Greeting the day, slowly raising the window shade, I watch the early arrivals at the several bird feeders I provide.
Dark-eyed Juncos
The bird feeders located outside my window allow for a close-up views of the individual species and afford a wonderful vantage point to observe behaviors and to photograph.
Cassin's Finch
At times when sorting through the photos I am drawn to cropping just for the faces that look more like portraits, imbued with feelings. When the birds are this close we seem to make eye contact while I take pictures and they almost at times appear to strike a poses. Though I suspect I capture what is simply a moment of their normal behavior and activities.
Steller’s Jays are very skittish and when I get close to the window they fly off immediately to a nearby tree before quickly returning as soon as I step away from the window. They never seems to get comfortable with my close proximity.
Mountain Chickadee
I am mostly ignored by the smaller daily regulars, Juncos, Chickadees and Nuthatches, as they go about picking seeds from the feeders, or hopping about collecting seeds that fall to the roof below.
White-breasted Nuthatch
The bird feeding activity is generally a constant—from pre-dawn to dusk with some unexplained breaks during the day.
Black-billed Magpie
The black-billed Magpie is one of the larger birds to visit the feeders and have acquired the skill to snatch single bites from the hanging suet while they hover in mid-air.
SURPRISE VISITORS
Every once in awhile there are surprises: birds that are infrequent guests and that may show up only once, or for a day or two. Last week for the first time what I believe to be an American Crow arrived to check out the feeding scene. I say, "what I believe to be an American Crow" as it is not easy for me to tell them apart from the Common Raven that are residents in this valley.
American Crow
This is my first solo flight in creating and posting here on Steemit, learning about protocols and the technical end of things and using “markups” for the first time (I hope I got it right). I must thank @EagleSpirt for introducing me to Steemit and getting me started on what I suspect will be quite an adventure.
I want to express my gratitude to all the birds and the rest of the amazing nature that supports all the life that make up this uniquely incredible planet we share.
I look forward to making more posts and hearing from you.
Yours,
Dickie
Photos: Canon 5D;24-105mm and 5D Mark IV; EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Artwork: Created using a Wacom Intuos pro tablet and Photoshop