Sunday Smattering

Back on Wednesday, I was heading to Burnsville to teach my class when I passed a red-tailed hawk by the side of the road. I've seen him before, up in a dead tree nearby, but this time he was on the ground. 

I was past him before I realized what I'd seen but he didn't take off so I stopped, fumbled around for my camera (which I'd foolishly put in its bag, in the backseat -- note to self: keep camera out, turned on!) and backed up.

The hawk wasn't hurt, thank goodness. It had a goodsized black snake -- probably road kill, certainly the first I've seen out.)

To my amazement, when I backed up, the hawk didn't take off at once. Finally, though, he got his dinner firmly in his talons and flew. 

I was delighted with these two captures -- be sure to click on the pictures to biggify them and really see the hawk -- such gorgeous birds!

Hawk, shmalk, says Eddie. Biggify THIS!

 And the willows are greening...

And there was a fine moon on the rise last night.

Happy Sunday!

The Call of the Dirt

Another beautiful day!  The dirt was calling and, though it was too wet to do much more than a little weeding and pruning, it was absolutely delightful to be outside. Molly and Miss Susie Hutchins agreed and found warm spots from which to supervise me.

Daffodils are pushing their way sunwards and early tulips are emerging, looking a bit like fish sticking their noses out of the water. Birds are singing and chasing one another through the trees and the pansies that were snow-covered last week are unfurling their sky-blue ruffles.

The bird feeder that was a Christmas gift from friends has been put in place. 

Jenny Wren approves.

Counting Crows

One for sorrow, two for mirth,

Three for a wedding, four for a birth,

Five for silver, six for gold,
Seven for a secret not to be told.
Eight for heaven, nine for hell,
And ten for the devil's own sel'.

Counting Rhyme (from The Folklore of Birds, by Laura C. Martin, 1993)

The First Bird you see today will determine what kind of year it will be.

I'm not so sure about this.
One of my favorite authors, Laurell K. Hamilton, is someone I follow on Twitter as well.
She tweeted that the first bird you see today can determine what kind of year it will be.

The first bird I saw this year was a tiny, little bird flying...and it looked fiesty.

However, I don't KNOW birds.
I say the it means that I'm going to FLY this year.
Because I'm going to determine MY response to the new year and all it brings.
Because I'm going into 2010 with a fiesty attitude.
That's how it's gonna be.

Birds of a Feather

I've never been a big fan of birds.
But they can be so colorful and pretty.

These are from the Fort Worth Zoo.

I'd love to be able to fly.

But for now, I'll stick with just photographing them.

Grab a camera and a critter and join Camera Critters!