Almost Full Moon

I see the Moon, the moon sees me. God bless the moon, God bless me.

Who knew you could really see the moon's craters with a camera (SX50 Canon)?  What fun!   The first photos are what I normally    see in the sky  The 
last are like looking through a telescope.

Water and Sky at Sunset

 These were taken the same night in June.  It was when Colorado's forests were burning.

Dragonfly by Swimming Pool

I took these photos at my nephew's house by their swimming pool. It was about midday that I saw this dragonfly light on their water plants. It is a very common species in California but very uncommon to me. None of the photographs were enhanced in any way, not even cropped. It was truly serendipity as were other events that last night in California by the hot tub. All good memories!  Thanks to our California hosts.  

Much love to all.

                                 The Flame Skimmer or Fireball Dragonfly

Oakwood Rose Garden

Gunnar maintains a wonderful garden all through our growing season. Mother Nature has been hard on it this year, no snow cover with early cold, rabbits, late snowstorm and now monsoon rains. But through all this, the roses are better than ever, if they did not get chewed off.  The last time roses were this abundant was when Addy had her high school graduation photos taken there.

Gunnar, my dear gardener for 43 years, in front of his Growlery.

Gunnar just cut down a cedar that was in front of the window which held a catbird and her brew.  They fledged when I was in California for a family wedding, as did the young married couple.  Best Wishes to all.

Clouds Rather than Birds Were Abundant

                                                                                                                                                                                           

         Sunset in Oakwood

Sunset on Church Hill in Lanaboro

                                   

Black-billed Cuckoo

Cornell University (Ornithologists) describes this bird as common but secretive, often heard rather than seen. It mainly eats caterpillars and can be heard through out the night during breeding season.

My nephew Matt saw a cuckoo on a birding walk in Mountain Lake last week. I could not remember seeing you but knew how it looked. Later I looked in our old bird guide and it was checked as sited, but it has been a long time. Two days ago we had a black-billed cuckoo in our backyard.  Thank you Matt!

Warblers: Yellow, Wilson, Chestnut-sided, Blackpolls

Warbler time is winding down. The Yellow Warblers  replaced the Yellow-rumped Warbler as the most frequently sited warbler in the neighborhood. They are beautiful warblers with red stripes on its breast that nest in Southern Minnesota. We also saw a few Wilson Warblers, Chestnut-sided and  Blackpolls. A slow spring was good for the birders. Warblers are insect eaters hence their movement in the trees as the insect pollinate the catkins. Then the Female Redstarts were the predominate bird. Today we had a flock of Cedar Waxwings.

                                                                Yellow Warbler with red streaking

     

           Wilson Warbler 
           with a black cap

       

Chestnut-sided Warbler with a yellow cap

           Blackpoll Warbler 
             with a black cap

          

            Yellowthroat 
         with black mask