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Buds, Blooms and Birds

4/12/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
Entrance to Our Sub-Division
One of the neat things about the sub-divisions in Texas is how nice public areas are planted through out the year. Here's one of the entrances to our sub-division with the spring flowers in full bloom.

It seems there are flowers everywhere, and the other day I rode around the local area and grabbed a few shots of some of plantings - including the local shopping center and an intersection of two 4-lane boulevards.
Some Flowers Around the Yard and Around Town
Picture


​So here are some photos of amaryllises in our yard and flowers from a number of places around the town along with one or two pretty flowers we saw while on a spring break trip to Florida to visit Linda's sister.

​
The little gallery below includes Linda's amaryllises, blooms found in a roadside rest in Mississippi, and the random flowers I saw at intersections, in sub-division public spaces, and even the entrance to the local shopping center.
The Birds are Also Busy
When I see all of the flowers there is no doubt that spring is in full bloom. And if there are blooms, there are bound to be birds.

​Birds like the handsome Great Blue Heron at the right. I never got so close to a GBH that just sat and posed for me. As a result, this is the best bird head-shot I have ever taken. Click on him and see the large size of the photo.
Picture
Great Blue Heron
Picture
The Cedar Waxwings made their annual visit to our place to gorge themselves on our loquats, fattening up before their long flight north for the summer. They are not real easy to photograph because the flit about quickly from fruit to fruit. They have very little time to sit on a branch and pose for pictures.

Cedar Waxwings are beauties. They have fine feathers, almost silky, along with a crest and a black mask. They seem to be gone now, so if you live in the northeast, you'll see them in a couple of weeks.
Seeing this photo of the evening sky brought back an old Nat King Cole song. I didn't have to reach too far back - I listen to the songs of the 40s while in the car. 

​Orange Colored Sky
I was walking along,
minding my business,
​When out of an orange colored sky,
(Flash, bam, alakazam),
Wonderful birds flew by.


Sung by Nat King Cole
Original lyrics by Milton DeLugg and Willie Stein
Picture

​Enjoy the little gallery of birds below. The Waxwings, the Mockingbird, and the Carolina Wren are from the backyard. All of the rest were taken in Florida a few weeks ago.

​Remember the "Teddy Bears' Picnic" Song?
Well the other week up on the lake we may have experienced a picinic with cormorants - thousands of cormorants. More cormorants than you ever need to see. I can only assume that it was the day for their spring picnic.
Picture






Cormorants' Picnic
​"If you go up to the lake today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go up to the lake today,

You'd better go in disguise!"
Picture







​

"For every cormorant that ever was,
Will gather there for certain,
Because today's the day the​
​
Cormorants have their picnic."
Picture



"Picnic time for Cormorants,
The little Cormorants are having
A lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,

​And see them picnic on their holiday."

​
Apologies to “Teddy Bears’ Picnic” by Jimmy Kennedy, 1932
I hope you have enjoyed the photos and have forgiven me for my silliness with old song lyrics.

​Thanks for visiting.
4 Comments
Judith Stimson
4/13/2016 06:47:48 am

Love your post. The birds are amazing. I sang along to the Cormorants Picnic and knew all the words. 😀🎶🎶🎶. Could we have sung along to the 78 record on the same "Victorola"?????
Judy

Reply
Linda
4/13/2016 09:07:45 am

Enjoying your posts and pictures. This post is especially of interest as I also drive around the same local area as you in search of flowers. Linda.

Reply
Va Foreman
4/13/2016 09:16:36 am

Beautiful, beautiful!! The flowers are just plain lovely. I would send you pictures of our pansies out front but the rabbits ate all the blooms. The best is the picture of the GBH. By the way, where do the cedar waxwings go when they go up north, I have yet to see one. You do a fine job, Don, keep up the good work. Love, Va

Reply
Don link
4/13/2016 10:00:56 am

Virginia,

Here is what Audubon says about the Waxwing's habitat:

"Open woodlands, fruiting trees, orchards; in winter, widespread, including towns. Breeding habitat is influenced by availability of fruiting trees and shrubs, often most common in "edge" situations, as along forest edges, streamsides, overgrown fields, edges of swamps, suburban yards. In winter, may be in any wooded or semi-open area where berries are abundant."

Theyare social birds and frequently found in flocks. Watch the berry trees.

Reply



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