(INTO THE WOODS AND BEYOND!)
This adorable bird is a rosefinch. This is a male, and apparently they molt and then the new feathers come in, dull at first and then they get redder with “wear”. I wonder exactly what that means? I’m guessing that means “use”, lots of wing flapping and flying.
We humans should be like that. The older we got, the more shiny and pretty we’d get. We experience “use”, lots of use, but I haven’t noticed myself getting brighter. Bummer.
Earlier this spring, I visited the rookery to see who the new arrivals were. I couldn’t resist these two. If you can’t see baby well enough, I’ve cropped in on the little one.
If you can’t see baby well enough, I’ve cropped in on the little one.
IS IT CUTE OR WHAT??
Tossed a glance out the window one morning
And what did my wondering eyes see? Certainly not Santa Claus.
A young bobcat, perhaps only twenty ? Thirty?,feet from our door. It played with a flying grasshopper for a moment and then jumped into some bushes at the base of a palm tree.
I admit it…I eavesdropped on another animal conversation, or perhaps I just imagined it. So I’ll translate what was “said”, or use my mind reading abilities as best I can.
In this first photo, I just missed capturing a picture of the little guys lips moving. Let’s begin reviewing the conversation..
“What’s up there? What is it? I smell peanuts, I’m sure of it…HEY! Don’t pretend you can’t see me down here.”
“Well that just does it. I’m coming up, I’m going to find a way up there and then we’ll just see what you’re hogging for yourself.”
The bigger raccoon finally had something to say.
“Don’t you come up here, there’s nothing up here. I’m just tidying up this bowl thingy, it looked dirty.”
“Well, if it’s just dirty, why do I smell peanuts on your breath?”
Big raccoon started to get aggravated. “I smell like peanuts because I just ate a peanut flavored breath mint. Now get back down there!”
The little raccoon begged to differ. “I just saw peanut shells stuck to your nose, I AM coming up!” As you can see, the big bandit was trying to impede his progress.
A little snarling was followed by ungraciousness. “You only think you made it up here, anything can happen.”
Two seconds later, the big raccoon spoke right to me. “I did NOT push him off, he slipped.”
I didn’t buy this version of events, right after making such a ludicrous statement, the big raccoon smiled at me and stuck a peanut in it’s mouth.
