June’s Gifts

The moisture in May’s late and only significant precipitation event, as devastating as it was on some levels, nonetheless brought sustenance to the surviving vegetation and assured the growth and blossoming of several flowers, even if they were endowed with less vigor than following a wet spring. Having encouraged a number of wildflower patches in … Continue reading June’s Gifts

Nest of Miracles

My recent sighting of the juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl reminded me of last year's Great-horned Owl nest I had occasion to observe over the course of several months. Between February 16 and May 7, 2021, I watched the nest transform from egg incubator to owlet crib to too-crowded nursery. I was so excited about the … Continue reading Nest of Miracles

Can You See Why I’m In Love?

…is the question I pose to my husband when I return home following my first-ever encounter with the bird in the photograph above on May 25. My inaugural meeting with a juvenile Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) is made possible thanks to a fellow birder who has espied her (I’m randomly assigning a gender) shortly … Continue reading Can You See Why I’m In Love?

Grosbeak Quintet

Happy 1-year grosbeak quintet anniversary to me. May 31, 2021 was unforgettable: my first (and possibly only) time of seeing five different grosbeaks on the same day. And though my featured photo above shows five Evening Grosbeaks, that’s not the quintet I’m referring to. No, May 31, 2021 held encounters with 5 different species of … Continue reading Grosbeak Quintet

Spring Firsts

Do you like spring? Have spring rituals? Engage in treasured activities or events? Take off your clothes and expose your white winter skin to the first warming rays of the sun? If you just reread this last question and are now worried about getting subjected to my exhibitionist tendencies, fear not—they are nonexistent. But apparently … Continue reading Spring Firsts