Foovay’s Cauldron

Posts Tagged ‘birding’

This must somehow be a very fortunate day. Standing in the kitchen I glanced out the window and thought, “Who’s dog is that?” Looked a little harder. Ah. God’s dog. The young coyote trotted casually up the long side of the property, as I silently tugged at my hubby’s sleeve to get him to look out the window. Hubby ran for his camera, then remembered that it is not working. In silent concert we dashed out the front door and peeked around the corner of the enclosed front porch as the coyote rounded the corner of the trailer and headed north.

“Boy, you are lucky the camera isn’t working.” My husband commented.

The young coyote glanced at us, startled, then ran, his full thick tail bouncing behind him.

This is why the chickens don’t get to free range on cloudy days! I think God’s dog must have been hanging around off and on all day, as our dog has been barking at the door off and on, too.

My pal, the juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk, has been hanging around the barnyard all day. I’ve been watching him out my window by the computer here. When I went to feed this evening he had settled on top of the carport – much to the consternation of the Eurasian Ring-necked Doves who like to use it for a courting ground. He sat right there as I talked to him on my way to the barn – teasing that before long he would be coming to my hand and letting me pet him. He just watched me without comment.

As it happens, the barn cat killed a medium sized mouse the other day and it has been laying in the barn. I usually toss them out in the field before they stink. I grabbed this one, walked back out and dropped it in plain sight of the hawk on the carport. The chickens had also killed a large kangaroo rat in their pen sometime last night. So when I fed them, I picked up that rat, and also walked it over and dropped it in plain sight of the carport. The young hawk watched, then flew up to his favorite perching tree in the yard, distainful. I didn’t take offense – I didn’t know if he would take carrion, or anything I had touched anyway. No big deal – sooner or later something here in the desert will take them away.

I didn’t know it – but the hubby was watching me through the back window. As I walked into the house my hubby was calling me, quietly but urgently.

“Hurry, hurry, you’ve got to see this.” he stage whispered.

Right as I walked into the back bedroom where I could see out the window, the young hawk soared in a graceful curve to the gatepost. Eyed the rat I had left in the drive for him. Then gracefully swooped down, delicately lifted it in his talons and without actually landing, carried it away.

Great. Now feeding time includes not just our chickens, barn cat, horses and mule – AND the wild quail, doves, and smaller birds who all seem to think the chicken and horse feed is also for them – but a certain young hawk who seems to think I have taken him to raise.

I hope he realizes that I’m not really a very good hunter – but just “steal” from others who are. The barn cat sometimes eats her catch and sometimes not. The chickens, of course, don’t usually kill many rodents and never do eat them. It seems more of a “this is OUR dinner” sort of thing with them. Hubby is kidding me that soon I will have Young Hawk eating from my hand.

It is pretty cool, isn’t it?

Indeed, spring has sprung. I offer as evidence the ground squirrel we saw on the ranch yesterday. They are so small and so fast that to get a photo to share with you I’m going to have to spend a sunny day lurking near a burrow. This is also probably true about getting a photo of one of our fascinating little rock squirrels that have begun scampering around the rocks near the lake. Certain populations of these Rock Squirrels have a genetic anomaly that, once they shed into the summer coat, causes them to be half black, and half the silvery gold agouti that is the normal color. They look as if their head and shoulders have been dipped into an inkwell! I heard a Red-winged Blackbird in town just yesterday. They don’t usually visit us at the ranch – not enough water here – but we may be treated to a fly-by visit from their cousins the Yellow-headed Blackbird. Earlier this week a huge flock of Sandhill Cranes flew over, circled a while, and left. I suspect they had hoped to stop at Jornada Lake for a snack and a rest. However, thanks to the road building and spaceport crews, this year we have no lake, even though we have had some rain and even snow.

My friend the juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk has posed for some more photos – this time sitting on top of the brush pile waiting for something small enough to eat to dash out. Now THAT’s lurking! I’ll share the full photo first so you can see how thoroughly he blends into his background when he is being still. He’s right on top of the brush pile.

And now cropped just to show the hawk:

He really outdid himself yesterday though. I went out to feed the chickens for the evening. My eyes were on the rooster – who is feeling rather crabby as I don’t let them out to free range on cloudy days so they haven’t been out for a day or two. So I didn’t even notice the young hawk was on top of the chicken pen until he took off from right above my head. I was about to say something to him about not eating my chickens when another visitor flew up from under my feet. A cottontop (Texas Scaled) Quail had been inside with the chickens. When I came in, the quail flushed out through the side of the pen – and the hawk was instantly in hot pursuit. Great – now not only does he think we are pals, he thinks I’m going to flush game for him! Glad to be of use

Speaking of cloudy days, which means a bit of spring rain now and then out here on the high desert – hubby got lucky and caught a picture of this magnificent double rainbow that arched over the far end of our ranch this week. It was a perfect complete arch, both ends touching the ground on the inner rainbow, right at sunset. It was so pretty when I went outside the horses and mule had even turned to look at it. Probably watching the fairies dancing around the end of the rainbow.

Of course, traditionally there should be a leprechaun and a pot of gold down there. Maybe I should have hopped on Moses and galloped down to see!We could use a pot of gold around here!

Dover sent me their sample this week and it was all about the Irish – irish folklore and fairy tales and leprechauns and celtic coloring stuff. Drool. I was so inspired I did a new Squidoo lens about Irish Fairy Tales and Folklore, and updated the St. Patricks Day Coloring Pages and Coloring Books, Leprechauns, and Fairy Tales.

I’ve been taking pictures of our beautiful storms and sunsets, trying to get a nice collection to chose from for my Squidoo lens devoted to the New Mexico Sky, and also Maxfield Parrish. Now they aren’t done, so those links probably don’t work right this minute – but try them later today, okay? LOL. Here’s one of the photos though:

The hubby had his surgery Thursday to install the fistula in his arm for dialysis. Everything went just great and we were even home early. They did tell him not to use the arm until it heals – and of course when it heals they’ll begin dialysis. So it is quite unlikely he is going to be able to return to work as a cook. Despite the fact he cannot work, Disability says he isn’t disabled, call AFTER he starts dialysis. *rolling eyes*

Luckily, I had already started job hunting and have gotten a call from one job already which would be only two days a week – the weekend. Actually, that is ideal since I have to drive hubby to Dr.s appointments and so forth and they’re all during the week. I also took the test to work for the Census and did well, so they are supposed to call me Monday. Until he begins dialysis I can work both – and will. We need every penny we can get.

Up until I am working, I will do my best to hang in there with the Get Cracking Lens a Day Challenge – so even if I don’t get here to the blog, you might want to check in on my New Lenses for the Get Cracking Challenge list.

Yesterday we had to drive to town for a errand, and did we luck out on the way home! A small herd of mule deer were grazing right next to the road. We got some great photos. Here’s my favorite:

When we got home and got them on the computer, we saw a deer BEHIND that mesquite bush that we had not even noticed while taking the photos – LOL!

You can click on any of these BTW and go to the Flickr page and see the bigger ones – this new camera takes huge photos. When I get time I’m going to mosey through, tag things better and license them for use.

It’s been a good week since I added any new coloring pages. Job hunting, Doctors, stress… but all things considered we are doing well. I will do my best to keep my little online empire going and growing, but it doesn’t earn enough to support us and I can no longer depend on the husbands income.

Oh! I was so gobsmacked – someone sent me a donation for the artist for use of my free public domain clipart! Not only did it make me jump up and down with joy, it made it possible for me to pay for another month of the downloadable digital coloring book shop. Thank you!!

I also updated my homepage/business card at Summer Fey Foovay.com and added a new binder at my Zazzle store. Don’t forget that the Pagan holiday ecards I used to have up at fre-ecards.com are now at my Zazzle store as paper greeting cards and stamps. Ostara is coming!

And I wanted to share my hubby’s idea of a day of “take it easy, don’t use that arm for anything” – he fixed the kitchen faucet, did the dishes, cooked dinner, trimmed some mesquite bushes that had grown into the driveway, and took those photos of the deer. All one-handed. He’s a pretty great guy, huh?

Thanks for hanging in with me. I have a lot I hope to get done today so I gotta go.

Summer Fey Foovay

The hubby has been busy this week getting some great photos like this one of a house finch. What I love about this is if you look, you can see how those streaky breast feathers blend right in with the brushy mess on the ground to provide the perfect camoflage.

He also got our best photo yet of that pretty pale Eurasian Ring-Necked Dove. I’ve begun to feel quite sorry for her as the rest of the flock clearly ostracizes her. Of course, she may as well have a target painted on her as be this pale color here in the desert. We have at least two hawks who pay daily visits to the ranch. I wonder how long she will last?

And our best photo yet of the buffalo. We always consider it a sign of good luck when we see them on the way to town.

Speaking of luck, in the last few weeks I have won five times in a row on the Lottery. Only a dollar each time – just enough to buy the next ticket – but I’m feeling pretty special! I’ve concluded that I probably ought to spend more time and effort playing the lottery since my chances of winning a big jackpot are somewhat better than the odds of getting a book published that actually makes any money! (No, really, look at the figures someday – it’s pretty unlikely that even a GOOD novel will make anything)

Never mind the odds of making money on the Internet. I had to laugh the other day at a comment on a money making article about “why isn’t my article making money?” and the writer said “Oh, you have to let them mature”. Yeah. I’ve got articles that have been maturing for almost 10 years and they are up to a few pennies a month now! LOL.

Yeah, playing the lottery is looking good.

But until I win “the big one” I’m working on some Squidoo lenses for the Get Cracking with Robin and Bonnie Challenge. The idea is to do a lens a day for…however long you can take it, I guess. Although their main thing seems to be giving prompts for ideas – and the last thing I need is more ideas since I have half a notebook full of them – I’m using it as a motivation to get all those Work In Progress lenses I have finished up and published. So far, so good – I’m four for four. Here’s my list of the new additions – everything from “I love my iPod shuffle” to “Dragonfly Watching”. Keep your eye on this space, folks!

Yesterday I got a nice surprise check from the sponsors of one of my adult sites. It’s even nicer when you think that I don’t even have a link up to them right now! Gotta love the adult biz – repeat customers rule. So I have put that on my todo list – really got to get a real website up there again someday! Besides, it’s fun. I guess you’d have to say it’s MATURED. *snicker*

Blessedbe

Summer

This lovely little Canyon Towhee dropped by for lunch today.  He was picking up pine nuts under the evergreen outside the kitchen window.  Hubby got a great picture of him!  The Canyon Towhee is a new bird for us!  Whee!

Summer

This little cutie is a Cassin’s Kingbird. They show up in early spring here and stay until – well, they’re still here. Their numbers seem to increase until a certain point in the summer, and then gradually decrease until we don’t have any by winter. They are insect eaters, so that makes perfect sense – they are without a doubt following their food.

We have quite a few of the Western Kingbirds as well – but they seem to arrive later and leave much earlier. Since we have been here – almost exactly three years now – I’ve seen exactly one Eastern Kingbird.

I’ve moved from a place where I used to see Eastern Kingbirds all the time, to a place where Western Kingbirds, and Cassin’s are the rule. Instead of Mourning Doves, we have White-Winged and ridiculous numbers of Eurasian Ring Necked Doves. (We do get a few of the Mourning Doves during migration – I saw one about a week ago – I miss them). The Fox Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are just passing through and are several shades darker in color here. OTH I saw a post the other day at another blog saying they just got their White Crowned Sparrows back but they are further north and higher up than we are. We have them year round – although more it seems as it gets cooler. We also have the striking Black Throated Sparrows year round. Did you know they have the sweetest little song? I had never seen either of these birds before we came out south and west.

Instead of BobWhite Quail we have both Cottontops (Scaled Quail) and Gambels. Since I think the latter two are incredibly cute I’m happy with that exchange. They look like little wind up toys as they zip here and there, their little headdresses bobbing merrily. We still have RedTailed Hawks, although they are a little different color here – a bit faded looking. As winter goes on though – the bird of prey list will get longer and longer with some really exciting possibles like Gyrfalcons and Golden Eagles. Not to mention the Great Horned Owl who is already making his presence known.

I’ve traded rare and shy White-Tailed Deer for fairly common Mule Deer, Pronghorn Antelope, and the occasional Oryx. Red fox for Grey and Desert Fox. Pretty as the Red Fox is – Grey Fox can climb a tree like a cat (I’ve seen it!) and the rare sighting of the delicately pretty Desert Fox is a treat indeed. I’ve finally caught two glimpses of the Bobcat, and I have not left my River otters, racoons, or Beaver behind – but I’ve also gained Ring Tailed Cats, and Badger. Lots more of the attractive striped skunks with a sprinkling of the spotted skunks! Squirrels have gone from red tree dwellers to silver and black rock dwellers. Meanwhile I’ve gained darling spotted ground squirrels and the cute Kangaroo rats who remind me so much of pet gerbils grown large. Ground hogs are still with me, too. And for all I’ve gained, I do seem to have lost Muskrats but it may be that I just haven’t not seen them.

Another favorite I miss is the Great Blue Heron. About this time of year I will see one or two, either on the Rio Grande or maybe down here on our little lake. With any luck, I’ll see a flock of Coots on the lake at some point, and various visiting sandpipers including my old pal the Killdeer who used to be almost a daily feature of my life.

Yep, there are a lot of differences in the nature watching to be had from a green, wet, windy riverside in Oklahoma to the high Chihuahua desert. Viva la difference!