Pix and that

Corpse Flower blooms at UW

marcuspix — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:17:45 +0000

Here’s a fun, if stinky, photo from last nights blooming of a corpse flower at the UW botany greenhouse. The nearly 5 foot tall flower is impressive to see and smell! You can see it for yourself at the UW Botany greenhouse. http://www.facebook.com/UWBiology?sk=wall&filter=1

Photo of the Day – Rite of Spring

marcuspix — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 02:00:07 +0000

Hours old Baby Orb spiders climb up a web into a tree. An unsung rite of spring.

Nesting Herons

marcuspix — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:34:26 +0000

March 26, 2008 – The Great Blue Herons are back in the trees of the Kiwanis Ravine rookery up hill from the Ballard Locks. Not much nest building in evidence but some nest tending.

New Orleans Audubon Park

marcuspix — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:24:46 +0000

March 6, 2008 – I was in New Orleans shooting photos and happened on Audubon Park at the far end of the Garden District. It’s worth the St. Charles Street Car ride. I saw dozens of Great Egrets nesting, a White Ibis, Black Crowned Night Heron, Wood duck, several dozen turtles and three kinds of butterflies. All in about a 10 minutes on the main park path.

Early spring color

marcuspix — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:56:42 +0000

March 18, 2008 – Anido, the male hummingbird born in my plum tree last summer wintered over in the garden, with a little help from my hummingbird feeder. I’ve seen him in full color many times over the winter, but never when I had my camera handy. Finally got a good shot today. A few of the early bloomers are starting to open up in the garden so the hummers will have more choices than sugar water.

Wintering Over

marcuspix — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:26:36 +0000

November 13, 2007 – Looks as if Anido, the male who hatched this summer in the yard, has decided to winter over in the garden. I see him quite regularly and hear his squeaky chattering when he wants to make sure I know he’s around. The Cape fuchsia is doing its bit with a few last blooms of the season. But just a few, so I keep the nectar in the feeder fresh — and that meets with Anido’s approval.

In the neighborhood

marcuspix — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 02:43:52 +0000

August 17, 2007: Haven’t made a post for a while as things in the yard have settled into a routine. I see the mother Anna’s — her call is distinct after listening to it these last months – and the young Anido, whose feathers under his chin are growing red. (This photo is of Anido.) Besides the feeder there are four flowers in bloom they are feeding on now. I see one of them at least every other day. They are a little harder to photograph now, because they have a lot of dining choices and aren’t tethered to the nest. And,well, they are hummingbirds, so they are whip-fast when they want to be.

P.S. A flicker was in the yard today, which after hummingbird-watching was like seeing a 747 next to the Wright Flyer.

Outta the nest

marcuspix — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:50:54 +0000

July 30, 2007: Turns out that one of the fledglings didn’t move very far out of the nest. Next door. I was out in the yard at dusk and saw the mother Anna’s in my yard hunting insects when I saw some movement. And there next door was one of the fledglings zooming around the neighbor’s yard also hunting insects. Much stronger flyer than when last I saw, which is good to see. Sorry no photos.

Flying solo

marcuspix — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:18:29 +0000

July 27, 2007: For the last two days I have only seen the mother Anna’s in the garden. She continues to perch in her usual spots and visits the feeder. Whether she is still attending to the fledglings Anita and Anido I can’t tell. But after feeding she does always fly off in the same direction toward the neighbor’s trees and makes quite a bit of chattering.

Flying colors

marcuspix — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:59:43 +0000

July 25, 2007: Didn’t get to spend much time in the garden today although I have seen the mother Anna’s several times. She did dart into the trees several times but couldn’t see the two little ones.