Hummer’s Mean Home: Part I (Perching)~

On May 28, 2017May 28, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life295 Comments

Coming home means hanging out with the hummers.

I don’t worry about them when I’m gone.

I just miss them.

My husband, the actual-factual, logical-biostatistician, said incredulously, “They fly up to me like they missed me.”

He’s not used to thinking like this,

but he can’t help noticing such obvious birdy behavior.

Speaking of birdy behavior, we are having a problem this year.

The snoozing little capitalist you see above is dominating two quart-sized feeders and relentlessly attacking and driving all hummers off who try to feed. He spends more time hoarding nectar than feeding and snoozes all the time because he’s exhausted from all his effort. Of course he can’t even begin to drink this much nectar!

You can see him perched on the wire above the feeder, waiting to attack any bird that dares to drink! We have three feeders now spaced far apart to control him, one in a bush that is impossible for him to monitor, but when I shut one of “his” feeders down, he goes to dominate another. We have never had such a greedy little guy and he reigns unchallenged. I hope he’s not learning this behavior from watching humans! 😉

Cheers to you from the harmonious Holler Hummers….(and the one little greedy guy)~

Hummer’s Mean Home: Part II (Flying)~

On May 28, 2017May 28, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, Wild Life141 Comments

If you read Part I, you know about the greedy little capitalist. Above is one of his victims with a feather askew from a direct hit!

Here is another escaping his wrath.

The good news is, moving one of the greedy guy’s feeders into the bushes worked, and he is now under control.

Birds are feeding and flying freely once again at The Holler.

We now have three feeders up and about twenty birds actively feeding. This is less than prior years, probably because the persistent drought has ended, and The Holler and all the surrounding orchards are abloom with flowers, giving the hummers lots of dining options.

The orioles and Grosbeaks are here at the feeders too, also in smaller numbers for the same reason.

So once again, peace and harmony reigns at The Holler!

Cheers to you from The Holler’s Harmonious Hummers~

Drifting on Still Water~

On May 23, 2017May 23, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life225 Comments

“But now they drift on the still water,
Mysterious, beautiful,” WB Yeats

Swans swim,

in synchronized,

silhouettes.

Mama delicately rolls her precious eggs,

to keep them evenly warm,

and plucks her feathers to tuck them in.

Black swan,

slides in singular grace,

while Narcissus is bewitched by his own reflection.
Cheers to you from European swans in springtime~

Strasbourg Reflected~

On May 17, 2017May 20, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS219 Comments

Stunning Strasbourg’s,

medieval beauty,

quietly reflected,

by the still waters,

of the sleepy River Ill.

The old city, (click to enlarge to see the kayakers and people)

UNESCO’s pride,

a paradise,

to browse,

and explore.

Cheers to you from romantic old Strasbourg

Heidelberg Reflected~

On May 13, 2017 By cindy knokeIn EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DESIGN, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS240 Comments

on the mirrored face,

of the river Neckar,

as sunlight fades,

in a peaceful town,

in Germany.

Cheers to you from Heidelberg at Sunset~

Venice Reflected~

On May 7, 2017May 8, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Conservation, EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DESIGN, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS265 Comments

Oh Venice, you are so wonderful, and so overcrowded with tourists!

It is hard to fully appreciate you, amongst the hordes.

Avoiding the main tourist draws is the only way to be alone in Venice, and it is still quite a challenge to find quiet spots.

We were here in the first week in April and the crowds were significantly problematic. I can only imagine summertime.

I would recommend visiting Venice, if you want to, in the off-off season.

Several years ago we visited in winter and there were no crowds, even in Piazza San Marco. It is also much less expensive.

It is cold in winter, but so lovely to see Venice as she should be seen, in all her solitary glory, with locals who are actually happy to see you.

Cheers to you from amazing, but crowded Venice~

Saker Falcon~

On May 4, 2017May 5, 2017 By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS, Wild Life197 Comments

Saker Falcons live in Austria, Eastern Europe and Asia, including Russia.

They are considered an endangered bird due to rapid population declines in their Asian breeding grounds.

They are a large falcon species,

that prey mostly on rodents and other birds.

Sakers often hunt horizontally like Kestrels, not vertically like Peregrines.

I watched a Saker swoop down on an unsuspecting pigeon, but my presence, in response to the pigeon cries, called off the hunt!
Cheers to you from the remarkable and endangered Saker Falcons~
(Note: These photos were taken in raptor reserves in Europe)