Wonderful Wednesday Wings!

Lots of wings coming out now! These were all spotted over the past week here in southern Utah.

One of the best butterfly sightings ever, because this little beauty spread her wings out to balance in the wind, and just froze while feeding. Only problem is despite looking and looking, I haven't been able to id her. Update: per the comment left by Katie at http://natureid.blogspot.com/, the id looks to be a Variable Checkerspot.

 Every once in a while, you take a photo you don't know you've taken;-) Tiny butterfly moving quickly around the flower, and in 14 shots, I never saw the even tinier grasshopper until I processed the photos - believe it or not! I think the butterfly is a Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus).

Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis)

I believe this is a Meridian Duskywing (Erynnis meridianus).

Metallic Sweat Bee 

Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) over water - a very lucky shot! Saw the water, hoped for a dragonfly, and spotted this beauty just hovering:-)

Saturday Snow Bird - Hummingbirds are Back!

Snow has been in the forecast all week for today. However, we weren't supposed to see any accumulation (weather.com says that almost every time, and we always get more than they say). I don't mind, because we can always use the moisture up here in the high desert. However, the Black-chinned Hummingbirds started to return last week, so no fun for them! I stood out on the deck for about half an hour, determined to catch one with my camera. This is a progression of photos - poor little guy, but at least he has food.

I finally spotted him huddling in the tree, but he was too far away and his back was turned.

After a while, he moved to a branch. I was facing the light, so not great, but he was so cute fluffing out his feathers:-)

He finally came over to the feeder. He's keeping an eye on me, because I'm fairly close and not hidden. Then he went back into the tree, where you can get an idea of how he really feels about the snow - brrrr! He's probably wishing he'd stayed down south a little longer. I'm glad they're coming back, though. Fortunately, it's supposed to start clearing again tomorrow, and they can warm up again. Here's to clearer, happier hummingbird photos soon!

Southwest Spring

Once again, time has flown by faster than I can keep track! Last time I posted, it was just after it had snowed. Today, we're in the 70's and bright and sunny. Supposed to change again soon, but in the meantime, it's time to share some spring photos, so you can see what blooms in high desert southwest gardens. I hope you enjoy them:-)

"Blossoming", Painted Lady Butterfly on plum tree blossoms.

"Behold"

"Blooming Butterfly" In all the time I spent photographing fruit tree blossoms in California, I never saw butterflies on them. It was warmer there than here, so they were definitely out. However, my theory is that they stayed away because of all the pestcides, which leads me to my next photo and lightbulb moment...

"Peachy", peach tree blossoms smell divine! Okay, that might sound like something I should have known since I stood in orchards with hundreds to thousands of trees. The whole air should have been perfumed, right? It was with the orange blossoms, but not the peach or nectarines. To be honest, the only thing I ever smelled was a chemical scent. Until I met this tree in someone's yard, I had no idea how delicious the scent was, and I was blown away.

"Sunny Side", can't ignore the daffodils!

"Sun Stars"

"A Graceful Nod"

"Plum Pretty"

I hope spring has been just as beautiful in your corner of the world!

Where did January go?

I can't believe it's the end of the month already! I've been remiss here once again, so wanted to get something up before the month was gone. Been busy moving things off of one selling venue onto another, among other things, and somehow time got away from me. However, I've snapped a few shots this month, and going to share some random sightings. Hope you enjoy them:-)

Visited Zion National Park for the first time earlier this year for our birthdays. It was far more spectacular than my photo shows. "Wow!", was the word of the day.

We occasionally get Lesser Goldfinches coming through, and this pair visited recently. Male top, female bottom.

It's been a really dry winter here, but last week we finally had some snow. The day after, fog blew over the cliffs all day. So beautiful! Way prettier than where we were last year at this time:-)

A subject I'm determined to get some good photos of - Gambel's Quail. They're here all the time, but scurry away quickly. They're so cute and fun to watch, though. We're hoping to see chicks in Spring.

This one is definitely not a good photo, but I don't have enough lens to capture him or her. This is a Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk. S/he actually flew through where we live late one afternoon, but this seems to be the regular hang out - high up on a power pole. It's a great spot for a white raptor, as s/he blends right in. Stunning bird!

And here's one of the Gray Foxes we see pass through here occasionally. Like the photo on this post, it was taken through the window, down through deck slats, late in the afternoon - the heater had clicked on this time, and s/he looked right up:-) Every time we see these beauties, we are filled with awe!

Wednesday Wings

Time to share some recent winged wonders! Hummingbirds are gone for now, and I miss them. I still have photos of them to process, so you may see some photos soon. We have so many other birds to watch here, and it's been wonderful. Lots of photographic challenges, too:-)

A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) who was actually out in the middle of the road eating roadkill rabbit. There were a pair, and I think they were taking turns flying in and eating. I think they were eating it there because they didn't kill it, so perhaps didn't know how to carry it off the road (just a guess). Made for a cool sighting, though. Can't believe the way s/he was able to perch here!

This is a little Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus). We've put up thistle feeders for the first time ever, and have attracted lots of these little cuties. They're just about as fierce as the hummingbirds, though, always squabbling and fast movers. However, they really don't like leaving the thistle, so I can get pretty close with my camera.

A female White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) atop sagebrush.

From this summer, a Northern White Skipper (Heliopetes ericetorum).

Not a great shot, but this was taken through a window on a dark, rainy/snowy day. Believe s/he is a Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) who landed in the tree for a breather.

Finally, this is the last butterfly that I photographed this year, a West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella). I was so surprised to spot her, because I hadn't known these beauties were in Utah, too. Maybe she followed us from Cali;-)

Southwest Splendor - Fall Foliage

When you think of autumn colors, you probably don't think of the high desert Southwest. However, we get some gorgeous fall foliage here! I love photographing the leaves as the sun shines through them. I also love that it gives me a chance to do more abstract photography, which is a definite change for me. Most of all, I just love fall, and the changing of the seasons:-) Hope you enjoy this little leaf journey.

P.S. The last photo is a visitor that we've had around the property recently - a truly awe-inspiring sight! The photo was taken through a window angled down through slats into the shade, but I think you'll get an idea of the beauty...

Taken at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was our first time visiting, absolutely gorgeous and amazing even though it wasn't the best photo time.

Wednesday Wings - Finally!

"Uplift!" - Rufous Hummingbird

Time flies;-) I will be a better blogger, I will be a better blogger... I do have some new photos to share of an old subject for me - hummingbirds! We finally have enough hummingbirds coming to our feeders here that I've been able to start photographing them again. Good thing, because I am seriously out of practice. We have Black-chinneds and Rufous here. The Rufous have just started coming through (and upsetting everyone because they really are the feistiest), while the Black-chinneds were the first to arrive after our feeders went up. Maybe it's the out of practice thing, but to me, they both seem to be faster than the Anna's. We had some Black-chinneds and a few Rufous in Cali, but I rarely caught them with my camera. So, I'm determined to get them now. I really want the Bc's full throat flash - that purple is my favorite color! In the meantime, here are some shots from the past week, and I hope you enjoy them:-) I'm so happy to have my favorite subject back!

"Tough Guy"

"Ready to Rumble!" - Rufous vs. Black-chinned (they never quit fighting!)

"Incoming!" - male Black-chinned, see that purple?!

"Hover" - female Black-chinned

"Attack Mode!" - one very feisty Rufous!