V is for Videos

V is also for I'm Very sorry to have been missing for a week. I've been Very sad because of the untimely death of my best art friend and gallery partner for 14 years. She had been Very ill for a long time and I know it's best, but it's still Very hard.

So here is the post which I had planned for the day she died.

This is our Doberman Comet announcing to all the world that he is here and nobody better come in the yard without his permission. Be sure to turn up the sound for this one!

This is a male painted bunting enjoying his afternoon ablutions.

And this is a male ruby-throated hummingbird doing his best to attract a passing lady--all he needs is a raincoat!

I had a half dozen more videos planned, but I don't have the patience to load them. All that waiting and they are still so small you can hardly see them. Emailing them is better--let me know if you 'd like to see them that way. They are all reduced for sending.

bwkrucke@gmail.com

Thanks!

R is for Recent Red Radiance

I was sitting at the computer when something caught my eye in the live oak trees beyond the feeders.

Oh, it's a ruby-throated hummingbird sitting still for once! I've been trying to get a shot of him with his ruby throat showing. Looks nice.

Then a female hummingbird flew by and zowie! He flashed her!! He flared that throat right out and caught the sun with it. Very effective. She flew right on by though. I was impressed even if she wasn't. I'd never noticed that they could push those red feathers out into an Elizabethan collar!

Later I glanced out again when I thought it was unusual for a cardinal to be at the meal worm feeder. Zowie again! That's no cardinal--that's a summer tanager!! At the feeder!! A first for sure--usually they are only heard or maybe glimpsed deep in the trees. What a treat--I hope he becomes a regular visitor.

Hope you enjoyed seeing red as much as I did!

bwkrucke@gmail.com