.Earlier this summer I wrote a Journal entry on the Mississippi Kites in my back yard. This is a follow-up on that article. Early in the spring, I thought the Kites were nesting in the Pine trees where they were perching and mating. Over time, however, we have not been able to see a nest, but their continuous daily presence in these trees all summer points to the certainty of nests in the general area. The Kites have been regularly observed in the neighborhood around a five square mile area. Their presence in my back yard is usually one to five birds from early morning to late afternoon. I cannot determine that they are here after dark. I have spent many hours observing and enjoying their diving and flying antics. I am waiting to wake up one morning and realize they have deserted us to return to their winter home in South America. The pictures below were taken at various times over the summer.
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If you are familiar with this site, you know that I spend quite a lot of my photo efforts in The Field, where I find a tranquil and beautiful place that is dedicated to the wildlife who thrive there. This summer The field has mostly been an emerald green color because of the abundant rain we had earlier in the season. The past three weeks have turned brutally hot with temps of 95-105 degrees, and an absence of rain. The color of the vegetation is changing to more of a yellow-brown hue giving warning of the full brown of fall to come. I have spent many days this summer meditating here and taking pictures of the many birds who live here and find a very supportive environment in terms of habitat and and food. The 700+ acres of actual open field is an amazing place in terms of the variety of plants and weeds that make up the constant kaleidoscope of textures, flowers, and seed that provide support for the thousands of insects, birds, amphibians, and mammals who call it home. The insect population including dragonflies, grasshoppers, butterflies, spiders, beetles, ants, flies, leaf cutters , bees, wasps, ladybugs, and hundreds of others have been plentiful, and along with the huge variety of seed produced, the field has provided an abundant food supply. The birds who live and nest either in the field or along its edges all feed on the seed and insect feast provided. This interaction of life and environment is always fascinating and offers a never ending opportunity to attempt to capture a glimpse of the beauty of this interaction in photos. The pictures below have been captured this summer in that world. SEE GALLERY BELOW. CLICK ON ANY PIC TO ENLARGE. USE SIDE ARROWS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH.My wife and I usually take our grandsons, James(11) and Jack(9) to Myrtle Beach for a few days during summer vacation. We were there last week. They enjoy the big shows like Pirate’s Voyage and Medieval Times, as well as the beach, water slides, putt-putt, etc. They are active boys and by the end of the day, my age is showing!. Most of the time on these trips is dedicated to their fun, so my birding efforts come in somewhere at the bottom of the list, They do like the “alligator walk” that we take in Huntington Beach State Park(the gators are plentiful and usually present along the main entry road.) So I can usually entice them to take a walk with me while i try to get a few pictures. During this year’s walk, we saw quite a few gators and a good many feeding wading birds. For a full description of this site please see the main page here. The pictures below were taken in about a 1 1/2 hour walk. SEE GALLERY BELOW. CLICK ON ANY PIC TO ENLARGE. USE SIDE ARROWS TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH. |
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