I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s photo, Haiku, and learning. Thanks for stopping by.
When you’re trying to learn about native animals ….
On a bluebird sky day, hiking on a serene trail, I saw this beautiful bird. Trying to identify birds is a challenge for me. Colors, bill size and shape, and geography are all useful in identification.
I returned home with clear photos thinking it was a Gray Jay. But the bill was too long. Fortunately, with an excellent search engine and websites that show similar looking species, I was able to learn about Clark’s Nutcrackers today.
They live in the mountains. ✅
Gray overall with black wings. ✅
Long daggerlike bill. ✅
Most hummingbirds have already begun their migration south, but this one spent time enjoying the morning glories.
Sleeping on a rock
morning swim over for now
enjoying the sun
Mama gone
babies grown and flown
only the nest remains.
Sunrise means breakfast
hummingbirds seeking sweetness
morning nourishment
Just as the sun sinks into the Gulf of Mexico, the pelicans glide over the water near the shore. Back and forth they fly, as they swoop like an acrobat when they spot fish below. With precise skill, diving when they spot fish below. I’m not sure if they enjoy their dinner as much as I enjoy watching them. As they sky darkens, they fly away from the beach, returning the next morning for “the catch of the day.”
Friday afternoon happy hour by the pond, a lone heron sits among the ibises. It turns out birds of a feather don’t always flock together and that ibis are known for mixed species foraging.
Muscovy duck above and ibis below 
I’m in St Petersburg Florida this week at a writers conference working on craft, hearing accomplished authors share their personal stories, and attending readings of their work. As expected, I’m learning a variety of things that will inform my own writing.
What I hadn’t expected is how much I’m learning about birds.
Atop a building adjacent to the pond is an osprey nest. I’m not typically good at capturing birds in flight so I’m especially proud of this photo.
Three facts about osprey:
1. They are also known as sea or river hawks.
2. They are diurnal.
3. They can be found on 6 of the 7 continents; not found on Antarctica.
