Feathers On Friday: Bubo Returns

Since 2016, we have had sightings of Great Horned Owls in our backyard. One year, Bubo brought his mate along to stare at us through my bathroom window from their lofty perch in the palm tree, but today he was on his own.

I call him ‘Bubo’ short for his fancy name, ‘Bubo Virginianus’ named after the Virginia Colonies where this owl was first discovered in the 18th century. The first published description was made in 1788 by Johann Gmelin a German naturalist.

Despite him being so well camouflaged, hubby spotted him whilst we were enjoying our morning coffee. I think he was just resting a while, but with his eyes wide open so as not to miss anything. He definitely looked quite sternly at this person with the camera, as if to say, “Can’t a fella just have a bit of a relax, without the paparazzi showing up?”

Anyway, he’s gone on his way now. I really hope he shows up again. It’s such a treat to see him, especially in the daytime. I read that these owls can live for about 26 years so I’m sure he’ll be around for the foreseeable future.

Wishing you all a great and relaxing weekend.

Feathers On Friday: The Pelicans Return

We have been anxiously watching the trees on the left of our property for signs of our snowbird pelicans who usually arrive in November. Just when we’d almost given up hope, Perri and Penny suddenly appeared last weekend.

To our surprise and delight, a couple of days ago we looked across from our kitchen window and spied not two, but six of these wonderful birds.

The one on his own was obviously not a ‘morning person’, but the group of five were really making sure they looked their very best before going off in search of breakfast.

I hope that, having arrived late, they will stick around so that we can enjoy them for a bit longer.

Wishing you all a perfect weekend.

Floral Friday: Cheery Tulips

Scarlet and golden

Tulips brighten my kitchen

My heart is happy

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Whatsoever Is Lovely Challenge Week # 22

XingfuMama has a really uplifting challenge for us. We are invited to step back for a few moments each week to find something lovely or to tell of a precious moment in our lives. A couple of days ago, after two days of almost continuous rain, I looked out of my kitchen window to be greeted by this beautiful sight. One of my orchids had been very busy preparing for its fair-weather debut and the twins were dressed in the most glorious attire.

There are so many things in life which fill us with joy and nature seems to provide me with something wonderful every day. Whilst I’ve been sitting on my sofa typing this, I’ve had one eye out of the window, watching the Great Blue Heron parents teaching their young one to fly. How blessed I am to have such creatures almost in my backyard.

If you have something lovely to report, be sure to click on this link. Hope your week is going really well.

One Word Sunday: Shadowy

Debbie’s theme for this Sunday is ‘Shadowy’. It’s almost eleven years since we visited Pompeii and walked down this shadowy, cobbled street, which until around noon on August 24th, 79 AD would have been bustling with Roman chariots and people hurrying to and fro about their business. On that fateful day, Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, burying the city under a sixty foot blanket of hot ash and pumice. It stayed like that until it was discovered and excavated in the eighteenth century.

A photo can bring back so many memories and I feel very fortunate to have been able to visit this historic site. If you would like to add a ‘shadowy’ photo of your own, just click the link.

Feathers On Friday: Woody On Lookout Duty

Woody wood stork is a large and heavy bird, over 40 inches tall and weighing approximately 7 lbs. Nevertheless, he manages to balance elegantly and effortlessly on a tree branch. I love to watch him in flight with his impressive wingspan and then see how he gracefully lands on exactly the branch of his choosing. His straight, pointed beak can be 9 inches long and is used for building a nest, procuring food and is also an Impressive combat weapon. He’s always a very welcome visitor to our backyard here in Florida.

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend and a very happy Mothers’ Day to all of you who are fortunate enough to be mothers.

One Word Sunday: Lost

Debbie’s ‘One Word Sunday-Lost’, got me searching through my Florida wildlife photos, and I quickly came up with four, showing a poor creature that has lost its life. Of course all creatures have to eat to live, but it’s always rather sad to see the ones that have ended up as part of the food chain.

Mr GBH however, looks delighted and obviously doesn’t think it’s sad at all.

He seems to do quite well with his fishing expeditions and certainly hasn’t lost his touch over the years that I’ve been observing him.

You could say that any fish within striking distance of that beak has already lost the battle.

The Cormorant is also very adept at skewering his sushi for lunch. Another hapless fish lost for all time, about to go down the hatch.

I hope you’re all having a lovely, relaxing Sunday. If you have any photos which show something lost or as in my case, of a creature that lost the battle with a predator, just click the link.

One Word Sunday: Diagonal

Debbie’s ‘One Word Sunday-Diagonal’ reminded me of this photo which I’ve shared before. I think that it’s a “once seen never forgotten” kind of image. We happened upon this scene after a beach walk when we were still living in Umhlanga South Africa. I asked if he could please do it again so that I could take a photo and after a bit of hesitation he agreed, saying that he’d just been for a long run and this was how he cooled off. He was a former Olympic gymnast and even at 50-years-old, hadn’t lost his muscle tone and strength.

If you have anything ‘diagonal’ to share, just click the link.

Wishing you all a splendid week ahead.

One Word Sunday: Symmetry

Debbie’s ‘One Word Sunday’ this week, is ‘Symmetry’. Without having to look too hard, I found this photo taken when we stayed at The Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga a few years ago. They aren’t the most comfortable looking seats, but they certainly are symmetrical.

Here’s something that isn’t man-made and far more attractive. My orchids are doing really well at the moment. I have ten of them in flower and this one has had identical twins.

I don’t know about you, but I’m finding it very difficult to focus on anything but this atrocious and abominable Russian invasion of Ukraine, but if you would like to join in Debbie’s ‘One Word Sunday’, just click the link.

One Word Sunday: Odd

Debbie’s ‘One Word Sunday’ this week, is ‘Odd’. People can quite often have odd things at the bottom of their gardens. Some swear that they have fairies, but I remember an old children’s song which started, “There’s a worm at the bottom of the garden and his name is Wiggly Woo.” My neighbour across the water from us has something even odder than either fairies or a wiggly worm. Unbeknownst to her, there is an alligator happily sunning himself on the sandbank at the bottom of her garden.

He appeared to be sleeping with one beady eye on the look out for anything tasty passing by.

If you have any oddments for Debbies ‘One Word Sunday’, just click the link.