Scarlet tanager sighting and a little gift

As I write this, we’re waiting for a storm to blow through. George is acting a little anxious, although it doesn’t seem as though the weather’s going to amount to much.

Today while on my daily walk, I saw a brightly colored bird flit across the path about 25 yards in front of me. It rested on the limb of a tree and I suddenly had a perfect view of the most striking red/orange colored bird. I stopped and rested on the hiking poles, just watching it for a little bit. The bird then flew down from the tree, landing closer to where I stood. I managed to get a really good look at him before he finally took off. I could see that the bird had black wings and a brightly colored feathers that were almost a neon color.

And no, of course I didn’t have the camera.

A scarlet tanager is what I thought it to be. And so when I got back home, rather than using one of the many bird books we own, I looked it upon Flickr where I discovered thousands of photos of the little bird. This is the one I chose after asking the photographer for permission.

Isn’t he beautiful? I feel lucky to have seen him because the scarlet tanager is a rather secretive little creature. I read that they preferred the forest canopy and that’s why they’re often overlooked.

 Photo courtesy Laura Meyers on Flickr. You can visit the photographer’s site {here}.

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Before I went on the walk, however, there was a package waiting for me when I arrived home from work. It was from a blogging friend who lives in the Big City. She often sends me little things through the mail and it’s always fun opening them.

Today’s parcel contained a very tiny pot with a cool-looking lid.

She tells me that it’s a dream catcher she bought while visiting TN recently.

It’s very tiny and sweet.

This gives you an idea as to the size. I guess I could put all my bad dreams in this little cache pot, which is perfect because I don’t have many of them.

Hope that statement doesn’t bring on a nightmare tonight.

You know I love taking macro shots. And I love the colors of this. Thanks, Daryl!

It’s a Q&A Free Friday (I just made that up). So no questions this week. It’s going to be a busy weekend and I enjoy responding to everyone’s answers. I just won’t have any time this weekend to do so. On that note, until tomorrow then . . .