Friday, June 4, 2010

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.

Scarlet Tanager by Laura Meyers

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.

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

It’s very tiny and sweet.

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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.

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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 . . .

36 comments:

commoncents said...

Just wanted to say I always enjoy going to your blog! Keep up the superlative work!!

Steve
Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

Chrissykat said...

I was lucky enough to spot one of those beauties last spring during my trip to NYC. Sitting in "The Ramble" in Central Park, one landed several yards away & stayed a while. I got one very blurry but prized photo! Have a wonderful weekend!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

love the gift and the giver :)
the bird is a beautY!!!!

Marla said...

Wow. That bird is so pretty. I'm jealous.

Have a good weekend. :)

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Linda said...

Jealous! Still waiting to spot one. Have seen a Baltimore Oriole & an Indigo Bunting but like you, no camera.

Andi said...

It's an adorable little pot! I remember there were a lot of clay artists when we were in TN. I have a few pieces I brought home with me. A new shop opened here in our home town, and I plan on learning to throw this summer! Can't wait!
So jealous you saw the tanager! How lucky and maybe a nice omen?

GailO said...

There is an ongoing competition here to spot a scarlet tanager...I am usually the only one that misses it:(...still trying though

What a charming gift to find...do hope it remains empty:)

Anonymous said...

Only once have I seen that bird and boy did it make an impression! It was soon after we moved into the house we are now in, but our backyard was a forest at the time (we took out a clearing of trees to make a yard a few years later). I guess that's why we don't see them anymore, the backyard is no longer dense.

Love that little jar! Gorgeous!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

I love that little pot!

I saw my first scarlet tanager last year high up in the tree canopy of our backyard.. they are so vivid, the red, it looks out of place. Lucky, we are.

Cloudia said...

Dar is cool...




Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

Pseudo said...

Gorgeous shots.

Char said...

beautiful gift - sweet friends are always such a wonderful thing

beth said...

ohhhh i love that bird.....i get really excited when we see the orioles at the cottage, as they stand out so brightly, but this little guy....wow !

Unknown said...

Lovely bird. We saw a beautiful Oriole last week. Pretty colors on that one too.

mrs mediocrity said...

A beautiful bird, a beautiful dream catcher...have a beautiful weekend!

Anonymous said...

Love the pot and wish Daryl would have bought one for everyone. I was on a bad dream binge some months ago but I stopped eating ice cream before bedtime and that seems to have cured it. Enjoy your week-end!

Di

deborah said...

oh cool, a tanager!
love your little gift, how thoughtful!

Skogkjerring said...

Hi Kate, stunning bird!! Lucky you to see such a gorgeous bird on your walk! The gift is sweet, how wonderful to be thought of in that way.
From one busy girl to another- have a super weekend!!

abb said...

I saw my very first Scarlet Tanager ever here at the old homestead about 3 weeks ago! To say I was excited is an understatement! Even if I'd had a camera he was way too shy for me to capture.

That Daryl! She's the bestest!

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

What a beautiful pot - and isn't that terrible, when you come across something without your camera?

The Weaver of Grass said...

I wish I lived in a country where we had bright red birds - you have the cardinal - maybe you could spare this little chap for us.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

That Daryl is a sweetheart wich such good taste. Have a good weekend in spite of it being hectic.

Leenie said...

Scarlet tanagers are wonderous. We've had Western Tanagers around here lately. They are yellow with black wings and a red head. Maybe later I'll post a photo or two. My granddaughter called them Teenager Birds. Love the little ceramic treasure box.

Misty DawnS said...

That Scarlet Tanager is GORGEOUS! Fantastic capture! How neat to have a friend send you little surprises. My dad and I do that back and forth too.

JacksDad said...

I rarely seem to have the camera with me with I see an interesting bird. And when I do, I rarely get the camera ready and focused before the bird decides it has posed enough :)

becky up the hill said...

Your Tanager kick's our Western one's ..well let's just say he is prettier..and yes ours is very shy too!

Mary said...

Oh what a beautiful bird! You are so lucky to have seen it. And I love the gift -- so pretty! Have a wonderful weekend. :)

Hilary said...

What a beautiful looking bird.. lucky you but I'm stunned that you didn't have your camera! Very sweet gift from Daryl. I've never heard of a pot for a dream catcher.. only the woven hoop dream catchers.

Anonymous said...

So sweet! Happy weekend....smiles.

Kerri Farley said...

What a super gift! And I bet seeing that scarlet tanager was awesome!!

Kacey said...

What a pretty bird! We don't have those here...

Love your little surprise! How nice of her to send it.

Daryl said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Daryl said...

Oh it looks even cuter in the photos .. it is for your bad dreams .. thats why its so small.

I am sorry you didnt get a shot of the bird but so glad you identified it and got to introduce us to Laura's (not Jennifer, I dont know where that came from,so I had to delete the comment) photography

xo

Jules@MoonCatFarms said...

What a beautiful bird! I don't think we have those here. I can relate to not being to get a shot of the little beauty. We have some Orioles here that torment me by not staying put long enough for me to get the camera.

Very enjoyable blog, thanks for sharing with us.

Deb said...

pretty bird...darn I enjoy your Q&A...but understand the busy weekend...

The JR said...

How wonderful that he blessed you with a view of him.

A really nice gift. Very cute and I also luv the colors.