Lesfaunes on the Currituck Sound

Sailing through like a Bluebird

2012-01-28T15:50:00.000-08:00

What a contrast of endeavors a morning on the Sound presents!

The last weekend day of duck hunting this season brought the boats out with a fever. Hot was fixed with a cold east wind, turning SE. No ducks. As the last of them packed it in just after lunchtime here sails a Bluebird of a Boat.

A boat under sail threading the empty duck blinds! Perhaps a different picture if they were full! The warm January weather must have been too much temptation for this sailor. I thank him for a little gift of surprise, a Bluebird of a Boat on a January day.

Monkey Island in the Fog

2012-01-27T15:13:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is my shot of Monkey Island in the fog. The island is miles away but it is a fixture in the landscape. In the summer it serves as a rookery. Long ago it was a residence and a hunt club. Maybe it will be saved one day, like Whalehead. It is a little treasure and worth an effort. Rookery is good, the edges just need some protection.

Little chatterbox

2012-01-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

I was out this morning trying shots of Monkey Island in the fog that has not left. I have one to show, but on my way back up one of my garden faithful gave me an earfull. I tweet back to it which usually sends it along. Today it was in a talking mood and after a bit I had to pull out the camera. The Chickadee was close but in a thick brush. I was happy to be chatted up by a Chickadee; I can be a bit of a chatterbox myself in good company!

Blank Canvas

2012-01-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

Another warm winter day, this one complete with a blanket of fog. You have to experience the view in person to appreciate the contrast from the usual miles deep and wide scenery. The fog lays in and water becomes sky. No contrast save for a few ducks I spotted. It is a wall of grey. The duck blinds disappear, the horizon disappears. It is all a single wash, a blank canvas ready for tomorrow's paint.

Cloud formations

2012-01-22T07:35:00.000-08:00

The weather was a bit of a mix for a January day. Rainy in the morning but I did manage to sneak in a bike ride in the warm and cloudy afternoon.

Watching the ducks dive from my studio window, I was pulled outside to look at the clouds forming on the horizon.

Weather can change on a dime on the Sound and it did. Just before the winds came through the clouds were foretelling a change.

The clouds over Carova (above) got my attention.

They rolled tight and moved like a train southward over Swan Beach.

The wind kicked up fast, thunder storm style and whitecaps rolled over the sound. From zero to 25 in under a minute. Amazing.

Bluebirds in January

2012-01-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

It's been a very warm winter so far. A flock of Bluebirds are busy every sunny day feeding and exploring nest boxes. Today was rainy, windy and then a bit sunny. The garden was full of winter Robins, Grackles, and our resident seed feeding crew (Sparrows, Cardinals, Sparrows). The Ruddy and Buffie Ducks spent the day surfing the waves.

I noticed the Bluebirds drinking from a tree craw. I missed the males, but I managed to catch a female on a nearby Pecan tree.
She was facing the wind, but that blue tail shone in the sunlight.

And I cropped the last one for a close view of this beauty!

Like Saddle Shoes

2012-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

The male Bufflehead Duck is a spectacular spash of black and white on the blue water. The white shines in the sun. I keep thinking of spectator shoes and saddle shoes. The black and white contrast is that strong and I have not mentioned the orange legs and feet. You see those just before the Buffie lands. The orange feet are outstretched in front. It's quite a show, especially because the Buffie comes in fast.

A few completed works

2012-01-12T10:25:00.000-08:00

The final touch with a photograph or watercolor is the framing. These are a few recent framing efforts of some my own work.

The Bluebill Duck is actually the first of my own photographs framed and hanging in my home.

My sanddollar in watercolor is perfect in a frame found in a Florida antique shop.

And my attempt in watercolor to capture one of my favorites, Miss Aggie of Highway 158 in Aydlett, found a home in a rustic looking frame.

Sunrise In January

2012-01-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

Another fantastic sunrise on the Currituck Sound.

Little Ruddy Duck

2012-01-04T16:16:00.000-08:00

Not a lot ducks this season. Have not seen a Bluebill or a Merganser or anything except a Ruddy and Bufflehead. I love to watch them dive and puddle about. A Ruddy duck has a distinctive sharp tail when resting. When it dives that tail spreads wide to help it push down into the water.
Here's a couple shots from today that show a Ruddy atop the water and one into a dive.

See how the tail spreads?

Let's call it a season

2012-01-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

Another unusually warm winter day and these crabbers took advantage to collect their remaining pots. Not sure they were catching anything they wanted, and the pots did need to come out of the water. A perfect (and last minute!) day to do this. Tomorrow's weather predictions foretell the beginning of our winter. It can be brutal. But today the sun was with us.

Updated: The crew is from CarolinaBlueCrab.com and the sturdy retriever aboard is named Fudge!

Fabric Bowls

2011-12-31T16:37:00.000-08:00

Seems like I've been on a Fabric Bowl binge. I love this form and especially that it gives function to my art. Jewelry catch, key catch, or special catch for a few favorite items!

Here are a few of my latest creations, and each with a name under my "nest:" collection. You can find the 'ragged winged piper' and 'Sophia's wren' at Mellow Dog Gallery.

"nest: Kinnakeet Thrush" and "nest: Periwinkle tern"

"nest: ragged winged piper" with hand tied trim and sea shells.

"nest: Sophia's Wren"

"nest: Provence Peep" with hand tied lavender stems.

"nest: Molly Key Flamingo"

The "nest" bowls are mainly cotton and are titled by me in a created bird name. Now how much fun is that!

A winter view across the Sound

2011-12-29T15:39:00.000-08:00

As the light began to leave us today I shot a bit over the Sound. Swan Beach was lit with houses, the duck blinds took turns as shiny objects in the water.

A favorite view of mine is Currituck Light and to the far right you might peek out the chimneys of the Whalehead Club.

It's a perspective of residents and a privileged view, indeed!

Young eagle after a meal

2011-12-21T07:20:00.000-08:00

Warm weather and few ducks have the duck hunters home today. Here is a young hunter I spied swooping over the few ducks and coots around my pier.

It rests for a bit on the osprey nest and then flies off, eventually heading north.

Wounded ducks are easier prey. On a morning walk I saw a wounded Canada Goose. It was paddling near the road and took an interesting evasive maneuver. It spread itself as flat as it could, crooking his neck down too, level with the water surface. I invited him down for some corn, perhaps he will find his way.

A cropped view shows off the wonderful feet and talons.

Swans overhead

2011-12-14T16:01:00.000-08:00

I took a late afternoon stroll out to spy my little group of ducks. Before I was prepared for a pic a group of about 2 dozen swans came flying fast over me. I followed them as they flew and got a few shots. It is incredible how fast they go; you are left wishing you could fly along.

Here's one shot of a few and one of more as they screamed past me. It is mesmerizing watching these magnificent creatures fly over you.

Aren't they fantastic!

When we rise

2011-12-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

'That's the time I love the best' as the song goes. Winter brings fantastic skies; the first view upon rising is out on the Sound. What will it be?
This morning I first glanced a wall of clouds with light high. Scrambling for jeans and shoes I was out in a flash.
What a soft grey totally flat Sound. The duck hunters had beat me to it and they were cooing without luck for a handful of ducks.
The show was on the water. Surely a trip out on this morning was worth it even with no catch to show.
Not sure my skills bring you the magic that I saw, but here is my attempt to capture the view that captures me.

Just wonderful.

Winter Robin

2011-12-04T16:23:00.000-08:00

The Robin is underrated, I think. It's a beautiful bird, a large bird with color and design that deserve top billing!
Just look at the scalloped edged feathering on the breast of this Robin.
The weather was a gift today and this morning as I walked my garden the trees were full of Robins. The White-Throated Sparrows were singing their Disney song, the ever-present Chickadees were buzzing about and the Bluebirds were happy exploring all the nest boxes while singing their plans for next spring.
Add some Buffleheads splashing about, a flush of blackbirds above followed by a hawk. Mon ami, the day the was full by morning.

December morning

2011-12-03T15:31:00.000-08:00

The weather has a bit of a bite to it, but still mild. So mild that the wild ducks have yet to show in any numbers. The duck hunters quit in the morning, after trying to rustle up the few tiny groups (tsk! tsk!) that are plying the sound.

As I walked out the temp was about 49, the wind strong and the water was moving fast.

A half dozen bufflehead came close for my legal corn. They are very wary and make several attempts before diving near me. A male is making a fast break back out.

The female ventures close. I think the Buffy female is bold. I like her!

As the sun rises, the Buffies are spooked and head back out. A beautiful December morning. Mon ami, I hope you enjoyed yours!

Dragonfly Zip Bag

2011-11-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

This zipper bag is all dragonfly! The small dragonfly fabric is punctuated with my own designed and hand cut stencil of a larger dragonfly which I have hand painted. The bag is 9 inches wide and 4 inches tall, perfect for many uses. You can find it at Mellow Dog Gallery in Manteo, along with a super mellow real live dog.

Ruddy Turnstone

2011-11-27T17:01:00.000-08:00

Just last week I had my eye out for Ruddies and Buffies, or any duck with an early schedule. I found another 'Ruddy' on my Thanksgiving visit to St. Augustine. On the warm but windy beach a small group of Ruddy Turnstones were trying to find a bite to eat and keep out of the wind.

And what a treat to hear Ospreys call again just a couple months after they left our area.

Snake shed

2011-11-18T16:15:00.000-08:00

Snake skin sheds (pieces of them) are typical around the garden. None compare to this one found on a high shelf inside the garage today. It is complete! I estimate a 2 1/2 feet to a yard long shed from a black snake.

This shed will be saved and placed in the vegie garden next spring for the Flycatcher to find. A snake shed is required for the Flycatcher's nest box, perhaps as a deterrent to who peers into the box? It's a deterrent for me climbing up to that shelf again, period.

Tree of the Sacred Heart

2011-11-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

I noticed this tree on a morning walk. The rush of red made me think of the Sacred Hearts. I went back after my walk to try a shot.

The State right of way along the long roadway is being cut back by one of those large machines that 'cuisinart' tree limbs. The job had been done along my area last week.

I had to step into the woods just a bit to try my shot. I soon heard a big machine coming down the road and figured it was going down the road where it has been working. But it slowed up. Not good. Right near me. Not good. Jump out or go deeper in? I tried 'out' and found a startled worker in vehicle in the middle of the road. Go finish he said, I'll come back. What did he think I was doing? I'm shooting this red vine I told him, but I'm done. I just wanted to cut this bush he said. I saw a bush sticking out from the cut line. Right near me. You scared me, you scared me! he said. How are you doing? he asked.

I'm fine. Protected by the Tree of the Sacred Heart.

A beautiful day

2011-11-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

A gift in November, mon ami. Tee shirt weather, nearly. I finished a project in the morning, took a nice long bike ride with a friend in the afternoon. This weather cannot be wasted.
And to top it all off, a flock of Swans cruised by over the Outer Banks before 4 pm. The Swans can make the worst day a beautiful day.

Barry White as a Frog

2011-11-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

Hello Baby. That's just what I thought when I saw this fat guy parked on a jade leaf. He was on the same leaf yesterday. It's time to move summered plants inside and I need to find all the hidden frogs so they won't dry out in the house. This fat frog will probably winter over nicely in some potting soil and be a seed frog for next year.

Patchwork

2011-11-08T15:50:00.000-08:00

Patchwork is a traditional quilting style. Pieces of fabric are sewn together to make a 'whole' cloth. It was originally a way of using scraps to a better end and made its way to cutting up 'perfectly good' materials to create something unique and new.

I have taken the patchwork style to a smaller purpose than the quilt. I make tiny patchwork bags. My patchwork includes my photography. I print my work on silk or cotton and work it into the design. Traditional three layers and free motion quilting complete the fabric before it is fashioned into wearable art.

My Mother's CD player bag: Waterlilies!

My own day pack with a bird and a fawn featured on the pockets.

And my latest, a slightly smaller daypack in blue with winter gulls on the pockets.
I'm showing the back. This one can be found at Mellow Dog.

Fabric Bowls

2011-10-28T15:40:00.000-07:00

Fabric bowls are not new; construction is based on the coiling method of reed basket and clay pottery. You can make it what you want with your own fabric and trim selections. I have made small and large bowls. They are functional and decorative.
This one is the first I made. I use it to hold my business cards.

This one I made for the colors of the fabric. I have it near my
watercolor of an old clay pot full of blooming cactus and a piece of green pottery.

And this one is the my latest. I found a interesting batik fabric and selected the trim to create 'nest: amethyst-winged oriole'! This one may lead to more 'nests'.

Folded Wing Skipper

2011-10-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my flower gardens were full of butterflies, especially skippers. The zinnias and marigolds are a magnet for these small butterflies.

Just Good Dirt

2011-10-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

Today I planted pansies in some special pots (I'll show off those pots later!) When I was adding potting soil from a bucket, I found a frog turning in the soil. Did it come out of the potting soil bag? or the bucket? Frogs will find their way into potting soil,but that is usually late in the season when they find places to winter over.

I pulled it out of the soil and encouraged it onto one of my Jade plants, then ran for my camera. This little one was caked in good dirt!

I did give it a very gentle rinse when I watered in the pansies. And with the weight of the soil gone, this little one was soon gone too.

A shot at breakfast

2011-10-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

While enjoying my French omelette with German strawberry preserves (yum!), a loud shot sound interrupted the quiet of my Sunday morning meal. The kitchen door was open, the storm door with the half window was closed. A look outside and there was a Brown Thrasher on the stoop. Completely dazed and collapsing, it obviously hit the window in full flight.

This was unexpected, especially with my frog dirtied window pane.
After checking the bird, I grabbed my camera for a couple shots and then moved it to a flower garden for a hopeful recovery. I know the bird was hurt but it was a treasure to be able to hold it in my hands. There was no struggle just a little twitching of the feet, a good sign.

A check about 15 minutes later and it had moved a bit, hiding under a hydrangea. The head was moving and then it flew! with strong wings! Applause!

What happened? Perhaps the Thrasher was taking a shot at its breakfast. This very large (over 3 inches) caterpillar was found climbing up the wall adjacent to the kitchen door. Maybe it was on the door at the time of the bird's collision? It is a large moth caterpillar, but which one I do not know.

Later in the day I heard the Brown Thrasher sing again. I think it was my breakfast Thrasher, ready for another shot ... at life!

Aye, the Gnats!

2011-10-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

Travel these parts in the dark, very early morning hours and you will slide through clouds of gnat-like insects. It's an amazing experience for former city dwellers. As a now long time resident, these bugs are nothing new. But here they are clouding up the skies in the late morning. I caught this cloud above my trees and watched birds and larger insects fly through them, feeding on the plenty. And I will say my frogs are very fat!

The Male American Redstart

2011-10-01T15:06:00.001-07:00

I have long watched for this fine thing. A fellow birder from way back asked 'have you seen the American Redstart?' I study my guides so when I saw it this morning I knew exactly what it was. You will have to excuse my handheld camera shots, but I had to catch him while he was here. The female was here last month and I have spotted her for three years.
(Here's a link to my shots of her from last year:
http://lesfaunes.blogspot.com/2010/09/american-redstart.html )

He's very orange where she is yellow, and black where she is grey.

What a pretty bird, reminds me of the Orchard Oriole with his orange and black feathers, but the Redstart has plenty of white. The Redstart is very busy, looping in and out, very warbler-like in his actions.

Now this was a great start to shocking cool morning.

Four out of Five Frogs

2011-09-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

Four out of five frogs agree: enough rain! In a short rainbreak I went outside to get some fresh air and when I looked up the frogs were looking down. The frogs are usually sleeping at 1 in the afternoon but here they were awake and looking out. At what? Maybe at the tiny bit of light that came through and maybe for the end of the rain. But the rain came again. So maybe tomorrow. The frogs have had enough for awhile.

Update: Perhaps the frogs were on snake alert. One dropped on me when I opened the storm door this morning. A snake! I think the folks in Moyock heard my scream!

Squirrel!

2011-09-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

It may sound odd, but we have very few squirrels. Well, one or two is plenty. You can enjoy them and the loss from garden and trees is minimal. I spotted two together. They must be planning a grand theft of my pecans. One of the squirrels just froze along the trunk. See how well it blends in with the tree. It only moved enough to keep it's face out of view, even as I moved around the tree. Not even calling out 'Hey Squirrel!' would get it going. Too funny!

September Geese

2011-09-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Cool air has blown in this past weekend. On cue, local Canada Geese flock up. I have no idea how far they travel in these flocks. Perhaps to a wheat field in Shawboro and back to the sound. Maybe they venture up to the Eastern Shore and the Chesapeake Bay. But fly about they do. Last night I heard some honking in a moonlit flight over the sound.

Rose Buds

2011-09-11T15:26:00.003-07:00

Two green frog buddies share a rose bloom to catch a nap. I was admiring the new roses that my yellow tea just put out and found these two asleep. I bothered them a bit to steady the stem but they stayed put and were back to rest quickly. With all the rain from Hurricane Irene we have a good number of frogs. Yeah!

A Blimp over the Beach

2011-09-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

By chance I caught sight of a blimp traveling south along the northern Outer Banks about 1 this afternoon. I followed it until it reached the Corolla area where it turned west and headed toward the Elizabeth City area. Probably out for a test ride (a blimp construction facility is located in E-City) and taking advantage of the low winds and clear skies, a trip along the beach must be some fine sight-seeing. And for the beachgoers, I know it was a fine treat to see a blimp overhead. Where do I sign up for test rides?

Here the blimp has just passed Luark's Hill, a sand dune in the four wheel drive area of Currituck County's Outer Banks. For reference I am looking East at the soundside of the OBX and as always, click on the photo to get a closer look.

Whew!

2011-08-28T16:19:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a long few days it's been. Luckily, our power was restored late this afternoon. Now the humm of the air conditioner is just buzzing in my head, replacing the brumm of the generator and the roar of the wind. There are plenty of properties in my immediate area in awful states. This is the highest water seen in this area by me and certainly by most lifetime residents.

This morning I took a few shots of the high water on the Sound and this one of the view across the Currituck Sound looking east.

Hurricane Irene Final Prep

2011-08-26T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hard to make out in the cloudy blue morning, a work boat loaded with crab pots heads west toward Coinjock Bay this morning about 8 am. Final preparations for the storm are keeping the locals busy. Lunch today will be the hard crabs that I have left. Oh, here comes the rain already at 9 am! Better go move some plants.

A young Cardinal

2011-08-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

The new and the established male hummers were so busy chasing and challenging that I thought I would try to catch a shot. One male hummer sits on a leaf edge in a live oak standing guard over the window sugar water feeder. It bombs any comer, even the finches. Well, the hummers were in full chase and the one was not going to sit on that leaf edge with me so near. He chattered and hid inside the oak between chases. So I did the next thing a photographer does, I shot what I could get. And here a young Cardinal obliged my lens.

Just some Zinnias

2011-08-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

While waiting for some of the regular crowd to show up in the afternoon garden (the hummers, chickadees, wrens and cardinals), the zinnias were front and center.

Pierre in Paint

2011-08-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

You knew I was going to paint that goldfinch, no? I love these finches. They visit in the winter in their grey coats and before the spring they are a mottled mess of yellow. But when they come around in summer they are wearing full color and a beret of black. If you are wearing a beret you need a French name. So Pierre it is, painted in watercolor!

Silver lining in the Dismal smoke

2011-08-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

The smoke from the new fires in the Dismal Swamp comes and goes with the wind. The Swamp is about 50 plus miles northwest by the crow but when 5000 acres are burning that mileage is not a factor. The smoke has obscured the sun on occasion which creates an odd light on the landscape.
With an hour in my pocket and no plans on how to spend it, I headed to my bird blind yesterday afternoon. The smoke gave me the cloudiness for a few shots that a normal 3 o'clock in the afternoon denies.

I watched a hummingbird playfully spar with a wren in a crepe myrtle, then spotted this young Cardinal looking for sunflower seeds or perhaps the water from a garden sprinkler.

A wren came in for a nice little shower.

Look who paused on a sunflower head right in front of me. I think I suprised him, too.

This Hummingbird came to the garden to get a soaking shower. Chasing that Wren is hot work!

Harvesting for the year

2011-08-08T15:32:00.000-07:00

Summer has been hot but busy with projects inside and out. Tomato season is here and we are getting plenty to eat, and some to put up too. With tomatoes you need herbs for seasoning. I like to dry oregano, basil, thyme, and parsley for cooking year round. I collect the stems in bunches and hang them in my soundside gazebo for drying. It is shady with plenty of air circulation for good drying. That is where I dry my garlic and shallots as well.

Once dried I bring in the stems and strip off the leaves and bottle them up. It's so neat to pull your own herbs out of the spice drawer to season your tomato sauce, stews, pizza! etc.

My platter full of oregano leaves is more than plenty for a year of seasoning.

Chasing the Prothonotary

2011-07-30T14:44:00.000-07:00

What a treat to catch this little bird in the garden! The Prothonotary Warbler, a tiny blast of yellow that is on the decline. This is about the time of year I spy one and it is hard to catch with a camera. Constantly on the move, searching the limbs and leaves for food. The song reminds me of the goldfinch, a little squeaky and sweet string of notes.
Next year we may try some boxes and see if we can get some mating pairs at the water's edge, though I think they favor the swamps.
Here are shots of the warbler scurrying through a sugar berry tree; it is a busy bird!

The garden pre-ride

2011-07-27T14:09:00.000-07:00

In full Tour de France withdrawal, I planned a nice long bike ride. Just before I headed out, I visited the garden with my camera. My sunflowers are being enjoyed by cardinals and goldfinch and I was hoping to catch a shot.

No luck, but I did catch a grackle eating a fig. It's okay, this tree is not as sweet as my other one and I have plenty to share.

Dragonflies, interpreted

2011-07-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

The skies have been full of dragonflies since early summer. By late July the beauties are about: the reds, the lime greens and the large blues. I have yet to see the heavy blacks that look like they are carrying extra packs.
I really wanted to see what I could do in my new found art of watercolor.

When a good friend saw my little painting, she suggested putting it on a hat. So I painted a fly on my only plain ball cap. Of course the fabric and the fabric paints do not allow the detail of the watercolor, but it is a fun look. I think I may get some more plain caps and paint them up!

Among the lilies

2011-06-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

I love lilies. They are pretty happy in my garden and I love the colors, the fragrance and the way they color the head of a hummingbird who visits them. I have a special lily that may not be perfect in her nature but what a show! This is a shot of two stems. Yes, just two: one has nearly 30 bloom heads and the other more than 50! On a single stem each! Not perfect nature, but I'm keeping her.

And this is my watercolor of a single bloom from another more typical lily.
Among the lilies, it's pretty nice.

Soft mornings on the sound

2011-06-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

Despite the stormy weather of late, mornings are quiet on the sound. The winds are still and the clouds hide the sun until a later hour than 'sunrise'.

Red-banded Hairstreak

2011-06-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

I did not know there was a group of butterflies called Hairstreaks, even with a handy guide on my shelf, until I spotted this little one. It is about an inch in size and decorated like a Seminole quilt!

Garlic and Pearls

2011-06-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

My test planting of the purchased garlic bulbs from Johnny's Seeds was a huge success. I bought a stiffneck variety, 6 heads, which gave me 27 new garlic heads. The heads are very large and I can't wait to try some after I finish off this last head of grocery store garlic in my kitchen. I will keep some for planting and perhaps try another variety next year as well.

My shot shows a few of the harvested heads along with a clump of pearl onions which was also a new try this year. The pearl onions did very well, they are intended for a few recipes of beef bourgignon but I will try them in a salad first.

Dining al fresco

2011-06-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

I try to lunch outside at least once a week while the weather is warm. It's a mini picnic with table and chairs. A bluebird pair has been in the yard this week and during lunch I got a good chance to watch them. I thought they were feeding (dining al fresco) but they were busy collecting little green worms to carry off obviously to a box full of babies. They did not fly out of the yard until they had a beak slam full of green worms!

Flycatchers Fledging

2011-06-15T06:24:00.000-07:00

Tuesday afternoon this little one was spotted at the box hole. While I was getting my shots it flew! And not just out but up and with a turn to the left into a large tree.

As we wondered if this was the first or last or which, another appeared at the hole and an adult landed with food. The adult pushed this one back in for a feeding, but the fledging was on!

Flycatchers, continued

2011-06-12T15:28:00.000-07:00

The Flycatchers are busy feeding the nestlings. They haved timed it correctly: the skies are filled with dragonflies and there are plenty of biting yellow flies about too. I can hear the baby birds chirping but sadly this nest box does not have an easy way to take a peek inside. I took this shot today. The adults take turns feeding and sitting atop the box. Fledging should be this week!

Variegated Fritillary

2011-05-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

How is that for a name? I saw two today, in my garden, a first! My guide book tells me that they are likely passing through to Canada. Can't blame them, it's looking like a very hot summer for the south.

Crabbers working Pots

2011-05-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Crabbers spend the morning last week checking pots (cube shaped wire traps) for blue crabs. Monkey Island sits in the background, left; it looks bare but it is a rookery full of egret and heron nests right now.
We have our own crab pots and harvested enough for a fine lunch of steamed crabs today. First of the season! I picked out the crabmeat from the leftover steamed crabs and our fine lunch was matched with a dinner of crab cakes with a side of stir fried Sugar Ann peas fresh from the garden.
It's good eating, whether you buy it or work for it yourself.

Osprey Update

2011-05-19T15:30:00.000-07:00

Our Osprey pair were early this year and by their behaviour had eggs early but then lost the eggs. It is a very cold spring. The pair stuck together and to the nest and for the last two weeks they have been sitting on egg(s)? This cloudy morning I spent a bit of time on the pier watching the crabbers and the Osprey pair caught my eye. This is a shot of the pair changing places in the 'sitting' spot. The adult with the wings spread is walking gingerly to the 'sitting' spot.
I have never seen Osprey nest 'again' in the same season but it appears that they are doing just that!

Airship passes By

2011-05-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

It's been quite awhile since I've seen an airship traveling our skies. I had to run with my camera to catch a shot. You would be surprised how quickly they do move on.

This airship passed by about 11 am heading north toward the Virginia border right over the Outer Banks.

Here's a cropped version in black and white.

They are just too cool to see. I would love to ride in one.

Flycatcher filling the box

2011-05-10T16:08:00.000-07:00

One of our bird boxes was made to specs for the Flycatcher. The Great Crested Flycatcher is a regular summer resident. The 'breep, breep' calls can be heard all along the island. The box has been used before by flycatchers and this year they have taken to it, spending the last few days filling it up.
Pine straw is one of the nesting materials they are using.

Thanks, Mom!

2011-05-07T16:23:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we were warm and comfy:

And watched:

So, on Saturday we moved. Thanks, Mom!

Spotted Sandpiper

2011-05-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Not too common on our banks, this bird is in summer plummage today. There was only one and I'm not sure of the sex. It was also very quiet, but did bob the tail.

Chickadee box

2011-05-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

A nest box of five chickadees is days away from fledging. The adults had a panic over a snake in a close by bush, fluttering, flying and shrieking. Snake removed, it took them awhile to settle down. Here one of the adults clings to the box still not quite sure that all is okay.

Marsh Hen Rescue

2011-04-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day to fill up some crab pots with bait. That done this morning, a mid afternoon check led to the discovery of this bird inside a dry pot on the pier. Maybe it was after something, perhaps some old bait but it was in need of rescue.
This is a Clapper Rail, aka Marsh Hen. Rails are marsh birds, feeding and nesting in the marshes. We have plenty of marshes nearby, but I have never seen a Rail on our shoreline.
It was let go just after this shot and it took off in low fly, and eventually out of the yard. I am sure it was quite a trauma for the bird, but it was a real treat for us.
I did a bit of reading on the bird and the neatest thing that I found was that the chicks are all black!

Hope in the Hedges

2011-04-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

A nest of mallard eggs spotted in the edge of the garden. What a wonderful accomplishment it will be to get this nest to hatch out. We will be as vigilant as we can for snakes. Not much we can do about the critters of the night.

Nothing cuter than a mallard duckling! I'm hoping for a garden full!

Note: Update today is that the female mallard is sitting on the nest.

Little bit of Spring

2011-04-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Spring flowers in the garden provide splashes of color against all the new green. The tulips are remnants of a long ago bed. The irises love it here and they multiply easily. These are divisions from two years ago.

Nuthatch

2011-04-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

This little bird is my current favorite. He is usually spotted headed first down a tree. I love the nasal call of 'neep, neep.' I was hanging out my studio window this afternoon watching the little storms pass through and caught this nuthatch looking for a bite. There were two on the tree and when they finally met they briefly fought and one flew off.

Currituck L'Orange

2011-03-20T06:56:00.000-07:00

The full moon of March 19 was challenged by the marsh fires near the Lighthouse. When I noticed the fires burning, I was hoping the moon would rise behind them, wouldn't that have been a sight!
Marsh fires are common in February and March. The fires are set to encourage new growth in the marshes.

Rainy morning

2011-03-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

One of the ospreys sits sentinel in a short rain break this morning.

Eating my Fish

2011-03-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

The male osprey has his evening meal on the boathouse branch. The wind was very strong today and you can see it is still blowing. This morning he had a small rockfish and the crows were licking their chops. The crows love fish and wait for the osprey to leave or drop bits. After eating ,the male will take the fish to the nest and the female will eat. I watched the crows go to the nest (after both birds were away) to grab bits of fish. They didn't have long, as the female made a quick return. 'Eating crow' would have a different meaning in this situation.

Osprey Pair

2011-03-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day here on the sound, so nice that lunch outside was a must. With two kingfishers rattling about overhead I went down to the water with my camera to see if I could get a shot. Instead I found the osprey pair sitting on the tree. They made this one move but relaxed again. Not sure if I spooked them or a bit of wind caught them but they remained on the tree.
The female is on the left, the male has a band on his left leg. The female showed up around the first of March and the male arrived this past week. Up and down the island ospreys are returning to their nesting spots.

Early bird ...

2011-02-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

... gets the crabs? An early crabber was out setting pots last weekend in the bit of warm-up that we had. There is a man amongst that pile of pots, you will have to look close. Not sure how his pots have faired with the terrible winds of the past two days.

Snowy morning finch

2011-02-10T15:44:00.000-08:00

This tiny goldfinch is perched on a snowy live oak. We awoke to a blanket of snow across the area this morning. The birds were busy eating seeds offered and I watched some take bites of the snow from the leaves.

Blues Rising

2011-02-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

A small flock of bluebills paddle and flap and lift themselves into the air. The disturbance left on the water shows the energy the ducks use to take flight.

Mallards landing

2011-01-31T15:00:00.000-08:00

A small flock of mallards lands in the sound waters. Mallards are not seen here in large numbers. Most are local ducks, perhaps hand raised by my neighbors or hatched from rare successful wild nests. Hunt clubs sometimes buy hatchlings, feed them and release them. The young ducks will find their way to yards where corn is offered by sympathetic residents.

Eyes like a Hawk

2011-01-30T15:21:00.001-08:00

A Sharp Shinned Hawk pays a visit to my garden. I encourage songbirds with food, water and greenery and the hawk has spied the garden full of sparrows, finches, cardinals, doves and plenty more. There is plenty of field nearby where I suspect he regularly hunts.

Monkey Island

2011-01-26T06:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday's come and go rain and no wind gave us another palette of blues across the sound. Monkey Island, now a rookery, shows itself in the distance. Floating in the waters are a few Canada Geese and pieces of ice.

Evening flyby

2011-01-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

A flock of bluebills stream past in the evening light. In the background homes in the four wheel drive section of the Currituck OBX are lit by the last bits of the sun.

Looking out my window

2011-01-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

Taking an inspirational break from my current project, I went to the windows of my studio hoping to spy some waterfowl. I found instead lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and a female Red-bellied Woodpecker feeding on the large hackberry trees that line the bank. The berries you see in the warbler shot are consumed by nearly every migrating bird. The common name for the hackberry tree is sugar berry. The woodpecker may enjoy some berries, but it spent more time investigating the crevices of broken limbs.

Knott's Island Causeway

2011-01-05T16:09:00.000-08:00

A trip to Knott's Island by car from Currituck requires one to travel into Virginia to a point north of the convergence of waters along the Virginia/North Carolina state line and then travel south again to enter North Carolina. The 'island' is actually a peninsula, but it has a feel of an island with a nearby causeway and plenty of marshland, even a refuge (Mackay Island). We saw a variety of waterfowl, herons and even ibis! The time of day wasn't right for much photo-taking but I managed a few shots on my trip earlier this week. Here a couple of blue herons follow some ducks away from the causeway.

Hooded Mergansers

2010-12-31T16:46:00.000-08:00

Oh, what a fabulous duck! The cold weather has brought a more than typical variety of ducks along with plenty of the typical duck hunters. I spotted the mergansers yesterday and was keen to get a pic today. The males are dressed in the fanciest of feathers, looking like they stepped off the stage of the Lion King. The female is similar in shape, but reddish orange. She is really something. BUT! The croaking call of the male is a show in itself. He rolls his head back and then forward while rolling out a rough 'hau-braugh'. My new favorite!

Snow Ducks

2010-12-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

That's my name for the waterfowl showing up after the big eastern storm this past week. Some of these ducks are so new to my eyes, I had to go to my bird books. These are Ring-necked ducks, similar to the bluebills. Guess there is a silver lining in those snow clouds!

Christmas Day Duck

2010-12-25T16:17:00.000-08:00

A soft blue day on the Currituck Sound. A quiet day when sound meets sky and the birdsong east and west frame the scene. This lone bluebill paddled near me, as a lone swan stayed far away and a kingfisher rattled past my back.

Small Sampler

2010-12-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

Not one of fabric, but one of water and the winter birds that stay around on still day after some tough winter weather. There is a cormorant, swans, ducks and even a seagull. Homes on the northern Outer Banks lie on the eastern horizon.

Early Ice and Snow

2010-12-16T15:24:00.000-08:00

This December has brought early bitter weather for much of the country. We have had snow showers and ice on the sound already this month, something we don't typically see until January if we do at all. Today we got snow on the ground and plenty of icy water. Here a swan feeds in the icy water

Garden Fairy

2010-11-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

I went out early to my garden to sit and wait for the hummingbird. I was thrilled to see 2 chasing through the air. At least they have some company.

Here is the one that seems to be ruling the garden, sitting on an old stalk amid the still blooming tomatoe vines and sampling the flush of salvia. The red feather on the neck area tells me this is a young male.

Hello Little Friend!

2010-11-22T15:56:00.000-08:00

It's late November and I have hummers! We have been hearing the distinctive hum, so I made sure the feeder at my kitchen window was full of fresh sugar water. Sure enough, a female hummer showed up this morning. I went out to my garden (now full of salvias on one end) and waited to see if she showed.

This is a shot of the one that did show and it is a different hummer from the one at my window. This one has lots of markings on the neck and front.

My summer hummers left in September, these must be late migrants.

Feeding at Dusk

2010-10-19T15:48:00.000-07:00

Tree swallows feed at dusk on this warm October day.

I spotted a female hummer on my lone feeder this evening. I will offer her just made sugar-water in the morning and hope she makes her way down south.

Window open for Owl

2010-10-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

It's been very warm and suddenly cool, but a few days have allowed us to keep the windows open through the night. The bonus after fresh air and no energy bill is the sound of what is outside. The trill of a screech owl in the still dark morning is a prize to me. There are some that sound like a horse whinnie, but this fall's owl sounds like a tiny scream.
I wonder if the owl we are hearing is one that was born in a large woodpecker box two years ago. We had a box of three; one adult was lost (hit on the road by a car) but the remaining adult adult finished raising the brood to fledge.
Here is a pic of one of the brood. I spotted this face in the box and realized we had baby owls, a first! We keep hoping that owls will return to the box. (And isn't that handmade box something!)

Time to plant Garlic!

2010-10-15T15:20:00.000-07:00

I have grown garlic for the past couple years, using my extra grocery store bulbs. Even so, the flavor and texture of what comes from my own garden soil are way better than the store bulbs.

This year I took the next step and purchased some "seed" garlic. This garlic is specially produced to plant. I chose a stiffneck variety called 'Music', 2 packages with three bulbs in a package. I got about 30 cloves (check out how nice and big the cloves are!) and planted them in a prepared raised bed.

The cost was about $1 per clove, so my experiment is pricey, but hopefully the results will be worth it.

Across the field

2010-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

A view over the yellow-green soy beans to the intracoastal waterway and a lone sailboat making it's way south. This time of year large boats move out of the north to warmer climes for the winter. Many stop at the marina in Coinjock along the Albemarle&Chesapeake Canal where a contrast of economies is displayed: ordinary frame houses front the canal towered by luxury yachts in the alongside slips.

The Miners and the Butterfly

2010-10-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

As we watch the amazing rescues of the Chile miners today, the story of the miners and the white butterfly is one that sticks: two miners reportedly stopped to watch a white butterfly in the mine and the stop to gaze at that wonder saved them.

There is the idea of a sign and the idea of the chance of it all, but I take away the idea of the stop. I love to stop and look as close as I can at the wonder. It's a stop I learned in childhood; my Father alerted us to look at the bird, the bug, all the wildlife around us.

So stop and gaze, it's all a wonder. Here a Sulfur Cloud Butterfly samples a Hummingbird Vine bloom.

Boaters Beware

2010-10-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Tropical Storm Nicole (or her remnants) really did a number on the pier structures on the island. She came in from the SSE and really whipped up the sound. Any structure with age seems to have damage and most have severe damage.

Here, a pier that I regularly photograph is just a skeleton of what it was.

So it's a heads up to boaters in the sound off of Church's Island: there is plenty of wood and other trash floating and plenty you may not see.

The water level of this storm was higher than Floyd or Isabel. Damage to unprotected (no bulkhead) shoreline is severe and the state is out pouring rock to stabilize things.

Fall is Here

2010-09-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

True evidence of the newest season are these Fall Crocus. Around 6 inches they are a giant next to the typical spring crocus flowers.
My ospreys are gone, hummers are gone, migrant summer nesters long gone and cicadas are quiet. We have been enjoying the fall warblers and I spotted two tiny diving ducks on the causeway today. It has been raining for days and more expected ... but it's still nice and warm. The Fall Crocus knows better though and we can expect cooler weather soon.

Wood Nymph on ivy

2010-09-16T05:11:00.000-07:00

The finely detailed wood nymph samples the bloom of an ivy vine.

American Redstart

2010-09-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

Spotted this pretty female today, I have yet to see the male. He is black where she is grey.

Storm Troopers

2010-09-03T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Earl was thankfully a minor event. The hummers were in a panicky, fighting mood before today and remain in that frame. I put out two extra feeders on the protected west side before the storm. It's a 'better than tv' show at my kitchen window with plenty of hummers feeding and fighting all day.

Yellow migrant

2010-08-30T16:18:00.000-07:00

This yellow warbler stands out in the trees that are are already dropping leaves. I do not see yellow warblers in the summer nesting months, just around the migrating spring and fall times. The hummers love to chase around the yellow birds and I've noticed they like to chase yellow butterflys, too.

A Cardinal Questions

2010-08-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

Looking like it is in a worrisome mood, this young bird may be pondering what is next.

Young male hummer

2010-08-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a young male hummingbird resting on a tomato fence during the sparring I witnessed the other day. You can spot the individual jeweled feathers at the neck that give away the young bird as a male.

Hummingbirds in the Garden

2010-08-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

It's chase and fight all day for the male hummers. I sat in my vegie garden and watched some tough battles. We let some salvia take over where the fall garden won't be planted and the hummers have really taken to the flowers. I also plant hummgingbird vine every year but those have yet to bud. The vine is great for migrating hummers as they pass through later in the fall.

Here's the resident mature male sampling the salvia.

One Lively Oak

2010-08-21T15:38:00.001-07:00

One of my live oaks was alive with action this morning. I was chasing a warbler and found the young House Finch. Then a bunch of Carolina Wrens started screaming, some in my pecan tree and some in the oak.
I spotted this young wren: it was a new family of wrens making their way through, panic understood! Isn't this one too cute!
Next the Yellow warblers, who could not understand the commotion. They kept ducking and moving trying to figure out the wrath of the wrens.
Even the Hummingbird came over to check out the action and buzz the warblers. For a few minutes the tree was in turmoil and I was enthralled.