This is the current ranking of my flickr photos in terms of number of times viewed. Just in the last week, pasque flower shot ahead of the long-time leader, Albuquerque Wetlands. Strangely, I don’t know why people are suddenly interested in pasque flowers (other than the recent occurrence of Easter). It is not my favorite pasque flower photo. (My favorite sightings of pasque flowers have all occurred above 11,000 feet.)
It is more than likely that Albuquerque wetlands was the leader thanks to John Fleck, my virtual and physical neighbor. (Well, stretching physically, but not in the least, virtually.)
Ironically, two of my most widely viewed photos aren’t even mine, except as subject. (I’m not sure who took The Big Day; Merri took After the Kiss.) I like the others, but don’t love them as I do most of these and many others.
The hawks reappeared in my neighborhood park this weekend. I hadn’t seen them in months. Just after I arrived at the park, I heard that parrot-like call I associate with the hawks. As I was looking up, unsuccessfully, for the source of the call, a second hawk landed just above me and began to chatter. I talked back to him, absorbed in the moment, letting my camera hang at my side. (I don’t want the camera to distract me from the most ephemeral moments.) The late-comer and the hidden hawk both took off in the same direction across the park, landing in trees above another dog-walker, who didn’t see them. Over the next half hour, as I walked around the park, I saw and heard the hawks more than any other time this year.
As Lucky and I returned to our starting point in the park, he marched on. I heard that call again and, feeling “now or never,” I held Lucky back (good dog!) and got my camera ready. One hawk soared out across the street and back towards the trees as I swung the camera and clicked with no time to frame or focus. I said to Lucky, “If I’m really lucky, that will turn out.” mjh
PS: The next day, a dozen turkey vultures (aka, southwestern condors) soared and circled over our playing field. (No comments about being near death, please.) They may have been on their way to Mexico for the winter, returning in March. A short time later, one of the flock circled back for a closer pass. It was magnificent.
Someone created a tool that generates a random set of flickr photos that changes daily. I look at my random set each day — perhaps you’ll enjoy it, too. mjh
I’ve written about the peanut-loving scrub jays in our backyard (mjh’s blog — m jay h). This week, I watched a young grackle use a respectable level of ingenuity. Following the lead of the scrub jays, the grackle landed on the patio table and picked up a nut. It pecked at the shell briefly. Then it carried the shell over to a bowl of water and dropped it in. It pulled the shell out, shook it, dropped it in again. The grackle repeated this a few times until the shell began to open. Voila! This may explain the empty shells in the birdbath. mjh
I’ve somewhat surprised myself by developing a fondness for photographing bugs. (It is very important to surprise oneself now and then.) Flowers are easy (except in a breeze) and who doesn’t love birds? Bugs are harder to ‘capture’ and, perhaps, love. I’ll provide you with a link to my bugs photos, but be sure to look at Candyflossgirl’s photos, too. mjh
Flickr: Archive of your photos posted to Flickr in June 2007
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/06/
Details link shows larger thumbnails spread over several pages (all are clickable, small or large).
And May http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/05/
April http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/04/
March http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/03/
Feb http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/02/
Jan http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/01/
Or all of 2007 http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjhinton/archives/date-posted/2007/
"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." — Sam Adams
