Anticipation

At the zoo yesterday, we went into a small aviary where there were beautiful lorikeets that visitors could feed by hand. This little girl held out her little cup of nectar, hopeful that a nearby bird would take her offering.

Anticipation by Tygh
Anticipation, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

The girl’s father was successful.

Thirsty Lorikeet by Tygh
Thirsty Lorikeet, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

But it hopped away from her before she could feed it.

Disappointment by Tygh
Disappointment, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Cabbage Butterflies

Probing by Tygh
Probing, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

That’s what my grandfather called them.

Thanks to Wikipedia, I now know that they are also known as “Small White” butterflies. Their larvae do feed on cabbage and other cultivated vegetables which is probably how they got their nicknames.

This one is a male that happened to land in front of me as I was headed back into the house with the macro lens on the camera. He stayed put for only a few seconds, so I’m glad I was ready.

Slick

Slick by Tygh
Slick, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

It’s that time of year again where the creepy crawlies from the garden begin to thrive and multiply and grow. This guy has been snacking on the plants we have on the front porch.

Slugs kind of give me the willies, but they do have their own beauty if you look at them the right way.

Showdown

Showdown by Tygh
Showdown, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Today in Newport, we saw a sea lion resting next to the skin of a fish it had eaten earlier. This Western Seagull dropped in and casually asked if he was planning to finish his fish… he was.

The gull was skilled though and ended up with the prize. He ate the entire thing in under 30 seconds. Watching that was like watching a competitive eater down hotdogs.

Spoils
Spoils, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Treasures

Beach-combing is a time-honored tradition in our family. Shelly and I love to walk slowly up and down the shore looking for agates, shells, bits of coral, colorful rocks or whatever else catches our eyes. Agates are special treasures for us. They are visually interesting and also common enough to be regularly discovered. We have our favorite places to look for them. Sometimes the rocks are all covered with sand and we don’t see them. Other times, the beach looks like a gravel bed offering a rich supply of the opaque beauties.

Treasures by Tygh
Treasures, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

Looking out

Looking out by Tygh
Looking out, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

On vacation today, staying at Beverly Beach, Oregon.

Shell and I went for a long walk today and had a nice dinner at Mo’s at Otter Rock. Near the restaurant, there was a large colony of squirrels and they were extremely tame. I saw a whale spouting from the rim of the Devil’s Punchbowl. The house is nice and peaceful and it looks out over the ocean which always helps me see things from a different perspective.

In view of the horizon while standing at the line between the land and the sea, the concerns of the day don’t carry the same seriousness as they did before.

Juvie Spotted Towhee

Juvie Spotted Towhee by Tygh
Juvie Spotted Towhee, a photo by Tygh on Flickr.

As a juvenile, a Spotted Towhee looks very different from its adult parents. The adults have very dark backs, rusty-colored sides, white breasts, and red eyes as well. The juveniles are brown and nondescript. In fact, the first time I saw one, I had no idea what it was. One thing tip off is that the tails are essentially the same. There are white spots on the outer edges of the tails and these are the smoking gun that distinguishes them from any other large sparrow you might run into.