A Birth Announcement!

It's twins!

In my last post two weeks ago I showed you our new backyard resident: a hummingbird that built a nest in the ivy growing around our back door. Well, today we have two more! Today I spotted mama bird feeding her two young ones. A very exciting event, because I was afraid the bird had flown. I guess as a working mother, the mom needed to run some errands from time to time!

Hummingbirds are already very small, but these babies are really tiny! The photos make them seem much larger than they really are. With the naked eye you can barely see the beaks peeking over the edge of the nest.

It is interesting to see Mama Bird perched on the edge of the nest, feeding the young birds. Maternal instincts tell her how to take care of them. The little beaks are wide open for her, ready to take in whatever nourishment she brings them. Nature is a beautiful thing!

Mama Bird is also an excellent builder, because her nest stayed firmly in place through several strong gusts of wind. The babies are real troopers, having to sit in a wildly moving nest! At least the weather has been beautiful these last few days. I'm sure they are warm and cozy together, especially when Mama Bird comes back to join them.

I don't know how much longer how long they will grace us with their company, but we'll enjoy it while it lasts. Meanwhile, I'm keeping my camera close at hand to record any new developments!

-ai


all images © Anna Irwin | do not use without permission

Who's That Hummingbird in the Window?

Has it really been 9 months since my last posting? Oh my! I've been very neglectful in my self-imposed photography duties, but perhaps therein lies the problem. It shouldn't be a "duty," should it?

It's difficult to take the time for going out just to take photos, but sometimes opportunities present themselves without even having to leave the house. Such an opportunity came up a little over a week ago, when my son suddenly pointed to the backyard and remarked: "There is a hummingbird in a nest!" My husband and I looked out the window and tried to locate the tiny bird, without success.

© Anna Irwin

Sure enough, after some help, we spotted the new resident. It was easy to overlook the nest, as it was built in the ivy that hangs over the backdoor. Not a very good place for it, because we open the door frequently and the nest could be knocked down, or at the very least, the bird could be scared away.

It was not the first time a hummingbird family chose our backyard to settle down. Twice before we have found hummingbird nests in bushes and trees; some abandoned, some occupied—though they never stayed long enough to produce a family. Fortunately I was able to snap some shots without disturbing the peace.

© Anna Irwin

For the last 10 days we have been keeping an eye on the hummingbird. Occasionally she is gone, but she always comes back (we assume it's the mama-bird that occupies the nest). We haven't used the backdoor at all and we've been careful not to come to close to it either. It's a minor inconvenience for such an enjoyable experience. We hope to be able to see new life peeking over the edge of the nest soon!

-ai

Assignment Number 9: In The Mountains

I keep going back to my photos from last year's visit to Washington state. Although I've been to several mountain ranges over the past several years – the Sierras, the Rocky Mountains, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to name a few – the mountains in Washington first came to mind when considering a photo to fit with this assignment. Perhaps because the viewing experience is still fresh in my mind, perhaps because I had more knowledge when shooting the photos.

© Anna Irwin

This photo was taken from a meadow trail near the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. The drive to Hurricane Ridge was a challenging one; there was a thick fog all the way up the winding two-lane road. The intense concentration on driving was rewarded with a glorious view of the snow-capped mountains. Though there was a chill in the air, the sun provided enough comfortable warmth.

I loved seeing the mountains rise up from the mist, which seemed to cover the mountain sides like a white, fluffy blanket. There didn't seem to be any trace of the rainy conditions we left behind at Port Angeles. A landscape like this just makes you want to sit and enjoy the scenery, and that's just what we did. And I hope to do so again.

-ai

Playing Catch-Up

In an effort to keep up with the assignments, I'm combining two in one post.

Assignment Number 7: Spring Wildlife
Somehow I managed to miss the deadline for submitting an image on this assignment as well. It doesn't matter, my blog doesn't have any deadlines for sharing.

I had hoped to find new wildlife other than my dog, who is also wild and full of life though rather domesticated. The one day I was out looking for creatures that share their habitat with us, they were all in hiding.

Back to my archive I went. I found a photo of a resident from the wilderness at Pinnacles National Monument in Central California, taken during a camping trip last year.

© Anna Irwin

This lizard was sunning himself (or herself?) on a rock in the bright sun. As soon as I took the photo, it realized it had been spotted and scurried off quickly!

Assignment Number 8: Memorable Shots 

Although I missed the deadline for the previous shot, I was very early for this assignment. It asked participants to revisit their archives and share their most memorable shots of any subject. I didn't have to think long about the image I wanted to submit. 

© Anna Irwin

This is Mount Rainier in Washington state, reflected in Reflection Lake. On our way to view the mountain a bit closer, we drove by this lake at just the right conditions. I jumped out of the car to take this shot and felt lucky to be able to do so. Not five minutes later the clouds rolled in and obscured the mountain or parts of it for most of the day. 

It was a truly awe-inspiring view of this impressive volcano. That alone makes this a memorable shot for me.

-ai

Assignment Number 6: Wildflowers

My sixth assignment was Wildflowers, however, I missed the cut-off to submit my entry by less than a day! And it looks like they're back on track at O.P., because they already have two new assignments posted. More on those in later posts.

I'd still like to share what I would have contributed, had I been on time. I have photographed many wildflowers over the years, and it was hard to pick just one photo. The "winner" is one I greatly enjoy.

© Anna Irwin

I admit, this is not a recent photo, and I have no idea what kind of wildflowers these are – my knowledge in this area is sorely lacking – but I hope you will enjoy it anyway.

-ai

Assignment Number 5: Water

For my next assignment, I admit I was a bit stumped. I have many photos with water: lakes, streams, oceans, etc. However, I wanted this assignment to be original, something other than what I have done before. That is what the challenge is all about after all!

I was racking my brain, trying to think of what I could capture that was related to water. As it got closer and closer to the deadline – which is midnight tomorrow – I got more and more worried. Where was my inspiration?

This morning, after I returned from my morning run, inspiration found me again.

© Anna Irwin

The leaves of the day lily were covered with dew drops, as if they were decorated with glittering gems of different sizes. One large one in particular reflected the surroundings and the sky. I ran inside to get my camera and capture it immediately.

What did I learn from this experience? Sometimes I have to stop looking for a subject, and let the subject find me.

-ai

Assignment Number 4: Telephoto Landscapes

Apparently, a week lasts a long time for the Outdoor Photographer's assignments folks. Lest you think I haven't been keeping up with them, I can assure you that I checked the assignments page faithfully every few days. Finally, a day or two ago, a new challenge was posted.

The request is for landscapes taken with a telephoto lens. I happen to have one of those – a Christmas present from Santa. Telephoto lenses allow you to bring an object or action closer to you, while providing great depth-of-field. I was hoping it would allow me to take better pictures of my son at his sports games.

Lately we have had a tremendous amount of rain, with still more rain in the forecast for the next several days. The chances of an opportunity to go out and find a landscape to capture are pretty slim. Fortunately I took some landscape photographs with my telephoto lens a few months ago when I went on a hike with the local Cub Scout pack.

© Anna Irwin

This view of Mount Diablo was taken at the top of the Wildcat Canyon trail at Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA. It was a beautiful and clear day. I couldn't believe how close this volcano appeared to be! I can't wait to visit it to see the wildflowers that are sure to bloom after all the rains.

Behind me at the top of the hill was a breathtaking view of the San Francisco Bay, and although I took some pictures, I was not quite pleased with the results. I'll just have to hike the trail again!

-ai