waiting…
purest white against greening meadow grass, the egret enjoys good hunting…
remnants of last years owl meals cleaned away, replaced with new shavings…
last night’s sunset silhouettes the waiting box…
the past two Januarys have provided our first sightings of new occupants for the owl box…today is the 29th…will they appear…???
drawing from
Washed by the rain; kissed by the sun
Happiness in the lemon orchard!!!
Calling me with their chatter to the upstairs deck, then retreating into the lemon orchard…so grateful for their summons…
left to watch the creativity of the Master Designer…
‘…for the beauty of the skies…’
Filed under Inspiration, Nature
Happy summer Monday morning!!!!!!!!!!
Wishing you each a lovely day!!!
Filed under Inspiration, Nature, Seasons, Travel
Though no longer providing shelter, the owl box has now become a favorite landing spot along with the nearest oak tree. Regular take offs and landings take place each evening, lasting well into the night with all the accompanying chatter of youngsters at play.
With the moon inching its way toward fullness over the last few nights,
we have been treated to amazing views of white heart-shaped faces atop the box, swiveling in search of dinner.
Next day, the ground below the box is salted with white, downy feathers.
What fate awaits the gopher foolish enough to surface so near the box…???
An update on happenings at the Wolery is long overdue!
My last report on March 30 was one of cautious optimism: this year’s owl couple was still in residence…much has happened since!!!
Not only one owl…
but three…and a fourth caught poking its head out in this light-enhanced photo!!!
Now imagine four owls atop the box, a fifth head emerging…and a sixth flying by delivering dinner…the menu: a largish rat dangling by its tail!!
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Our evenings are filled with the sights and sounds of their comings and goings; our dreams interrupted by the fledglings crash-landing on the roof of our house while perfecting their flying skills. One morning before dawn, a crash…I turned to see a big baby gripping the muntins of the family room window after flying into the glass – not so hard to understand when I realized the Wolery can be seen clearly from that spot through the other side of the house. As if to underscore the overcrowding in the box, apparently I interrupted a nap in the oak tree as I gardened today, then watched an owl fly off to a more distant tree.
Constantly on the lookout for a particularly noxious vine which winds around the branches of our lemon trees, rapidly enveloping the entire tree with lovely green foliage and pretty flowers which become large pods containing zillions of air-born seeds…..
I enlisted the help of the four year old in pulling up the new vines in the orchard before they reached the lowest hanging tree branches to begin their ascent into the canopy.
In the process he found the most interesting caterpillar.
Realizing simultaneously: a monarch caterpillar eating the very weed I have been trying to eradicate. Therefore, the weed/vine must be a member of the milkweed family, the only food of choice of the beautifully striped caterpillar; further supported by the fact that the vine ‘bleeds’ white milk when cut.
As little boys love to do, we took the found caterpillar (and a few friends) back to the house with vine seedlings we had pulled. Installing them in a large glass vase with vine, water and a screen over the top, we hoped for the best.
They began attaching themselves to the wire with silk threads
hanging upside down for a few days, then wrapping themselves,
forming a chrysalis of amazing beauty.
About two weeks later – miraculously – a perfect butterfly!!!
Set free
into a nearby avocado tree
Godspeed winged beauty!!!
Filed under Family history, Garden, Nature
Heartbroken last year on March 14, finding a broken egg on the ground below the box, we have been tentative with the barn owls this year…perhaps not wanting to become too attached.
Occasionally leaving lovely reminders of their presence,
they remain in residence. Last evening at dusk they were particularly noisy, inviting us to come out to watch their flurry of comings and goings from the box. With hope in our hears we wait to see…………..
‘grief is the price we pay for love’
Susan Wennerstrom | W designs 