Birds, Bees, and Desert Spring Flowers
Birds, Bees, and Desert Spring Flowers
Last weekend we had the art show in Fountain Hills, AZ. While the show was not very great, the area was sure nice to hang out in for the duration of the show. This was a new area, and I liked that it is a smaller town away from the major metro Phoenix area. There is a nice man made lake in the center of the town, that was wonderful to walk around in the evenings. There were ducks, cormorants, coots, and night herons there. I’ve never seen a night heron, and they were hanging out in one particular tree the whole time.
They weren’t active at all, and it was weird to see them just standing in a tree. According to a bird site I looked at, this is how they are pretty much all the time.
There was a vermillion flycatcher too. This one wasn’t very bright, so I think it was a younger one.
I was sitting on the edge of the sidewalk taking these pictures, and a woman came and sat next to me. She wanted to know what birds they were, and I let her look through the camera lens. We had a nice chat about birds, living here, all kinds of stuff.
After the show we were lucky to find a place to camp for a couple nights. It’s not always easy to find places, especially when we have another show this weekend and didn’t want to get too far away from the valley. This raven stopped by for a minute last night. Sadly, he was in bad light because I have been wanting to get a raven on a saguaro.
This morning I went wandering through the desert and found a beautiful patch of spring flowers. Desert poppy, lupine, bitter brush, and fiddleneck. There were a couple busy bees too, which were way fun to photograph.
Hovering over a desert poppy. This bee had so much pollen on his legs, he looked like he had giant bee bloomers on.
Getting ready to land on a purple lupine.
He had his head buried inside the fiddleneck flower.
I love the lupine, so pretty and delicate.
Desert poppy. Can you see the bee zooming through the photo?
Desert poppy back lit. They look like stained glass.
After this weekends show we have a small break, then on to Tucson for the last winter show. I can’t believe how fast the time has gone again this year. I love the desert this time of year, it’s so full of color and wonder.
I was in Phoenix and Appache Junction on Sunday. Noticed the lupine and saw one poppy. Wish I could have stayed longer, snowing here in Michigan now. Will have to look up where Fountain Hills is.
Because of you… I am getting my camera out and taking it with me on my next outing! Your photos are stunning!
Hello, Beautiful photos of the bees, birds and blooms. Wishing you a great day!
Good morning Mary! I so wish that people in charge of the land and our environment would really take a good look at the work of awesome photographers like you and others whose photographs are a work of art. Your captures not only produce a lovely photo to look at, but you document so well a micro world that is the heartbeat of our existence. How I wish those in power would appreciate what you do.
Everything looks so alive and warm. Enjoy the spring desert.
The colors are so vivit and joyful. Busy little bees enjoying thier flight sipping nectar amongst those colorful flower’s cups waiting for them to land, Great shot of the raven on the cactus. Love the photos.
Beautiful images, Mary! You make me miss our RV life.
It’s been some time now since I visited you. But it’s good to be back. I enjoyed your encounter with nature around Fountain Hills. You captured some lovely images.
Fountain Hills is just lovely. Really enjoy visiting family there. Still get excited when I see the fountain go off! It’s the little things…
Great birds! I didn’t know Night Heron sat in trees all day. Too weird! Thank you for sharing Mary!
I really enjoyed these photos! It is nice to see the birds, flowers, and bees. We see some birds around here, but other than that, winter is pretty boring! :)