I’m home from that most recent camping trip, home from exploring this gorgeous and fascinating world, home … just home. I love going camping, and will be going again as soon as I can, and yet I love being at home.
Because even here at home, there are gorgeous and fascinating things to see and do and explore. Today was a very good day for that.
First off … here’s a Yucca plant that’s somewhat close to my home, so I take care of it. It evidently likes what I’m doing. It’s taller than I am (I’m 5′ 8″), and look at those flowers! And look at that base spread that’s almost six feet wide.
You can always click on photos to enlarge them.
After taking these photos of the Yucca, I did my duty and set up the oscillating sprinkler in order to water the lawn and some shrubs and small flowering plants. I then went indoors to check email on my computer (it’s right next to a window).
I was listening to the water swish back and forth as the sprinkler oscillated back and forth, a nice relaxing sound. But then I looked out the window to find this … !
An Anna’s Hummingbird flying in the stream of water from that sprinkler. Yes it was a hot and dry day. And this bird had found a very good way to cool off. 🙂
He/she then went over to a Hydrangea bush right outside my window and sat there waiting for the oscillating sprinkler to bring cooling water.
In the photo above, the hummingbird is waiting for the water to come back … feathers spread, waiting for that cool water.
In the photo below, the sprinkler had oscillated and the water was back. Hooray! I think that bird lifted one wing in joy.
Here are two videos. The hummingbird sometimes flies out and follows the water, but mostly it waits right there around the Hydrangea for the water to return.
Well, that was fun. 🙂
I let that sprinkler run awhile, then moved it around to the back of my house for the plants and the lawn there. After a good healthy watering in that area, I shut the sprinkler off and put it away. But just a little bit later, I was standing in my kitchen, looking out at the yard back there, looking at the one small puddle of water that always collects right there in one spot and wondering if I should fill that dip in the lawn. And look who flew in at that exact moment! A hawk! Quick, go get the camera!
It fluffed around a bit in that little pool of water, probably trying to cool off on this very hot day. But it was wary … humans and dogs and cats and raccoons and other birds and other animal folk are sometimes in this area too. The hawk spent quite a bit of time looking to the left, and the right, and then up towards the roof of my house, and back over its shoulder.
And finally it looked right at me (or so it seemed).
I guess it then felt safe. It took one look at the water …
… and then plunged in.
Here are two videos of it. Oh it was enjoying that water so much, made me smile and chuckle.
That was so cool! For me and for the hawk. I will NOT be filling in that dip in the land. Next summer, when it’s hot, I will actually water that dip extra deep!
But … what kind of hawk is that? I don’t know.
Later, soon enough, the afternoon changed into evening. From my office/computer room window, this view (below) of the sky above appeared. How beautiful. I watched as the sky darkened towards nighttime. What a great day this was!
That wonderful bird is a juvinile Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Juviniles have yellow eyes, while adults have red eyes. They tend to stay in your area year round, so you can expect to see him/her again!
Thank you, Kathie! I didn’t know any of that. I’ll keep a look-out! 🙂
I was going to guess a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, but it doesn’t have the red eyes. I didn’t know juveniles have yellow eyes. Good on you, Kathie T! Great photos and fun stories!
Thanks Mark. You folks are smart! 🙂
Lovely to know that people all over the world appreciate wild fowl and flowers and sunsets. Our world is so important.
Indeed, as you say, Henry, our world is so important. Thank you!
Truly a marvelous day! The hummingbirds are always fun to watch. I’ve had them sit right on the hose I was using for hand watering.. And of course they do like to follow the sprinkler back and forth. I have never had a hawk in my yard like that. Just scrub Jay’s in the fish pond . They do a lot of splashing .
Wonderful. Thank you for sharing.
No kidding, right on the hose!? Now that’s cool. Kind of hard to get a photo of that huh. 🙂 But great memories of it happening.
Magnificent! I love that third photo down, nothing else like it on the internet. And the birds and the sunset are spectacular. 🙂 Made my day.
Oh gosh, thank you Judy! 🙂 Flowers are spectacular. I love looking at the details.
Oh, there are varieties of Sharp-Shinned Hawks! Some adults have yellow eyes and some have red eyes. The adults with red eyes usually have solid black back feathers, and the adults with yellow eyes can have some white mixed in on their back feathers. But yes, the juveniles with those large white spots in their back feathers (as in these photos in this blog) can transform into either of the two adult varieties. This hawk is definitely a juvenile, but it can become either a red-eyed adult or a yellow-eyed adult.
Gorgeous photos. And I love how you so often just stop, and look and listen and find so many wonderful things in life. Teaches me to do the same.
Oh, this is great. More info about Sharp-Shinned Hawks. 🙂 More stuff to learn. Yes, my mantra definitely is “stop, look, and listen”. How much we learn from our world when we do that … and how much we learn from each other. Thank you, Kinny, I really like all the info about that hawk.
Some might say you talk to birds. Maybe they talk to you! And maybe you listen. 🙂 Lovely photos.
Yep, I think it works both ways, June. 🙂 Nice thought.
Fascinating. Maybe it seems like such a simple thing to see a bird out your window, but to then pay attention to what the bird is doing, and understand the story of the bird, from the bird’s perspective. This was fascinating, and really cool. 🙂
Thanks, Tim. Of course, you know, all my stories about these birds and others are absolutely true and factual … they told me so! 🙂
Oh gosh, I’d love to see something like these birds doing their thing. This was great! Love the hawk!
I’ve seen a hummingbird in a sprinkler before, but I’ve never a hawk taking a bath, cooling off, before … and so close to me. I’m thinking it’s a once in a lifetime thing for me. Keep looking out your windows! 🙂
You have wonderful flowers and birds in your very own yard! I LOVE the little hummer who figured out how to get a shower without expending too much energy. And the hawk! I’ve never seen a hawk bath before! Soooo cool! Thanks for sharing your yard with us!
No kidding, he just sat and waited for the water to return, how smart was that!? And lifted one wing or the other to get the cooling water on his body. Just like we humans do when we take a shower. I think maybe humans aren’t really any smarter than other animals, maybe we just don’t notice. You are welcome, Dawn, always appreciate your comments. 🙂
Lovely and wonderful! 🙂
Thank you, Lori. 🙂