Friday, January 7, 2011

Don't forget to look up

If you walk around the Riparian Preserve, you realize you are constantly looking across horizons or down into ponds. You are trying to count the birds, to absorb every winged creature.
 
 Some birds just stand still and admire their own reflection. 
You admire it, too.



 Some ponds seem to host just a lone bird - until you peer into the marsh a bit more. That is when you realize there are dozens of birds in this frame.

Sometimes a flotilla of mallards wander along the edge. 

But, then for some reason, you look skyward. 


And you know the Riparian Preserve isn't just for water fowl. 


Banjo 52 asked the proximity of the Riparian Preserve to our house. John - it is 4-5 miles as the bird flies. Otherwise, it is 6-7 miles as I drive.

20 comments:

MadSnapper said...

what a wonderful place to live close to. i like that flotilla a lot, but the look up green birds are my favorite. they are beautiful. we have flock of small green parrots that fly over our house, they look similar to these birds.

MadSnapper said...

what a wonderful place to live close to. i like that flotilla a lot, but the look up green birds are my favorite. they are beautiful. we have flock of small green parrots that fly over our house, they look similar to these birds.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

Jeez, I miss having water around!Thank goodness I have you to take pictures for me, Brenda!

Of course I had to go google peach faced lovebirds in the valley. It's interesting to note that they aren't, yet, considered an invasive species, because they don't compete with any natural populations. However, they also don't have any natural predator to control the population.

Below is a map of sitings. They're everywhere

Title

I do love lovebirds, though! I don't know it there is a cuter, more comical bird anywhere!

The Barn Door said...

The peach faced lovebirds are beautiful. My great aunt lived in Mesa and had them in her back yard!

Brenda's Arizona said...

Barn Door: we've had the peach faced lovebirds in our backyard, too. Such a surprise!

Cyndi, thanks for the link to the sitings! It seems there are a LOT in our neighborhood! You do have to wonder how long they will last here, and how invasive their impact will be.

Sandra, I wonder where the green parrots you see came from???

Pat Tillett said...

Thanks for the photos! I love being around birds. Well, most of them anyway. We are in the route of maybe a few thousand crows who pass by twice daily on their way from and home to their roost.
I like crows and they are very smart, but they are so LOUD!!!

Barb said...

Lucky you to be so close to such a wild place. I enlarged the third photo and was amazed to see all the "hidden" birds - the white one draws the eye but there were so many more!

Kathy said...

Ah, the peach-faced lovebirds. Didn't realize they were out your way also. Where I used to live in Central Phoenix they are spotted frequently. Unfortunately in my neighborhood I just had pigeons but a friend just a couple miles due east of me had the lovebirds, plus wild parakeets and other small parrots. What fun!

Banjo52 said...

Thanks for the geography info, Brenda.

After being startled by some green parrots in Florida a few years ago, I inquired of most expert birding friend, and he told me there are NO native parrots in the U.S. They are all the result of escaped domestic parrots and then lots of country luvin'. Is that the case with your peach faces?

Did you see the documentary about the wild parrots of ???? in San Francisco. Purty interesting.

Brenda's Arizona said...

Ah yes, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. I loved it!

As Barb mentioned, enlarging the photos help show the real picture!

Anonymous said...

I love how you captured the heron (?). No animal, not even man, can trump the bird when it comes to vanity.

How Sam Sees It said...

We are about the same distance from the preserve - would you want to meet one morning and walk the dogs?

Sam's Mom

Banjo52 said...

I forgot to mention how great your photos have become. Well done!

On aonther note, if I were a bird, would I still hate flying?

Brenda's Arizona said...

AH: I am pretty sure it is an egret.
Sam's Mom: I emailed you!
Banjo - thank you for the compliment!

The Retired One said...

Ooooo, those last birds were GORGEOUS! What kind were they?

Brenda's Arizona said...

Peach Faced Lovebirds. Not water birds at all, haha!

Thérèse said...

Such a peaceful place! I wish we had Peach Faced Lovebirds around here which is not the case or are they avoiding me perhaps?

Sharon said...

Such beautiful photos. I wonder if this is where my peach faced love birds have been keeping themselves lately. I haven't seen them in a while and they used to hang out in the tree in my front yard every afternoon.

Unknown said...

Great Photo's Brenda.
I am very familiar with the Herons and Egrets, But have no idea about the multi colored birds. I love the ducks but can never seem to sneak up on them. I live on a lake and hope to put out some feed for the ducks, and maybe a duck box or two.

Gus, Louie and Callie said...

Oh what great pictures.. You are so lucky to have all those birds so close...

Big Sloppy Kisses
Gus, Louie and Callie