Friday, July 08, 2016

A Zoom in the Hand Is Worth a Bird in the Bush Weekly Link Round-Up




This is one of those rare weeks when I really don't have a thing to talk about. I'm just enjoying the summer. Reading some wonderful books out in the shady end of the pool. Enjoying having an air conditioner that works. Sitting outside in the evenings to listen to the fountain and watch the colors change on the solar ornaments. Rough, I know.

My first Phainopepla
The photo I'm sharing with you this week isn't the best in the world, but it just goes to show how handy a good zoom is on a camera. This bright-eyed, top-knotted bird is a juvenile Phainopepla-- the first one I've ever seen-- and Daisy and I saw it at the Desert Botanical Garden. You can see some of the downy feathers that are still clinging to it. It may not be a good photo, but it was good enough to enable me to get an identification.

Phainopeplas ("silky flycatchers") are interesting birds in that they breed twice each year in two different habitats. Here in the desert, they're territorial loners defending their nests from all comers, and gorging on up to 1,100 mistletoe berries each day (if they're available... and I wonder who counted the berries...). In woodlands, as many as four nesting pairs can share one large tree. I was tickled to be able to see one at last.

But I'd better stop bird watching and start link sharing. The corral is packed, and they're getting restless. Head 'em up! Moooooooove 'em out!




►Books, Movies & Other Interesting Tidbits◄

►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄

►Channeling My Inner Elly Mae Clampett◄
  • Nonstop flight: How the frigatebird can soar for weeks without stopping.  
  • Ranger cries when Grand Canyon tourists ignorantly "help" a fawn
  • Skomer Island in Wales is a wildlife paradise and one of the world's most important habitats for burrow nesting seabirds.

►The Happy Wanderer◄

►A Few Fascinating Folk◄
  • Victor Lemoine, the unknown French horticulturist who made lilacs happen. 
  • Linda Cox, the woman who blew up the glass ceiling. 
  • Baron Franz Nopcsa, whom history forgot, discovered dinosaurs and died penniless. 
  • Childhood leukemia was a death sentence... until Dr. Don Pinkel
  • Richard Dunning, the son of a bus mechanic, preserves a hallowed crater from World War I. 

►I ♥ Lists◄


That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

Have a great weekend, and read something fabulous!


   

5 comments:

  1. Sometimes, Cathy, a 'not much new to report' week is the best kind. We all need that 'down time.' And that's a gorgeous 'photo. Now, I'm off to read about that Thomas Jefferson letter. He was such an skilled wordsmith.

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    1. He certainly was. I could happily live in his suite of rooms at Monticello.

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  2. Interesting article on women readers and their favorite writers. I like Donna Leon, too, as does Hillary Clinton, and her spouse likes Sara Paretsky; These are both two of my favorite writers.

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    Replies
    1. I'm always fascinated by famous folks' preferred reading.

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  3. Yes! Fascinating to learn of politicians' and celebrities' favorite authors and books.

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