A Visitor On The Patio (Immature Cooper’s Hawk) — Images by kenne
This immature Cooper’s Hawk perched on one of our patio chairs not far from the bird feeder frequented by doves for about one minute this morning. A mature hawk would have been up in the olive tree near the feeder. Even then, that doesn’t work as well as swooping from over the rooftop. They will learn. These images were taken through the patio door, which given the time of day the doors become a mirror.
— kenne
Round-tailed Ground Squirrel (She/he actually lives on the other side of the wall.)– Image by kenne
— kenne
Mourning Dove Image by kenne
Mourning Doves are primarily a bird of open country, scattered trees, and woodland edges, but large numbers roost in woodlots during winter. They feed on the ground in grasslands, agricultural fields, backyards, and roadsides.
They typically nest amid dense foliage on the branch of an evergreen, orchard tree, mesquite, cottonwood, or vine. Unbothered by nesting around humans, Mourning Doves may even nest on gutters, eaves, light fixtures or abandoned equipment.
The male will bring nesting material to the female. She generally builds a very flimsy nest with no insulation. This one is atop a light fixture right outside our door.
— kenne
Holiday On the Patio — Organic Photography by kenne
— kenne
Mourning Doves Bathing In Patio Water Fountain (October 16, 2016) — Images by kenne
— kenne
Doves occasionally fly into our patio door window. The setting sun helps outline what remained
on the glass by one misdirected dove — oops!
The dove was all right, maybe a headache, but all right. (October 8, 2016)
— Image by kenne
Echeveria Blossoms (April 5, 2016) — Images by kenne
These beautiful little echeveria blossoms (approximate 1.5cc in size) are potted succulents on our patio.
The images were taken using a micro Nikkor 40mm lens on my ten year old Nikon D200.
“Peace At the End of the Day” — Computer Painting by kenne
— kenne
Patio Fire Pit — Image by kenne
— kenne
Patio Sun Screen — Image by kenne
Our patio is where we can sit and watch the sunset. But when the temperatures start going over 100 degrees, it’s time for the patio sun screen. Through the screen we can watch the sunset with the shadows of the sago palm and olive tree on the screen — beautiful day in the desert!
We almost made it through May without hitting triple digits.
kenne
Oleander Tree On The Patio — Image by kenne
Late Afternoon Sun and Clouds — Image by kenne
— kenne
A two-tailed swallowtail butterfly seemed to be intrigued with my lemon tree long enough for me to get my camera (September 26, 2014)
— In flight images by kenne (f/5.3, S 1/2000, ISO 1100-1600)
CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE LARGER VIEW IN A SLIDESHOW FORMAT.
Cooper’s Hawk — Image by kenne
It is not unusual to see cooper’s hawks here in the Sonoran Desert, even in my neighborhood. The Tucson area has one of the most dense populations to be found anywhere. Usually nesting in riparian areas, they are not always that easy to photograph. Because of their amazing flying ability, I usually see them flying low to the ground, through and between trees. The water fountain under the olive tree on our patio sometimes attracts a Copper’s hawk, not because of the water, but because of the smaller birds attracted to the water — they are a deadly bird-predator. This time I happen to have my camera near the patio door, making this image possible.
kenne
Cooper’s Hawk (with apologies to Wordsworth)
by Michael Konik
Regal, as if touched by royalty, you light upon the wire,
Surveying the buffet of opportunity below, where we
Who cannot soar, cannot glide, forlornly aspire
To shed our earthly shackles and be free.
You cannot be called a kind and caring raptor,
A patient pedant, with heart o’erflowing with generosity.
Your icy mission is starkly clear: to be a heartless captor
That kills and disembowels without pause for ruminant philosophy.
Yet we who walk upon the land, prisoners of gravity
Observe your single-mindedness with grudging admiration.
We see not a murderer swimming in a sea of depravity
But a champion inspiring our solemn approbation.
Schefflera Bonsai Painting — Image by kenne
— kenne
(This bonsai started life in the sub-tropic climate of the gulf coast many years ago. We moved it with us to Tucson where it loss its leaves, but has come back strong. I will be trimming it back and repotting this winter — life goes on in the desert for this indestructible bonsai.)
