What's New

5/26/2011

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Summer is in full swing now.  The leaves are growing unbelievably fast.  The first flowers I saw this year?  Some purple flowers by the side of the road in town.  I don't know what they were, though.  :P
However, yesterday, I spotted a violet (which I've learned is probably actually a viola, but I've always called them violets) outside our house yesterday.  Also found that the bluebell buds are starting to open.  I took pictures of the violet and will post one of them. 
I've been focusing a lot on trying to capture birds.  I finally have some pictures of yellow-rumped warblers.  They're not very good, but they're a start.  I will be posting those when I'm done with blog.  Finally got a good picture of a robin, as well.  Just in the last few days, I have photographed robins, woodpeckers, juncos, and warblers. 
I've also gotten some really good sightings of hermit thrushes.  Now, normally I wouldn't know for sure if it were a hermit thrush, a gray-cheeked thrush, or another similar looking bird, however, at least one of them had the courtesy to sing for me, making him unmistakable.  In my opinion, the hermit thrush has the most beautiful song around.  :)
I also have some drawings I will try to post.  I hope you enjoy!  :)
Oh, yes, and the weather has been gorgeous!  Mostly in the 70s, some cooler, some warmer.  We could use a little more rain, though.  God bless!  :)
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Real Wind Surfers

2/21/2011

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Fairbanks has gotten a lot of snow the last two days.  I would estimate at least a foot.  Right now the sun is shining, but the wind is blowing and it's snowing.  There is so much fresh snow that some of the pathways that were just shoveled out yesterday can barely be seen--they had been a few feet into the snow already.

Now the subject I have chosen to dedicate the title of this blog to--a raven.  I climbed up to the tree loft today and cleared off most of the snow.  There was at least a foot and a half of snow on it, and I was concerned it might not be able to handle it.  There were some ravens flying around and landing in the trees, some talking.  Then the wind started to pick up and I noticed one raven being blown around in the wind. 
At first I wondered if the big bird was being blown off course by the strong wind.  But then I realized the truth; the raven was purposely "catching waves" so to speak.  I watched in amused amazement as he flew up high and caught a breeze over and over again.  "Now that's a real wind-surfer!" I said to myself.
Some of the time, he made me a bit nervous--the wind was so strong and was blowing him around like a leaf.  "I sure hope you know what you're doing and are being careful!" I told the raven.

Yet another reason why I love ravens.  They will never cease to be a great form of entertainment.  They are beautiful, graceful, magnificent, and intelligent creatures.

"Stop and consider God's wonders" (Job 37:14, NIV). 
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The most recent flower to bloom

5/30/2010

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A few hours ago I noticed the first green blossoms of the bunch berry (also known as dwarf cornel or ground dogwood).  They will soon turn white.  (For a picture of the white blossom, look under the "Flowers" page.)
It's 11:50 PM Alaska Daylight Saving Time, and yep, it's still light outside.  It's turned out to be a beautiful night; the smoke has cleared out!  :)  (Note that, though, this is dated May 30th, it is actually still the 29th here in Alaska.)
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Nature This Summer...

5/29/2010

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 It's a smoky and hot day in here in Fairbanks.  It's about 78 degree fahrenheit.  I understand that if you're reading this from almost anywhere else in the world, you must be laughing at the thought of that being hot.  I would've been laughing with you several years ago when I lived in a much warmer climate.  :)
Thankfully, the smoke seems to be clearing up some.  
The roses, bluebells, and grove sandwort are all in full-bloom now, as are the high-bush cranberry blossoms.  The dandelions are, as well, but I haven't seen them on our property yet.  

The timeline:  
Trees:  Balsam poplar and paper birch buds appeared first, followed soon by quaking aspen buds, then willows, and finally, alder.  (These all, of course, have large leaves now.)

Flowers:  The currant blossoms were the first I saw, followed very shortly by the bluebells (first bloomed about 2 weeks ago), then grove sandwort not long after.  The prickly roses first bloomed this last week.

Birds:  The black-cap chickadees stay year-round, as do the common redpolls (though I often hear more of them then I see).  In the winter, we will have the hoary redpolls as well.  Ravens will flock here in the winter, but most leave during the summer.  However, a particular one has stayed during the summer for the last few years. 
About three or four weeks ago, I first heard the robin's song again.  It was a week before I was able to see any of them sitting high atop the trees singing their sweet song.  I have now seen them flying and landing lower in the trees (mostly in the last few days).  Dark-eyed juncos (slate variety) and yellow-rumped warblers (myrtle) graced our fair woods again close to the same time, around four weeks ago. 

I usually see a lot of white-crowned sparrows, but I have yet to see them this summer.  Keeping an eye out....



   

   
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