Thursday, June 19, 2008

SKY WATCH


A favorite spot for me to visit is the Wetlands Institute. There is lots to see inside, but I have often spent my time out of doors. The gardens are really wonderful, and often full of butterflies - my favorites. Behind the building, a long trail runs through the wetlands to the water.
















A year or two ago I found a whole tree full of swallows along the trail.














The next picture was not taken at the Wetlands Institute,
but I think it may be appropriate to include it, since it is
so like the tree full of swallows.











This one is a tree full of turkey vultures, not at the Wetlands, but was taken on a country road not too far from the scene.






Our friend, Tom, is kind enough to host Sky Watch every week. The project has grown to 225 participants from all over the world.

The list of links to all the posts can be found at his blog, Wigger's World.

51 comments:

Flying Solo said...

Hello Bobbie, butterflys are my favourite too!
Thanks for your nice comment. I have more storks on nests in previous posts and many at computer, Il return to give you the link.
Beautiful sky watch post!!

PS: If I forguet it ask me saturday.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Thanks for your comment on my post.

WOW, that's a lot of birds in one tree--two different species in two different trees as well!

I've seen turkey vultures lined up on a fence, but not as many as in your photo. I forget what the specific term for a group of them are called.

Nice photos.

Jim

Anne said...

Oh... I loved the pictures "birds in the trees"...

Nice weekend to you from Anne in Norway.

Tom said...

Thank you for being a part of Sky Watch this week, your post and comments are much appreciated.
Tom ;O)

Nice to see another Bird post as well... :O)

Dewdrop said...

Love the turkey vulture tree shot... very cool, eerie looking.

Angie said...

These are all good photos but the second one is definitely my favourite.

me ann my camera said...

The tree of swallows is quite spectacular in the simplicity of design with only the basic elements needed: sky, tree and birds. The wetlands must be a wonderful place to visit. As the years pass by I find I have totally abandonded the shopping malls of my past :-)

Thanks for your visit to my sky watch.
Ann

Carole said...

Beautiful shots. The birds especially.

Marie said...

Great sky watch!
Great bird watch :)

SandyCarlson said...

That looks like a place rich in life!

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Hi! Okay. Maybe the third time is the charm with trying to leave a comment.

This is a Great Sky Watch post. The Wetlands Institute is a very beautiful place. My favorite photo though is the tree full of swallows. Lisa

Daniel J Santos said...

Beautiful catch, great pictures.

FO - 2 said...

WONDERFUL! :)
I can understand that you like to spend some time right there.

Pretty Life Online said...

Fantastic one! We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened... mine's up too hope you can drop by. Happy SWF!

Sandpiper (Lin) said...

This is a terrific SkyWatch, Bobbie. I love your pictures. This place looks like a great place to visit.

esnorway said...

nice pics

E said...

Swallows. Sublime. Thank you fro this sweet gift

Rose said...

I won't say those last two are pretty, but they sure do make good sky watch pictures. Just sort of eerie.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Those trees looks so haunting. very nice sky watch

Gattina said...

That looks like a natural decorated tree with all these birds sitting on it !

Petunia said...

Love that bird tree! Very nice!



Petunia's SWF post

Unknown said...

Love the swallows - great post.

Gary
Bodge's Bulletin.

Unknown said...

nice shots...thanks for visiting my skywatch post. have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Your swallows look very diffeent from ours - ut they make a nice picture.
The vultures look a tad more sinister but I guess its all in the mind. Thank you for your comment.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Bobbie: I feel as if I just came out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. I'm glad you are safe from attack.

Thanks for the visit. I will post a Turkey Vulture on Sunday. Please come back, I think it is cool.

Dragonstar said...

Love that last photo! I always like stark branches against the sky, and the birds just set it off. Perfect.

Bear Naked said...

Wetlands Institute looks like a lovely place to visit.
Nice photos of the birds but I think I prefer swallows to turkey vultures.

Barb said...

Love your turkey vultures! We have them at the swamp, but I've never seen so many gathered together in one spot!

nonizamboni said...

Wonderful post--trees full of birds!
Have a great weekend, Bobbie.

Anne-Berit said...

Lovely photos,well done!

Champ Townboy said...

These are gorgeous shots!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful. I love shooting birds!

Mental P Mama said...

Beautiful shots. Love the birds.

Patty said...

Those are all lovely shots. I especially like the last one of the birds

Dianne said...

I love the tree of swallows too!

They look like they're just waiting for their photo op!

Christy said...

Gorgeous trees full of birds. Very beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Terrific photos! I would love to stumble across a gathering like this - and struck gold twice!

Lucky you! Happy SWF :)

Daryl said...

Wonderful photos all

:-Daryl

Indrani said...

Lots of turkey vultures, never seen so many of them before.

Unknown said...

Nice shots all of them!
Have a nice weekend.

Rune Eide said...

I wonder how it would have been if you had out the birds in the same tree?

Anonymous said...

Hey there. Nice pictures. I like them with birdies on. Have a nice day
KB

Kathie Brown said...

bobbie, I love the swallows in the tree! What marvelous photos and perfect for Skywatch!

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

We call those in the second shot turkey buzzards, and they are also what we call Nature's Clean-Up Crew. Our first reaction is to recoil, but then we realize that what they're eating has already been decided, as far as fate goes, so why not just clean it up?

Great, great pictures!

Pat - Arkansas said...

I really enjoyed the "bird-trees" against the sky. Nice Sky Watch.

Anonymous said...

Those are beautiful shots! Thanks for sharing! My very "first" entry is up as well. Hope to see you there!

Cheers,
Nita's Random Thoughts
Nita's Corner
Thomas Web Links
Thomas Travel Tales
Great Finds and Deals
Bohol Paradise

KG said...

Look at all your comments!

You know . . . as gross as those turkey vultures are, they ARE, of course, important. Even if they resemble certain politicians . . . *ahem*

Naturegirl said...

Hello butterflies..well I wear a crown of butterflies on my portrait photo!Truly my favorite too!
Great SWF images!
A newby Sky Watcher! Nice meeting you!

Suzi-k said...

lovely pix Bobby, the bare branches and plain skies really are a great backdrop for those flocks of birds! I find the building at the Wetlands fascinating too, the views from that balcony around the square tower must be wonderful.

Judy said...

I love these pictures. I have never seen vultures in a tree like that. What a great shot!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for visiting and comment. I am glad to meet all you on Web.
You are Stars on my Weekly Sky.
Luiz Ramos
Rio de Janeiro, June 21, 2008