Is this sweet, or what? I was down in the garden on Friday, taking pictures of some gorgeous flowers and everywhere the birds were doing 'the mating dance'....especially the doves....Oh, how I love to see them as the groom each other and kiss and preen....I have got to get a digital camcorder...very very soon....!
More kissimg....oh how truly dear they are....
You almost feel like one is saying to the other..."Come on....Let's do it...!" Like the Cole Porter song says...."Birds do it, Bee's Do it....etc...."Then these two look like they are still considering where to build a nest....the Finches don't seem as demonstrative as the Morning Doves, but maybe they are just more private about it all....
And then, here below....something I had never seen until I started my Cactus Garden twenty-one years ago....a Hummingbird, at rest...
And now...well, ("now" being the last twenty-0ne years), I see them 'at rest' all the time....I love these little birds....
Amd another view of this little guy, surveying everything surrounding him....Don't you just love him sitting so very very still on that spindly thingy......? 
And here below is a dear little Finch---at least I think it is a Finch...just trying to decide what to do next, and where to go...
I could be down in my garden every day right now and see the most wonderful things happening with all the birdies....If it is not too hot tomorrow...(It was 97 and very very dry today.....), I will go on down with my trusty camera, and just drink it all in....Oh, and the other morning, I was standing on my deck and saw this little black cat come into the garden underneath the chain-link fence...he walked along the fence and then stopped, and I couldn't exactly see him anymore...but I knew he was there...So I snapped a few pictures of where I was pretty sure he was, and lo and behold, there he was....
Can't exactly see him? Well, neither could I till I lightened him up! Now, there he is, below....! Isn't he cute? I think he belongs to the neighbors just below my property...the ones who had to build that big deck above their house....Well, in truth, the people who live there now actually inherited that deck from the ones who actually built that deck about 15 years ago....Anyway, I think that is where he lives.....
He looks so content in the shade, doesn't he? I did wonder if he was there to stalk some birds, but I decided that this was just a nice cool shady place where he could take a long morning nap....Welcome, dear kitty, I hope you come back again.....!
10:23 a.m. UPDATE: Thanks so very much for everyone's concern about the fire...It is not near me....it is East of me and unless some horrific winds come up that spread this in an unimagineable way, I am not in danger from that fire....Of course, it is always a concern, but, this one, though in the Hills....is not near me, at all....and I appreciate everyone's concern, more than I can say....it really warms the heart....
More To Come.....
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had this to say:
What great photos...that hummingbird one is exceptional!
Love the kitty who comes to visit and nap and not stalk.
Thanks for sharing all of them with us.- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 5:17:00 AM PDT
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Good morning,Naomi! Beautiful photos! Lovely nature! You brighted my day! Thank you!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 5:44:00 AM PDT
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The doves look so sweet, very affectionate. Also, I've never seen a hummingbird at rest, ever! Yet you've managed to snag 3 shots of one. Was it the heat that caused it to sit still do you think? I don't know anything about hummingbirds, only that I've only ever seen them in motion.
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 6:01:00 AM PDT
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Maybe Sweetie found a new girlfriend? He's pretty, Naomi, and I love all the bird photos, especially of the hummingbird at rest. I don't see that very often!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 6:49:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
That kitty is probably like mine...he watches the birds more than trying to get them.
Great post! I enjoyed all the little birds, especially since your coast is so different than ours!- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 6:58:00 AM PDT
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Oh, you have a kitty visitor! How fun. :)
I love the dove shots, and esp. the hummingbird shots with the bougainvillea. :) Very nice. We see our hummingbirds at rest because they love being near the lantana and hibiscus.
~S :)- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 8:55:00 AM PDT
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Oh, I love the pics of the little humming birds. I have never seen one in the flesh but they look so lovely.
Your garden is certainly a haven for wildlife and domestic life, like that black cat! He/she looks very content ther ein the shade. My cat loves going in the garden and spends all day moving from a sunny spot to the shade and then back again! Such a hard life! LOl!- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 9:32:00 AM PDT
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Not only you have a special eye for simple, extraordinary details ...you are also able to take pictures of that! how wonderful!
I have a three feline visitors, but they show up in pairs.It seems they like to exchange partners, lol. They are fun to watch.- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 9:41:00 AM PDT
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Great catch on the hummingbird, Naomi. I've only gotten one picture of one sitting and that's the one on the header of my blog. The damn things are usually so shy it's hard to see them "grounded".
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 11:40:00 AM PDT
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I actually DID see the kitty in the first picture! Hiding back there in the "shady spot" ... he's cute! It's so funny that you just posted that hummingbird perched there... we JUST saw a hummingbird land on a tree branch the other day! First time EVER! We were under the impression that they were in constant flight! I'm SO glad to find out that those little wings DO get a break every now and then! And I have a pair of mourning doves that visit my front yard daily for a meal... and they are never far from each other when they come. The cardinals are sort of like that too... always stick together. The blue-jays on the other hand CHASE each other and I don't think SHE likes HIM a bit!!! LOL!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 1:28:00 PM PDT
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Your back yard is very inviting the God's little animals. I wonder how that one stem supports that birds weight? I'm sure the little black kittie was just looking for some cool shade....97 degrees already....Do you get the humidity with it?
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 1:38:00 PM PDT
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Naomi, I just saw on the news that there are large brush fires in the hills there, near Griffith's Observatory. I hope you and your home will be safe!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 2:30:00 PM PDT
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I was humming the song "Birds do it, bees do it" as I was looking and reading, then saw you referred to the song *LOL*. Wonderful photos. I can't believe you got such great shots of the hummingbirds. They are so fast and seem to never stay still long enough for anything. Now I know they do rest :-).
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 2:45:00 PM PDT
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These are lovely photos! I couldn't see the cat at first, I thought he was a shadow lol!!! He's beautiful! He's like my Charlie - likes to snooze in the shade and watch the birds rather than chase them. Which is fine by me. :)
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 4:51:00 PM PDT
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I love the kissing birds and the hummingbird pics - you have such an eye! An appreciation for the small simple things that when we hone in on them, they are profound.
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 5:46:00 PM PDT
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Good Tuesday evening Lady of the Hills : Beautiful photos ! And I always like cats, but you also make me admire birds !
I have a pounding headache, so can't summon up much to say - please forgive me, when I am better, will write in more detail about your post !
p.s. wouldn't it be fun if you and I and Shephard got together for a Sunday brunch one day ? Is it possible ?- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 5:56:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
The hummingbird perched on that 1 lone branch is such a rare picture. You know, I've never thought of hummingbird's resting, or sleeping.
As always, Naomi, these pictures are so beautiful.- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 5:56:00 PM PDT
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I have never seen a still hummingbird! Great photos.
Looks like is so lovely there.
My dad and his sisters are out in your neck of the woods right now...they picked up my grandmother in Bakersfield and took her on a little vacation to Lake Tahoe.
Wish I were there, too.
Kendra- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 6:33:00 PM PDT
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You get a lotta birds! Very cool! My inlaws live in the country and have a bunch of feeders up. They get a ton of birds and it's so fun to watch them.
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 6:34:00 PM PDT
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What beautiful birds!!! The cats cute too but I hope he doesn't try to kill the birdies! Better put a bell on his collar!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 9:00:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Wonderful bird pictures. I love hummingbirds, but it's tough to get a good close up shot of them!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 11:05:00 PM PDT
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Visiting from Michele's this time :) and hoping you are safe. The fires in LA look just terrible!
- Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 11:29:00 PM PDT
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Thanks! I've never seen a photo of a still hummingbird. I have three cats and saw the cat in the picture right away. My 3 cats live in the house but we have 2 constant "visitors" in the backyard on a regular basis. I was going to say, "I hope the cat doesn't kill a hummingbird." and then I realized the odds of that were probably a million to one.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 12:07:00 AM PDT
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what a joy to just stop and watch the birds and flowers...tx for sharing
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 3:34:00 AM PDT
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Back again, just wanting to see if you had posted anything after seeing the fires near you on the news. Hope all's ok!!
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 5:59:00 AM PDT
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Naomi, watching the coverage of the fire in Los Angeles and thinking of you. I am sure you are safe but just wanted to check in. Hugs. S.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 6:08:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I'm getting a bird identification book for my birthday! The one is like doing a high wire act. My mourning doves are such babies or else so shy. They cry and run away when I come outside on the porch. Are they mourning? I saw my first butterfly yesterday and am still distracted by the blue birds.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 6:43:00 AM PDT
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Wonderful pictures Naomi. I love the doves, they are so sweet!!
And the hummingbirds!! Oh, I love them too. Well I love all birds of course!! Those hummers are so tiny and we have some here but not near as many as I would like! I'll have to go visit my husband's cousin out in the country where they have about 30-50 hummingbirds usually!! What a treat that is! They have a whole row of feeders for them to fight over and they do!!
I just love your garden Naomi!! Thanks for the great pictures!!- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 7:50:00 AM PDT
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Blogger seems to have eaten my comment... much like the kitty would eat the birds if they don't stay on the cacti. I don't think cats like the prickly stickers any more than people do..... so that should keep the birds safe.
We have a nest in a maple tree... I am on my way to climb up and see what is in it!- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 9:03:00 AM PDT
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I e-mailed you, and Shephard too...
Hope you have a good Wednesday !- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 9:33:00 AM PDT
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Naomi I hope you are well away from the fire I saw on TV.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 10:26:00 AM PDT
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The LOVE BIRDS!! All of the birds look so sweet, but I especially like the hummingbird. They usually flit about so quickly that you can't get a good look at them. He is perched up on that skinny stick, and he looks like a little toy.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 2:12:00 PM PDT
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Hummingbirds are my favorite...and to get a picture of one sitting still, it's not easy! We have doves also in our backyard, I love watching them also...so sweet.
Have a wonderful day, as you brightened mine!- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 2:45:00 PM PDT
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I'm glad you are not close to the fires!...
the pictures of the hummers "resting" are incredible!! I don't think I've ever seen one that wasn't flapping his little wings off! haha- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 3:42:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Love birds bring to mind the ronance of spring when mother nature hums a love song while painting the vibrant colors of welcome to her world.
- Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 4:36:00 PM PDT
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You have some really good photos. I know what you mean about the thrill of seeing the hummingbirds at rest. I have a bird of paradise outside my living room window and always get excited when those minature birds fly in and about, then actually perch a few minutes.
I keep intending to check out some Internet links for the different hummingbird types, as I'm sure I've seen two or three here -- mostly the ones with the male that has those beautiful iridescent green neck feathers. I haven't seen the ruby throated ones we use to have back east.- Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 12:48:00 AM PDT
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So sorry i've been away so long! I've never seen a hummingbird just sitting! What a great picture. I have a pair of doves living in my tree. They sit in their nest or on my roof and coo at each other all morning. So fun. I love the way you capture nature. It's so touching.
- Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 8:25:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Hi there! Thank you for dropping by my blog via Michele's.
I love those love photos! They are so adorable and so touching! It must be amazing to catch these lovely ones in action. Thanks for capturing it for us.- Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:03:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Hi again, Naomi! Michele sent me back... This time with my own blog!
Cheers...
Tanya- Friday, May 11, 2007 at 2:35:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
It is really nice to see birds during the mating season since they make a lot of noise and music at the same time. Fabulous photos I say!
- Friday, May 11, 2007 at 3:47:00 PM PDT
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