Thursday, October 26, 2006

Pleasant Pheasant!


Click on the photo for a better look

Last Saturday I looked out the window and noticed a hen pheasant pacing slowly and inquisitively up the lawn between a couple of our gardens. You guessed it, I grabbed the camera and ran to the closest window! She saw me, but didn't seem perturbed by my presence.


People sometimes raise them and set them free to be hunted. I see the males occasionally, wandering on the side of the road as I drive to and from work. I've never seen one in our yard before though, and this is my first hen sighting.



She found a good vantage point in this garden, somewhat hidden, but luckily, still visible. Very curious she was.

I wanted to find my hubby, who was working outside, so he could see her too, so I threw on a coat, hat and boots (there was an icy wind blowing) and went out the back door, camera in hand of course. Wouldn't you know it, there were 3 cats waiting for me by the door (there's always at least one). I couldn't see the pheasant anymore, so I moved toward the garden wondering if she was still there. Not a smart move....I can't go anywhere outside without at least one cat in tow. Grady immediately sensed her presence and went into stalking mode. Out she came from her hiding place in the garden, and off she flew, over to the hedgerow across the road!
Oh well, at least I got 3 pictures from inside the house. I didn't really expect her to stand still and pose for me outside anyway :) Perhaps she'll visit again sometime. I hope so.



Colorful mums


There hasn't been much opportunity to get the fall cleanup work done outside because of the
nasty weather that has continued over the past week. Dreich (yuk/miserable) weather Claire of Claire's Garden in the Scottish Highlands calls it :)

The chrysanthemums look bright and pretty on the front porch, but have spent most of their time inside because I don't want them ruined by the rain and wind. I've taken the containers and baskets off the porch now because we're having frosts at night. I'm slowing cleaning them out for winter, but some are still blooming nicely inside by our sliding glass doors and on our enclosed, unheated side porch.



The ivy has turned a lovely reddish brown. I don't remember noticing this before. Having the digital camera has vastly improved my appreciation and observation of the beauty of nature.



Such a lovely blend of colors.



A few Gloriosa daisies are still bravely struggling to bloom.



and Halloween is just around the corner! Don't the days just seem to fly by?

My voice is back this week, but I'm still very croaky. I had the great pleasure of talking to Val on the phone last Tuesday night. Some of you know that she's visiting her parents and family in California at the moment. It was just a short chat because unfortunately, I developed a tickle in my throat and couldn't stop coughing. We're going to chat again next week when I hope to be totally over this croaking and coughing. She sounded exactly like I thought she would! Sue said the same thing when they chatted last week :)
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25 comments:

HORIZON said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri,
It's quite late here tonight and so l came online to see what you were doing. Beautiful pics as usual, love the mums and pumpkins.
We have loads of pheasants here at the moment- they are a bit silly as most birds go and when your driving and they are on the road they just run down, as fast as their legs will go in front of you!! lol
Best for now
ps- l know l didn't say that last bit right but now l'm heading back to bed :)

LindaD said...[Reply]

You're right - how much more we see with digital cameras.. and for me, taking the picture is like instilling the memory someplace. I appreciate the details so much more now. I love your descriptions of each photo.. adds to the 'being there'. I remember being both sad and relieved when freezing weather came.. sorry to see the beauty go, but almost welcoming the rest and a different set of challenges. I'm so glad you like to take photos.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Magnificent pheasant! How exciting to have caught her on film. I haven't seen a pheasant around here since last winter (I saw a male). They are special. What a neat porch you have. The pumpkins look great on the steps. That's been a nasty throat bug! Wonderful you are 'meeting' bloggers.

Philosophical Karen said...[Reply]

Lovely photos of the pheasant, especially that last one. I too can't believe that Halloween is almost upon us. Brrr!

Motherkitty said...[Reply]

Ah, fall has settled in here in full force. It's been raining here for days and days and all the color is rapidly fading from the trees.

Your lovely little quail is so beautiful. I would have been absolutely thrilled to see her strolling through my yard. Lately we've had a red squirrel rapidly run from tree to tree, but never staying long because of the cats.

Love your mums! Everybody around here in our neck of the woods decorates outside in some way with lots of mums. They are a fall treat!

Hope your croakiness disappears very quickly.

Susie said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,
Loved the photo of Mama Pheasant! We have several families of pheasants who lived in the open space behind us. I love to hear their calls and the whoosh of their wings when they take flight!
Your colors are looking very fallish. Love the mums and pumpkins...
Glad you got to chat a bit with Val!
Hope your voice is a bit better each day.
We're still having lovely weather here!!
xoxox

Anonymous said...[Reply]

As always you take such beautiful pictures and you must always have the camera near by for all the photos that you capture......thanks for the walk and I love the beautiful mums and the colors of fall.

Val said...[Reply]

The autumn is late this year again in the UK, and we havent had any frosts yet. Your comment about throwing on hat, coat and boots really brought it home how unseasonally warm it is still here.

We have pheasants in our field, and more are in the countryside this year. This is because here, too, people raise them for shooting. But the abundance of daddy-long-legs (crane flies) this autumn meant that the pheasants ignored their grain feeders which are meant to keep them near the rearing woods and easy to shoot. Instead they have roamed away from their nurseries and out into the countryside beyond. Good for them!

Laurie and Chris said...[Reply]

Your pictures are beautiful. I love fall pictures. We just got back from vacation in the Adirondacks. It's our favorite place. We would move there if we could.

clairesgarden said...[Reply]

lovely to still have some nice colours about, I am sure the cats think the p/hen would make a lovely snack!!

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

I loved your pictures of your mama pheasant and it does make you feel special when they come to visit. It's always a pleasure to have those visits especially for us who have cats.

So glad that your throat is getting better and that you will speaking to Val again. Tell her "Hi" from me and tell her I missed her.

We are also having lots & lots of rain here and our beautiful fall leaves are falling off rapidly.

Carole Burant said...[Reply]

What great shots you got of the pheasant...any idea if pheasants and partridges are the same thing? I know we have a lot of partridges around here but they mainly stay in the bushes, only once have I ever seen one in our yard in all the years I've been here. Your fall flowers are doing so well and are so colourful yet! Your pumpkins look great too:-) We're getting snowstorm warnings here for overnight so God only knows what we'll wake up to in the morning!! Stay warm my friend! Hugs xox

Jellyhead said...[Reply]

Now that's something I wish we celebrated over here...Halloween! Those pumpkins look very healthy. Are they for carving, or for pumpkin pie?!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I am so glad I found your blog on Anita's comment page.
Your photos are lovely and I like your sytle of writing.
I'll be back to read more.
The pumpkins look so pretty on the steps there.

Tanya said...[Reply]

Do you feel as though your summer has raced by too fast? It seems such a short time ago you were posting the last of last winter's snow. I'm already lamenting the onset of the summer here (have decided that there is very little that is good about summer in Townsville).

And I agree with Jellyhead - Halloween seems like such fun - I love all the pumpkin carving and decorating.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Lovely images! Great work!

Sigruns German Garden said...[Reply]

Lovely photos, and good, that your voice is back!

Sigrun

Anita said...[Reply]

Kerri, your last photos with the orange pumpkins laying on the stairs is a real country photo! Very very nice!
Will you tell us how you gonna celebrate Halloween?

Linda said...[Reply]

Your photos are gorgeous. We are finally experiencing a bit of fall weather. The past couple of mornings have been crisp and clear. It's nice enough to have the windows open - a welcome change from being all closed in with the ac on.
Hope you are completely well soon.

Naturegirl said...[Reply]

I enjoyed this visit to your site and your images were wonderful to view. I enjoyed your reading comments about the pheasant and your pumpkins image.

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...[Reply]

Is it snowing up there yet?

I heard that many people lost their electricity because of the heavy snowfall. I hope you weren't one of them. Take care and stay warm...cuddle up with all those soft furry kitties.

DellaB said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri, I agree, the digital camera has been a real boon, makes you look at things in an entirely new way... and I am SO glad that you have one... lovely pics, thankyou
Della

WendyAs said...[Reply]

Good on ya for capturing the bird so well. Why didn't it fly away?
You must have been very sneaky for these great shots.

Boxwood Cottage said...[Reply]

You still have so many gorgeous colors to see in your beautiful country garden Kerri. Love the bird pics! I wish you a very happy HALLOWEEN!

Dianne said...[Reply]

I've heard pheasants in the brush here, but to know someone who has actually gotten 3 photos of one is amazing! Good job!