Friday, May 16, 2014

It's A Long One

It's a long weekend here in Canada (Victoria Day, informally considered as marking the beginning of the summer season in Canada). A lot of people go away for the weekend, but we are staying put.
 
I plan to be outside in the forest, in my yard gardening, relaxing and barbecuing! This post is a tad long as well, so that I can join in with all my favourite memes. I have my iPad for visiting and commenting, but I still can't figure out how "post from the Pad"!
 
Adult female Red-winged Blackbird
I really like the touches of orange in her feathers.
 

Juvenile male Red-winged Blackbird
I love seeing the beginnings of that adult red and yellow wing patch.
 
 
Adult male Red-winged Blackbird
 
And of course, a critter post is not complete without a (peanut begging) squirrel.
Grey Squirrel (Buff)...yes I do name them all, and know them by their markings.
sharing with...
 
Maple leaves unfurling
sharing with...
 
Beep (my granddaughter) is joining in on some memes this week.
She's thrilled when people drop in to Beep's Blog (Click here)
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

58 comments:

  1. Oh, I do love your photos, Karen!! Beautiful birds, delightful squirrel, and lovely leaves!! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Now I'm off to Beep's blog!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. just beautiful shots, karen! do enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Karen, your birds are fantastic, those feathers shine, and superb colours, and of course the peanut loving fellow, leaves are a green that is coloured beyond a word I can find. I did visit Beep, and commented, her pets are so special. Cheers, Jean.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the call of the red winged blackbird. A very cute shot of the squirrel!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fabulous photos! Enjoy your nice long weekend doing what you love.

    I hope the weather is great for you! Heading over to "Beep's" blog now to say hello! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy long weekend. More beautiful pics for us to see today, and the squirrel is a cutie. Good luck with your ipad.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much. Your birds and your squirrel put a big smile on my face - which extended further as I looked at the magic of unfurling leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  8. GORGEOUS pictures as always Karen♡♡♡ I  also love Red-winged Blackbird's touches of orange in her feathers♬♬♬

    Have a wonderful holiday♪ How I wish to say the same thing (nature nature where are you!!!) p;)

    Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Red-winged Blackbirds are a fantastic bird and you shot them.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think you need an App to post to Blogger. You can find it here https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/blogger/id459407288?mt=8

    ReplyDelete
  11. What great shots !! Your squirrel is gorgeous and very sweet :)))
    Have a happy weekend !

    ReplyDelete
  12. Brilliant photos Karen. I fell in love with the Red-winged Blackbird the first time I ever saw him several years ago, but have never seen such detailed photos of the female before. She is lovely! Loved Buff, he looks like a Buff :). Your maple leaf shot is stunning too. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Karen, you get some wonderful close ups of the birds and squirrels. I hope you enjoy the holiday weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I really enjoy your photos, so you go enjoy the weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love your photos they are so crisp and vibrant. That last photos I felt was going to unfurl right before my eyes ! Great shot.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gorgeous images, Karen. i, too, tried to post from tablet, never looks like what I posted and often image shows too small.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Enjoy your holiday! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos, too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great photos. Love the vibrant colors and close-ups you captured.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

    ReplyDelete
  19. The squirrel is so photogenic. Pretty birds too!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful shots of the birds, but I think the squirrel stole the show today. Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the macro of the maple tree budding/coming to life again for another season!!!

    And your squirrel...they're always a delight.

    But, your family of Red-wings captivated me.

    Enjoy your long weekend holiday.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely shots, Karen! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wonderful birds and critter as always. Happy Victoria Day and Happy Summer. That sounds like my idea of how to spend a long weekend -- too many people going places...we always tried not to travel on long weekends -- and never even go anywhere on weekends nowadays if we can help it. (Mid-week is so much quieter!)

    Oh and if you ever figure out how to blog from the pad" I hope you'll do a tutorial on it ;>)!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Your shots are absolutely stellar and I love that you name your critters! Beautiful post!

    ReplyDelete
  25. These are awesome. Love the one of the adult male and the buds are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  26. There's an app for that! Actually, there are several. And if you want to post a single picture, you can email it to an address that blogger assigned you for that purpose.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wonderfully captured detail!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Beautiful birds in action. I like that squirrel.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I wish I had a place like yours to photograph birds. Your images is always so sharp and crisp. :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would call her "The lady in black"

    ReplyDelete
  31. love the birdies - don't like squirrels but they are irresistibly photogenic

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wonderful and lovely shots! Love them all!
    Have a happy Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hey Karen, did you post those Red-winged Blackbirds for me? They are just super pics of a super, super bird. Keep them coming.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Have a wonderful 3 day weekend, Karen. It's always nice to have a "free" day to relax.

    Your last 2 pictures are awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  35. beautiful photos, the red winged blackbirds are such lovely looking birds

    ReplyDelete
  36. just gorgeous karen!! have an awesome day!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Beautiful young leaves about to unfurl. I love the Red-winged Blackbird series. One of my very favorite birds.

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a wonderful image of the maple leaves unfurling. Spring is here, Karen. Yippee!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm sitting here with a big grin! Love the squirrel.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Beautiful shots. I enjoy taking pics of the red-winged blackbird. They are always so vocal.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Hope you are enjoying your weekend. It's finally wsrming up in Chicagoland. Your series of shots is outstanding! http://lauriekazmierczak.com/life-in-a-slow-lane/

    ReplyDelete
  42. Fantastic critter shots adn also the last shot I love.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great find on the female blackbirds. Boom,Bobbi& Gary.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wonderful photos and great birds.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Each of these is just beautiful, Karen!
    I especially love the maple leaves.
    And of course, Buff too!!! xo.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Wonderful photos of the birds and squirrel, the focus is so sharp and clear! I can see every feather.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Love that squirrel!! :D And birds too..very clear and sharp shots, wow!

    ReplyDelete
  48. beautiful colours on the female red wing and I love the maple leaf unfurling

    ReplyDelete
  49. Very nice bird - and of course squirrel shots :-)

    ReplyDelete
  50. Love the male Blackbird - I have wanted to see big flocks of these birds since I met them in a book many years ago!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  51. incredible bird pics! you bring out such beauty in their plumage and the poses are always perfect! *S*

    that squirrel is a cutie. Is Buff a girl or boy ? *S*

    as for the macro shot of the unfurling maple leaves - beautiful!!

    ReplyDelete
  52. As always nice shots and I love the cripsness of the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Wonderful series Karen! Thanks for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

    ReplyDelete
  54. All your pictures are so beautiful Karen!!! How much I like the eyes of the little squirrel...it looks so clever and cute :)...and it's great you give them names!
    Also a wonderful macro of the awakening maple!!!
    Enjoy a happy weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Great shots, Karen! The RedWing Blackbirds are attractive birds. Thank you so much for linking up to my critter party. Have a happy day!

    ReplyDelete

Please feel free to leave a comment, and hey, why not follow my blog too.
I can't respond to every comment, but I will return the favour and visit your blog. I have turned off word verification, but it randomly shows up, that's a BLOGGER glitch.