Rain . . .

Rain falls for days
Sunshine is a rare surprise
Between drippy downpours

© 2011, Liza Lee Miller.

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Hopeful, Happy New Year

All is gray and brown.
Pebbles, bare branches, dead leaves.
Sudden burst of pink

© 2011, Liza Lee Miller.

Evening calls.

Sitting in the cold
night air
on the cold porch,
telephone pressed to my ear,
I am distracted.
High, high above me,
calling
an owl
hoots repeatedly
calling
I try to listen to two things at once.
(and end up doing neither well)
still, it is a moment.

The Moon at 5:30 am

Shining window
Leaf patterns on the floor
Good morning, moon.

All content written by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2009, Liza Lee Miller.

I and the Bird #107 – We and the Bird

We and the Bird

by the contributers to I and the Bird #107

A data point in the study of the fate of birds
There were blue-wings aplenty in their usual haunt and a pair of kamikaze wood ducks that had me stamping on the anchors
These hornbills are capable of storing a large amount of fruits in their gular pouch.
Her frame is gangly, adorned with a mixture of adult plumages in different states of development
like two rival gangs feel each other out, replete with posturing and machismo
thirsty raven gathering rocks and dropping them into an urn
Add to this, pink legs and feet, and you have the details that make up the unique and subtle beauty of Ovenbirds
and before you is the incessant cacophony of hundreds of terns, cormorants and gulls crowding little islands of concrete and gravel
Other than the gulls, everything was a little twitchy
by plunging it’s bill deep in the sand, and spitting out the water when he withdrew it
splashing about as their friends look on, or even join in the fun
with a torch with yellow light, the male appears tawnier and therefore very much like a typical female
Swans are mean mothers aren’t they?
one of those head scratching, mind boggling reports that makes you glad to be a birder,
for abandoning that warm sleeping bag to brave the frost as the predawn glow begins
as it ripped at the flesh, a variety of birds came by and perched on the same dead treetop
Spoonbill foraging is dependent on fluctuating water depths
here a Wilson’s Storm Petrel does their characteristic foot pattering across the surface
I also saw a green heron fly by a few times but never got a shot of it.

I am deep in the midst of preparing for the start of a new school year.  One of my favorite things to teach my 4th graders is poetry.  We do a group poetry exercise after a field trip.  So, I thought I’d get warmed up with all of you.  I scoured the posts submitted for poetic lines.  I included them in the order they were submitted and I kind of like the results.  Dang!  We’re good!

Contributors to the “We and the Bird”:

• Dr. Martin Rundkvist, Aardvarchaeology
• Duncan Fraser, Ben Cruachan – natural history
• Y C Wee, Bird Ecology Study Group
• Amber Coakley, Birder’s Lounge
• J “Kyron” Hanson, DreamBirding
• Rick Wright, Aimophila Adventures
• Vickie Henderson, Vickie Henderson Art
• Jocelyn M Oudesluys, j · m · o u d e s l u y
• Ian Coleman, Quantum Tiger Wildlife Photography
• Christopher Ciccone, Picusblog
• Larry Jordan, The Birder’s Report (With deep apologies for missing him in the first pass!!!)
• Amila Saldago, Gallicissa (With even deeper apologies for missing him twice!!!)
• Rhythmic Diaspora (Nominated by Amila Saldago)
• Nate, The Drinking Bird
• David Alcock, Dave A’s Birding Blog
• Fiona Cohen, Nature Geek Northwest
• Matthew Sarver, The Modern Naturalist
• Corey Finger, 10,000 Birds
• Liza Lee Miller, Birding by Happenstance

Start getting ready for I and the Bird, #108.  It’s being hosted by The Zen Birdfeeder.

High Drama in the High Sierra

Summer skies at altitude
Clouds whisper in and build the drama
Will it storm or dissipate

All content written by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2009, Liza Lee Miller.

For more dramatic skies, visit Skywatch Friday®!

Happy Mother’s Day!

sipping coffee
reading poems written by a 9 year old boy
that touch my heart with his insight
the birds sing on the feeder

All content written by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2009, Liza Lee Miller.

Wordless Wednesday

Rain glistened rust spikes
tiny webs
yellow surprises

All content written by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2009, Liza Lee Miller.

I know the Spring

I know the Spring
sweet scented air
dawn of song
brightest clearest softest blue

I know the Spring
cool nights
warm caressing sunlight
humming wisteria

I know the Spring
bright light clear light
singing from on highest height
abundance, promise
spilling forth
pouring out and over and through

I know the Spring for it fills me up to full.

I am honored to be featured today by the Nature Blog Network! I hope you’ll take a moment to visit their site and stay awhile. They do good work there, do Mike and Wren, and John, and N8. Thank you all, especially Wren who interviewed me so painlessly, making me sound much better than I had any business sounding!  I also want to thank my readers for keeping me on the front page of the birding list that the Nature Blog Network keeps.  Thank you!

All content written or photographed by Liza Lee Miller unless otherwise noted.
© 2009, Liza Lee Miller.

April is the cruelest month

Package.
Sitting on the steps.
Filled with hope
and shoes.

© 2009, Liza Lee Miller