The challenge this week is a little different. Being ‘Stuck in Place’ is any small area we choose to go with our camera. We are not suppose to walk around much and only spend about thirty minutes looking for a few things to photograph. These are the rules Egido has suggested we follow.
This exercise is a great way to become more aware of our surroundings and find interesting things to photograph that would normally be overlooked! I decided to choose a small area in our front yard that is close to the bird feeder. It was surprising how many interesting things I saw while standing still and really looking closely at my surroundings.
This bird feeder has an interesting story to tell. Several weeks ago when going to fill it with bird seed, I opened the top, looked in and had a pleasant surprise. On the bottom of the feeder was a beautifully constructed bird nest holding two tiny feathers!! I hung it back up quickly, hoping that perhaps the bird would return; unfortunately that did not happen.
Looking at the feeder, the only way this tiny bird (maybe a Carolina Wren) could have gotten inside would have been through one of the small food openings. Think of all the extra work involved with building this nest. Probably a hundred and some trips inside carrying nesting material to build a perfectly shaped nest!
The picture on the right shows the nest inside the hanging feeder. Next is a photo looking straight down into the feeder.
While standing near the feeder, I looked up at the Oak trees along with the graceful Spanish moss hanging on its branches. Another picture of this tree is shown in the header.
Further to the left on the Oak trees is a large native evergreen shrub with tiny lovely flowers popping out all over.
To complete this exercise, I moved to the other side of the hanging bird feeder and photographed a few flowers beside the front door. The flowering Mandevilla plant and Myers Lemon tree love being in the sun. The Mandervilla continuously blooms all summer along with the Lemon tree. In another month or two as the tree continues flowering, more lemons will appear. And as an extra treat, the flowers are very fragrant, they smell like jasmine!!
Be sure to read Egido’s post where he writes about ways to stimulate your photographic eye and creative ability.
Wishing you a good week ahead; stay safe, be kind to others and enjoy life!!
“Creativity is simply connecting new dots in new ways.” – Sam Horn, Intrigue Expert
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“Quotes hold profound power to shift mindsets, influence behavior, and provide immediate, relatable wisdom, often acting as a “drug” that can shift moods. They condense complex, life-altering ideas into simple, memorable, and actionable phrases.” – Bridget Webber, a freelance writer and nature love;
Sylvia, what beautiful findings you shared here! I’m happy to see you enjoyed the challenge. The nest was amazing. I also liked the backlit leaves. The tree with the moss hanging down was magical. Great photos!
Egidio, from a distance, the nest appears to be perfectly constructed. Can’t wait for our family to arrive and gently remove it. Looking at the construction of the feeder and the location of nest inside, I still can’t believe a small bird was able to do all that work!! These Southern Oak Trees, usually with Spanish moss, are prevalent in the southern states. They can live for over two hundred years and can be massive in size! (https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/spanish-moss/) Thank you for your kind words!
We have some Spanish moss in the oak trees here, too. They are wonderful.
Sylvia, beautiful set! I’m sure you enjoy the time you spend by the feeder.
Thank you, John! We are lucky to have so many birds around in all different sizes and colors! The feeder is situated in the yard so I can bird-watch when working on the PC. The squirrels like to dominate it so fortunately we have resident Red Tail Hawks and that’s a help.
Sylvia, the bird that built the nest in the feeder must have worked really hard to put it there. Your yard is beautiful. I love the oak tree!
You are so right, when looking at the inside of the feeder and seeing the nest I couldn’t believe what I saw! Think the bird was a small Carolina Wren and the nest was built using threads of “bark” from one of our Palm Trees. Thank you Beth.
Lucky you to have a bird feeder to focus on for the challenge Sylvia – sad that the birds didn’t return YET though! I’m jealous of your lemons as you already know!!
LOL Tina, you have no idea how glad I was to remember the vacant nest in the feeder once I stepped outside!😊 The Lemon trees are easy to take care of (honest!) and always seem to have flowers and lemons growing – with a little fertilizer.