Western King Birds and The Apple Tree Surprise

Western King Bird

I do so love the twitter and chirps of the early summer. The  morning songs consist of sparrows, house finches, friendly robins, cooing doves, bright yellow orioles, starlings, a few roosters, hens, ducks, turkeys from down the road, ravens, and the western king bird. My, I do have quite a variety !




We had so many birds in the backyard and I was looking for some nests up in the big apple tree but could not see them for the leaves and the abundance of apples growing on the branches.



I noticed yesterday morning there were 2 western king birds up on the wires and they seemed upset when I came outdoors. I just chalked it up to their personality. I took some photos of them and thought it a good time to take a video of  them so others could see and here what they sounded like. I used the branch that was hanging low from the weight of the apples to support my camera. It was the perfect level. I took the video and walked around the hanging branch and my eyes zoomed in on a nest with 2 babies inside ! Whoa ! I must have been 1 foot from the nest as I took the video. Watch video so you can see and hear what the the adult birds sound like. It is 33 seconds.








Finding the nest gave me such a child-like magical feeling. I love it when these experiences happen.



Can you imagine finding a nest at eye level? 



 I carefully stepped up to take a photo. Look close in the center you can see their little black eyes.

Baby western king birds in the nest, Iron County, Utah

I made sure to walk wide around the branch and the parents seemed to trust me after awhile. I felt they could sense I meant no harm. So I scooted a bit closer. and Click* 

Two baby western king birds.

Oh they are so cute ! And they have their feathers and I think they will leave the nest soon. Precious little things. I am so glad I was able to see them before they left the nest. What a blessing to behold.

 By Deborah Moon Moen

Thank you for visiting Nature Loves Appreciation ! 
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Until next time remember,
The more you appreciate Nature, the more Nature experiences will come to you. That is because Nature Loves Appreciation !

Prarie Rain



Rain falls over the mountains like veil separating day and night in Lund, Utah.
http://deborah-moen.artistwebsites.com/products/prarie-rain-lund-utah-deborah-moen-art-print.html
click on the picture to see a larger view.



"Have you ever seen the rain

falling down on a sunny day?"

by John Fogerty, Sung by Credence Clearwater

Well, have you?

The first time I saw rain falling from the sky at a distance was when I was in Yellowstone. I did not know what it was. Curious dark curtain stretching across the hills and valley it was. The memory of that is still etched in my mind or wherever our memories are kept. Some of us live in cities where the buildings obscure the sight of how the rain falls. We may smell that musty earthy scent of rain as it begins or enjoy the fresh clean air and sometimes sniff in the refreshing scent of pine needles that have broken off the branches. We see the water drops splat on the pavement and may look up and catch the slant of rain falling and also see the dark clouds. We can hear the rain drip, drip, dripping from the roof tops and trees.



Rain that falls from the cloud and evaporates
before hitting the ground is called Virga. 
Photo taken by Deborah Moen

But oh the sight of rain coming down from

 a big cloud  in the distance is a thrilling sight. Sometimes the wall of rain looks like a white wedding veil and sometimes it looks like smokey dark curtain. If the wind is blowing, the wall of rain will walk over the countryside. You can tell if the rain is coming near you or away from you. I so love the rain and how it squeezes and oozes out of the clouds.

 I feel the rain is mysterious. I have read this water is the same water the wooly mammoth waited in when it stood in the lakes and swam in the oceans. And to think of how the water on land actually becomes a cloud gives me goosebumps!



Cumulonimbus Cloud: Cedar City, Utah Photo by Deborah Moen
Comes In a greeting card
 http://deborah-moen.artistwebsites.com/products/prarie-rain-cloud-deborah-moen-greeting-card.html



Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
By John FogertyCreedence Clearwater Revival

Someone told me long ago
There's a calm before the storm
I know; it's been comin' for some time.
When it's over so they say
It'll rain a sunny day
I know; shinin' down like water.

[Chorus]
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain?
I want to know
Have you ever seen the rain
Comin' down on a sunny day?

Yesterday and days before
Sun is cold and rain is hard
I know; been that way for all my time.
'Til forever, on it goes
Through the circle, fast and slow,
I know; it can't stop, I wonder.

All of a sudden I am remembering all these songs about the rain that I listened to when I was a teen. I hadn't yet seen a wall of rain and these songs were fun to sing and listen to but the lyrics now mean so much more to me. Like a fine wine those lyrics and melodies fermented a great appreciation for Nature and most certainly became one of the reasons I am here. Dreams and desires do come true, you know.



Iron County, Utah Photo by DeborahMoen
Comes in a Greeting Card
http://deborah-moen.artistwebsites.com/products/cumulonimbus-rain-cloud-deborah-moen-greeting-card.html

Baby The Rain Must Fall 
By Glenn Yarbourgh

Some men climb a mountain,
Some men swim the sea,
Some men fly above the sky:
They are what they must be.
But, baby the rain must fall,
Baby, the wind must blow,
Wherever my heart leads me
Baby, I must go, baby I must go.
I do not love for silver,
I do not love for gold,
My heart is mine to give away,
It never will be sold.

Thank you for visiting Nature Loves Appreciation
(1124 page views)

Until next time, Take time to explore and enjoy Nature

The more you appreciate Nature
 the more there is to appreciate.

YAY !

Over and out here,
Deborah (Moon) Moen, Nature Lover

PS Catch this great example of Virga ( rain that evaporates before it hits the ground). Sometimes the wind blows and makes them look like commas. Write your own message inside this Greeting Card of Virga Clouds with positives words in a subtle heather print.

Uplifting Clouds Greeting Cards by SimpleSpark
Add your photos and text to blank greeting cards at Zazzle