tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54187093912013886292024-02-19T07:42:31.287-08:00Flamingo TreeKaren Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-28579266612494990972015-07-13T09:17:00.000-07:002015-07-13T09:17:59.714-07:00Breakfast with the Birds<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After several sunny days, Monday began with heavy rain. When the clouds cleared, a juvenile Magpie landed in the garden. He wasted no time in voicing his displeasure at my tardiness in setting out the breakfast buffet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Magpie is a bold and talkative bird, but this little fellow is more vocal than most. Recently fledged, he possesses the bolshie entitlement of a teenager, and will not hesitate in chasing away other Magpies from the table. With the Pigeons his manners improve and he kicks his feet and busies himself with smaller morsels until he musters the courage to take his turn. This morning, though, he is first to the garden and is alone. Squawking and grumbling loudly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I open the back door he squeaks off up to the roof. I come outside and begin the daily routine of checking the hanging feeders, cleaning up the bird tables and filling the birdbath with fresh water. I set out fresh seeds and scraps and retreat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ek0ay_-23yPhdHpB1xRAFJz9BJJ6Dp0HBgeqYP2v4-eZwlO0H9NNjBGsg8ZjCAPX-1o14_Ar8kQhLB-74Ll0H3TCApwH2qQmd8o0ebAJC6OlEVRF7STZS6NzHwvy9d4_okaqqGGA7No3/s1600/707.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ek0ay_-23yPhdHpB1xRAFJz9BJJ6Dp0HBgeqYP2v4-eZwlO0H9NNjBGsg8ZjCAPX-1o14_Ar8kQhLB-74Ll0H3TCApwH2qQmd8o0ebAJC6OlEVRF7STZS6NzHwvy9d4_okaqqGGA7No3/s320/707.png" width="234" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The House Sparrows are hungry too, and as soon as I return to the kitchen they arrive in a flurry. A family group of a dozen arrive on the wall. From there they dive bomb down to the ground feeder in twos and threes. They chatter and cheep as they hop and flutter from plant pot to table to chair to hanging feeder to bird bath. There are two little fledglings who sit on the wall waiting for their father to feed them. They shuffle impatiently and ruffle their feathers against the breeze.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When all have had their fill and have washed behind their ears, they return to the treetops and sing their familiar joyful song.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I delight in this spectacle. Watching the feathered visitors to my garden never ceases to make me smile. </span><br />
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<br />Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-18807520529923828712015-06-25T22:58:00.000-07:002015-06-25T22:58:11.496-07:00Chaffinch<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
am a nature lover and a keen garden bird watcher. I have been
inspired by the feathered visitors to my garden to make a series of
bird portraits.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Let me introduce you to the Chaffinch. I love his
rusty orange and grey tones and the flash of white of tail and
feathers when he takes off in flight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95rGWp6wpSTo2OPgngj4yEaBvLTwDXtUlmh9yXFo7HEju27PnYRAm-FzNNmKDE9yfvlo0VukK_Wsqyc7Cg6y1pdKOU48qXIt-qPdyIaseBEm-7MMI4HhrC5r_iAnZDwGMkM9sFthb3BRd/s1600/DSCN1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95rGWp6wpSTo2OPgngj4yEaBvLTwDXtUlmh9yXFo7HEju27PnYRAm-FzNNmKDE9yfvlo0VukK_Wsqyc7Cg6y1pdKOU48qXIt-qPdyIaseBEm-7MMI4HhrC5r_iAnZDwGMkM9sFthb3BRd/s320/DSCN1113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://folksy.com/shops/FlamingoTree/collections/245135" target="_blank">The garden bird portraits are available in my Folksy shop</a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-63913377737499224332015-06-24T23:32:00.000-07:002015-06-24T23:32:38.424-07:00House Sparrow<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next in my series of garden bird portraits is
of the House Sparrow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is very sad that in recent years the
population of this wonderful little bird has declined in the UK.
Fortunately the House Sparrows in my neighbourhood seem to be
thriving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They often visit my garden in groups of 6 or 8 or more.
They land in a muddled gathering along the wall before sweetly
swooping over to the bird table and hanging feeders, while the others
dive bomb in to the ground feeding table. It is entertaining to watch
them lining up around the bird bath to drink before hopping in for a
splash. I have a soft spot for these little birds, their cheeping and
chirruping song never ceases to make me smile as they gather in wait
for the breakfast buffet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8htGebOSZ5KDAK797vyY3vIEepIuKW_BAPBeHGfS3TTG69OZsT4XN9pGNTeqenX8FkJSQ5AYDwlY99QVe_ohnSVUfHu7agD6riqDFvHduf-fgnoyL1-v1qTeqEJZPfJ4YRn9o7OH_lm_/s1600/DSCN1093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8htGebOSZ5KDAK797vyY3vIEepIuKW_BAPBeHGfS3TTG69OZsT4XN9pGNTeqenX8FkJSQ5AYDwlY99QVe_ohnSVUfHu7agD6riqDFvHduf-fgnoyL1-v1qTeqEJZPfJ4YRn9o7OH_lm_/s320/DSCN1093.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://folksy.com/shops/FlamingoTree" target="_blank">My garden bird portraits are available in my Folksy shop</a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-50963596897234356702015-06-23T23:26:00.001-07:002015-06-23T23:26:50.240-07:00Blackbird <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
am a nature lover and a keen garden bird watcher. I have been
inspired by the feathered visitors to my garden to make a series of
bird portraits.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One
of my favourite visitors to the garden is the Blackbird. They love
fruit and I have several regular visiting Blackbirds who return to my
garden throughout the day to enthusiastically partake of the
delicious apples I provide. </span></div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I love the song of this beautiful
graceful bird, a joyful and optimistic call. This is a male, as it is
altogether more dark in appearance while the female is rather more
brown and mottled, but both have the brightly coloured beak and eye
make up. </span>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnNbVsp4dVSKgk3qRStndhRD-arlilJ8d2L8wH7Gg1x1IlNFcpzyuvAjgTTe0mZDehhuaoZPTDmr_nIyeMeKBTB81xEtyXswniHBbQfP8go98a4SBWd8rXDH0YNwZSHevoCUoh3oUCXR9/s1600/DSCN1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnNbVsp4dVSKgk3qRStndhRD-arlilJ8d2L8wH7Gg1x1IlNFcpzyuvAjgTTe0mZDehhuaoZPTDmr_nIyeMeKBTB81xEtyXswniHBbQfP8go98a4SBWd8rXDH0YNwZSHevoCUoh3oUCXR9/s320/DSCN1021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVQVWqoI4kl8sShwVFbBj-50lI9lyc4Df2ESKtJAPT38k5RKp3SBrbfgaSV12SvZeU0I52Z2J8U2kLkNKpkVQQPW8cvtr6iTSq1Qg2RCVCKBZdS5iUa-IzlOsxxhBHPfUoNtkc_p8ZfH0/s1600/DSCN1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVQVWqoI4kl8sShwVFbBj-50lI9lyc4Df2ESKtJAPT38k5RKp3SBrbfgaSV12SvZeU0I52Z2J8U2kLkNKpkVQQPW8cvtr6iTSq1Qg2RCVCKBZdS5iUa-IzlOsxxhBHPfUoNtkc_p8ZfH0/s320/DSCN1109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://folksy.com/items/6677879-Blackbird" target="_blank">My garden bird portraits are available on Folksy</a></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-56220045407361168912015-06-23T03:06:00.001-07:002015-06-23T03:07:08.469-07:00Robin<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second in this series of garden bird portraits is the Robin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently voted Britain's National Bird, this colourful little creature is rather feisty and is quite a singer.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ebEA8ZTDW4c23KioPAxFawxWYnTP4KMyAtLghUrslpd6Cyk6GzQpGIuZzwrkFDOx77utXd2Lw04RVYcPf4O6Cmq2SKrrdy71SPEEA6F4N2GlbOjOZn5bXgabAQYYNKlEuDFqT6it7BQI/s1600/DSCN1006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ebEA8ZTDW4c23KioPAxFawxWYnTP4KMyAtLghUrslpd6Cyk6GzQpGIuZzwrkFDOx77utXd2Lw04RVYcPf4O6Cmq2SKrrdy71SPEEA6F4N2GlbOjOZn5bXgabAQYYNKlEuDFqT6it7BQI/s320/DSCN1006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf75m0RwHL2EjD6Xu3Reqo15JOvZruskqZh66ITOuvjj0JjrBUow4le44j1UEzFuIJtNScKDUdkVvrBYUhCCkw5lTeChnfvIm6vqaMNMMUSh58lOb3CFQ9bjEurFywb0B-A7rTPSVRFTS4/s1600/DSCN1098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf75m0RwHL2EjD6Xu3Reqo15JOvZruskqZh66ITOuvjj0JjrBUow4le44j1UEzFuIJtNScKDUdkVvrBYUhCCkw5lTeChnfvIm6vqaMNMMUSh58lOb3CFQ9bjEurFywb0B-A7rTPSVRFTS4/s320/DSCN1098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-49520461678048710222015-06-22T06:49:00.000-07:002015-06-22T06:49:07.554-07:00Blue Tit <div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I
am a nature lover and a keen garden bird watcher. I have been
inspired by the feathered visitors to my garden to make a series of
bird portraits.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
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<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
first is of the Blue tit, a plucky little bird, instantly
recognisable and colourful in shades of yellow blue and green. My
blue tit is particularly fuzzy and cuddly, rather like one little
bird that enjoys the seeds and nuts I provide on the bird table.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> </span>
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Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5418709391201388629.post-27854097114472123112015-05-06T09:49:00.000-07:002015-05-06T09:55:11.758-07:00Cherry Blossom<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGn7DA8yq0XIcHoV8K_wgNyhSksWaqHsM1ogV7CiypXtF_X_Dgc6hSUW7DKBowR22ZFPS0AUBIq3MrJvlrX3uk9RKlATdxhtJAyakoDJw3U8mvAaAfZ1lDVy1qYWcFVfbme7c8zvFZVi7/s1600/D64FB884-674D-4658-8E7A-2522404CF2F8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGn7DA8yq0XIcHoV8K_wgNyhSksWaqHsM1ogV7CiypXtF_X_Dgc6hSUW7DKBowR22ZFPS0AUBIq3MrJvlrX3uk9RKlATdxhtJAyakoDJw3U8mvAaAfZ1lDVy1qYWcFVfbme7c8zvFZVi7/s1600/D64FB884-674D-4658-8E7A-2522404CF2F8.png" height="320" width="232" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kitao
Shigemasa (1739–1820)</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Third
Lunar Month, Blossom Viewing at Asuka Hill. </span></span></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Colour woodblock print.</span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring
has sprung!
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing
heralds the arrival of spring more beautifully than the Cherry
Blossom.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Twisted
branches, quiet and dormant all winter long, burst into life with
swathes of delicate blooms. </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
me the Cherry Blossom is a symbol of optimism and promise. It is a
sight that never fails to lift my spirits.
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nowhere
is the Cherry Blossom more celebrated than in Japan where the
tradition of <i>hanami</i> (flower viewing) is an ancient tradition. Those
who gaze upon the blossoms are reminded that life is beautiful and
fleeting.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The blooms are delightful but delicate, soon to be swept away upon the breeze.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLNFU187NmzJCJZHyk0JQlyVtYz0ODzCnnrrhtpD140B4ENrr9PtjDqkwhE8kkPIWh4yX8aSa9rAyi4Y0A3H2_mhA3kR3o7S9yBpKbW_To4w_Z1jhxCFRqMzuC9U0Jt03zU8FryZGB2Ry/s1600/DSCN0801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLNFU187NmzJCJZHyk0JQlyVtYz0ODzCnnrrhtpD140B4ENrr9PtjDqkwhE8kkPIWh4yX8aSa9rAyi4Y0A3H2_mhA3kR3o7S9yBpKbW_To4w_Z1jhxCFRqMzuC9U0Jt03zU8FryZGB2Ry/s1600/DSCN0801.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
wished to capture the ephemeral beauty of the Cherry Blossom.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This
new design is my take on contemporary chinoiserie. Depicted is an
imagined Floating World, an eternal spring.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perched upon the branches are yellow white eye birds and little butterflies dance away into the sky.</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nothing is so beautiful as spring!</span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
Karen Potterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06647762230450363026noreply@blogger.com0