A tropical break?

Tropical break, no not really, I visited the Blodel Conservatory to walk in the warm tropical environment and  to visit with the many colourful birds; it's a great way to add some colour to a dreary winter day.

Here are a few of the pictures I took during my visit.

First here are Ruby and Kiwi, Eclectus parrots. This is a sexually diamorphic parrot species, meaning that the  male and the female differ dramatically in colour and size. The female, Ruby, is bright red and blue and the male, Kiwi,  is a dramatic green colour with patches of red on its sides.

Here is Casey, a Yellow Headed Amazon Parrot, with Monty, a Princess Parrot, in the background.

Casey

Monty

Nelson, below, a Hahn's Dwarf Macaw or a Red Shouldered Macaw, was a bit shy I only saw him once.

Carmen and Maria are Green Winged Macaws, beautiful birds.

Art is a Blue and Gold Macaw.

Rosie is an African Grey Parrot, and was entertaining the visitors with her whistling. 

Last bird pictures for today are both Budgerigars (Budgies), both are male judging from the blue colouring above their beaks, the females have a tan patch rather than blue.

Cheaper than a movie, and warm and entertaining, what better way to spend part of an afternoon?

I have a painting to show you today and also an annoucement.

First the painting, a watercolour, of a man wearing a mask. The picture was taken by friends visiting Venice at Carnival.

Secondly, I now have another blog! It is called GillianOlsonArt and gives more details about my paintings, including size and price. There is also a tab which features sale items. Click the above link to visit.

Happy New Year, best wishes to one and all!

Happy 1st Whimsy Wednesday of 2013, until next week..............

Christmas Wishes

Well as you read this Christmas Day is past but I wanted to wish you a happy belated Christmas.

A bit of a hectic one here, but followed by a quiet week I hope.

Our Boxing Day tradition is to relax, we don't go out, we don't shop, we don't invite anyone in, we don't answer the phone, you get the idea........... I like to hang out in my pajamas for at least half the day...... reading, doing a favorite crossword and then starting a jigsaw puzzle. Mind in neutral........

I wanted to share a few pictures taken on Christmas Day, these ones taken of the outside activity.

There is a tradition of feeding the wild birds on Christmas day which I believe originated in Scandinavia. I like to feed the birds, especially in the winter, but bought a few extra treats this year.

A bag of peanuts in the shell is a favorite of Jays, so when the peanuts disappeared I thought maybe they were responsible. Apparently not:

Sizing them up

Sneaking in for the grab

Got one

Well maybe one more

I wonder, three, no maybe not

Missed that, well here's an encore:

Action shots.

And here's the athletic rascal with a taste for nuts, but he likes them from the feeder.

Finally who I expected. Here are the Bushtits enjoying the fruit/nut suet I put out.

Males have dark eyes, females golden eyes.

Thank you for stopping by, Happy Whimsy Wednesday and Happy Boxing Day (however you spend it).

Until next week......................