Birds That Cheered Me in 2020
I know many people who read my posts will agree: what would we have done without birds in our lives this past year?
Perhaps our very sanity depended on them! Without further ado, some photographs follow–all taken in New Mexico–that will always remind me of happy hours on the trails. And a few other photos at the end that I hope you enjoy.
My warmest wishes to you all for a bright, safe and happy 2021. As you gradually emerge into the light, may you appreciate nature, health, democracy, family and friends more than ever.
Western Bluebird with Juniper berry on my daily walk in the Zocalo community environs.
Grey-crowned Rosy Finch, Sandia Mountain near Albuquerque.
Cassin’s Vireo at Buckman Mesa area of Chile Line Trail, on the Rio Grande, about to feed nestlings.
White-breasted Nuthatch with Pinyon Pine nut in Santa Fe’s Randall Davey Audubon Center.
Brown-headed Cowbirds. Two males alternately practiced their courtship displays in the Zocalo community environs.
Yellow-breasted Blackbirds, San Antonio, NM. A joyful trip with friends resulted in many new sightings back in January.
American Goldfinch at Randall Davey Audubon Refuge.
Adult male Calliope Hummingbird with streaked rosy gorget visiting Penstamon sp. flowers in the Zocalo neighborhood.
Wilson’s Warbler, male, searching for insects near my front door in the Zocalo community.
Ash-throated Flycatcher on the Diablo Canyon Mesa.
American Robin already in courtship song in early spring, after a late snowfall.
Blue Grosbeak in Otero Park, near Socorro, NM. I saw this thanks to Amy Erickson, Audubon Southwest avian biologist.
House Finch eating “Chamisa” flowers, aka Ericameria nauseosa, or rubber rabbitbrush.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet looking for flowers or seeds outside my window after early September snowfall.
Western Grebe in Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo pond. The grebe seemed to have a broken foot. Thanks to a good friend who invited us to join him, Birding Pal Kim Score of Albuquerque gave us a wonderful day of socially distanced birding, introducing us to several new and wonderful sites. She works for the Central New Mexico Audubon Society and guides people to other western states as well. Superb!
Another winged beauty: the Virgin of Guadalupe statue seen at Arroyo Seco, NM.
Also below, a colored pencil drawing I did soon after Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s death. It was between my successful cataract operations in September and October, thus–the world’s colors looked different to each of my eyes. I profoundly admired RBG, and she was very much on my mind as I worked on the drawing over several weeks. May she rest in peace.
Gail Hewson Hull, self-portrait homage to RBG, October, 2020. I am in a greenlining phase in all my art. Greenlining to me is the conceptual opposite of redlining and invokes openness, equality, transparency and healthy life. (See also, previous post).
Foto Diarist 