Downy Woodpecker on Feeder

This female downy woodpecker, and some of her friends, frequent my backyard feeder.

The Markel Building

Whatever you might think of the Markel Building in Richmond, VA, you have to agree it’s pretty original.  I lovingly refer to this architectural anomaly as “the Jiffy Pop building”.  If you’re familiar with Jiffy Pop, no further explanation is required.  If not, here’s a link to the Wikipedia article on it, complete with pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiffy_Pop.  I don’t know much about the building but I believe it was originally build for Reynolds, the aluminum company, when they were big in Richmond.

 

Self Portrait

The bright red doors contrasted with the cool green grass and warm stucco wall brought together enough color and texture to peek my interest in this simple building.  The late afternoon sun and the white fence behind me provided the perfect lighting for this self portrait.

Female Cardinal in a Tree

This Cardinal was perched in the red bud tree right outside my kitchen window.  There are two feeders in the tree so there are always a few birds in it.  During the winter months, when the leaves are down, the birds are easier to watch and photograph.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Lost in the Details

While having lunch I noticed the intriguing pattern of lines at my table.  The wicker place mat was crossed by the shadows of the blinds, which were themselves crossed by the stitching.  All this seemed like a fun way to make something out of the utterly mundane.

Downy Woodpecker

This female downy woodpecker likes to carry sunflower seeds from a nearby feeder into a tree where she opens and eats them.