Al Larson Photography

For little guys they sure have large mouths. It keeps the parents busy filling these gaping holes. Notice the brightly-colored gape. This makes an easy target in which to deposit food. In less than three weeks these Mountain Bluebird chicks grow from just hatched to fledging. Consider the amount of food these little birds consume in this short time.

Thursday the 18th I happened by the Swainson hawk nest again. There was one nestling still in the nest and one out on a branch. This seems to me that it is so late in the season for hawks to be at the nest.

I enjoy shooting photos of flowers. They stand still. You don’t need a blind. They are also very beautiful. There are several stands of Gloriosa Daisies in our yard. They burst into magnificent beauty this time of year. I also like to include wildlife in the picture. Notice the bee on the lower center blossom.

These Summer days are now hot. To cool off a bit I find a place in the shade, relax and enjoy the critters that visit my yard. A few days ago I decided to capture one of the many butterflies that flitted among the flowers nearby. I used no special settings for the camera. I generally just point and shoot. This Two-tailed Swallowtail may be disguished from the Western Tiger Swallowtail by its extra pair of shorter tails.