The Vermilion Flycatcher

I noticed how many people liked the picture of the male Vermilion Flycatcher recently posted on my sidekick Mel's blog. So... here's some more!! On friday's visit to the lake, after a couple of investigative trips along the water's edge to check on the fish, I had time to hunt for birds before Yolanda & her friends arrived.

While the female Vermilion Mel posted about long ago is still a daily visitor in our small garden, she is very camera-shy and despite countless attempts to take more pictures she flies at the first sight of me. Luckily, the male at the lake is not so wary, and with his bright red crown/chest and deep black feathers he is very photogenic.

So, without further ado...

Relaxing in front of the lake...

...taking flight...

..."Yes, I do know you're behind me"...

..."Take one of my better side"...

..."You're still taking pictures of me?!"

A great way to brighten up any day!

What A Wonderful World

Nineteen-sixty-seven was a good year. I wasn't born yet, therefore things were easier... On May 25th my football (the one played with feet) team, Glasgow Celtic, won the European Cup - the biggest prize in European club football - defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon. And a man they called "Satchmo" - Louis Armstrong - released the song I used as the post title.

Three years later Celtic reached the European Cup Final again, this time losing 2-1 in extra time to the Dutch side Feyenoord in Milan. I was still non-existant, and Louis Armstrong recorded 'What A Wonderful World' again, this time with Oliver Nelson's Orchestra. This version had a spoken introduction from Satchmo himself. Sit back and enjoy:


I believe we have an obligation, as the 'dominant species' on the planet, to protect the balance of nature. As the man said:

"Seems to me, it ain't the world that's so bad, but what we're doing to it..."