December tree

Some last 2010 shots for The Tree Year from my favorite tree and his surroundings.

The tree thinks it’s Spring time.  It sprouts some new branches. Many trees did blossom right after the summer heat, one day it smelled like a big meadow of flowers 

The leaves are still dusty from the last storm. No rain in sight.

From Kuwait

The tree in the afternoon sunshine. A bit tricky to catch with my 50mm, oh well 

And sadly a bunch of trash, the most common sight in Kuwait. I will clean it up some some time this week.

From Kuwait

Nearby: Merry Christmas 

From Kuwait

And a happier sight, tree unrelated: The poochies waiting for me to finish and a sunset visitor on our balcony 

From Kuwait

The Tree Year 2011

Natalie aka Dreamfalcon has started a beautiful project for 2011.

The Tree Year / Das Baumjahr

You pick one tree (in you garden, park, neighbourhood; small, big, wild, whatever) and you take photos of him around the year.

I said: I love this idea, but mine will look pretty much the same all year around.

She said: it doesn’t matter. Take close ups, show the bark, show the animals that live in it.

OK, can do that 

So, here you go with a dusty version of one of my favorite trees in Kuwait (not that there are so many,… the little one to the right is a sibling, I think  )

From Kuwait

There is another big one left of my favorite, much loved by Sparrows, Laughing Doves and BulBuls

From Kuwait

And since we have soooo many trees in Kuwait, they just recently cut the small trees (versions of my favorite big one) along the hedges. It only took them around 4 years to grow to that hight 

From Kuwait

And along the beach side, they cut down a bunch of real nice, big trees. It’s part of the ‘cleaning up Mangaf beach project’, I guess. But I don’t have to understand why they have to cut down healthy trees that give gave shelter to many birds during migration and during the blistering summer heat. 

From Kuwait

Birds up close

I finally got a sweet nice shot of a Rose-ringed Parakeet down at a small beach near where we live.

Rose-ringed Parakeet

From Birds Kuwait 2010

And while bending down,looking for sea glass and turning I looked into the eyes of a Juvenile Grey Plover, not even 3 meters from me.

Juvenile Grey Plover

From Birds Kuwait 2010

He stayed put, eying me like a rare species while I eased my camera around my neck and snapped some shots.

He casually strolled away, while King (the Labrador) came tromping down the path.

I am still at awe with this morning.

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, Löffelente

Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata, Löffelente

From Birds Egypt 2010

Seen in South Sinai, Egypt in 2010. Fascinating birds!


From wiki:

This species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its large spatulate bill. The breeding male has an iridescent dark green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border. In early fall the male will have a white crescent on each side of the face. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake resembles the female.
The female is a drab mottled brown like other dabblers, with plumage much like a female Mallard, but easily distinguished by the long broad bill, which is gray tinged with orange on cutting edge and lower mandible. The female’s forewing is grey.
They are 19 inches long (48 cm) and have a wingspan of 30 inches (76 cm) with a weight of 1.3 pounds (600 g).