Jerusalem Wildlife

Jerusalem Wildlife

I had a lot of fun with my camera today after work. (Picasa helped, too.)

Unlike the speaker in Tom Lehrer’s “Hunting Song,” who had to shlep home two game wardens, seven hunters and a cow, I returned from my expedition with pictures of some local Jerusalem fauna: the Palestine sunbird who hangs out in our yard, a parakeet couple and two cats. Here they are.

Mr. Sunbird sips some nectar ...

Who else do you know who can eat lunch upside down?

Ahhh. That hit the spot.

In brief flight. I caught this one by accident.

Later in the day: Almost bedtime for the local Jerusalem parakeet population ...

The parakeet in the tree appears to be the mate of the parakeet in the photograph below. (The sunbird has a mate, too, but I haven’t been able to photograph her yet.) I don’t know what was happening here, but judging from the vocal exchange that went on between them, I’d guess that the parakeet in the tree was saying: “Come on, honey, it’s time to go to sleep,” while its mate, on the building, insisted: “Just a little longer, dear. I’ll be right there, I promise.”

On my way home, a most irresistible tiger took over my lap. I had no choice but to yield ...

Well, all right, he just looks a bit like a tiger. Cute little fellow, isn’t he?

And finally: Her Ladyship snoozing on a convenient stone wall. Ahhh, this is the life ...

I tell you, that cat has it made.

Check out this week’s Friday Ark at The Modulator.