Sunset Bird
@rbstewart.bsky.social
Retired architect, writing, feeding birds, messing about with plants.
If you’re only selling something, are right-winger and looking for argument, or look like some Russian mail-order bride type, don’t bother following me. Will block.
If you’re only selling something, are right-winger and looking for argument, or look like some Russian mail-order bride type, don’t bother following me. Will block.
Fog in the valley last night was glowing with the light of blanketed buildings.
November 26, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Fog in the valley last night was glowing with the light of blanketed buildings.
Crows doing crow things among the branches of a challenged tree and using the stiff breeze to help with maneuvering. Love watching them but have no idea what they’re up to.
October 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Crows doing crow things among the branches of a challenged tree and using the stiff breeze to help with maneuvering. Love watching them but have no idea what they’re up to.
Another view of napper.
October 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Another view of napper.
I think this carpenter bee is napping on a dahlia bloom. An absolutely charming beast.
October 17, 2025 at 9:40 PM
I think this carpenter bee is napping on a dahlia bloom. An absolutely charming beast.
Another decent sunset yesterday.
October 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Another decent sunset yesterday.
We have a squirrel who likes to lick the rock shelf our house sits on. Wonder if I should place a salt lick there to keep him from eroding our foundation.
October 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We have a squirrel who likes to lick the rock shelf our house sits on. Wonder if I should place a salt lick there to keep him from eroding our foundation.
This is a fine specimen of a hackberry—2 doors down. Their wood is rather weak, but they are prolific and powerfully anchored, with a buttressed base of roots with crevices for wild creatures. The group behind us fight the high winds and tend to batter each other. Huge branches fall in the night.
September 26, 2025 at 10:30 PM
This is a fine specimen of a hackberry—2 doors down. Their wood is rather weak, but they are prolific and powerfully anchored, with a buttressed base of roots with crevices for wild creatures. The group behind us fight the high winds and tend to batter each other. Huge branches fall in the night.
We had to have this hackberry topped due to storm damage last year but left a tall trunk for the birds and squirrels. It is rebounding in shaggy fashion. Almost tropical looking.
September 26, 2025 at 3:22 PM
We had to have this hackberry topped due to storm damage last year but left a tall trunk for the birds and squirrels. It is rebounding in shaggy fashion. Almost tropical looking.
Sunsets creeping westward each day but some still reach out to be seen.
September 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Sunsets creeping westward each day but some still reach out to be seen.
Best bloom so far on the dahlia. It’s first season and the heat/dryness have been brutal.
September 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Best bloom so far on the dahlia. It’s first season and the heat/dryness have been brutal.
Crepe Myrtle is one of my favorite tree types. They shouldn’t be butchered to produce more blooms, throttling their expressive branching.
September 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Crepe Myrtle is one of my favorite tree types. They shouldn’t be butchered to produce more blooms, throttling their expressive branching.
We went to the Japanese gardens to see the koi and turtles.
September 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM
We went to the Japanese gardens to see the koi and turtles.
Luckily not.
The one woman on the crew did comment on the bloom stalks sprouting from our yucca plants. Apparently they are on the menu in Mexico, (flor de izote). We invited them to take some, which they did, preparing them with eggs, apparently. A charming group.
The one woman on the crew did comment on the bloom stalks sprouting from our yucca plants. Apparently they are on the menu in Mexico, (flor de izote). We invited them to take some, which they did, preparing them with eggs, apparently. A charming group.
September 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Luckily not.
The one woman on the crew did comment on the bloom stalks sprouting from our yucca plants. Apparently they are on the menu in Mexico, (flor de izote). We invited them to take some, which they did, preparing them with eggs, apparently. A charming group.
The one woman on the crew did comment on the bloom stalks sprouting from our yucca plants. Apparently they are on the menu in Mexico, (flor de izote). We invited them to take some, which they did, preparing them with eggs, apparently. A charming group.
It really does. Was delighted to see it. Before, it’s only been their left-behind shells.
August 29, 2025 at 12:57 PM
It really does. Was delighted to see it. Before, it’s only been their left-behind shells.
A cicada at the side gate. Not sure I’ve ever seen one in the flesh.
August 29, 2025 at 11:41 AM
A cicada at the side gate. Not sure I’ve ever seen one in the flesh.
Finally fashioning a garden shed out of the masonry wasteland and the old cast iron sink doesn’t seem pleased about being off center. Tough.
August 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Finally fashioning a garden shed out of the masonry wasteland and the old cast iron sink doesn’t seem pleased about being off center. Tough.
Thought I heard cicadas the other evening. Now I’ve found the proof. Discarded overcoat.
August 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Thought I heard cicadas the other evening. Now I’ve found the proof. Discarded overcoat.
We were glad to see a dramatic sunset after being pummeled by the late afternoon sun. Clouds, with or without rain are always welcome at this time of year.
July 30, 2025 at 11:58 AM
We were glad to see a dramatic sunset after being pummeled by the late afternoon sun. Clouds, with or without rain are always welcome at this time of year.
Looked back at sunset photos from yesterday and for a moment thought I was seeing a posting about Ukrainians pounding some Russian munitions dump. My mind wanders freely.
July 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Looked back at sunset photos from yesterday and for a moment thought I was seeing a posting about Ukrainians pounding some Russian munitions dump. My mind wanders freely.
Another rain. Another sunset.
June 26, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Another rain. Another sunset.
A not great photo. Squirrel lounged on a branch, hoping to catch a breeze. More heat today. Squirrel activity dialed down to minimum.
June 23, 2025 at 12:28 PM
A not great photo. Squirrel lounged on a branch, hoping to catch a breeze. More heat today. Squirrel activity dialed down to minimum.
Was deadheading a dahlia when I was joined by a carpenter bee.
June 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Was deadheading a dahlia when I was joined by a carpenter bee.
Spotted what I take to be a Bobcat in the wilds out back. Too big for a local domestic.
May 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Spotted what I take to be a Bobcat in the wilds out back. Too big for a local domestic.
We have a gap in the hackberries where one of the 5 had to be topped. We call it the Slingshot now. Home to squirrels and a perch for birds. It is sprouting new branches, and shrugs off snide comments from its taller sisters.
May 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
We have a gap in the hackberries where one of the 5 had to be topped. We call it the Slingshot now. Home to squirrels and a perch for birds. It is sprouting new branches, and shrugs off snide comments from its taller sisters.