We have three birds today, and from two readers.
The first is a female black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) in its true colors, photographed by reader Stephen Barnard in Idaho. His earlier photograph of the same species taken at sunset, which I put right below it, shows the difference in color produced by the light.

This morning Stephen then sent a photo of the male of the species. The sexual dimorphism is clear, especially in head color:
Reader Diana MacPherson sent another bird:
Here’s a picture of a juvenile Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula). I have never seen so many baby birds here of so many different species. The long winter seemed not to affect them.At first I thought it was a female Oriole but it is far too orange. Minutes before, a male had been at the same place but I wasn’t quick enough with my camera. I suspect that was the dad.
Here is a group of juvenile Baltimore Orioles from another site:
Love the fanned out tail of the hummingbird – you must’ve caught them changing direction, Stephen.
I am always jealous of those that have visits of more than one kind of hummingbird though I’m happy to be visited by one instead of none!
Great shots, thanks.
Stephen, please tell me these are around a feeder> 🙂
Those primates at the bottom are a little hard to ID.
Yes, I have a couple of feeders. They fight over them incessantly.
I thought orioles were a biscuit!
😉
As always, it’s all about the light….
b&
Regarding Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the like, I found this.
Most Muslim scholars agree that the saliva of a dog is ritually impure, and that contact with a dog’s saliva requires one to wash seven times. This ruling comes from the hadith:
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “If a dog licks the vessel of any one of you, let him throw away whatever was in it and wash it seven times.” (Reported by Muslim)
Ooops f’d up. This was supposed to be on the dog/cat post. Got my tabs messed up.
Indeed: Writing with light!