Pink, Meet Greens!

My ink rotation is looking a bit somber for the almost-spring weather with its blue skies and 65° of warmth. Tuesday’s snow has melted from the surrounding mountains. One neighbor’s gardener is whacking off tree limbs while the house across the street is getting demolished in favor of a boring, modern structure. It is far too noisy to hear the birds but they are around even if drowned out by the blare of machinery. Their chatter can be heard in the early morning before the sound of man takes over so with certainty they have returned. New growth is sparse yet, but that lack of color can be remedied by some vivid hues in my pens.

Rohrer & Klingner Solferino is my annual choice for the ink that announces the retreat of winter. To complement that jolt of pink, a green is in order. For comparison, I swabbed a few available options on a sheet of Strathmore Windpower Sketch paper. None of these inks look wrong but a few look more right than others. Which green would you choose?

• Diamine Emerald
• Diamine Kelly Green
• Diamine Sherwood
• Diamine Ultra Green
• Diamine Umber
• Diamine Woodland
• Iroshizuku shin-ryoku
• J. Herbin Lierre Sauvage
• J. Herbin Vert Empire
• Montblanc Racing Green
• Rohrer & Klingner Verdura
• Private Reserve Avacado
• Sailor Epinard

Pink, Meet Green Inks!

Pink Ink And The Hummingbird

It’s that time of year when the Anna’s Hummingbirds appear outside my kitchen window. My friend from previous years has yet to appear but a vividly colored cock checked out my camellia tree a few minutes ago. His jewel tones are stunning and have inspired me to find inks that mimic his brilliant head feathers.

Click the image to see the variety of colors a mature Anna’s can sport.

Anna’s Hummingbird at Rest

For the darker tones:

• Noodler’s Saguaro Wine
• Noodler’s Burgundy
• Sailor Grenade
• Diamine Claret
• Diamine Syrah
• Diamine Deep Magenta

For the lighter tones:

• Noodler’s Shah’s Rose
• Pelikian Edelstein Tournaline
• Iroshizuku Tsutsuji
• Noodler’s Baystate Cranberry
• Caran d’Ache Sunset
• Diamine Amaranth
• Platinum Cyclamen Pink

Only four of these are in my collection limited to a bottle of Claret and small samples of Tsutsuji, Cyclamen Pink, and Deep Magenta. The samples were written with a J. Herbin glass dip pen on a Quattro pad. All four inks are in the right range.

Pink Fountain Pen Inks

It was a challenge to find suitable colors, but turned into a good exercise in color matching. Of those on hand, Tsutsuji and Cyclamen Pink hit the spirit best. Deep Magenta and Claret are a bit too blue. One day the perfect color will come along, but for now flashes of that vibrant pink whizzing past my window will suffice.

Just for the fun of it, find an item you really enjoy for its color and match an ink to it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. But it should make you happy. Isn’t that what pens and inks are all about?

An Anna’s Hummingbird in My Camellia Tree

Photo courtesy of Tessa R. Maurer.

Inkophile Links From Moleskine To Babies To Bugs

What do babies, bugs, Moleskine, ice cream, and a carnival have in common? Nothing except they all made it into this edition of my links post…

• 30 Nicest Hummingbird Pictures (h/t Chris Meisenzahl)
• For the intrepid foodie: Rosemary Ice Cream With Grilled Peaches
• European Paper Company: Moleskine Laptop Case
• Plannerisms: Helen’s amazing Moleskine blog planner!
• BBC: How tiny insects survive the rain
• ScienceMag: Where Have the Hawk-Sized Insects Gone?
• Ethereal Voices: June Carnival of Pen, Pencil, and Paper
• Pinterest: Sketchbook Pages
• Live Science: ‘Peekaboo’ Reveals Babies Understanding of Quantum Mechanics

Musings From The Bird Gossip

Wow, did I get sidetracked today. Beth called my bird-related musings “bird gossip” and I just had to run with it. In fact I like it so well I’ve added it as a category so bird lovers can find those posts easily.

To bring you up to date, the mockingbird hasn’t menaced me in a week though I am told one or two continue to perch on nearby utility wires. The Anna’s Hummingbirds have relocated to the backyard but a Pacific-slope flycatcher has moved into their former digs, a camellia tree that brushes against my kitchen window. I miss the hummers but the calm presence of the less flighty new resident is a worthy replacement. He is more difficult to spot even at close quarters. That lovely, soft green is nearly indistinguishable from the camellia leaves, the perfect camouflage against any predators. He is quite the clever fellow for finding such an ideal home.

Yesterday a robin serenaded us from the patio and was quite miffed when he spied me listening through the french doors. The acoustics of the 3/4 enclosed space are wonderful as we’ve learned over the past several years when Mourning Doves nested there. I hope the robin returns soon for another concert.

Mid-afternoon is nap time but around 5:00 or so the finches and sparrows chime together reminding us life is good and we should take time for some joy when the day’s work is done.

But that does make me wonder. Since they are so chatty, do they gossip about us, too?

There Is A Bully Outside My Window

In the guise of a bully, a mockingbird is scaring away my avian neighbors, the hummingbirds, finches, and sparrows. For two weeks this drama has played out turning my formerly peaceful yard into a combat zone.

Today the puff-chested, terrier wannabe had the nerve to posture and flick his tail at me. Silly bird tried to send me scurrying from my kitchen window. How cheeky of him!

The crows just ignore the mockingbird, even when challenged over food. It seems to be the only effective strategy although there is no doubt who would win at hand to hand combat. Hopefully, the super-sized crow, a massive guy who is at least 1/3 larger than the average crow, gets disgusted with the pest and chases him off. Then the smaller birds can return to the bounty in my yard and delight the neighborhood with their antics. If not, it will be a very long, very quiet summer.

The Hummingbirds At My Window

My Anna’s Hummingbirds have returned to their annual spring residence, the camellia that frames my kitchen window. Each day they greet me with a mid-air dance as they spy on my kitchen activities. I suspect by now they could brew an admirable cup of Earl Gray tea after so many years of watching my routine.

When I go outdoors they zoom past and land on a branch at eye-level, watching to see what has attracted me to their domain and to insure I do not molest their nest, something far too tiny to find. No doubt it is in the camellia but well-hidden amidst the foliage and pink-striped flowers.

Did you know hummers are the only birds that fly backwards? Last week at dusk, I saw the hen dive-bomb a fat finch who had invaded her territory as the birds settled in warm, protected branches. Zoom, retreat, zoom, retreat. The finch was unimpressed but eventually took off for a less challenging roost. Satisfied that the interloper had been vanquished, the hen returned to her hidden home. All’s well for another night.

Certainly we don’t need to hit reverse as often as a hummingbird, but being able to change course easily can be an asset. In addition being fearless attacking a perceived enemy speaks of courage, another admirable quality. It is awe-inspiring what even the smallest creatures can do.

Anna’s Hummingbird In Camellia Tree

Image courtesy of Tessa Rose Maurer.

Finch TV

Following a bit of reorganizing, the Society finches have gained a bird’s eye view of the aquarium. In an unexpected twist, they have developed a fascination for watching lazy, tetras swim endless, gentle circles, the finch version of television.

If I didn’t know better I’d say the tetras watch the birds but that would be a real stretch. It is more likely the fish see the motion and keep an eye on the source. But maybe that is giving them too little credit.

Rumor has it some juvenile Societies will be looking for homes soon and it is tempting to expand the flock. Thing One would have flying companions for Thing Two* is unable to match him in flight. Thing Two would have more friends to cuddle for warmth as well as camaraderie. Thing One is not always amenable to close contact you see. Thus both birds could benefit from a new cage mate or two.

But will the new mates appreciate finch TV? Picture all of them lined up on a perch, like kids on a sofa playing video games, oblivious to anything but the aquarium action. Hopefully, they won’t turn that attention towards me. On second thought, maybe it is only fair considering how much time I spend watching them. Call it Inkophile TV – It’s for the birds!

Society Finches at Classic Design Aviaries

*Now that the spring molt has ended, that time when birds replace old feathers with new ones, it is certain Thing Two has no proper flight feathers on her right wing. Due to a new placement of perches and swings laid out to encourage activity, she has gained strength and learned to get around nicely. She has developed a circuit that includes substantial hopping and sliding down cage bars with a bite of food as reward. Then an upward leap to the lowest manzanita perch and here we go again.

Once in a while she eyes the perches on the other side with much foot shuffling and wing lifting and the occasional leap of faith only to land with a soft thud on the cage floor halfway across the span. Her efforts are admirable but in vain. Undaunted, the old girl will take a couple of steps to make up the difference and leap up to the desired perch. I expect she is pleased to arrive at her destination despite the inelegant route.