March 30, 2014

Sparrows, Pigeons and Pigs in Lezhë, Albania

As I was reviewing the pictures I posteds yesterday in my head, I realized that I forgot to post the one of the sow (mother pig) and her piglets. Then when I looked through my recent photos, I found several more of sparrows and pigeons.

So here are some more animal photos taken over the past month or so. First here is one of the pigs that we saw on a nearby property from the window of one of our classrooms at Lezha Academic Center. They are possibly the Yorkshire breed or maybe the Landrace. Check out the Oklahoma State University swine site and decide for yourself.

a mother pig (sow) and some piglets

Possibly a Yorkshire Breed of Pig in Lezhë (18-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

And back in February when spring was peeking around the corner, I saw this pigeon on a wire near the park in Lezhë. So how can a bird turn its head all the way around?

a pigeon turning its head by 180 degrees

A Pigeon at the Park in Lezhë (15-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Here are two more photos of House Sparrows on the sidewalks in Lezhë.

two sparrows and some nest building material

Male House Sparrows on the Sidewalk (18-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a female house sparrow on the sidewalk

Female House Sparrow on a Street in Lezhë (25-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

Then a week ago yesterday (Saturday March 22), there were two pigeons doing what seemed to me to be some kind of courting ritual. See what you think. Fluff your feathers and then hide your head?

two pigeons courting

Two Pigeons Courting? (22-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

now they hide their headws while courting

Two Pigeons Courting by Hiding Their Heads? (22-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

And this afternoon after a walk, I captured this male House Sparrow sitting on one of the posts of the gate to our apartment building.

a house sparrow at our gate

Male House Sparrow on One of Our Gate Posts (30-Mar-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

I will have to see what other animals I can capture photos of here in Albania in the next few weeks. We leave on May 22, so I have some time yet to find some more exotic animals than pigs, sparrows and pigeons1

March 29, 2014

Sparrows, Pigeons and More (from the Balkans)

After posting my last entry to this animal photography blog, I am now returing with some photows from our current home in Lezhë, Albania. On January 20 Elsie and I left the United States for three months (which has now turned into a four month commitmetn) of teaching and service at Lezha Academic.

Here in Lezhë, the birds we see are pigeons and sparrows. So let's begin with a number of photos of these birds.

ten pigeons eating on the sidewalk in front of the football stadium in Lezhe

Pigeons of Various Colors Greedily Feeding in Lezhë (4-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

a sparrow in a tree

Male House Sparrow in a Tree Near Lezha Academic Center (8-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

sparrow on a rain spout

Male House Sparrow on Rain Spouting (18-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

male house sparrow on a street in Lezhe

Male House Sparrow on a Street in Lezhë (18-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

the king pigeon?

Is This the King of the Roost? (25-Feb-14; © Richard L. Bowman)

the king pigeon must eat, too!

female house sparrow eating

On our trip into some of the other Balkan countries on March 14-16, I was able to capture some more birds and other animals. The first two photos are from some marine animals we found at the seashore at Cavtat, Croatia. I do not recall of ever seeing a live starfish, especially not a red one!

a red starfish at Cavtat, Croatia

Black Sea Urchin

And we go back to the pigeons again but add the seagulls this time. Our stay at Cavtat (about 15 minutes south of Dubrovnik) was so that we could tour the Old City in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Entering the Old City we met many pigeons and later saw seagulls gliding overhead.

pigoens at rest and landing

There are more species of birds here in Albania, I just need to find them. A trip out of town to a village might show more. So we will have to see what we can do before we leave on May 22.

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