46. Still Life

July 28, 2015 by Ida McBride 7 Comments

I thought I had the perfect photo for this theme, only to notice it was not taken during the allotted time frame. So instead I decided to choose an image of life that is momentarily still.

A few days ago, my attention was captured by a rather raucous racket coming from the vicinity of a palm tree in the yard. When I looked outside, I could barely believe what I was seeing. My numerous vivid visitors were fluttering and prancing along the palm fronds, flitting in and out, jabbering noisily away. I was giddy with excitement! It is the first time that these Brown-Throated Parakeets have lingered so close to our house. Usually their loud chattering captures one’s attention as they babble overhead at warp speed. Over the years we have spent in Panama, we have seen them in flocks, numbering anywhere from 2 to over 60, always too fast and high to enjoy, always just flashes of iridescent green, but this time, they actually settled on palm fronds to eat seeds close enough and long enough for me to delight in their activity.