A Hummingbird’s Glittering Gorget

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Allen's Hummingbird Male California ©Kim Smith 2015

Male Allen’s Hummingbird and Aloe Blossoms

While visiting Liv and Matt in southern California we saw what seemed like zillions of hummingbirds. It’s early spring there with many flowering trees coming into bloom and the hummingbirds are on the move. They are drawn to the flower’s nectar and they also eat the small insects that are attracted to the blossoms. Unlike the Northeast, where typically only one species of hummingbird breeds in our region (the Ruby-throated Hummingbird), fourteen different species of hummingbirds have been reported in southern California. The five that are most common, of which we saw three, are Allen’s, Anna’s, Black-chinned, Rufous, and Costa’s Hummingbirds. Looking at the gorget is one way to tell the different species apart however, that can be a bit misleading because unless the light is hitting the brilliant iridescent feathers at just the right angle, the feathers will look dull and dark.

The gorget (pronounced ˈgȯr-jət) is the patch of feathers found on the throat or chin of an adult (not juvenile) male hummingbird. The word gorget comes from the swath of metal worn by knights-in-armor to protect their throat. The Eastern Ruby-throated Hummingbird takes its name from its gorget. Hummingbirds have possibly the most iridescent feathers known in birds. The beautiful iridescence is found not only on the gorget but the wings, head, neck, and back. Reasons many are speculated as to why hummingbirds have iridescent feathers; perhaps to confuse predators, to attract a female, or to guard its territory.

Allen's Hummingbird Red Gorget Male ©Kim Smith 2015JPGMale Allen’s Hummingbird

As the male Allen’s Hummingbird turns its head from side to side, the light catches the barbed cells of the glittering gorget. The photo above and the photo below perfectly illustrate how, with the tilt of its head, you first see the iridescence in the gorget, and then not at all.

Allen's Hummingbird Male ©Kim Smith 2015

Allen's Hummingbird Female ©Kim Smith 2015Female Allen’s Hummingbird

Allen's Hummingbird Male iridescent wings ©kim Smith 2015Iridescent Wings, Cap, and Back Feathers

Fun hummingbird fact: A group of hummingbirds may be called a bouquet, glittering, a hover, shimmer, or a tune of hummingbirds.

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Snowy Days are Here to Stay!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Gloucester City Hall winter snow ©Kim Smith 2015Gloucester City Hall

Gloucester Our Lady of Good Voyage winter snow ©Kim Smith 2015Our Lady of Good Voyage

Niles Pond Snow ©Kim Smith 2015Niles Pond 

Huge Asteroid To Pass By Earth On Monday

Posted on by capeannpainter

Huge Asteroid To Pass By Earth On Monday

http://www.iflscience.com/space/asteroid-close-approach-be-visible-small-telescope

“On January 26/27, the asteroid 2004 BL86 will sweep past the Earth at a distance of 1.2 million kilometers, three times the distance of the moon. Closer asteroid approaches are common, but this one is gaining attention because of the size and brightness of the object involved.

The website Lunar Meteorite Hunters lists 41 close asteroid approaches in January alone. However, some are as small as 24 meters across. The larger representatives, such as the 1.1 kilometer 2062 Aten, will pass at least ten lunar distances (LD) away; 73 in Aten’s case.

What makes 2004 BL86 (also known as 357439) stand out is the combination of closeness and size. With a length somewhere between 400 and 900 meters, its passage at 3.1LD will be the closest approach of anything this size until 2027, unless an undetected object is waiting to give us a scare.”

for more click here;

http://www.iflscience.com/space/asteroid-close-approach-be-visible-small-telescope

Come join us as we celebrate the the 256th birthday of the beloved Scottish bard Robert Burns this Sunday, January 25th (his actual birthday!) at our Celtic Music Session at the Dog Bar in downtown Gloucester.

Posted on by Joanne

 

 

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I’ll be joined by fiddler Adrienne Howard, string player Linda Shields Swicker and whistle player/piper/singer David de la Barre. We’ll feature songs and poems of Burns – and other Scottish ‘fare’ (except haggis!) – bring one to share! 5:30-8:30. No cover.

Dog Bar

20 Rogers Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930
http://dogbarcapeann.com/welcome-1.html

GHS Girls Hoop vs Lynn English

Posted on by David B. Cox

GHS Girls run and gun their way to win with 47 to 25 victory over Lynn English.

Sneak Peek of Gloucester Teen Ally Doody’s Beautiful Voice

Posted on by Sista Felicia

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Ally Doody singing “Bad Self Portraits” by Lake Street Drive

Yesterday while scrolling through my Facebook feed I came across this video shared by my friend Pauline Doody, Ally’s mom. The Video was filmed secretly by one of Alleys biggest fans Eric Cameron. I’ve been lucky enough to have heard this talented teenagers voice a few times in person when she was younger.  She’s had an amazing voice as a child, but has clearly developed a more mature sound that truly blew me away. Ally and her mom were kind enough to give me permission to share this video on GMG.  Ally doesn’t do any self promotion, and is humble about her ability to sing . Love that this gifted girl belts out songs in her basement for family and friends for fun! Take a listen…. you’ll  be wowed! This girl has some serious talent that needs to be heard around the world don’t you think?

Ally Writes~ “I’m sixteen years old and for as long as I can remember I have loved to sing. I sing to make the ones that support me happy and obviously to make myself happy too! I don’t usually volunteer to sing but I’ll always be up for singing if someone asks me too. Singing is a fun hobby of mine and if it gets me somewhere great!! But I really sing to make people happy.”
*Video filmed & produced by Eric Cameron

Looking Up

Posted on by Nichole S.

I am in love with this building.  From the inside and out.  For so many reasons.

If you haven’t seen a performance at the Shalin Liu, you really need to.

I snapped these quick shots while out for a run the other afternoon.  While my knowledge of architecture is very limited, my fascination for lines, angles, and the nuances of it all is pretty significant.  Little parts of the whole have always been of interest to me, I guess.

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Asian Infused Grilled Chicken Tenders with Bella Mushroom, Asparagus and Crumbled Goat Cheese

Posted on by Sista Felicia

 

 

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Asian Infused Grilled Chicken Tenders with Bella Mushroom, Asparagus and Crumbled Goat Cheese

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Click Read More for  Step-by-Step Recipe Details and Photos! Continue reading “Asian Infused Grilled Chicken Tenders with Bella Mushroom, Asparagus and Crumbled Goat Cheese” →

Winter Storm Iola

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin

SnowRkptWM5500 We had a beautiful snowfall in the afternoon, then a rainy-icey mess, and finally heavy snow for a short time. The total accumulation was 3 to 4 inches. Needless to say, I did not venture out into my first snowstorm since being released from medical facilities. The upside is that I can’t shovel or drive (yet).

Pet of the Week-Hawkeye

Posted on by Alicia Pensarosa

hawkeye1

I didn’t expect to find myself in this situation but sometimes life has a funny way of changing your plans so watch out Super Senior program here I come! My Super power is “Purr-suasion” because I am confident I will persuade you into falling in love.  My name is Hawkeye and I am currently single and looking for my long-lasting love connection. I am a mellower fellow and prefer to be your one and only. Maybe you can make my dreams come true?  For more information on adoptable pets and upcoming events visit www.capeannanimalaid.org

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Community Stuff 1/25/15

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Louise Sarofeen submits-

RUN FOR RESEARCH MARATHON TEAM FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT THE AMERICAN LIVER FOUNDATION

JANUARY 31, 2015 FROM 7-11PM

THE GLOUCESTER HOUSE

63 ROGERS ST GLOUCESTER, MA

TICKETS ARE $20

(DJ, LIGHT APPS, CASH BAR, DOOR PRIZES, RAFFLES AND MORE)

What is the American Liver Foundation? The American Liver Foundation® provides research, education, advocacy, and support for 30 million Americans affected by liver disease.

Our mission: to facilitate, advocate and promote education, support and research for the prevention, treatment and cure of liver disease.

We carry out our mission through education to promote liver health and disease prevention. Three national core programs are targeted to reach the public, at-risk groups, and patients with liver disease. We are the leading source of information on liver health and liver disease, through printed materials and www.liverfoundation.org. A toll-free national helpline and 16 offices across the country provide support to newly diagnosed patients, families, and the general public, through phone, email, and community outreach. We fund research that had helped to begin the careers of more than 750 scientists in the field of liver health in hopes of finding treatments and cures that will lead to a world free of liver disease.

Why am I running? A good friend, and fellow runner, of mine works for CVS Caremark and she is responsible for working with doctors to get expensive liver medications covered for their patients. She was introduced to the Run for Research at a conference she attended and is now working towards running her 3rd Boston Marathon! Her dedication to this cause inspired me to want to join in and this fall I applied and was chosen to run the 2015 Boston Marathon on the Run for Research team! The team requires each runner to raise $5,000 towards this worthwhile cause. The foundation also pairs you with a patient partner to help inspire you through the tough winter training runs. I have been paired with a young girl named Ann Ford. Ann is a one year old baby girl, daughter of Patty and Jay Ford, and baby sister to John. Ann was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia when she was 10 weeks old, and underwent a liver transplant at 4 months old. Patty has told me Ann is thriving and meeting all sorts of milestones!

PLEASE JOIN ME IN RAISING MONEY FOR THIS GREAT CAUSE. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE! CHECKS CAN BE MADE PAYABLE TO THE AMERICAN LIVER FOUNDATION

http://go.liverfoundation.org/site/TR/RunforResearch/NewEngland?px=1790458&pg=personal&fr_id=4420
Tickets are $20 and the door prize is a pair of Bruins Tickets.
Raffle items/silent auction are: 
basket of French soaps and lotions from LaProvence in Rockport
large straw handbag from LaProvence
Lone Gull Gift card
Imbeault Photography gift card
1/2 day fishing trip for 3
Girls night in Basket (wine, wine glasses, movies, chocolate, popcorn, candy, slipper socks, nail polish)
EnVogue gift card
handmade glasses made from vodka bottles
herbal tea with mugs basket
accessories from Leavitt & Co
Franklin Cape Ann gift card
2 vouchers for paint night from Wicked Art Bar
Sparkly Soul Head bands
Marshalls Farmstand gift card
Marshalls Landscape supply gift card
Studio G one month credit
6 pool passes to the Cape Ann marina
Accessories and gift card from Magnolia’s Boutique
Sticky Fingers gift card
handmade wine rack with wine
Arbonne “GetFit Kit”
painting from Memory Lane
LoGrasso Auto gift card
handmade soaps from Melissa Cox
gift basket from Annisquam River Pottery
Unwind Hair and Make-up gift card
Framed professional photo of the Annisquam Light House
Celia’s Flower Shop gift card
3 month pass to MAC Fitness in Gloucester
2 whale watch passes from Capt Bills Whale Watch
Luna Day Spa gift card

On Saturday, February 7, at 10 am the Manchester Historical Museum will be offering a program about old fashioned valentines for children 3 and up. Come see examples of different types of antique valentines and make your own. $5 per child. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please RSVP to info@manchesterhistoricalmusem.org or call 978-526-7230.

Valentines poster