Corrections A-Plenty!

Thanks to Kat and her friend from the audubon and to Eileen, Kathy, and Jacque for your responses identifyig the little grey bird from my previous post as a Northern Mockingbird.  Not that I doubted any of them, but once I actually used my reference books (what a novel idea) the descriptions and behaviors matched perfectly to what I observed. 

Also, the hawk I thought was a Red-Tailed Hawk is not !  It's actually a Red-Shouldered Hawk.
(Thanks again for your help in correct identification!)  And really, looking at the images again and the ones from my reference books, it's so clear (DUH) not only by looking at the tail, but the colors and patterns on the feathers, particularly when in flight, is a dead giveaway!  See the differences?


Yesterday's Red-Shouldered Hawk:

...and a Red-Tailed Hawk:

Yesterday's Red-Shouldered Hawk in flight:

Red-Tailed Hawk in flight:

While I'm owning up to my incorrect information, I also referred in yesterday's post, to Canadian Geese, whereas the correct term is Canada Geese.

Thanks everybody for keeping me on my toes!

You know.......  I do what I do with this here blog because I'm so passionate about trying to capture the wonder and beauty of the natural world and share it with others with the intent that it might stop someone--anyone--in their tracks for a moment or two, to really 'see' or 'look' for themselves at the world around them, and hopefully the peace and joy it brings into my own heart is also felt by someone else when they witness for themselves, from their own perspective, nature in their own backyard.  I don't claim to be an expert in any way--neither my photography nor my writing nor even the information!  I see what I see and merely wish to share it.  Thanks so much for accepting it, appreciating it, and enjoying following it! 

And of course if you ever reach a point that you wish to be removed from my regular email 'prompts', please just reply to one and use the word "remove" as your subject. 


Here's a cute little Tufted Titmouse (or is it??  Ha!) to end this post!

Red-Tailed Hawks

I was out taking some landscape photographs a couple days ago, walking back and forth across a bridge...  to and fro each side of the road while following some birds...   (some of those images will follow)  ...when suddenly I noticed a lone red-tailed hawk sitting in a tree across a field.  I realized it had been silently watching me the whole time!  My instantaneous reaction, as always, was to quickly shoot, but as soon as it saw me raise and point my lens on it, it immediately took to the sky.  I found it fascinating that it seemingly knew my intent at the exact moment I focused on it, therefore purposefully flying away.  This was the one and only shot I got.  When I viewed it later on, I liked the image even more because of the bareness of the picture--a good depiction of the stark winter day. 

Today, driving very near to my home, I caught, out of the corner of my eye, a very similar and familiar scene.  It was the same-shaped figure sitting among more densely-branched trees, and I recongnized it immediately.  I got out of my car and walked pretty close to this hawk and not only did it allow me to take a few (okay, many) pictures, but it also fanned out it's tail feathers for me, almost like a young lady would spread her skirt in a curtsy, just before lifting it's wings in preparation for take-off.  It then flew directly overhead (toward bluer skies) and across the lake to another cluster of trees.  Here's the sequence:

                   Here are a few of the landscape images...  and some of the birds I followed that day.

While taking the above pictures I heard the loud chatter of a pair of kingfishers.  You always know when a kingfisher bird is around, once you can identify it's sound.  I was able to follow one that perched on a nearby tree for a moment before flitting off in it's usual zigzag flight pattern.

                                                  Canadian geese waded in the frigid water.
.

Delightful chirping signaled that there were eastern bluebirds around!  I spotted this pair, then caught the male in flight.

                               Off to another part of the same river, I came across this small island.

                                           Can anyone identify this bird?  It sang a pretty song.

                     This old silo caught my attention as well as the tree in the following picture after that.

A steady chirp called my attention to this downy woodpecker just as I was returning to my car for my journey home.

Vacated the Premises

                                        The inhabitants of these homes have left for the season.

Clement C. Moore Was Right!

"The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow, gave a luster of midday to objects below..."



While Clement C. was referring to a very special night in December, I must express my humble opinion that to me, the January moon outshines December's, giving it a run for it's money!  I've always felt that way--admiring, connecting with, and loving the January moon!  I've written poems about it over the years, spent time walking under it's bright light, relishing in it's ability to reach way deep inside me, even through the layers upon layers of clothing keeping me warm from the cold night air.  Perhaps it is that crisp, cold, thin air (the temperature was negative four degrees during this photo shoot) that allows the moon to shine with vivid clarity and causes everything below, that's covered with snow, to stand under the spotlight and shine with a brilliance similar to that of a midday sun.

No longer full, but so bright I could not capture the detail of the craters, here's this morning's moon taken around 5:00 a.m.

Looking toward the night sky, I noticed the snow-covered, outstretched branches of this tree (along with a few twinkling stars) standing out brightly against the darkness.

My backyard was aglow!  Looking upwards at the hill, dark shadows were cast on the blue-white blanket of snow.  Many a January morning, the moon lit my way as I hiked up the mountain under it's light.  Today, I just stayed where I stood, looking around me in all directions.

                      Icicles, hanging off the snowy roof, sparkled and shone in the moonlight.

   Diamonds in the snow, shining nearly as (if not more) brilliant as those under sunlight, were a delight to see!

What you cannot see in the bundled self-portrait I couldn't resist taking, where I and my shadow are waving a cheery "Good Morning!" specifically to you, are the sparkling diamonds in my own eyes (or the frosty fog coming from my smiling mouth) as the glory of this dark-yet-bright and cold morning in itself, brought me great joy that I wish to share with you! 

Have a nice day!

                                                                                *

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Today's precipitation left a coating of ice on every surface it touched, causing everything to appear as though it were made of glass.  As the temperature rose, icicles formed.  Since it was too wet to take pictures outside, I stood in front of the window and photographed what I saw on the other side.  Here are a few of those images:

Quackin' Up!

I had a fun photo shoot last week shooting mallards!  Done in two sessions on two different days, but taken at the same time each day-- there's quite a difference between them.  The first session, a dim and cloudy day; the second, a bright and sunny one.  Yesterday's post (previous to this one) was from the second session, so the color and clarity is more vibrant, with a 'real feel' to it; as opposed to this post which contains images from the first session, and they needed a bit more editing.  I found it tricky from a technical standpoint to get the images how I saw them.  Between the white of the snow, the muted color from the males' green head feathers (only in the sunlight do you get that irridescent shine!), their location in the pond vs. around it, etc., there were a lot of elements to deal with!  Not to mention, the society of ducks is intersting to watch.  They're a social group and a lot of their actions happen with split-second timing, so there's a lot missed with a camera.  Although a very vocal group, most of their antics and behaviors are seen through their body language.  That's what I'd like to share.  

Follow this with yesterday's post (even though many of you might have seen that one first of the second session (following me?)  I know....  it's bass ackwards... and you're probably quackin' up right alongside me!)

I like the softer images of the ducks at the water's edge.

I found this guy camped out in the snow.  I think he found me at the same time!

And this one seem comfortable in it's nest of snow.

                                                                                      "See ya!"