It Was Bound To Happen

Posted By on January 26, 2016

It was a day unlike any of the past three weeks – nothing new or surprising happened in the backyard.

Bound to happen, of course. This is not to say there wasn’t a plentiful supply of the usual. But even for me there are only so many pictures I am willing to devote to remembering the ibis, or heron or egret that walked into the backyard. So, I went hunting for some local color in the foliage.

This bird is probably more blue than it appears here.
This bird is probably more blue than it appears here.

The day warmed up and the busy birds (who I’m beginning to think pay less attention to the weather than I supposed) were out in their numbers. These would be the eastern phoebe and the eastern bluebird, and the belted kingfisher. I moved the camera a millisecond too soon and missed his spectacular splash.

Female mallard duck The other mallard couple has an all white female.
Female mallard duck The other mallard couple has an all white female.

I have to train my camera on them because I keep hoping for that one great shot that I so far do not have. Oh, two new things happened: A wood stork flew overhead, and the secondary pair of mallards flew in for a landing just in front of me. In both cases, I was handicapped by my desire to see them in action and held my camera limply by my side until the events were over. It’s the drama of it…I cannot remember to aim before it is over. Ah well, it is a pleasure to see. But here are both ducks, afterwards.

Mallard ducks. Look at that blue stripe. The male of other couple who lives around here doesn't have that.
Mallard ducks. Look at that blue stripe. The male of other couple who lives around here doesn’t have that.

 

Before that though, waiting and hoping for the otters to put in an appearance, I started my color search. I was sitting on the dock and looked down to this lily pad (which I hope is what it is called, though it is more a flower in appearance). It sat providing an anchor for the bouquet of feathers beneath. An interesting, natural composition.

A lily pad overlooks several fallen feathers of the birds that rest on the dock.
A lily pad overlooks several fallen feathers of the birds that rest on the dock.

Then the sun brightened the trees on the shores and produced this colorful view, just beyond the neighbor’s oak tree.

The recent stormy and wintery weather has left many of the trees nearly bare, but some few persist.
The recent stormy and wintry weather has left many of the trees nearly bare, but some few persist.

In the front yard, this Azela flower pointed to the sky. This plant flowers year round around here and puts on a fantastic display in the spring.

The unfurled flower of an azalea bush. I say this with confidence, but am not actually certain about its name.
The unfurled flower of an azalea bush. I say this with confidence, but am not actually certain about its name.

Light is the subject of all photography, I’ve read. I tried to capture the shiny glowing Spanish moss, but they just showed up which, here. And this was the best I could produce. They moss was almost silver in the light.

Spanish moss in a maple tree, glowing in the sunlight.
Spanish moss in a maple tree, glowing in the sunlight.

The eastern bluebird. Ever an attractive bird to photograph. This must be the female? There was a family of four yesterday and they showed up again today in the same spot. I say family because they appeared to coordinate their hunt so they were in the same region at all times.

I wish I had vision like these birds. They dive down with such certainty that it is clear they see what they are looking for before they leave the branch.
I wish I had vision like these birds. They dive down with such certainty that it is clear they see what they are looking for before they leave the branch.

The under feathers of this eastern phoebe catches the sunlight just enough to punch up the yellow. He paused for but a short time so I did not achieve my goal of capture the colorful undercoat in full.

Patiently waiting the appropriate time for his next foray into the recently mown lawn.
Patiently waiting the appropriate time for his next foray into the recently mown lawn.
One of my favorite plants on the planet. I love how they grow in clusters, and where they are, there is water. Although, this one was clinging to a coconut tree bark. Still, whereever you see ferns they are verdant fertile places, in my opinion.
One of my favorite plants on the planet. I love how they grow in clusters, and where they are, there is water. Although, this one was clinging to a coconut tree bark. Still, whereever you see ferns they are verdant fertile places, in my opinion.
The leaves of a colorful weed that grows in the front garden. But is it truly a weed?
The leaves of a colorful weed that grows in the front garden. But is it truly a weed?
Wild berries on a weed that grows in the front garden.
Wild berries on a weed that grows in the front garden.
The beautiful flower of this bush with the colorful-leaved weed in background. Could this be rhododendron?
The beautiful flower of this bush with a colorful weed in background. Could this be rhododendron?

From the maple tree these fruit provided the last stab of orange color. It is not drab around here at all, but as I waited for the non appearing otters, and watched the kingfisher’s, the other birds catching insects or overhearing a woodpecker in the distance, I longed for something fresh. The recounting and recording of my efforts to find color does make things better, though!

'Debris' on the dock from the maple tree. I like the texture of the wood.
‘Debris’ on the dock from the maple tree. I like the texture of the wood.
Staying still in the grass long enough for me to capture this image.
Eastern phoebe, staying still in the grass just long enough for me to capture this image.
  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
  • Taken: 26 January, 2016
  • Focal length: 12.781mm
  • ISO: 80
  • Shutter speed: 1/30s