Yup. Very odd looking creature the turkey vulture, isn’t it? I do like looking at them in flight. But their faces are quite a shock, up closer – closer than this. They surf on the wind, just letting the currents take them away. It looks like they’re enjoying themselves so much. And its been quite windy around here lately. Before today, I can’t say I ever noticed one in a…
Deer Pass
Three little birds showed up today. I was pleased to see them Since experimenting with the cameras, the birds have not been showing up and remaining in a constant range well enough for me to capture them. I was pleased to see them because I am not sure what one of the species is. This is the eastern phoebe, of course. And this is the eastern bluebird. And…
Wood Stork on the Lawn
The wood stork was on the lawn yesterday. I have been seeing it in Raccoon’s Cove, Otter Bay, Heron Inlet, Deer Pass Stork’s Rest for several days. That really is a little bit of paradise over there. Yesterday’s offerings were consumed by all the brightly colored flowers from the day before, so I didn’t get to the stork. But here he is. On the lawn of the backyard, yet again. He…
The Loss of Habit
There have been many stories I wanted to keep this week. But I got busy and because there was not the obligation, I didn’t press. That’s me losing the habit of writing. So now I have all these untold, unrecorded, really great stories. I have to do something about a posting schedule and the weight of sorting through all the images I take. Here, let me distract you with some…
Back to the Swamp
Lettuce Lake Park again. We were there only about an hour before the park was meant to close. But we overstayed. For the second visit, we were again, the last ones to leave. There, on the swamp floor appropriately, we saw two Common Gallinules. Like all the other animals beside the boardwalk at the park, they seemed to have learned that there is nothing to fear from visitors. So we…
Nikon and Nature
Playing with the new camera on a day when it is grey and rainy seems like it should result in some excellent learning experiences. But I don’t think it did. For right now, the Nikon D3300 and I are getting to know each other. Here are several familiar scenes/activities reproduced today with this device. Starting at the boring end and crescendoing near the pinnacle (of an almost flat day!). Aperture:…
The Wood Duck
My new approach to wild animals is this: I will speak their names and wait for them to show up. Without even trying, that is what has been happening. In the last month, it happened with the stork, the spoonbill and the blue heron. Just a couple days ago, I was asking about a wood duck. From searches online, it seemed the little pied-billed grebe might be a juvenile wood…
What I Learned – Part II
As you know, yesterday marked the end of the challenge. Earlier, I described some knowledge I’ve gained from doing that. Here are some other things, while I’m watched over by a redshouldered hawk, who flew up from the lawn when he saw me, but still perched very close by. First, there is always more story, and more to the story. As the month progressed, I posted longer blog entries with…
What I Learned – Part I
31 days. What I have learned, for a start, is that I like documenting events. I have a poor long term memory, but also one easily triggered by a smell or a particular photograph. Words allow me that too. So I appreciate that I am cementing the memories with this process. And, too, I now feel confident to record the summer trip. But we’ll get to that in a minute….
Never Alone
Much went on in the backyard today, but trying to record it now would be a waste. After I have sorted pictures, I’ll get to that. Meanwhile, in other news… I may have given the impression that I go hunting for wild animals on my own. I do not. Over the past six months, BlackCat has been on nearly every excursion. She even ventured to enter the canoe twice but…