Take My Picture

Most birdwalks involve tip-toeing and walking softly, staying to the shadows and being very very quite. But on this walk along Dykeman's Pond this Eastern Kingbird was the ultimate model. Sit on this branch, look that way. Now over here and look to the future. How about on the cattails? Make-up! It was difficult narrowing down the 30-40 pictures I took during the portrait setting to the four you see here. I hope his agent approves.

The Changing of the Seasons

Fall is definitely in the air. Not that summer ever really showed up. And that's OK with me. I could do with out 90 degrees and 90% humidity. The heavy dew and cool temperatures in the morning, maybe even a long sleeved shirt. And what better sign of the upcoming autumn? High School football starts tonight. Are you ready for some?

SkyWatch - Moonrise

Sorry if it seems I use this view often but 15 steps out my back door and I can make picture like this. This is, again, the view from my back yard while a near full moon rises over the distant tree line. Remember, for more SkyWatch click on the icon on my sidebar.

Wildlife Cruise 9/2/09

Sorry I didn't get posted last night in time for today but here is a couple shots from my wildlife cruise this morning. Also saw a spike buck geese and a turkey. I'm taking another tomorrow.

Bethesda Fountain, Central Park

More from Central Park. This is the Bethesda Fountain and the Angel of Waters statue. The statue was designed in 1873 and is located mid-park at 72nd Street. Of course, I walked a mile and a half before finding it right where we entered the park at Strawberry Fields. The body of water seen beyond the fountain is known as the Lake. At 22 acres it is the largest body of water in the park, if you don't count the 106 acre Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir up between 86th and 96th Streets. The bottom picture is a panorama made from five separate pictures.

Whitetail along the Spring

OK, anyone who read Saturday's post knows what I'm talking about here. While on a walk along the Big Spring I spotted a group of Cedar Waxwings zipping in and out of a bare tree branch. So, I kept the camera fixed on that branch. Looking down into the brush on the edge of the spring. I looked up from the eyepiece and saw this. I then swing the camera up the short 4 or 5 feet from where I was watching the Waxwings fired off a couple shots and he was gone. I thought, "Awesome, how often does that happen?" Then I dawned on me (People with DSLR's set to manual, take notes) The settings where set for the dark shadows and brush the Waxwings were in. The deer was in full harsh sunlight. That's right the pictures I got were blown out badly. Thank God for Photoshop, I was able to fix the exposure and get this. Pretty cool.

Backyard Critters, Summer 2009

Some of the critters that make themselves at home in my backyard. These and some other birds that I've shown you before. Them and a groundhog or two. But being a groundhog in my backyard has proven dangerous this summer. (Mockingbird, Robin, Chipmunk and Cottontail Rabbit )