Thursday, July 30, 2009

International Crappy Photo Day


I've decided on a new blog subject that will appear more often than I would like to admit, "International Crappy Photo Day."
I decided this after the Doodles spotted this bird in the garden under a feeder. When it popped up to this branch fastened to the feeder, I had the chance for one shot...through the window...and two screens...in the twilight. I love a challenge, especially when I don't have a choice!
This is a Brown Thrasher, not a common feeder bird. We've seen him here the past couple of evenings and I tried calling him out with my birdpod, he looked out from under wild garden for a second and took off when he saw it was Loopy and that stoopid camera!
One of these days...in the mean time, count on a few more crappy pics for your enjoyment!

Crazy Burdz!!


While going through all of the shorebird photos (from afar!) I've shot over the past two weekends at Ottawa, I came across this fine example of a bird acting a little nuts.

I forgot all about this until I saw the photo. This Pied-billed Grebe ran across the water then sat still for a second, then started running again and again. I think he may have been having a silly day...

Monday, July 27, 2009

Somebody Loves Me!


Well, actually, somebody loves my blog. There couldn't be anyone other than the Doodles that would be able to put up with me!


My blog buddy Kelly, of "Red and the Peanut" fame, has bestowed upon me the "I Love This Blog Award." She thinks I'm funny. Don't tell her I'm not, okay? It's the burdz that tell me what to write, honest. And the Doodle's tell's me that I use too many apostrophe's'! They're just soooo much fun to u'se!


Now I have too pass this along, if Kelly didn't already have it, I'd give it to her blog. But I do have a few other good buddies I love to read everyday!


First, there's my Weedpicker buddy, Cheryl Harner. She appears very serious on her blog, but I know better!


Shantana of NatureStop in Oman has beautiful mosaics that brighten my Monday mornings, not to mention all of the other interesting photos from a place far from Ohio!


I've mentioned Matt Latham before, and I'll mention him again. What fantastic photography! A must visit blog.


There's a gang more, I'll have to mention after I wake up...zzzzzzzzzzzzz...it's late....

Ottawa Babes!...and more...

"Hey Man, You Got Bugs?!" This Eastern Kingbird will have to wait a little longer, all I had was a granola bar...



So, as you can see by the fuzzy photos, I can download once again. I went out and purchased a new card reader. This time an external from SanDisk, ImageMate SDDR189. It is CRAZY fast, much better than the internal reader and of course faster than plugging the camera directly. Maybe someone from SanDisk will read this and send me a few memory cards...hint,hint. The folks at Canon still haven't sent the 800m lens (I'm waiting!)



That lens would have been good for spotting shorebirds at Ottawa! I have a good number of "evidence" photos of the shorebirds we spotted, but with a 300mm and even with the 2X converter, those shy birdies are still little tiny fuzzy dots. Oh yeah, use a tripod with a teleconverter (Dave didn't , stoopid birder.)



We saw a bucket load of birdy babies out in the marshes on Saturday and Sunday. Though I've only looked at Saturday's pics so far. Not to mention the rarities out there!




And here we have Mr. & Mrs. Moorhen (Bob and Roberta) and two of the little ones.


If you can see behind Baby Huey, the Trumpeter Swan known as the bottomless pit to its parents, you'll notice a pair of Pied-billed Grebes playing "Don't Notice Me." Mom Grebe already took a dive to avoid the chance of being eaten by Huey.


And here's number one of the rarities and a life bird to boot (insert silly dance here), a Whimbrel! A rare migrant a little off course. And wouldn't you know it, he decides to fly away as soon as we spotted him...another Bird from Behind!


A little farther away, butt you can see his large decurved bill. Proof positive!


And this is the nice family of birders that pointed it out for us, Thanks!

They were from Pittsburgh, does that make them "Pittsbirders?"


Oh yeah! Rarity numero B, a Little Blue Heron. A couple seem to wander through every once in a while. This is the first one the Doodles and me have seen in Ohio!


That ain't no burd! Yes, I know...it's a pretty Water Lily. There are thousands of them and it looks like a Monet painting when they bloom. I'll have to let the Doodles do a guest blog and she can show you her flower and landscape photos.




Help! We spotted this scruffy individual and he has me more confused than I normally am. Really. At first sight I thought it was a juvenile Yellow Warbler, but after looking at the photos, that ain't right. Possibly a Scarlet Tanager as they do molt this time of year before migrating to warmer climes.

Give me your opinions!


Here's another pose of this mystery bird... (Oops, no it's not! I put the same photo in and I can't get it out!!)


Until I get caught up...once again...I'll be saying nighty-night!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Imagination Time!!

Please stand by. We are having technical difficulties.

So what do you post when your card reader doesn't work? Well, I may have taken a few nice photos this weekend on two hikes through the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Hi Guys!). Then again, maybe not.

The shorebirds are starting their migration and there were a few good ones to see, though far away from me as usual. By Monday evening I'll have things squared away with the card reader or I'll download them directly from the camera...loooonnnnggggggg time....

Please stay tuned to this station...in the mean time, use your imagination!