Sunday Juncos in the blind

Sunday, it was also very nice out and warm so I set up our blind in the backyard and let the birds get used to it for a bit while we visited. I then spent some time trying to get whatever came along. Once unloaded - perhaps the most exciting time for a photographer - besides being in an actual exciting shoot of something special... the first run through...

 

 

On this day, I was hoping for my favourite little white throated sparrow, but they only hung out with the Blue Jays at the other feeders and didn't come over to where I had my blind set up over by the garden shed and fence... so when I ran through these juncos - thought they would be tester birds for practice - I was pleasantly surprised they turned out to be the stars of the day.

 

There were plenty of chickadees but they didn't show as well as some of the chickadees I already have - so I'm particular about those guys... There are a few "stager" trees that the birds come to before hopping onto the feeder. and then there's a good distance from some trees over to the ones in behind for some nice background depth.   

 

 

I like the range I can shoot - but I have some work to do to get ready for the nice weather - like a nice platform for the tent and chair, the right chair, replace the wooden racks with more natural perches...

 

 

...and it was fun watching and listening and trying not to miss them. The only down side is my little Allie wanted to bark and chase up the squirrels - so in the house for her - and she can't figure out why I'm outside and she has to be inside. I'll have to take a picture of her watching me out the window... and I did take her for a little walk later. It'll be better when I am retired and we can do both things every day... It was a great day to get back in the mood for Spring and Summer and nice weather.

Sammy the Snowy for Mom and Terry

Mom came down for a visit today and tomorrow and it was the nicest day of Spring so far so I asked if she would like to take a run over to see if we could see Sammy. He wasn't around initially but there were a few guys there waiting a return - he left temporarily about 15 minutes before we arrived.

 We were going to drive "over there" to have a look when all of a sudden out comes Sammy and he landed about 30 yards from the Parking lot - you should have seen the folks scrambling to get into position and then the traffic that slowed down "to see what was goin' on". He sat there for 10 minutes... or so and then ...

he took off and did a few areobatics for the folks... Mom and Terry (and Allie) were sitting in the nice comfy truck with front row seats watching the whole show ...

 I had scrambled out to the shoulder of the road and was freezing my fingers - there was a bit of a breeze so the wind chill was nippy... and it is definitely harder to hold the camera still - even with the monopod.

 He crossed in front of us and then landed on the end of the perch two frames down. One photographer walked out onto the marsh and went in amongst the trees where Sammy spent a lot of his time this winter.

 At the end of the day he was able to get tremendous shots from this, Sammy's finale spot for the session. He was to the right about 25-30' away and Sammy didn't seem to be bothered by anyone today. I guess he has gotten used to a lot of attention. I still don't condone the "invasion" of Sammy's territory by people who just don't seem to realize that Sammy is fighting for his life for food - just to get a decent shot... and that even the distraction of watching people distracts him for his hunt for food... It's probably a short time before he heads back north ... Thanks Sammy (could be female although I referred to "him" a lot- just easier to pick one gender and stick to it).

 

I hope I see him again - but the chances are nearly nil - but we'll see. We won't know if it is the same Sammy if he reappears next winter - but I will certainly be looking for him next time the snow flies... it's called HOPE...

 We went over to the Island (PEI) last Spring to visit Terr's brother Jeff and family and here is a new potatoe field just waiting for the spuds to sprout. It's a clean sky, ground, green just let me grow type of serenity.

 

.... and then there's the foggy quiet of Wood Islands while waitng to land in the rain - all of a sudden you get this beautiful foggy front and back lighthouse picture. Everyone else was indoors out of the rain and missing this sight that just happened ... and I find these happen all the time if you just watch for them - with camera in hand of course. You NEVER know what you will get ... 

 

 And I can't leave out a Peggy's Cove shot and a sunset in Shelburne, just to balance out the Nova Scotia side of the equation...

 

Here are the results of spending several hours in our dual hunting blinds in our backyard last fall. My brother Paul and I spent parts of two days shooting the 10-15 Blue Jays and pheasants that were insatiable - they ate  continuously for a number of days before and have continued all winter.

 

 

If you're late in the morning they make a huge cacaphony of Blue Jay shrieks and calls so you can't even sleep in... It's surprising because when the Jays are busy feeding - they are actually very quiet and just go about their business..

These are my favourite birds - really - in terms of character and squawking and beautiful blue colors.. A close second are their cousins - the grey Jays...where they keep you company during hunting season... very friendly and quiet and friendly.

This one was a favourite when I had "TheJays" up at my office gallery of 4 - 12x18".

Little Eloise with a Smile

Last weekend Sarah and AJ and Eloise visited. Poor little Eloise (and Sarah and Grammie Terry) had a bad sinus cold and she had a very hard time breathing and eating. All we could do was hold her and feel sorry for her... and cuddle her... She was in a miserable state ... and then just 15 minutes before they left we sat down to see if we could get a good picture of her ... and here you have it...

We were all quite surprised - as it no way shows how miserable she felt all weekend. Just goes to show you that all you need is a smile from a bay to make your heart feel good... and at the same time - all you need is to hear her difficulty breathing and you feel so helpless... but she pulled through - probably one of many over the next couple of years. Grammie does have that special talent to make her smile and she has the talent to make many people smile ...

Snowy in the sun

While I enjoyed shooting my first snowy on the way home from work -it was a little late in the day and the sky was cloudy - tough light... so on my first opportunity with bright sunshine and blue sky, I gave up the last weekend of Eagle Watch to see if I could find a snowy in the middle of the day... which I haven't had luck at ... yet...  So I showed up - camera and Allie  (my puppy) ... and I spied one a long ways off on the top of a tree - just enjoying the sunshine... so I pulled over in the parking lot to see if it really was one. Took one long distance shot and zoomed in 500x or so in the viewer  - that's how far he was away - and sure enough - it was one... So I watched for a minute and then he took off from that perch - flew right towards me and then veered off a bit and landed right on the edge of the dunes between the parking lot and the beach !!! So out of the truck I get and scoot on over to where I can see a bit more... He took off from that perch and flew directly at me - then dropped down to the ground and dug through the snow. I didn't see if he nabbed anything - but he may have swallowed before I got him back in my sights - so here he is ...

Up and back to the perch ...

This one is my favourite and will probably make it to the office as a 12x18...

 I stood and watched for about 45 minutes ... and without wanting to disturb him I was patiently waiting for my last chance at a "take-off and cruise"... I was just about to give up the hunt but I said - just 5 more minutes - he's going to move at some point ... I call this time span "overtime" and stuck it out. Out of the corner of my eye - you can only look through the viewfinder for so long... I noticed a small dog moving toward the owl - with his walker - they didn't see the owl - but alas - my patience paid off as my heart skipped a beat - getting ready - It was sooooo nice knowing that I was going to get my shot, rather than the typical "heart attack - there he goes!!!" and he was probably going to head my way ... and whamm - off he took...

 

He landed on top of a pole right at the highway - so I drove over there - it was on the way home - pulled off on a side road and walked back right up and under him - he wasn't perturbed. He must be used to a lot of walkers by now, I guess, and so I ended up with my snowy in blue sky from about 12 feet or so... 

 Nice to see what happens when you "show up", and are patient (waiting through the "overtime"). I was very conscious about disturbing him - after all - he is looking for food - life and death stuff. Even having him watch me as a distraction started to bother me - distracted from watching for food ... but then along came the dog and walker and moved him for me ... I guess he has to get used to living near people like we have to get used to living near wildlife ... That's the thought for today ... Lots of fun...

Here are our grandchildren: Our youngest Eloise - born New Year's Eve:

 

Adeline Josephine (I call her AJ) just had her 2nd birthday last weekend).

                                    

Here's Holden (Nov 20) as the Lone Ranger...

 

Holden listening intently to one of Grammie's stories...

Holden having a laugh .. it is real and if you don't believe me ...



Here he is almost laughing his head off:

 



This is Norah (4) - holding cousin Eloise....

... and Norah at AJ's birthday party...

 

We are sooo proud of our family ... all 10 of us ...Lindsay Ryan, Norah, Holden, Sarah, Chad, AJ, and Eloise... and the dogs Allie, Rocky and Wally ...