DAILY PICS Vol 251

Great shots so far. I've enjoyed them all.

Dismal weather here too, Rose. Yesterday we went up to Baltimore and I took my camera -- more out of habit than anything else. It was raining and c-c-ccold! so I didn't expect to use it. I did see a nuthatch but he was gone before I could get a shot. Then this beautiful Cooper's swooped in and perched not 20 feet from me and stayed at least 5 minutes. I had the ISO set at 3200 with the 400mm lens and was shooting wide open (f/4) and still could only get a 1/500 sec shutter speed and not that much detail. I was so close I couldn't get all of him in the frame horizonally and I was afraid if I moved back it would spook him. I did turn the camera (slowly) to vertical and got a few with all of him in the shot. Here is one.

This message was edited Oct 18, 2009 11:18 AM

Another view.

He's a beauty. I saw my first Indigo Bunting for the fall season this morning. I'll have pics later.

Love the Robin in the berries nanny!

Nice shots of the Hawk Dave!

Nice Hawk photo. This is proof that it pays to always carry your gear.

Burd, great photos. That Kinglet is a cutie!
Nanny, great picture of the Robin in the berries. I'm waiting for these birds to arrive in this area soon.
Dave, your photos of the hawk are great. You were fortunate to be so close! Thanks for telling us your settings, it helps me learn about the settings.


Hope you're not tired of my Brewer's Blackbird photos. I think I'm addicted to any black bird.

The Great Blue Herons are so pretty when they're taking off.

The Black Phoebes are such cute birds.

These younger Oak Titmice are getting more color now.

One last one of the Oak Titmouse.

Your hawk is gorgeous Dave!

Duc...love the heron.

With the cold temps our back yard has been busy..though most has escaped the lens of my camera! Since friday evening we have had a doe & her 2 fawns, a first year buck, our first Brown Creeper and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

We had this very handsome Red-shouldered Hawk stop by last night. My photo is not anywhere close to being as good as Dave's!!

I gave up trying to get a good shot and we just sat on the deck and watched it. It finally flew down and right along the fence, going right by us making a low quiet call as it went by. So cool!!

Wonderful shots duc! I would never get tired of the Brewers Blackbird, they are so handsome and I know they are having some problems.

Nice to see the Red-shouldered Hawk nanny!

Belted Kingfisher - male. Have not been able to get a good clean shot of these birds...yet

Duc nice blackbird and titmouse shots

This message was edited Oct 18, 2009 2:32 PM

Nice one Met!

I haven't been able to get very close to the ones I've seen.

Well after the female Purple Finch showed up a few days ago now the male has come to the feeders. So easy to tell them apart from House Finch from their beaks and other markings. Thank goodness for the new binoculars that arrived the other day. Still dark,cold and rainy here. Unfortunately the female is still being attacked by the House Finch.

Nanny, your sightings sure make for a peaceful "just sit and watch". Your hawk is beautiful. Our deer have started the rutting season and the larger bucks are now coming down from the higher mountains.
Met, I'm so jealous of the Kingfisher photo. The best I've been able to get of this active bird is a large blur.
Pelle, congrats on the new binoculars, but sorry the female finch is being attacked.

Neat shot Met! I had a junco just a bit ago in the backyard. Will have to unload the camera later.

nice mix of shots!

here's a lone goldfinch, waiting for there to be food again (aka, for me to fill the feeders!)

Very cute evie!

A friendly Mallard at the park the other day.

A Junco. They have been here since the beginning of the week.

The Robins have been feasting on the berries.

burn - what berries are those?

Evie, they are Mountain Ash berries. A very popular berry source for Robins and Waxwings.

Here's my Indigo from this morning.

Immature male Painted Bunting.

Mature male Painted Bunting taken with flash.

Nice ones GP and burn!

Did anyone else notice that strange thing in the left corner of the Painted Bunting shot? Just light and shadows, but it looks like a skull! Unless it is just me seeing it.

haha. yah. a scary ghost for Halloween.

Oh, very halloweeny GP!!

Well, here's my Dark-eyed Junco from today!

I guess this to be an immature cedar waxwing, probably just passing through.. It was following the bluebirds around for most of the day

Nice pics nanny and Dave!

Nice clear day today, used it to visit the marsh again. With the good light, I snapped a few pics that turned out pretty good. I have 4 new birds today and may be able to add to that once they get Id's. First a couple Ruby-crowned Kinglet shots.

pic 2 show's the crown

pic 3 lil closer

Dark-eyed Junco, new bird

one more of the Junco, he scratched around like a chicken.

I think this is a Hermit Thrush

Blue-winged Teal