Monday, March 2, 2015

Birds, Blooms and Bees

These photos were captured on the same day in January. The pansy with hover fly was taken at the botanical garden and was the only image I deemed worthy to keep out of the bunch. Feeling disappointed, I returned home and set up my chair blind, first spreading seeds all around and filling the feeder. The male and female cardinals were drawn to seeds on the driftwood; however, I could NOT get ONE bird to land on the angel statue. Too much to ask for in one day, I guess.







Double D talked me into joining the athletic club with him. So! At 8:30 a.m. I will be doing my first spinning class. Yikes! As soon as the rain skedaddles out of town, I will be dusting off the old tennis racket. Life is good! Hope y'all have a great week. 


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38 comments:

Shug said...

Good morning....you go girl...good for you for joining..I hope you enjoy every minute of your spin class. this is awesome...and so are your photos! Enjoyed each picture..
Have a great day...
Shug

nookworm said...

I don't know about spinning except for making yarn but it sounds as if you will be keeping in shape and joining your guy at the same time. Go Girl! It is so good to see more of your wonderful bird shots.

Anonymous said...

What wonderful sunny shots!

Stephanie said...

Those Cardinals! Amazing photos, my friend. I am not sure if I have told you, my sweet Grandma Betty loved Cardinals so when I see them I think of her :) Thanks for sharing.

Hugs to you!

TexWisGirl said...

the hoverfly is as crisp and clear as can be! love the first male cardinal shot. very painterly! beautiful!

good luck!

21 Wits said...

My week just got better seeing your three B's post. Wow, all incredible catches here, and your opening photo- makes me all misty eyed for SPRING! Unfortunately the old weather (mood breakers) are saying snow is on the way for us. Record inches. Boo-Hoo!

Bob Bushell said...

Brilliant images, so clear. Thanks Gail.

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

gorgeous shots

Did you know scientists have said bees shouldn't be able to fly. They break aeronautical rules or something.

But I still love them.

Evelyn S. said...

I can never get over the sharp focus of your photos! Amazing to me. My husband and I just watched a show about photographing birds the other night...actually, it was about establishing an area for birds --and for photographers. Most interesting.

Would love to have flowers and bees in January!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Great cardinal shot! Have fun spinning. I've done a couple of classes, but the bikes always seem to hurt my bottom.

Melissa said...

I think they are really great shots! Although I do know the disappointment of not getting the shot I'd been imagining. I especially like the pansy and hover fly as you called it. It looks like a bee to me. Is it a special type of bee?

Bas. said...

de vogels hebben het heel goed bij je.

Karen said...

Fabulous shots Gail! WOW! Have fun spinning!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Gorgeous shots.I love seeing all those fine feather details.

Inspired By June said...

That pansy - wow! Gorgeous images, as always my friend! Let me know how the spinning goes, lol!

Inspired By June said...

That pansy - wow! Gorgeous images, as always my friend! Let me know how the spinning goes, lol!

Unknown said...

Your photos always have me smiling. These are so good my friend. You really need to get paid for these photos. I was on a tennis team for 15 years. I miss it so much. Have fun my friend.

Hugs~

Irma said...

Beautiful pictures Gail.
Photo 2 is my favorite, I love this male cardinal.

Unknown said...

Fantastic shots of the cardinals! I've never tried spinning, Good luck with that!

Anonymous said...

Such beautiful shots of the Cardinals!

DeniseinVA said...

Wow, these close ups of those birds are stunning Gail. Good for you on joining the athletic club.

hootnonny said...

Awesome! You're such a great bird photographer.

Enjoy your spinning classes!

Debbie said...

I am always amazed with your images, each one more beautiful then the first!! Crisp, clear lines and colors, they are just incredible!!

Spinning, I would never do it ;)

Breathtaking said...

These are all amazing captures Gail. So sharp, I feel that I could reach out and touch the Cardinal. I love the second image of the Cardinal in the tree, it's very beautiful.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Gail, your bird images are always a treat to see. Lovely photos.. Enjoy the spinning classes..

EG CameraGirl said...

Good for you for joining the athletic club! I really like the first photo! (Well, I like the others too.)

Joke (Joke's Camera) said...

Breathtaking photos, Gail, I can only dream of. And the disappointment .... well, it's nature! Good for you to do the spinning class. I hope you finally like it. Greetings, Joke

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That one cardinal is looking very quizzical ... wondering why you're there maybe? Your pictures are all so good. I wouldn't mind joining a gym again (if there were one anywhere near where we are) but I'd definitely pick something a little mellower than spinning.

Kerry said...

Gail, these are great. I love the shape of the cardinal. And that pansy pic is fantastic. Wonderful.

Optimistic Existentialist said...

LOVE the pictures of the cardinals (our state bird here in KY)!

diane b said...

Amazing clarity in your shots. Got any secrets to share.

Hannah said...

Fantastic photos, the cardinals are so fine, it's funny how they all seem to be watching you intently. They must be suspicious birds. The hover fly is really sharp, it's easy to see the wrap-around large eyes and tiny clubbed antennae from the same point between the eyes, very different from the smaller eyes and widespread bee ones, and lack of pollen baskets on the hind legs. I really like your sculpture and message, I can even see fingernails. Good luck with the spinning.

Helma said...

Hello dear Gail
I find that cardinals really wonderful to see. They are also magnificent birds. Unfortunately not seen in the Netherlands. Too bad you only had a pansy but it is very beautiful. Maybe the birds sit another time at your beautiful statuette;-)

Anonymous said...

Have fun at your club. The Pansy is perfection itself. Great photos.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Have fun spinning. It can be hard work I know because I also did it for awhile. Now, I just use a regular bike in the fitness center. Glad to see the bird and nature shots today - all beautiful captures.

Donna said...

Beautiful especially the bloom. I need to see them with the pollinators soon or I may implode from too much white and cold.

Suzan said...

Awesome shots!! Love the bee on the pansy!! Gotta know that the pollinators are soooo over winter and ready for spring!! Hope they all survived this difficult winter up north!!
Neat place for bird seed!! Lovely cardinals!
Happy Spinning!!

A Colorful World said...

Great shots! Really beautiful! The bee right in the center of the pansy is amazing! You could be still sitting there days later, though waiting for something to land on that statue! :-)