Louisiana Belle: chickadee

Showing posts with label chickadee. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

SX50 Round 2

I'm still trying to work with the Canon SX50. Most of the usable shots have been with the tripod attached. Some shots have come out okay hand-held, but image quality is obviously better with the tripod. The reason I bought the camera was to take it on the kayak, so it remains to be seen whether the image stabilization is as good as they say as I float on water. That'll be the final test. On Good Friday we are taking three of my cousins for their first time kayaking. I plan to have fun whether the camera is cooperating or not.

I'm in a Picture of the Day (POD) Group on Facebook and it amazes me to see how many people are using this camera in place of their DSLR! I don't think I could go that far. Only if I get really lazy and don't want to carry my gear, or develop arthritis in my hands or something. Nope, I don't see the SX50 as a DSLR replacement, but it'll sure do in a pinch.

Shots from yesterday and today. Still not sold; however, it's getting better and I can see potential.

I added dead limbs and spanish moss to the feeding station. The birds love to sit on the extra limbs
and I think the moss adds a bit of security for them.

Hope our CPA comes through today! Double D delivered the tax paperwork to him in Dallas on the 9th. I'm dreading the dollars that are sure to leave us for Uncle Sam. Ugh, I hate April 15th! Unless it's your birthday, then I love it! :) All will be well!!!

Friday, March 8, 2013

The Bold and the Beautiful

Double D is driving me to Lake Martin today to see the nesting herons and egrets. It's supposed to be a bright, sunny day, so hope I can see some action! However, I'm not quite ready to battle alligators, so I'm praying they're still deep in the mud, hibernating. I'll check on y'all when I get back. :)

Below photos were taken in my yard, March 7, 2013.

Carolina Chickadee

Downy Woodpecker

The Ruby-throated hummingbird has returned. Woo hoo!

I got two of everyone, except Mrs. Cardinal. She became spooked by the camera clicks, but gave me one good pose at least. :)

Thanks so much to Anni for hosting this wonderful meme!

Friday, February 22, 2013

Miscellany

Miscellaneous photos taken over the last two weeks. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Mama Eagle keeping watch over her eaglets, 2/17/13

Chickadees are the boldest birds. I was probably 6-8 feet away from this little dude at Bluebonnet Swamp. Where else? :) 2/8/13

Another bold bird. This vociferous mockingbird was creating quite a scene at Capitol Lakes, 2/13/13.

My birding friends were generous enough to point out this tiny tree frog holding on to a red buckeye tree. 2/8/13

I was quite enamored with him.

Great Egret marching at Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/14/13.

American Kestrel, River Road, 2/15/13.

Brown Thrasher, Bluebonnet Swamp, 2/15/13.

I've got an abundance of photos of the Eastern Phoebe,
so you're going to be seeing it for quite some time. 2/18/13, Capitol Lakes.

Something a little different for me. Family flying a kite on top of the levee 2/3/13.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Gifts of Bluebonnet Swamp

Continuing my quest for all things nature since the weather has been so glorious, on Friday I stopped off at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center, a 200-acre preserve located 7 miles from my house. There I met the resident volunteer photographer who happily showed me all the hot spots, including a pair of barred owls named Barry and Brenda, and a rufous hummingbird. Barry & Brenda blended so well into the trees that I could not pull off a decent shot and the rufous was too shy. Something to shoot for (ha!) on the next visit, I guess.

I had asked God while I was wandering around, if it wasn't a bother, I'd really like something special to shoot. I've never asked God for anything remotely frivolous, and I felt bad even asking, but if you don't ask...

The male cardinals are exceptionally red right now. This has not been saturated in PS.

I would have been happy if this was all that was in store.

A brave little female worked her magic. Little did I know something even more special was waiting for me.

This was cute to watch them sharing, though at first Mr. Chickadee was doing his best to let Mr. Squirrel
know that his presence was not wanted by swooping around his head for several minutes. Didn't faze the squirrel one bit,
so I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

This chickadee posed right nice for me.

The red-eared slider made an appearance.

Just as I was about to give up, my God-gift was about to be handed to me on a silver platter. Look what greeted me as I approached the exit! At first I thought it was stuffed, like some sort of display. Not taking any chances I stopped dead in my tracks, slowly lifted the camera to my eye, and took a couple of shots, then I took two more steps and another two shots. I repeated this one more time, getting a total of six shots, and then he fled. After emailing the photo to a worker at the center, she was thrilled that I was able to capture this elusive fellow that they had only seen on the critter cam: a gray fox! She shared it on Facebook and I was a little bit of a sensation for a day. :) God is so good.