Birdcam Photography for Thursday Challenge

 Last spring/summer I purchased a birdcam and it  has been the source of many photo delights to me.  When I had seen Rose-breasted grosbeaks in my yard, last spring I rushed to set my birdcam on a tripod to catch the beauty of this bird!  And my quest was successful.  I am eager for this season's return of the birds.

photography is this week's photographic theme for Thursday's Challenge. To view more photos posted on this theme, or to join in on the fun yourself, just 'click' on the highlighted name.

A Helicopter in the Sky for Skywatch Friday

 

Its quite a surprise when driving down a busy highway encountering many headlights of traffic coming towards you, but it is quite a different experience when you see a headlight in the sky flying towards you. The unexpected headlight in the sky was a helicopter from nearby CFB Gagetown.

 

 

 My thanks to Yogi, the new host of Skywatch Fridayhttp://skyley.blogspot.com/ for continuing to host this very popular Friday skywatch meme. If you would like to post your own photos or just enjoy looking to see the photographic offerings of others, please scroll down this page and look upon the right hand side to click on the skywatch logo to go to the meme. A happy Friday to all

Happy Valentines Day!

  I could not believe the patterning on this Calico Pennant Damselfly when I found it several years ago.  I have not see this species since, but its image has served me well on previous valentine's Days.
A wish for a HValentines to all viewers and followers!

Hungry Birds During the Blizzard

 

Common Repoll on the snow

 here were lots of little Redpolls around yesterday during the big snowtorm.  They were swarming this Plum  tree (shown above)where  a feeder was hanging on a lower branch

   and the ground under the feeder was full of little birds

The sock feeder full of niger seed was the most popular feeding spot.
Throughout the stormy day we were also host to Blue Jays, Tree Sparrows, Red polls and one Harty Woodpecker.

 

Did we get snow? Yes , lots of it and today we have to get our driveway cleared out. The lions share of the job goes to my husband, but I will be helping  too.

stray Cats

Yesterday afternoon I saw two stray cats in Bird Alley.  The little grey one I had seen walk through our yard before.  The beautiful orange one though, I had not seen before.  Both cats looked healthy and in good condition.  I think perhaps they have homes as they appear to be well fed and strong. I don't think they are feral cats.  I hope not.
  Early this morning before full light the smaller grey cat was in Bird Alley again, perched on a railing in our pergola.

A plea to Groundhogs out there

Dear Mr Groundhog,

Don’t be afraid,

If your shadowy image you see

Please DO NOT FLEE!

Stay around without fear

And let us know that spring is drawing near.

A sunny or cloudy day

Shouldn’t a legend make

For, anyway, many think you’re just a fake

Enjoy your day that’s named just for you

And please give us a good report, please do!

Because dear Mr. Groundhog,

I believe in you.

sunset for Skywatch Friday

                                    The colours in the sky were vibrant and rich.  Above is what I call a ribbon candy sky

                    And as the colours began to depart the clouds changed into thin strips of colour.

  Above, a calm of beauty and colour reflected in the early evening sky, a pastel mix of pink and blue.

  After a full day of high winds and rain and power outages, the evening sky took on a beauty as if a peace offering for the violent weather of the day; spreading calm and beauty over the early evening.  but the colour  was as fleeting as was the temperature of the day ,which was a high of +10 C, a wonderful change from our freezing temperatures of the previous weeks,  but January is now past, welcome February.  I hope you have good weather days in store for us.

 y thanks to the hosts of Skywatch Fridayhttp://skyley.blogspot.com/ for continuing to host this very popular Friday skywatch meme. If you would like to post your own photos or just enjoy looking to see the photographic offerings of others, please scroll down this page and look upon the right hand side to click on the skywatch logo to go to the meme. A happy Friday to all

Experimentating with raw images

       This image  above was taken in raw and then converted to .JPEG, all within my Nikon D 3100 before I downloaded the photos.. I like the rich colour and details of the jay.

 Above I used the 'overlay feature of overlapping  two raw images in my Nikon 3100. I rather like the results of this feature and I shall continue experimenting with it. It is all done in my camera before I download any pictures. above I had used two  rawBluejays images to employ the overlap feature.

Full Moon for Skywatch Friday

y thanks to the hosts of Skywatch Fridayhttp://skyley.blogspot.com/ for continuing to host this very popular Friday skywatch meme. If you would like to post your own photos or just enjoy looking to see the photographic offerings of others, please scroll down this page and look upon the right hand side to click on the skywatch logo to go to the meme. A happy Friday to all

Pine Siskins in Bird Alley

  Yesterday afternoon I was delighted to see a Pine Siskin in Bird Alley.  We hadn't seen one at our feeders since December 19th, 2012.  Pine Siskins have such a beautiful burst of yellow found among their feathers. Just look at the picture above to see what I mean.  They are of the Finch family and often can be found at this time of year with their finch cousins; Common Redpolls and/ or Goldfinches.  We had both Redpolls and Goldfinch visitors yesterday afternoon.  I hope the Siskins return again today.  I enjoy taking their pictures and discovering where their little flashes of yellow are hidden.

Found some deer!

 A drive out and about the countryside yesterday afternoon had its rewards.  I had been hoping to find some deer as I hadn't seen many on my drives this winter.  Yesterday afternoon I saw four!  Oh Happy Day!. From a distance I spied one on the side of the road, then another, a third and Then , oh boy! , A fourth! I wanted to hurry in my approach so I could get a picture of them, before they ran off but reasoning set in as I slowed my approach, and I knew that if I sped up quickly with my car they would be gone, so I approached slowly.

As I got closer one deer leapt from the roadside into the woodsy area alongside it.  Actually that was good.  Deer must learn to scurry away quickly when in the way of approaching vehicles. It just makes good safety sense on their part.

My next exciting sighting  was a beautifully rounded shaped Ruffed Grouse.  It was perched on a snowbank along the side of the road.  As I drove by it didn't register what I was seeing, as I passed  by.  then I recalled a beautiful rounded, puffed up breast, probably because of the freezing temperature.  I was near the end of the road I was on so I hurried ahead to turn and drove back the spot where I thought the Grouse had been... no luck!  Where is it? On my third drive by of the location I saw a grouse walking deeper into the roadside brush.  Darn, I had missed getting a great picture, I shall have to be more alert in my roadside scanning for winter creatures.  As I was mentally chastising myself, I saw movement again, Another Ruffed Grouse along the roadside!  I had missed the second one also.  I guess it was too cold for thinking clearly. No pictures taken , but I shall return again today with a more determined and alert purpose.  Also maybe I can find the deer again.  I hope so.  I love taking pictures of deer.  Now I have a definite purpose to my day.  But it is so cold out!  The temperature is reading _23 degrees C, and that is COLD!

My Winter Geraniums for Ruby Tuesday 2

                               Every winter I bring the geraniums that have been in my summer garden inside.  I usually have great success with them and enjoy their vibrant blooms during the inter months.  However this winter, up until now, We did not have much luck with one plant.  It remained bushy ( see above) and leafy and I  had despaired that it would ever bloom, however this past week my husband  has found some promising buds on the plant.  Probably by next Tuesday I shall have pictures to post of this plant in full bloom.

 

   I am hopeful that these buds will open soon.

                                                  I have had success with a couple of geranium plants this winter  already and enjoy the booms of this red and pink blossom daily ( shown above and below.)

Ruby Tuesday 2 meme features photos with red of any subject. To contribute to this meme please go to;

http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com/
or just click on the Ruby Tuesday 2 badge at the top of the column on the right hand side of this blog page.

skywatching through my neighbour's window for Skywatch Friday

My computer looks out my window to the west, but often I see the sunrise reflected in my neighbour's window.  This what I saw yesterday morning of the sun creating golden circles on glass windows as I looked to the west.  beautiful! I thought. with a feature on my Nikon D3100 I was able to create the star bursts of light that highlight the photo.

 My thanks to the hosts of Skywatch Fridayhttp://skyley.blogspot.com/ for continuing to host this very popular Friday skywatch meme. If you would like to post your own photos or just enjoy looking to see the photographic offerings of others, please scroll down this page and look upon the right hand side to click on the skywatch logo to go to the meme. A happy Friday to all

Rosy-breasted Redpoll for RubyTuesday 2

Ruby Tuesday 2 meme features photos with red of any subject. To contribute to this meme please go to;
http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com/
or just click on the Ruby Tuesday 2 badge at the top of the column on the right hand side of this blog page.

Snow bunting: I Found Only one!

I went hunting for Snow Buntings today and I only found one in an area where I often find this species each winter.  I saw something 'white' rise from the bare edge of the road and when I looked up at the roadside wires overhead and I saw this one Snow Bunting perched on the wires. I was hoping to see a small flock but this sighting was better than nothing.  I shall return to this location in a few days hoping to see more of them. In our area we call these birds Snowbirds!

Sunset outside my window for Skywatch Friday

My thanks to the hosts of Skywatch Fridayhttp://skyley.blogspot.com/ for continuing to host this very popular Friday skywatch meme. If you would like to post your own photos or just enjoy looking to see the photographic offerings of others, please scroll down this page and look upon the right hand side to click on the skywatch logo to go to the meme. A happy Friday to all.

Northern Cardinals for Ruby Tuesday 2

                                               Both  the  male and female  Cardinals display a crested profile

      the male Northern Cardinal is  shown above feathered almost completely in red!   He is an outstanding looking bird in the snow!!!

 Above is seen the female Northern Cardinal; her similarities to the male are: they both have orange-red beaks and a black feathered  fringe surrounding the beak.  Also their head silhouettes are very similar in appearance with both displaying a feathered crest.


Ruby Tuesday 2 meme features photos with red of any subject. To contribute to this meme please go to;
http://rubytuesday2.blogspot.com/

Sunlight Design on Windows for Mellow Yellow Monday

    While sitting at my computer this morning I was at a loss as to what to post for today.  I had no photos that highlighted yellow.  then I looked up,out the window, and I saw beautiful spots of reflected sunlight on my neighbour's window.  I think there was a hidden message as the circular design the light made seemed to resemble the recycle logo.  Yes, I think that's it.  On this cold , freezing winter's morning, with a temperature of -15 degrees C,  there is a sign remninding us of the need to recycle to help aid the environment and to conserve the earth and its energy.  Heads up everyone.  Its important!

    Got pictures with yellow that you would like to share? Why not post them on Mellow Yellow Monday, a delightful meme that focuses on the colour yellow?Just clink here:http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/ to access this meme