Late Winter Roundup

Male House Finch

Female House Finch

Tufted Titmouse

White-throated Sparrow

Female Downy Woodpecker

Common Grackle

Male Northern Cardinal

Female Northern Cardinal

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Thorny Perch

1/250 sec. f/13 ISO 640

Night Inspired

1/4 sec. f/6.3 ISO 800

This is a break from my normal subjects, but I enjoy shooting something different from time to time. It helps keep things interesting. This is just one of our many churches in the area and I shot it for the new meme...

inSPIREd Sunday

Awkward Step

1/800 sec. f/9 ISO 1000

Linking to Weekly Top Shot and The Bird D'Pot

Silhouette Sunset

1/640 sec. f/7.1 ISO 100

Linking to Skywatch Friday

His And Her Seeds

1/250 sec. f/10 ISO 640

A Gull First

While at the lake over the winter, I saw my first Bonaparte's Gulls. Fortunately, I got three or four photos because it was the only time I saw them. I suspect they were migrating and made a brief stop. Normally, the only gulls that winter here are Ring-billed Gulls and they don't appear in huge numbers.

1/1000 sec. f/11 ISO 400

A Foraging Song

Normally, our sparrow visitors consist of White-throated Sparrows or House Sparrows, but recently I caught this Song Sparrow foraging in the yard.

1/320 sec. f/6.3 ISO 500

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

The Early Bird Gets...

1/250 sec. f/8 ISO 500

Slither Into Spring

I saw my first garter snake of the year recently. The past couple of years they've appeared in March, but with our lingering cool weather, I didn't see my first one until this month. So far I've only see this one, but I expect as the weather begins to warm and stay that way, I'll see more.

1/250 sec. f/8 ISO 250

Gold Mine

1/320 sec. f/8 ISO 500

Hang Time

1/1000 sec. f/10 ISO 400

Sweet Carolina

1/320 sec. f/10 ISO 400

Linking to Weekly Top Shot and The Bird D'Pot

Reflected Morning

1/125 sec. f/16 ISO 250

Linking to Skywatch Friday and Weekend Reflections

Say It, Don't Spray It

1/500 sec. f/8 ISO 200

Up High

Ginsu Goldfinch

1/500 sec. f/8 ISO 500

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Top Of The World

1/500 sec. f/11 ISO 100

This is a photo I took of my daughter yesterday while we were out enjoying the warm weather. I suppose it would be more accurate to say it's a landscape photo that happens to include my daughter. The hill wasn't as high as it appears in the picture. The combination of a wide angle lens and me shooting from ground level makes the distance appear more dramatic. Even as small as she is, the photo wouldn't be the same without her (or something) to draw the eye.

Linking to Our World Tuesday

Morning Moon

1/20 sec. f/16 ISO 250

Ring Of Blue

1/250 sec. f/7.1 ISO 800

Linking to Weekly Top Shot and The Bird D'Pot

Deadwood

1/250 sec. f/11 ISO 200

This is my first and only photo of a Pileated Woodpecker. Ever. Shot with a 500mm lens. That gives you an idea of just how far away it was. I knew a nice close up of the woodpecker was going to be impossible and I could have easily walked away saying there was no shot. Instead, I took a moment to look at the surroundings and see if I could still make a pleasing photo. Sometimes we get so intent on a singular subject that we give up if we can't get the shot we originally wanted. It often pays to slow down and work with what you have available. Not that this photo would win any Nat Geo contests, but at least I didn't walk away empty-handed.

Why So Angry?

1/250 sec. f/6.3 ISO 800

Open Water

Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Winter Mockingbird

 1/250 f/10 ISO 640

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

Tiny Visitor

I noticed some quick movements near the ground feeder one evening and it turned out to be this vole raiding the bird seed. It would run out from the base of the tree, grab a seed, and run back to the tree. Compared to the much larger "tree rats", this little guy barely made a dent in the bird food.

1/320 sec. f/6.3 ISO 400