Sheesh! It's been too long. How about some birds?

Here are some Dickcissels. They are about the size of sparrows and inhabit the middle US states from Canada to Mexico. I wrote them off as sparrows at one time, but they are quite different. Instead of just documenting the birds I see, I have really begun to work on actually composing the shot and taking into account the rule of thirds. Sometimes, I can, other times I can't because the subject doesn't play nice. :)
1

2

3


This next set is of a lone Loggerhead Shrike.
1.

2.

3.


And finally, ever seen a Common Nighthawk? These guys are evening birds that are more related to owls than anything else. They are insect eaters. I found this guy on one of my bike rides. I went back to where he was and he was still there.
1. This one was perched on some metal awning that was an old entrance way to a ranch.

2. This is a juvenile nighthawk I photographed at dusk. It was almost completely dark and I actually got too close so now the angle is bad, but hey, at least it's perched on a limb and not a ugly, rusted pole.


And did you know that common birds are disappearing at an alarming rate according to an Audubon report?

Can't miss the peent they make.

call. I heard two of them as they were flying around each other doing acrobatics the other evening as I took the pictures of the one on the limb.

Oh, good! More bird pics....

And you're getting so good........not that you weren't good in the first place!

These are wonderful!

The third Loggerhead Shrike pic is especially nice...

I love the blurry background that sets off the bird so well...

Thank you for posting these! :hug:

You are very kind and I appreciate your words of encouragement.

all of them are lovely but, special thanks for the nighthawk:loveya:

I see them quite often now. Perhaps I can get some more pics later.

Waterfowl are not my forté.

I just see things I like and take pics. Unfortunately, my camera isn't as good as yours.

:D I esp like the nighthawk ones. Very cool. :thumbsup:

I had a huge bald eagle fly over me recently as I was resting on a bike ride next to a gorgeous alpine lake. It was only about 20 ft above my head. Very cool, indeed. I took it as an auspicious sign.

I tend to do that.

:hi:

bald eagle pictures this year when they come back to Texas. Thanks for the nice words.

I'm planning to wear an eagle talon necklace when I do the CA Death Ride on Saturday. It's a major endurance cycling event with 2800 cyclists, 130 miles, 5 mtn passes and 16,000 ft of climbing...all in ONE DAY!! Check this out, for your amusement:
http://www.deathride.com/course/map.php

I've never done it before, but I've been training all season and I'm as ready as I can be. The eagle talon will be my talisman for Strength and Endurance. I figure I can use all the extra ju ju I can get!

:hi:

I use my rides to scope good birding areas. :) Good luck on the ride and I hope the eagle talon brings you the strength and endurance you want.

:hug: I appreciate your good wishes. They mean a lot, trust me. :hug:

Love the Dickcissel with the grasshopper. There's a bird here recently that very much resembles it, but of course can't be a Dickcissel (Spiza americana), but must be somehow related to the species. Of course, if I had my camera ready ...

:thumbsup:

I love the last one...all I could think of was the little fellow thinking "great, now I have this big white camera flash spot in my eye! Going to take a while before I can fly at night and see where I am going"...but that is just me and my weird sense of humor! Thanks for sharing!!

I know you like raptors and I found a pair of Mississippi Kites that have taken up residence at a nearby creek with huge oaks and pecans. I got some pictures today along with some painted buntings.

I used to go birding in a place in Iowa called "Dickcissel Park". It was privately owned, by a farmer who was a birdlover. The place was full of dickcissels, meadowlarks, bluebirds, lots of great songbirds. Thanks for a great memory!

I'd love to win the lottery and buy some land in the Texas Hill Country and simply open it up to wildlife photographers instead of the hunters.

And here's the rest of the family

I only occasionally see wild turkey around here. I used to see them quite often but as this area develops more I see less of them. I saw a solitary male about a month ago, but that is it.

Understatement of the year :D

I'm totally amazed at your pictures. I can't get the suckers to hold still long enough for me :P

:yourock:

And thanks again for the kind words.

I think the composition is terrific. The angle isn't badd at all. It's a beautiful photo! :bounce:

When I look at that pic I just think of someone sitting on the first row at a movie theater looking straight up at the screen. Thanks for the kind words.

:thumbsup:

:bounce:

I'm glad that you have been enjoying them.

I've never seen anyone of those birds (except in a book) before.

:thumbsup:

I can show you a bunch, up close and personal although I am not sure how my wife would react when I tell her that a barenakedlady is coming to see me. ;)

Always getting in my way...

;)