December 29, 2018

Viewing Birds, Late December.


I really need to start choosing my Photo of the Year, but it's hard to judge so I procrastinate. Today I'm posting for my favorite Saturday linkups: Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather Be Birdin'.

Let's start with a blue jay and a Carolina wren. The jay is a large bird and can be as much as a foot long. Did you know they sometimes squirrel away nuts to eat later?

The round little Carolina wren is much smaller. Isn't it a cute bird?

I believe this duck is descended from domestic ducks that escaped and now live wild on our community lake. They live peacefully alongside our mallard ducks, a muscovy ducks, various geese, and great blue herons.

The pair of birds in the tree are mourning doves. I often see them in pairs.

The bird on the feeder is a female cardinal.

I'm getting better at spotting great blue herons.  This one looked like a blue-tinted spot across the lake until I zoomed in using my old Nikon with its 42X optical zoom lens.  I also cropped the picture in Photoshop.

I keep the old Nikon (a P510) on a table by a window so I can take pictures of birds. I rarely take it on expeditions because its capacity is now limited to the built-in memory. The SD card slot got messed up months ago and a couple of repair places said they cannot fix it because it is "old" and they no longer have parts for it! It dates to around 2012.

Typically I download pictures from it twice a week (connecting with a cord) and then reformat the memory. For most of my photography, I use a newer camera or my cell phone. The cell is handy for public places because people don't even notice it so it doesn't make them nervous or self-conscious.


12 comments:

  1. Happy New Year!! Thanks for sharing your birding photos and your expertise with all feathered friends with us at I'd Rather B Birdin'. It's been a joy having you participate in 2018 and I look forward to viewing what's in the future for 2019! Love the cropped photo of the hero's reflection...terrific. You have a camera on your table? Now, that is very wise. I think I'll begin doing the same!

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  2. AUTO CORRECT changed heron's to hero's

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  3. Hello, you see a nice variety there. I love the cute wren and the cardinal. Great view of the Heron. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your post today and the past year. Happy Sunday, enjoy your day! PS, I also appreciate all the comments you have left me this past year, thanks again! I wish you all the best in 2019 Happy New year to you and your family!

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  4. Lovely post. All the best Diane

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  5. The blue jay particularly stands out for me.

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  6. I see blue jays here, but they hide in the brush, so no chance for a photo. I'll keep trying. The Carolina Wren is a favorite of mine. Nice pics. Happy New Year!

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  7. I love all of these :)
    Happy New Year Wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  8. I do so love Carolina wrens...I hear them in the neighborhood occasionally but none will settle here. On top of that, I am so afraid one of my cats would get one if they did...but I do love them dearly.

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  9. I especially love the duck photo because he looks so happy on the water

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  10. Your birds are always great...big ones and little ones. The only thing wrong is that I have to fight picture envy when I visit because I have such trouble getting decent pictures of the little perching guys. Thanks for sharing yours and Happy New Year! (And keep posting them ...your pictures are an inspiration for me to keep tryng).

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  11. These are all great, but I like the Carolina wren the best.

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