He Sticks the Landing
He Sticks the Landing, nothing prettier than watching a pelican land on water. My favorite bird to photograph.
He Sticks the Landing
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts
By Sandra J
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk – here it is. A small hawk, but he can move. He was chasing the blue jays in and out of the trees so fast. It was hard to get a photo of it.
He would chase one and then it would escape through the trees. It would wait for one to move and at it again.
The blue jays are just as fast and can zip in and out of the tree branches as well.
I never did see the hawk catch one bird. I did see the blue jays chase it off many times. But it would come back a few days later and try again.
Nature taking its course. Oh, and when the blue jays are warning everyone around that the hawk is here. All the bird species take cover. The chickadees stay hidden until the coast is clear.
Have a great weekend.
Cooper’s Hawk
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts
By Sandra J
Little Known Fact
Little Known Fact about the Blue Jays, or maybe others do know this about this colorful bird.
They work together when danger is close by. I have heard others say that blue jays are a pest. Mainly because they kind of hog the bird feeders. Well, they do that, yes. I have seen them, but other birds can be pushy as well, like the grackles and morning doves.
I saw for the first time a Coopers Hawk hanging around my bird feeders this year. It just doesn’t seem right that a bird will eat another bird. Coopers hawks do just that.
We knew when the hawk was in the area because all the blue jays give out warning calls. All of a sudden the hawk is flying after one, as the blue jay gets away. All the blue jays start chasing the hawk.
I will have photos of that tomorrow. I was pretty impressed how these blue jays stuck together to try and chase it off. More tomorrow.
Little Known Fact
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
There Are 4 of These
There are 4 species of nuthatches found in North America. They are the red-breasted nuthatch, the white-breasted nuthatch, the brown-headed nuthatch, and the pygmy nuthatch.
While they have distinct physical features, these tree-climbing birds share habitat, food, nesting, and foraging behaviors in common.
I photographed two of them this fall here at my place. The white breasted and the red one.
Plus I included some more Chickadee photos. I can’t resist taking their photos when they practically come right up to me.
There Are 4 of These
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
They May Be Tiny
They May Be Tiny but they are fast little birds. Here’s to some of the prettiest tiny birds this fall from my backyard.
Little Birds in Slow Motion Video Link
They May Be Tiny
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
5 Ds of Dodge Ball
5 Ds of Dodge Ball – Dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge
These blue jays have the moves of the old Dodge Ball Game. Do you remember that game. I do, we played it in gym class. I don’t think they play that one anymore.
I just bought that old movie Dodge Ball, it is a classic for me.
Dodge
Duck
Dip
Dive
Dodge
5 Ds of Dodge Ball
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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Go Pro Photos
Go Pro Photos. I was experimenting with the go pro camera at my bird feeding table last week. I normally just use the camera for videos. But I thought I would try the photo menus and see what happens.
It is not bad if the subject isn’t moving to much. Mainly because you can not control the shutter speed when you have the camera running on auto.
There is a little blur with wing movement, which I knew would happen. A fun little experiment though.
Birds on a Table Video Link Here
Go Pro Photos
Have a great weekend.
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts
By Sandra J
Discovering the New Bird Sanctuary
Discovering the New Bird Sanctuary near Paducah KN. I just looked at the map and saw a green area not far from us. So we took a drive to see what it was.
This area had a nice size man made lake with a road that you can drive all around it. Plenty of habitat for a lot of birds and people out fishing on the lake as well.
We discovered this new bird walking along the shore line.
Dozens of Egrets in the trees and on land. I will definitely be visiting this park again to see more birds.
Discovering the New Bird Sanctuary
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
Just One Shot
Just One Shot is all I get of these sand hill cranes. They landed in the field next to our place. You can hear them easily in the mornings, as they make their bird calls.
This particular morning they flew right over my head and landed the next field over. I went out there to get a photo of them and only snapped this one before they took off. They were quite far away as well.
I never realized they have red eyes like the black swans until I looked at this photo.
Just One Shot
Have a Great Weekend
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
Shake Shake Shake
Shake Shake Shake. After eating its fish dinner, time to shake off the water.
Have a great weekend. 😉
Shake Shake Shake
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By Sandra J
Heron Fishing
Heron Fishing today and this one is having some good luck. Catching big fish and eating them right away.
Before we left the small lake, heron tried again for a fish and came up empty handed. 🙂
Heron Fishing
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Blue Top Hat
Blue Top Hat. Molting seems to be done with the blue jays. They have their crown of blue feathers back. There are always plenty of them to photograph this time of year.
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By Sandra J
These Little Guys are Back
These Little Guys are Back – and lots of them. They are just so precious and friendly.
I made some holiday cards of this little bird. Chickadees and snow scenes go together so well. 🙂
These Little Guys are Back
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
A Dazzling Jewel
A Dazzling Jewel – The male cardinal’s brilliant red plumage is nothing short of breathtaking, resembling a vivid splash of crimson against the soft green foliage backdrop. His striking color radiates with an almost fiery intensity, making him a dazzling jewel amidst the muted tones of his surroundings.
A Dazzling Jewel
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
Spring Bird Family Vacations
Spring Bird Family Vacations – or lets call it the bird resort here at our place. This is the baby update of these 4 birds who have nested around our place.
The Raven is here every year all year. This couple had 2 babies this year. I have been trying to get a photo of all 4 of them together, but not easy to do. The 2 babies follow mom and dad everywhere still wanting to be fed by them. I just love watching how birds take care of their families.
I had mentioned in an earlier post that the Eastern Bluebirds had 4 babies. They have all left the nest and I am really going to miss these because they eat a lot of bugs. One baby somehow landed in a bucket I had outside, I took him over by the bird house and he wondered out of the bucket and than flew off.
I hope they come back next year.
The beautiful Tree Swallows had 4 or 5 babies. It is hard to count these because they fly so fast. They have all left as well. I looked up on the internet to find out where do they go after fledging. It said they usually find a group of their own and all hang out together until they fly south for the winter.
My northern Flicker residence are still here and they had 2 babies as well. I still see them flying around as a family for now.
If I can get any new photos of the kids, I will surely share them with you.
Spring Bird Family Vacations
Love of Bird Photography
Love of Bird Photography – Some of my favorite shots this summer so far.
Eastern Bluebird on the Fly, update on these birds nesting in my purple martin house. They had 4 babies and I saw one fly out of the bird house with its parent. The other 3 would take turns coming out of the nesting box and sit on the little porch. That is a small space for 4 baby birds so they are all probably about ready to test their wings and fly to a tree.
Female Ruby Throated Hummingbird stopping by the feeder.
Shore bird after a dip in the water
Oh and my favorite, the White Pelican in flight. Nothing I love more than photographing these beautiful birds as they fly right over top of me. It is very hard to hold the camera in a complete vertical position but so worth the efforts. 🙂
Love of Bird Photography
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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Eastern Bluebird with Take Out
Eastern Bluebird with Take Out – just grabbing a bite to eat on the run.
Eastern Bluebird with Take Out
The Ruby’s
The Ruby’s – Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, Ruby, Emerald, Touch of Safire. This tiny bird has all the royal colors from creation. In such a small package, a tiny little heart that keeps this bird going. I am always amazed to watch hummingbirds, how fast they are and to know how many miles they fly a year is a wonderous thing. Truly a gift to witness the strength and tenacity of this living thing.
The Ruby’s
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
A Colorful Surprise
A Colorful Surprise this year at home. Eastern Bluebirds have decided to use my bird house this year to raise their babies. I have never seen an eastern bluebird up here. Matter of fact I have only seen a couple of them over the years, so I feel that it is a treat to see them at all.
Their beautiful colors of blue and tan and a wonderful song they have as well.
I put two bird houses up to try and attract Purple Martins. Over the last couple of years, the only birds using this house are tree swallows. They are interesting birds because they will put nesting material in every spot so other birds think this home is occupied.
Come to find out, eastern bluebirds do the same thing. There was a slight battle between the bluebirds and tree swallows. But they seem to come to an agreement. Tree swallows took one house and bluebirds took the other.
This could have been a great shot of the tree swallow in flight, they are super fast birds. Very hard to photograph in flight. This couple had 3 or 4 babies this years. Yesterday they all came out of the house for a fly around the place. I counted 5 or 6 flying around.
Both birds eat lots of bugs, so they are a wonderful addition to our home this year.
A Colorful Surprise – Have a great weekend.
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts
By Sandra J
Feathers From Heaven
Feathers From Heaven – In many spiritual traditions, feathers are also associated with the concept of spiritual ascension and the idea of rising above one’s earthly troubles. For example, in some traditions, feathers are thought to represent the connection between the physical world and the spiritual world and are seen as symbols of spiritual growth and enlightenment.
I do pick up feathers when I find them. On this particular day, I actually saw this fall out of the Northern Flicker bird as it flew overhead. Last week I posted a photo of the Flicker flying and showed what pretty yellow feathers it has. Than it flew over me and one landed right in front of me. So I had to pick it up.
Quite extraordinary it is. Such a beautiful yellow.
This is the tree the bird flew to, you can barely see him at the top of the pine tree.
The red on the back of the head is a good way to identify it. I have a pair that nest here in my yard. They also love taking dirt baths in my garden. So fun to watch.
Feathers From Heaven
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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Rose Tinted Glasses
Rose Tinted Glasses – The idiom “rose-tinted glasses” signifies a perspective that is overly optimistic, highlighting the positive while often ignoring the negative aspects of a situation.
This phrase popped into my head when I look at this Rose Breasted Grosbeak bird and the flower below. I am a very positive person, for me it is because I trust in our Lord.
I hope this splash of color brightens your day and have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Rose Tinted Glasses
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New Bird in Mississippi
New Bird in Mississippi – this little one is named a Warbling Vireo. I have lost count exactly how many birds I have photographed. I do know it is over 250. I might have to start a new list.
New Bird in Mississippi
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker – capturing birds in flight photography is a way to see birds in a entire new light. I did not notice all the yellow on these birds until I saw this photo I took of this gorgeous bird.
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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What’s Up
What’s Up – with a little head tilt up as this heron fly’s by looking at me. I can just picture it doing the heads up nod that people do to say hay.
That is what I did to him. 🙂
You know what the head nod is? We do it a lot when driving out on country roads. When a car approaches and the person waves at you, you either raise your first finger up as a wave back or the head nod. The shorter version of a wave.
What’s Up
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
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By Sandra J
The Blob
The Blob – did you ever see the movie, the Blob, I think it came out back in the 70’s. This first photo reminded me of that movie as these little birds are trying to run away from the foam in the water.
These little sand pipers are made for running, they are such a fast little bird running on the beach.
These feet are made for standing, knobby knees and all. The gulls don’t do a lot of running on the beach. They can stand for a long time, just watching and looking for a an opportunity to find some food.
The Blob
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Sneaking Into the Weekend
Sneaking Into the Weekend, this first photo made me think of that as this heron looks like he is tip toeing across the beach.
Have a great weekend.
Sneaking Into the Weekend
Spring Time
Spring Time and birds scraping for territory. This is one of my favorite shots. Two robins were scraping for territory as I was walking in a park.
A fast shutter speed is a must for stopping things in motion.
Spring Time
Snowy White in Spring
Snowy White in Spring – the snowy white egret that is. Always beautiful with its graceful long flowing feathers.
Snowy White in Spring
Patience is a Virtue
Patience is a Virtue, The Eastern Bluebird – this colorful bird seems to be all over the Midwest, but I have only recently started seeing it more and more.
This first photo I took of this colorful bird over 10 years ago as I was on a walk and it just happened to land on this sign. One takes a picture no matter what the background is or the perch the bird is sitting on, when you get to see a new bird like this one.
Well, over the years of practice and improving my photography skills. I have learned to be more patient and learned more about birds and their behaviors so I can work at getting just the right shot to highlight the species and not have to many distractions in the photo, when possible.
That is not always possible with wildlife. But we do get lucky now and then.
I kept an eye on this Eastern Bluebird as it went from branch to branch. It was perched deep in the tree at first, as new leaves on the branches were blocking my view from getting a nice clear photo.
UNTIL
It finally landed on a branch that was hanging low under the tree. This is what I was waiting for, a clear view of this beautiful bird on just one branch.
I love it when my patience gives way to a beautiful photo like this. Showcasing the beauty of this little bird. 🙂
Patience is a Virtue
Have a great weekend.
Patience is a Virtue
Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures
Sandra J’s Photography & Fine Arts
By Sandra J
Hooded Merganser & MouseBird
Hooded Merganser – Last of the birds from the Mississippi Aquarium. I almost missed these two. The Hooded merganser you can find at many places throughout the states. Such an interesting duck, it is a fish eating duck.
This one is decked out in its breeding colors. The white areas are so bright, it really catches the eye of the females.
This one is the Speckled Mousebird.
This family was named for their soft fluffy, mousy grey-brown plumage and long, thin tails, and their mouse-like habit of scurrying around in brush as they search for food.
Due to their low-calorie, fruit-based diet, these birds go into torpor (temporary or semi-hibernation) on cold nights to conserve energy. During this time, their heart rate slows down, their body temperature decreases and they remain in a so-called “suspended animation” until it is time for them to wake up and feed again.
The only other groups of birds known to go into temporary hibernation are hummingbirds and nighthawks. These mousebirds generally roost in tight groups of 20 or more birds to prevent heat loss and also to deter nocturnal predators.
Speckled Mousebirds occur naturally in Africa – from Cameroon east through the Central African Republic, southern Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and south Somalia, south through Kenya (except for the arid northern and eastern lowland areas of Kenya), eastern Africa to southern South Africa.
Hooded Merganser & MouseBird
