Transition to Autumn
Transition to Autumn from the lush green and blue to the warm colors of autumn.
Tree Tops in Full Color
Autumn Colors
Transition to Autumn
Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography or should I say waterscapes. Waterfalls and lakes a plenty this summer. Blue being my favorite color. Or is it green, yep it is blue and green.
The combination most often found in summer landscapes. Blue sky’s and lush green forest and add some water and it is an oasis of peace and solitude.
Landscape Photography
Lake Superior at Sunset
Lake Superior at Sunset, we made it up to the big lake a couple of times this past summer. Sunset is always beautiful across the lake. it is like the little ocean of the north to me.
The water is cold and clear with lots of forest lining the highway along the beaches.
Colored rocks galore.
But in the winter, this lake is amazing. With ice breaks piling up along the shore lines and of so cold when the wind is blowing across the lake.
Brrrrrr, I am glad we can go south for the winters these days.
Lake Superior at Sunset
Last of My Flowers
Last of My Flower photos from my gardens. They are still blooming but we are in the process of heading south again. I want to say thank you to Beth for telling me about Zinnias. She said to let them stand all winter, they give great coverage for the birds, plus they can reseed themselves in the spring.
I did notice the birds would go under the flower plants in the heat of the summer. It was dark and cool in there. Like it was their own little forest.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Last of My Flowers
It Likes the Camouflage
It Likes the Camouflage – I was sitting on my porch with my camera on my tri pod, just waiting for something to photograph when this moth landed on my lens. Of course I have another camera to take a picture of this.
With its wings closed it blends right in with the camouflage cover on my lens.
It Likes the Camouflage
Macro Flower Photography
Macro Flower Photography – Flowers are a great subject for getting up close macro shots. I use two different lenses for macro photography. My favorite lens is a 90mm macro lens. It gets clear up close shots even without a tripod.
It is like a new world when seeing nature this close.
Macro means you’re taking super close-ups of objects at 1:1. So the image size on your sensor is equal to the size of the subject in real life.
Macro Flower Photography
Do Bees See Colors
Do Bees See Colors – Bees do not see color the same way humans do, so they are attracted to certain flower colors. Plants on the blue and yellow end of the color spectrum attract bees because those are the colors they can easily perceive.
I am not sure how they have found this information, but I do know the bumble bees are busy at work this fall landing on pretty much all of the colors in my flower garden.
I have noticed they really like the pink cosmos flowers and the marigolds.
Male bees do not actively collect pollen, only the queen does. They transfer the pollen they collect to the sacs or baskets on their hind legs to make it easier to transport back to the hive.
A queen has found a suitable habitat for her colony once she is seen with pollen on her hind legs
Unlike honeybees, the bumblebee colony dies in late fall. The queen (who rules the colony) is the only member of a bumblebee colony to survive the winter! She hibernates during the winter months underground and starts a new colony in the spring.
Do Bees See Colors
Autumn is Rich With Gold
Autumn is Rich With Gold colors. Welcome to October, my favorite season is here. Autumn colors, cool crisp air and golden hues surround us.
Flower photography is a fun way to see all these colors up close. This little orange flower grows about 1 foot off of the ground. Sometimes it is just easier to pick the flower to photograph it and make an interesting composition with it, then crawling down on the ground to get a close up shot.
Autumn is Rich With Gold
23 Woodpecker Species
23 Woodpecker Species native to the United States and I have photographed 9 of them so far.
Starting with the Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker photographed in Washington
Northern Flicker photographed in Michigan
Red Headed Woodpecker photographed in Illinois
Gila Woodpecker photographed in Arizona
Golden Fronted Woodpecker photographed in Texas
Red Bellied Woodpecker photographed in Iowa
Hairy Woodpecker photographed in Iowa
Downy Woodpecker photographed in the woods somewhere. I can’t remember where I found this one. 🙂
Have a great weekend, September is almost over. Autumn is here, I hope you all get to go outdoors and enjoy the fall weather.
23 Woodpecker Species
Pileated Woodpecker Speed
Pileated Woodpecker Speed – Pileated Woodpeckers are known for their speed, agility, and power. They are able to fly up to 30 miles per hour and sustain speeds of over 60 miles per hour when diving.
Additionally, Pileated Woodpeckers have been known to use their strong bills to chip away at tree trunks at a rate of up to 20 times per second. This combination of speed and strength makes Pileated Woodpeckers one of the most impressive birds in the Pileated woodpecker family.
I took a lot of photos to get these 4 good ones of this bird in flight. I am using a 600 mm lens and the weight of this camera is about 6 lbs. and moving it back and forth tilted up at the bird is a challenge by itself.
But I always like a good challenge. 🙂
Pileated Woodpecker Speed
The Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest.
Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.
I normally see 4 of these gorgeous birds around my place all summer long. They are easy to find because of their size and they are actually very fast birds in flight. I actually got a couple photos of them flying I will share on tomorrows post.
I photographed this one below in Montana.
The Pileated Woodpecker
Such a Cool Looking Bird
Such a Cool Looking Bird – Many people consider the loon a symbol of wilderness; its rich yodeling and moaning calls, heard by day or night, are characteristic sounds of early summer in the north woods. In winter, silent and more subtly marked.
Common Loons inhabit coastal waters and large southern lakes. In such places they are solitary while feeding, but may gather in loose flocks at night.
Loons are water birds, only going ashore to mate and incubate eggs. Their legs are placed far back on their bodies, allowing efficient swimming but only awkward movement on land.
Loons are like airplanes in that they need a runway for takeoff. In the case of loons, they need from 30 yards up to a quarter-mile (depending on the wind) for flapping their wings and running across the top of the water in order to gain enough speed for lift-off.
Like many young birds, juvenile loons are really on their own after mom and dad leave at about 12 weeks. The parents head off on migration in the fall, leaving juveniles to gather into flocks on northern lakes and make their own journey south a few weeks later. Once the juveniles reach coastal waters on the ocean, they stay there for the next two years. In the third year, young loons return north.
Such a Cool Looking Bird
Boating This Summer
Boating This Summer – we bought an old boat years ago that we have never had time to use at all until this year. The motor that came with the boat was old and needed some attention. My husband proceeded to work on the boat when we got home last spring and the motor was definitely a challenge for him.
He has never worked on a boat motor before, but I have to say he is so good at fixing pretty much anything that I knew he would figure this one out as well. It took him a couple of months, after replacing many different parts on the motor, he decided to take the carburetor apart one more time. As he did he discovered one tiny little inlet hole that was still clogged with dirt and grime that he had not noticed before and just like that the motor runs like brand new.
I just realized I actually do not have a photo of the entire boat. I will have to get one taken. He has to paint parts of it yet, but now he has time for that with it running properly. So many lakes to explore, it isn’t a new fancy boat, it is a classic almost antique one would say. It is stable and reliable just like us.
Oh the fun we will have and the scenic views we will see together my husband and I. We are best friends and I love this man. A true relationship is like a boat, if you work on it, it will bring you such joy and happiness. Communication is like the motor, it keeps everything running smoothly. Lack of communication and the motor starts to sputter and quits eventually.
The boat stays afloat from a good foundation of trust and faith, not only in each other but for us, it is in our Father. With this combination, adventures await us around every corner. It will stay afloat for a lifetime until our time comes that we must leave each other to go on our last adventure.
Boating This Summer
The Cheerful Flower
The Cheerful Flower – Sunflowers grow large, tall, and cheerful flower heads that brighten and animate your yard—and though you most commonly see these aptly-named beauties in sunny yellow, the annuals can be red or orange, too. There are so many good reasons to grow them, beyond the fact that they make you happy: They’re easy to cultivate, attract beneficial pollinators like butterflies and native bees, and draw beautiful songbirds (many species love these blooms!)
Including deer, they love eating them when they are young plants. But I was able to keep them away from a couple of my sunflowers so I could see them bloom and provide seeds for the birds this year.
Short video below of my tallest sunflower, over 10 ft. this one. Like the sun looking right at you. Click here, Sunflower
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Have a great weekend.
The Cheerful Flower
Hummingbirds and Flowers
Hummingbirds and Flowers -This was the best summer I have had with my flower gardens and seeing the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies using them was such a treat. I will be doing this again next year for sure. The hummingbirds are gone now for this year.
We have had a couple of frost already up here and some of the flowers did not do so well. Except these below and my sunflowers, the frost did not bother them.
I am not sure what to make of this photo below. Does it not look like the hummingbird on top is sticking its tongue out at the hummingbird below.
Crazy kids. 🙂
Until next year hummingbirds, can’t wait to see you in the spring again.
Hummingbirds and Flowers
Best Buds
Best Buds, well this is the last of the fawn photos for 2023. They are grown up and now are playing out in the big field next to us. Until next year little ones. 🙂
Slow motion video of fawn playing and moms. Fawns playing slow motion,
Fawns
Best Buds
Daran the Heron
Daron the Heron – I have just a couple of photos left of this beautiful bird that I took down south last winter. I actually took enough photos of them to be able to share with you all summer off and on. I never get tired of looking at their amazing colors and long flowing feathers.
One thing I noticed when I look at the videos I take of these birds is that they have a lot of patience and they can go along time without blinking. Yes they blink, they actually have 3 eyelids.
This video below is an example of one not blinking for 30 seconds. Click here, Heron Staring Contest
Daran the Heron
Happy Monday
Happy Monday – I guess I really don’t pay attention to the days of the week anymore except to write my blog post. When you are retired, they all just kind of blend in.
Now that my sister has finally retired that has changed as I used to call her every Saturday, her day off. Now we can call each other whenever knowing I am not interrupting her work. Just love it when I go and visit and can visit with her all week when we are there.
Below is a cute video to start your week. A fawn playing and running during a cool morning start of the day. This is filmed with a trail camera so the quality is not as good as a camera, but it is a fun video that will make you smile. Or click this link here; Fawn Playing
Happy Monday Again
Teal Colored Eye Shadow
Teal Colored Eye Shadow – this is an unusual color for the eye shadow of this morning dove. I have never seen this shade before.
I have seen the blue shadow around the red eyes, this is the white winged dove below.
The ringed neck dove below has yellow eye shadow and red eyes.
Have a great weekend.
Teal Colored Eye Shadow
My Chloee Checking the Flowers
My Chloee Checking the Flowers – She turned 10 years old this month. Such a good dog.
I have had dogs my entire life, they are truly a gift I think. Have a wonderful day. 🙂
My Chloee Checking the Flowers
Song Birds
Song Birds – this first picture is a bird called a song sparrow. It has a very pretty bird call. This was the only bird around our place last month. I am not sure where they all went, but it is was pretty quiet here for quite awhile, except for this one little bird who would sing every time I put some bird food out for it.
In the video below you can hear the sounds of the song sparrow and some bird sounds from earlier this spring. Song Bird Sounds
So I am adding some birds in red to give some color to this blog.
Song Birds
Does it Lean to the Left
Does it Lean to the Left – those who take photos, do you notice if your shots lean one way or the other? Meaning are they level for you? I have noticed over the years all my photos lean to the left.
The middle photo I tried to fix but ended up going back to the left. When I set up the grid line in photoshop and make it level with that. Then it always looks like it is leaning to the right after fixing it, like the last photo.
I am left handed, maybe that has something to do with it. 🙂
This one below looks like it is leaning to the right after fixing it in photoshop.
Below is a video of the Shelf Cloud that went through my area a couple of weeks ago, along with some of my lightning photos. Or click here; Shelf Clouds
Does it Lean to the Left
Just Look Up
Just Look Up – Video below or click here Perseid Meteor Shower and Milky Way,
The Solar System is filled with fascinating wonders and mysteries.
Just Look Up
Nature is a Perfect Example
Nature is a Perfect Example teaching us about life and survival. I have always been fascinated by observing nature, learning from it, watching how animals survive. Photography has really enhanced this study as I have to be in nature and wait patiently as I watch everything from birds, animals and even flowers and trees, go about their daily task called life.
How does something as tiny as a hummingbird survive looking for food, raising babies? Let alone wondering how they migrate thousands of miles every year. Instinct, DNA, survival mechanism that were given to them.
I was walking past my garden and a shinny reflection caught my eye, tiny ruby colors glistening in the sunshine on a leaf. I moved to look closer and it was gone. I went around to the other side of the leaf and their it was, the most beautiful color, shinning bright as the sunlight caressed these 3 little feathers stuck on a leaf.
They are 3 of the smallest feathers I have ever picked up. They are from the throat area of the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. They are so small I could barely keep them in my hand as I took them inside to get a photo of these marvelous little shinny feathers.
I put them next to a penny so you can see the size comparison. The hummingbirds sit on my fence around my garden and groom themselves. So this tiny feather probably fell out, right below the fence on a leaf.
Watching and learning from birds makes me think about how they survive on a daily bases. They search for food, they feed their family’s and themselves. Plus they appear to be happy, they enjoy sitting on a fence in the sunshine watching what is going on around them. I do that as well, sitting on my porch, not a fence. 🙂
But, “𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 𝕚𝕤 increasingly 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 to 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐮𝐬. Happiness isn’t very good for the economy. If we were happy with what we had, why would we need more? How do you sell an anti-ageing moisturizer? You make someone worry about ageing. How do you get people to vote for a political party? You make them worry about immigration. How do you get them to buy insurance? By making them worry about everything. How do you get them to have plastic surgery? By highlighting their physical flaws.
To be calm becomes a kind of revolutionary act.
To be happy with your own non-upgraded existence. To be comfortable with our messy, human selves, would not be good for business.”
– Matt Haig,
Be the change! Learn how to be happy with what you have. Reprogram your mindset for positive outlook gratitude, calmness and most importantly 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.
Reprogram and remove programming/conditioning that no longer serves you, the self limiting beliefs that keep you from growing to your full potential. 
Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
Flower Garden
Flower Garden – Well I planted lots of flowers two months ago and they are in full bloom. So many wonderful colors and I am happy to say the hummingbirds are still here. They appear to be having a blast going to all the flowers and chasing each other.
I have two flower gardens that way the hummingbirds have plenty of room to check out all the flowers.
Flower Garden Finally Blooming
Marigolds
Marigolds – marigolds symbolize purity, auspiciousness, and the divine. Their strong fragrance is believed to ward off negativity and evil spirits. Plus they are said to ward off mosquitos.
The vibrant colors of marigolds also represent the sun’s energy, signifying warmth, passion, and creativity.
I planted a lot of marigolds this year to test out the theory of keeping mosquitos away. But by the time they bloomed the mosquitos were already gone. So I can not testify that this theory is correct until next year. 🙂
This one is not a marigold, I just added it because of the color scheme and background.
Marigolds
Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is Power – Autumn is upon us and it is always the time of year that brings me to reflect on the past summer as our travel plans get closer. But this weekend I was thinking about time, I was actually given a senior discount for something I purchased, it is my first senior discount and just the word senior made me think about time and all those who have gone before me.
I was thinking about my grandfather who has passed away now over 30 years ago. How is time for him. I thought about my mother who passed away only 3 years ago and I thought of all the time she spent cooking meals, cleaning house, taking care of family and friends. All that which is just gone now, but for a memory.
As I am approaching my 62 birthday, I thought about the lifetime I have had so far and how I am in a place of peace and happiness that I believe just comes with age. Maybe because I have a better sense of time now, knowing that my time here is very short. When we are young it seems like time will last forever.
As I was contemplating all these things about life, an article appeared before me that I found very relatable. I would like to share a part of it here.
In the year 2123, exactly 100 years from now, we shall all be laid to rest beside our loved ones.
Our homes, which we have fought so hard to create, will be occupied by total strangers, and they will possess all we have right now. Everything we own, even the expensive car we didn’t even buy yet, will eventually be scrapped and sold to a collector nobody has ever heard of.
Our offspring won’t recognise us or remember us for very long. How many of us can name the father of our grandfather?
A few years after our deaths, our history, photographs, and acts will fade into history’s oblivion, at which point we will be remembered only as a portrait on someone’s bookshelf. There won’t be any trace of us left.
Maybe if we took a day to reflect on these issues, we’d see how foolish and feeble the desire to have it all really is.
We would be different people with new perspectives and ways of thinking if only we could give this some serious thought.
The pursuit of more has left us with little time for the things that truly matter. Would people give it all up if it meant getting to experience the walks they never took, the hugs they never gave, the kisses they never got to offer to loved ones, and the jokes we never got to tell. Those would be the best times to reflect on, because they would bring us so much more wealth and happiness.
Knowledge is Power
All Creatures Great and Small
All Creatures Great and Small – I found this colorful bug in my marigold plants. It isn’t any bigger then the end of a pencil, the lead end of a pencil. But the bold red stripes caught my eye right away when I was about to water them. How unusual is this.
How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures..
living things both large and small.
Along with this one below, it resembles a fly but again it is very very small and shined like gold on this leaf. Amazing what we might see when we look really close.
All Creatures Great and Small
Percentage of Bad Photos
Percentage of Bad Photos – What is the percentage on average of photos that don’t make the cut and end up on the editing floor so to speak.
Well on average 2 out of 20 photos will be good when you are photographing a series or trying to follow a subject like wildlife.
Here are some perfect examples. I am trying to photograph this red squirrel, who by the way can move very fast.
Leaf in the way, no good
Not a fast enough shutter speed at all
Not fast enough yet
Below is a short video showing this squirrel moving so quickly, you can see why they are hard to photograph. I put the music from mission impossible movie with this clip. It fits pretty well 🙂 or click here; Mission Impossible Red Squirrel
Oh the expression, he seems a bit perturbed with me and would rather eat in peace. Bird seed doesn’t come free for these guys, the deal is they have to get their photos taken. I am pretty sure they signed a contract somewhere along the line. Maybe just in my mind. 🙂
Come back here
Who knows what happened here
The odds are right on, I had two good photos out of 18. I did not put all the bad ones on here. Just keep that in mind when you are out taking photos. They will never all be perfect, but photography is like playing golf to me. When you get that one awesome shot, it just makes me want to keep going and do more. Have a great weekend.
Have a great weekend. 🙂
Percentage of Bad Photos
Wings Touching Water
Wings Touching Water – Awhile back I had mentioned how I wanted to take more photo of birds in flight with their wings just grazing the water. Well, pelicans are a good one for doing this because they ride the updrafts along the water, so they can glide for long periods of time and then flap their wings and stay close to the water.
So when we went back north this past spring, we had to stop at the Mississippi river, where you will always find some white pelicans and I was able to add a couple more photos to the list.
Wings Touching Water
