After the Storms

Pardon the error in posting . Hit the wrong button or something. On to your regular posting, a misty, foggy duck floating on my retention pond.

It Must Be Monday

I wake up like most every morning. Stumble downstairs, turn on the computer and wait for M to make an appearance. Gather up all the school stuff, double check the time I'll be picking her up and go out to start the car. At this point, we're none too early. Put the key in the ignition and it won't start. Nada. I have battery power so it's not that. I try again and again. It makes a sound like it wants to start but it won't. Megan makes a mad run to school as we live close enough and I begin the process of trying to decide what is wrong with the car. I call for a tow truck and make arrangements with the dealer for service. Mr. Tow Truck Driver arrives promptly and the car starts. Isn't that always the fear, make that appointment and all symptoms miraculously disappear? That's always my luck. Something with the emissions and cold air might have flooded the lines. All appears to be working but the confidence level in my 3 year old car has taken a severe hit.

It's 9:30am, I'm showered and ready to face the day save for the lack of coffee this morning. No time to make any so now, I think I'll put on a pot and enjoy the rest of the morning.

Feathery Sunny Sunday

It's been a lazy Sunday around here. Lawnmowers have come to life, the sounds of baseball on TV (Cubs Lose) and the return of the Egret. I pulled out my mirror lens (500mm f8 manual focus) and snapped a few pics. The egret was tucked in among blowing grasses making any kind of photo difficult. The image below was with my aged 75-300mm IS lens and shows a bit more of where he was hiding and hunting.



Hope y'all have enjoyed a beautiful weekend.

Excitement

I am so excited. Last evening, while cooking dinner, I saw movement around the retention pond and ran out with my camera. It was a Belted Kingfisher! I was so excited even though I couldn't get a photo of him/her. Today, I look out and see movement again, with my Mirror Lens (Cat Lens) attached, I tried for another photo. It's not great but proof that a belted kingfisher made landing in the backyard!! Not one but two were flying about even diving into the pond. I sure hope they become frequent visitors.

I only cropped slightly to give you an idea of how densely populated we are and the sizing of the bird, about 12 inches long. I'm thinking either my diopter needs adjusted or my eyes are really bad as mostly I have unfocused images, even on stationary objects.

Yes, I should have been at the gym (it's been too long) or at least doing my laundry but then I would have missed this sighting!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday wynne! I didn't forget!! Hope you have a beautiful day, sweet friend!

Grace

I had the pleasure of viewing two pairs of Mute Swans Sunday. I was up close and personal watching them for quite some time as they were feeding. This pair is immature (young). What a wonderful way to let go of a nasty phone call I'd had earlier.

Today is another day with much rain. But I'm not going to complain because tomorrow brings us back to winter. Freezing rain, ice and snow in the forecast.

Brown Pelicans

Not as good as you could do, Michael, but a couple of Brown Pelicans found along the cliffs of La Jolla. No flash, let alone a Better Beamer.

Photo notes:
Brown Pelican
La Jolla, California
San Diego 2006
Hand held without a flash in diminishing light.