Take a Bow

Take a Bow
Originally uploaded by PhoebeJ.

Taking photos of birds requires patience, a virtue that for me is sometimes in short supply. It also takes some luck and, oh, having your camera adjusted properly. A combination of luck and skill can lead to some interesting results.

I got this photo of a black-capped chickadee that had grabbed a peanut. As luck would have it, I snapped him with his wings up. Looks like he's taking a big theatrical bow.



Then, with the camera set with too small an aperture, I somehow got this photo of a chickadee who looks like he's a ghost. It was daytime (although a gray day), not night, when I got this shot and I was able to lighten it enough so that you can see the detail pretty well.



The night before there was a big, gibbous moon, and I took this shot. The flash went off which illuminated the tree. Very spooky.

Day Off

Chickadee, Central Park
Originally uploaded by PhoebeJ.

I had the day off. It was Veteran's Day so I guess a lot of people were off, but it was just a regular day off for me since the store was open.

It was quite chilly, especially out of the sun which came and went throughout the day. But I went to Central Park with binoculars and camera.

The highlights were a flock of cedar waxwings at Tanner Springs, rusty blackbirds at the Azalea Pond and by Balcony Bridge, shovelers on the Reservoir and the cute chickadee at the top.







And, of course, there were the usual suspects--the squirrels.

Over all, a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

Birdwalk in the Mist

Walker Ave In the Mist
Originally uploaded by PhoebeJ.

Sunday morning was very foggy. Visibility was under 25 feet when we left the store at 8 AM to head to Walker Avenue in Wayne in search of ducks. The parking lot was completely socked in. But our intrepid band was undeterred!



We arrived at Walker Avenue at aboout 8:20. On October 3rd it was so dry there that we were walking on what is normally the bed of a wetland. A week later following torrential rains, the water was so high that people were canoeing in the streets around the wetland. By Sunday it was just muddy on the paths as it often is. But the wetland was once again filled.

Looking for birds wasn't easy. The fog burned off a bit and we did see 24 species the best of which was a marsh wren in, yes, a marsh! We also saw cedar waxwings eating berries in a tree. Cedar waxwings are among my favorite birds.

The place was eerily beautiful.



We saw lots of pretty spider webs that were wet with moisture from the mist which made them much more visible. Here's one.




Fall is the most beautiful season in the Northeast. Even on a foggy day.

Burning Bush

Burning Bush
Originally uploaded by PhoebeJ.

Fall came very late this fall in Connecticut, a combination of a dry summer and a rainy October. This burning bush, usual leafless by November, was at its peak when I took this shot on November 5th.

We plant burning bush for the two weeks when it is in its glory. It also gets little berries that the birds seem to like. Lots of juncos hide out here.