So here we are now in September and it is a second surprisingly cool day. I am delighted with these cooler temperatures. Since it is also a cloudy day, it is a good day to stay inside, with the camera safely tucked away, to edit the photos from our sizzling hot summer. And it seems I have a collection of various shots of wildlife at home to share, in addition to those previously posted: History of a Red-tailed Hawk Family --
Part 1 and
Part 2 and
Wildlife at home -- 30 minutes of clickity-click.
In chronological order ...
On the evening of June 25, Carl and I spotted for the first time a trio of Banded Brothers climbing in the oaks across the creek. We grabbed our cameras to photograph the playful group. Our Silly Boy Siamese, Jalabert, also fascinated by these masked bandits, followed us out on the deck.
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| Playful brothers -- June 25, 2011 |
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| Playful brothers -- June 25, 2011 |
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| "Humans and cat spotted! Take cover!" -- June 25, 2011 |
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| Jalabert: "Can we keep them? Go get them, Mom. They look like great playmates!" -- June 25, 2011 |
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On June 28, 2011, I was able to get this nice shot of a Great-Crested Flycatcher -- a regular in our yard in the summertime.
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| Great-crested Flycatcher -- June 28, 2011 |
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I do not always take my camera with me when I go to my other home -- the Johnson family home on James Island -- where I grew up -- when I go to swim with my Mom or friends in Schooner Creek on hot, still summer mornings. But this time, on July 1, 2011, I did take the camera. And I am glad that I did since this Green Heron was such a poser and the Clapper Rail, though less cooperative, also wanted to make his presence known.
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| Green Heron -- July 1, 2011 |
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| Green Heron -- July 1, 2011 |
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| Green Heron -- July 1, 2011 |
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| Green Heron -- July 1, 2011 |
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| And the wanna-be beautiful Clapper Rail -- July 1, 2011 |
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One of our biggest challenges, due to our limited camera gear and the very dart-y birds, is photographing hummingbirds well. We have seen the fabulous, frozen-in-air hummingbird photos by the professionals and we have watched programs and read articles about how it is done. We simply do not yet have the equipment required (multiple flashes) to produce those shots. And yet, we are undeterred in our attempts to capture decent hummingbird pictures. We keep on trying. My personal goal, now that there is more competition for the feeders, is to capture 2 birds in one shot. But our Ruby-throated Hummingbirds do not care about my goal. They just want to protect their turf/perch/feeding tube from any interlopers!
Best photo from August 1, 2011 ....
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- August 1, 2011 |
Best photos from September 5, 2011....
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird -- September 5, 2011 |
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| Ruby-throated Humming bird: Aiming.... -- September 5, 2011 |
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Aiming..... -- September 5, 2011 |
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| Ruby-throated Hummingbird: In! -- September 5, 2011 |
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And finally, this perky little juvenile Northern Cardinal ... and we do have a slew of Northern Cardinals in our yard!
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| Juvenile Northern Cardinal -- September 5, 2011 |
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The very welcome cooler temperatures are signaling me that I need to work hard to finish editing and to post my excursion photos from July and August. As always, I am several sets behind, because even during those sizzling hot days, it was hard to resist being outside with a camera and I accumulated many shots! So there will be more summer shots to come from other locales!
Great shots as usual, Cathy, and good prose to go along with them. I love what you are doing. Anna
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