Tuesday, June 24, 2008

A Chatty Wordless Wednesday:
Birds, Bugs, a Flower and a Spider Web

It's been a very busy week in my back yard. "We" are still recovering from the tree tragedy (lightning strike) which took down half of one of my pine trees. The up side of all the angst and mess and concern for the remaining half of my tree is that its remains seem to have created a bird's paradise of sorts. Plus I think there are a bunch of nests with hatched babies because there seems to be a lot of activity and flying back and forth.

For some reason no matter how hard, I try, these little guys usually come out blurry. Finally got one who is in focus. Isn't he cute? These guys toy with me. They hop around on my porch but they don't sit still for a second so by the time I have refocused they are gone. I think it's a plot to drive me the rest of the way over the edge.

Mr. Cardinal insists on hanging out just out of reach of getting a really clear picture so I have dozens and dozens of sort of blurry ones. The little woman (see below) was kind enough to pose a bit closer.





Even Mr. Woodchuck came by for a quick visit but decided not to linger.



This bug photo isn't very aesthetically pleasing but I've never seen a bug like that before. He was huge and he/she/it sat on my porch for quite a while. I thought he was kind of interesting. He looks like he might be injured towards his rump.


Again, this isn't a very well framed photo, but I just thought the spider web was interesting. There were three or four of them spread out on the lawn one morning earlier this week. Haven't seen them since.








I just thought his was kind of funny. Think of it as me running away because I once again posted too many not very good photos .... and was very wordy when I was supposed to be being wordless...

Just a reminder that there's still time to enter The National Wildlife Federation's Annual Photo contest. It's still open for entries until July 1st. It's out of my league, but so many of you are so talented...

43 comments:

Carletta said...

I love them all - but especially the "little woman" and the woodchuck. Oh, the dragonfly too!

Lots of good ones.

Raven said...

Is that a dragonfly? I didn't think they were that big? I always think of dragonflies as delicate little things. Goes to show what I know.

Amila Salgado said...

Yep, that is very much a dragonfly. Love your pictures - especially the Mr. Woodchuck & the birds. It is a lovely nature walk you have taken us on.
Happy Wordless Wednesday to you!

Robin said...

You have such a lot going on right there in your yard! I love that orange flower pic - such vibrant colors.

Anonymous said...

My fav is the one of the dragonfly!

Mine is wildlife this week as well.

Happy WW!

Anonymous said...

Good shots all. Happy WW!

Shrijnana said...

I always enjoy looking at your photos. You yard looks so warm and inviting.

Tink *~*~* said...

Love the woodchuck! I don't think I've ever actually seen a woodchuck.

Tink *~*~*
My Mobile Adventures *~*~*

Odat said...

Could the woodchuck have chucked the wood from your pine tree? And if so, I wonder how much he could chuck? Hehe.
Love the pics. That bug pic is great!!!

Peace

Clarence said...

No, not too many. They're great photos and they all tell a story. The cardinal is such a beautiful bird - don't think I've seen anything like it. And I love that little guy who is running away like that. Reminds me of the time I tried to photograph an echidna but he just kept running around and around in and out of view - cheeky little fella!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos!

Happy WW!

Anonymous said...

Very beautiful photos! I really love them. :-)

Julie said...

Oh! I think that's a female cardinal isn't it? These are very nice pictures!

storyteller said...

What a fun ‘chatty’ WW post! I loved each of the photos and all the commentary. You have a wonderful ‘perspective’ and sense of humor … and, of course, it’s always reassuring to know I’m not the only ‘wordy’ blogger on WW. Thanks for sharing. I’ll post eventually … though I’m not sure just what yet. I’m getting a SLOW start today … trying to catch up from a ‘way-too-busy’ Tuesday ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Linda Murphy said...

Wow, it's like a nature preserve in your yard! You must provide a pleasant place for them all to come.

I was not too sure about that spider web cover. I was afraid the next photo would be its inhabitants. :)

The Apron Queen said...

Yikes. That is a big dragonfly! Love all the wildlife.

Dianne - Bunny Trails said...

How fun that you have all that going on in your own yard! What a great adventure through your photos. The dragonfly is very interesting. I've not seen one like that. I've also never seen a woodchuck, so that was cool.

Definitely not too many. And even those that aren't crystal clear are still great. Thanks for sharing! :D

Carver said...

I enjoyed this post and seeing all the wildlife you have. Great shots.

Jeni said...

I think quite frequently you do sell yourself very short -especially about your photos. You posted some really neat pics there Raven - very nice, pretty -not a doggone thing wrong with any of 'em!

Askew To You said...

I so miss living in the country. Your backyard is wonderful. I've never seen a woodchuck close. Pretty cool!

Quarantine Hobby said...

What great pictures! You did very well getting that little bird in focus--I can imagine how frustrating catching one would be.

And that last picture IS hilarious! Love it!

Happy WW :)

JunieRose2005 said...

My goodness!

Yes! A lot going on in your back yard! I loved seeing all these pictures!


Junie

Anonymous said...

The bug does look like he had a 'fender bender' in the rear.

You have a lot of birds and wildlife in your yard. That is very cool.

Happy WW and thanks for stopping by.

Jaded said...

wow. i've never seen a woodchuck before. thats cool.

Killlashandra said...

Thanks for stopping by. :) I like all your bird images. I have to agree it is difficult to photography the little guys as they move alot. If you can change your camera to a faster shutter speed that might help. :)

Janet said...

Wow! What a wealth of wildlife you have!

the nervous mom said...

Awesome photos! I can't get over how much you've captured! I really love (all of them) but especially the bird shots. =)
Happy WW!

Dianne said...

hey Raven! I heard somewhere that the Wildlife photo contest is closing soon and I was thinking ...

that caterpillar shot from a few posts ago was amazing. as is the little bird here - looking up and any number of your other photos.

oh and one other thing - there are no leagues - well maybe bowling ...

Firefighter said...

Nature produces some of the best images known to man. Great work. Happy WW

maryt/theteach said...

Yes, it's a dragonfly, Katherine! All your shots are lovely! Photographing birds is really difficult! I usually don't attempt it! Good for you for trying it! :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your visit to my blog Brookville Daily Photo this morning. I hope you enjoyed my post today showing the baby rabbit eating the hibiscus flower.

I am now taking a diminishing dose of steroids for my Rheumatoid Arthritis pain and it works. I am pain free. I believe the chemotherapy drug is spelled "Methotrexate" that is used to treat a lot of things from cancer to arthritis and it has side effects that are troubling. So I need to talk to my doctor about it before I take it. Just missing a dose can be a real nightmare.

Anyway, I wanted you to know I stopped-in to repay your visit and comment with mine.

I enjoyed reading your blog post for today about your Wordless Wednesday and I thought your photography was excellent.

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I just got my first shipment of used books from Strand's bookstore in New York City, yesterday. They have 18 miles of used books. Think about that. Anyway, they got here and I am totally happy with those I chose to read. I had to start out by just choosing a category, like photography, and go from there. I don't know how in the world they can keep track of so many books.

Look up Strand bookstore or copy and paste the URL here: http://www.strandbooks.com/app/www/p/home/

Barb said...

I enjoyed them all! Yes, I agree - definietely a dragonfly - I happen to love dragonflies! Little helicopters!

Geraldine said...

What great photos Raven. I especially liked the 'dragonfly' pic, it is a different one, I agree. Now Im going to check out Ruby Tuesdays.

www.mypoeticpath.wordpress.com

meemsnyc said...

Wow, what pretty and cute birds. That woodchuck is so cute too. What amazing animals you have in your backyard.

Anonymous said...

Great photos. The flower shot is my favorite - love its color.

mimi11460 said...

Your picture are all beautiful..love them all..see you in my blog..Thanks.

Unknown said...

Raven: I love how you combine that great sense of humor you have with a love of people, your word wzzles and the photography of birds, who became my late cousin's first entre' into her love of all animals at age 3!

BEATUTIFUL!!!!!!! :)

Unknown said...

I'll try that again: BEAUTIFUL! (it's the reading glasses, I swear!):D

Robert said...

These were fantastic. And I really enjoyed reading your commentary along the way. I'd love to shoot more animals in the wild. You're inspiring me!

Snowbird said...

I love your pictures. I volunteer at a Wildlife Hospital and have the privilege of being a "baby bird feeder" every spring. I LOVE being able to feed so many different kinds. Enjoy watching your birds and the groundhog too. I guess you might have lost a tree but gained lots of critters to watch.

Anonymous said...

Hi Raven,

Don't apologize for the quality, they're great. Besides, we don't have woodchucks in Florida (that I know of), so you've given me something I've never had. :)

And thanks for stopping by my site. :)

San said...

Gorgeous. Such lovely visitors in your yard. And that gold blossom opens to paradise itself.

Jacque said...

I love the daylily image...beautiful!