Hershey Gardens

A short visit to Hershey Gardens on Sunday afternoon. It was hot but enjoyable.

Rose Garden 

Shady Japanese Maple

Monarch

White Peacock

Zebra Longwing

Memorial Day Weekend - Saturday Evening

It got warmer as the day went on but was bright and sunny all day. In the evening light this Foxglove was looking very photogenic so out I went and took this picture.

Foxglove

Foxglove

Memorial Day Weekend

When Kelly asked what I was going to do with myself this long Memorial Day Weekend I immediately answered "Take Pictures". The Grey bitch woke me up around 5 o'clock scratching at the door to get in so I dragged myself up and went downstairs. Usual routine, wade thru kitties, electric kettle on, down to the kitty kitchen wading through more kitties. Outside Ginger kitty was waiting for his breakfast so I fed him first. Bluey, Badger, Holly and Lucy were next just to get them out from under my feet. I took the Sunroom Herd their breakfast in and noticed that outside Ginger boy was not eating his breakfast. The reason soon became apparent when Skunky came into view and started eating Gingers breakfast. Fed the other herd of wildebeest and made my tea. I'm on my final quarter of English Breakfast Supreme so a trip to the tea and coffee shop is forthcoming very soon. I made my breakfast of oatmeal and honey, gotta keep my cholesterol down. Drank my tea while reading the photographic forum I like to wade through to see whats happening in the photographic world. I surveyed the back yard and by this time the sun had risen and was shining through the Hickory trees. I went out on the upper deck well away from the lower deck where Skunky was still eating Gingers food. A Baltimore Oriole was singing from the tree tops and I took some pictures of the tree tops in the sunlight. I know the Oriole is in the shot somewhere.

Hickory Leaves

Hickory Leaves

Skunky and Ducky

So, last night I went out onto the deck intending to water some plants. Went out and turned right round and went back in. Skunky was out there. Here he is having a drink with Ducky looking on.

Skunky and Ducky

For Miss Weaver

There's lots of scenery to be seen in Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Panorama

Click for larger size.

So near yet so far!

I only want one decent shot of a ScarletTanager, a nice pose in nice light is it too much to ask for them to pose for me? I had to make do with the supporting cast.

Scarlet Tanager

Grey Catbird

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe

Wood Thrush

Birdies du jour

Another Tanager, a female so not Scarlet but nice never the less. A spanking Black and White Warbler and a Bluebird so a nice selection of colors. I missed a Baltimore Oriole, I missed a Red-eyed Vireo, I missed a Wood Thrush and an absolutely pristine Ovenbird was prancing around just out of reach. I'll get him next time!

Female Scarlet Tanager

Female Scarlet Tanager

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Eastern Bluebird

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Black and Blue Salvia

This Salvia is not only pretty it's a great Hummingbird attractor. This is 9 images stacked together in Photoshop and by using the Auto Blend feature it selects the sharpest portion of each image so you get a deeper depth of field than a single image. It's not perfect as I can see a few bits it didn't do properly but what the hell.

Black and Blue Salvia

PAMC

Saturday May 9th was the Pennsylvania Migration Count. Thanks for everything guys, especially Brian and family for having a bunch of birders for lunch.

Eastern Kingbird

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Ft Indiantown Gap Stream

From the Blind Part 3

Damn it was hot out there this afternoon. No warblers, they had all moved on to make room for the next wave. The Baltimore Orioles were very vocal all day long, I was hoping that one of those would come down but no such luck. I did see one superb male flying away when I was inside. Missed him as well as an Eastern Kingbird. I had another session this evening and got a nice surprise with a Savannah Sparrow. I don't see many of those so I'm pleased.

Blue Jay

Common Grackle

Mourning Dove

Savannah Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

And now for something completely different.

So every so often I see something photographically that I want to try and here my latest attempt at something other than birds, furry critters and landscapes. It's macro shot through droplets of a Dandelion. Room for improvement but the concept is there.

Dandelion

From the Blind Part 2

After this mornings session I spent a little while early afternoon but the light was pretty awful. I then went out again and got a few more shot's. I missed the pair of Bluebirds, I missed the Baltimore and the American Redstart would not keep still. I love the Yellow-rumped Warblers when they are fluffed out displaying their yellow patches. We'll have to see what tomorrow brings.

American Redstart

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Indigo Bunting

Yellow-rumped Warbler

From the Blind

I normally set the blind up at the end of April for the start of the main migration period and take it down at the end of May because it gets too damn hot to sit in it after that. I've been taking it down to give the grass a chance to grow and I normally set it up late afternoon to take advantage of the better afternoon and evening light. Today I set it up early and took these pictures.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Chipping Sparrow

Palm Warbler

Palm Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler

This is what I'm talking about.

Yeah! Warblers, loads of warblers. Chestnut-sided, Black and White, Yellow-rumped, Bay-breasted, Cape May, Common Yellowthroat and Hooded. A spanking White-crowned Sparrow and a new yard tick in Summer Tanager. Throw in a few Indigo Buntings and Baltimore Orioles and a few other migrants and you about have it. I never even left the deck.

Tonight I decided to get the blind out and try and capture a few on camera. Not too shabby for an hour and a half. I'll even throw in a flower and a furry critter.

Black and White Warbler

Black and White Warbler

Blue Jay

Chipmunk

Shy Hermit Thrush

Jacobs Ladder

Tufted Titmouse