The Long Wait

Last night I planned my morning. I was going to create a great photograph of one of the Bandtail Pigeons that have started returning to my bird feeders in the backyard. Before it got totally dark I went out back into the yard and completely redid my bird feeder set up. I left one really nice redwood perch covered in moss for the pigeon to land on when it came to feed. This morning I dragged myself out of bed,had a quick breakfast and went out into the backyard and into the photoblind. I focused my camera on the one spire of a perch I had set up last night and I waited, and I waited. Eventually I started photographing the squirrels that were coming into the feeders instead. After each short session with the squirrels I focused back onto that perch.I could hear the pigeons up in the trees but they weren't coming down and nothing was landing on that perch! I was just about to give up when a Steller's Jay landed on my perch. It wasn't a Bandtail Pigeon but it would have to do as the lighting was getting too harsh for photography.Here is my image for today. Thank you Lord for giving me such amazing subjects to photograph. God's blessings to all, chris

Rainy Day in the Backyard

After a few days of sunshine the rain returned today. Just a soft drizzling rain. I headed out into the backyard and set up my photoblind (hide) and photographed some of the backyard birds and squirrels and a few chipmunks too. When I set up the blind it was only misting out so I didn't bother with putting in the top poles on the blind. Big mistake! When it started raining a little later I had water drops from the top of the blind dropping onto my back and neck. Needless to say a short break was required to go back into the house to retrieve them and put them up.Good news the Bandtail Pigeons are back from their vacation down south. They were out in force today joining the few locals that over wintered here.There were also a few Varied Thrushes that always love to come out in the rain. A real treat to see. A good time was had by everyone. God's love and blessings to all, chris

Branch, Birds and Squirrel

Yesterday after working out at the gym I headed home. I drove down our road looking for a good branch to do some photography with. Near the end of our road I found a fir branch covered in lichen. Perfect! I brought it back to the house and made a frame to support it. Then I set it up in front of my photoblind. Over the next couple of hours I photographed Bandtail Pigeons, Steller's Jays and one Western Gray Squirrel.





This morning I got up and gave it another go. It was pretty nippy out this morning and I needed a long sleeved shirt. Fall is just around the corner. I was happy to get some nice squirrel images.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Here is another Anna's Hummingbird image from yesterday for you to enjoy as well.This was created before the bees took over the feeder.

Time in the Photoblind

I finally made the effort to spend some more time in the photoblind and it was totally worth it.We have had three ravens hanging around the house for the last week or so. Today I finally figured out why.They are the parents and one of their offspring.They have been hanging around keeping watch on their little one to try and keep it out of trouble.Today I set out some meat scraps for it by the bird feeder and it came by and greedily ate them up. Seeing it up close with its tattered plumage I recognized it as a very young raven.Pretty ratty looking but if it survives will grow into a beautiful adult.Soon after that a Bandtail Pigeon came for some seeds. Later just as I was getting ready to exit the blind a young hen turkey came by with her poults. What a great time in the photoblind.

God's love and blessings,

chris

Couple of Locals

At this time of year the variety of birds coming to my bird feeders goes way down. Here are the two most common ones from this morning.Bandtail Pigeon and Steller's Jay.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

A Long Tail

I have been unbelievably busy with Jay's graduation, and friends and relatives visiting. Today they were all gone and the quiet and peace returned to our ridgetop home. I miss the fun and activity but I relish the quiet time as well.This morning before church I arose early and went out to the photoblind in the front yard to try and get some Bandtail Pigeon images. The lighting was mixed and difficult to photograph in. I managed to create a few squirrel images. My favorite though was a close up a western gray Squirrels tail. God's light and precious love to all, chris

Photographer Wins! Photographer 1 Squirrels 0

Sometimes persistence and patience pay off. I have been working on a vision of an image that I had in mind for several days now. I wanted to photograph a Bandtail Pigeon on a lichen covered branch with ferns in the background. The squirrels kept defeating me.This morning I tried a new tactic. I moved the bird feeder and perch closer to the photoblind. I also loaded up my squirt bottle again. I squirted the first squirrel that attempted to climb up onto the feeder and it scurried away. Being blasted at closer range is obviously more effective! Then I politely told the other ones that tried to climb up onto the bird feeder to go away in a loud voice.Can you imagine what anyone watching this would be thinking? Why is that green box yelling at a squirrel? After a long, long wait the Steller's Jays began landing at the feeder. This gave the Bandtails enough confidence to come in and start feeding. Soon one pigeon moved into the sweet spot on the branch and I had my image. It was fun battling the squirrels for my image.

God's precious love and blessings to all, chris

The Mob

This morning I got up before the sun rose to take some Bandtail Pigeon images. Wild Bandtails are unlike city pigeons in that they are extremely wary and don't like to be around people. They are also a beautiful bird with bright yellow orange feet and a irridescent purple patch up along their neck along with a striking white neck band that gives them their name.




They are also part of the mob. They together with the Stellars Jays and Gray Squirrels control the bird feeders at my house. If they are on the feeder it is rare to see any other bird great enough to be on the feeder at the same time.There is a distinct pecking order to who gets to be on the feeder. The squirrels are at the top of the heap followed by the Bandtails and then the Stellars Jays.

I sat in my rolling blind (http://diyphotocheapodepot.blogspot.com/2009/12/final-touches-to-photo-blinds.html) for about an hour before the Bandtails finally overcame their wariness to come in to the feeder. When they did it was with a lot of pushing,shoving and squabbling. I'm always amazed at how many pigeons can squeeze onto the feeder. I finally quit when the lighting got too harsh for photography. It was a nice morning for photography.






God's blessings to all,

chris