Birding

The European Starling

I saw a bird using the bird house that my son Nicolas built. I set my camera up and waited for the bird to come back... waited some more... and then had to go to work. But while waiting this bird flew down, took some straw from the dog house and landed on the wire. So to make the waiting in the cold this morning somewhat worth it, I took a photo of it. But this is not my favorite bird in the back yard by any means. It is rather cool that it is speckled and then in the summer it turns a shiny purple black. That moves it up the favorite list, just a little. So this evening I took my "Birds of New York" book down off the shelf and read up a little on the bird. I found out that it actually sings and can mimic other birds and sounds so that makes me like it just a bit more. Some nice soul from Europe thought that New York City needed this bird. So back in 1890-1891 they introduced it to the area. Must be they liked the bird and couldn't bear to leave it behind.

I have been researching ways to keep it out of my feeder so the birds that I want to see can actually get the seed. Looks like I need to set up bird feeders with the food that they like and in the other feeders, put the foods that they don't. Also need to put those feeders away from the others, preferably on the outside edge of the property. This weekend looks to be a wash as far as the weather is concerned so I won't be doing it then. But the first nice weekend or weekday when I have more than just a few moments, I will be setting it up in hopes that it works.

I hope to get photo's of other birds and record what I have learned about them over the course of the spring, summer and fall. Maybe over the upcoming winter as well.

April 1st - reflection of yourself

If you look closely at this photo, in the lower left corner in the big dew droplet, you will see my reflection as I took this photo. I was walking back to the house after walking the boys to the bus and these daffodils looked beautiful with the sunlight shimmering off the dew drops. Just had to grab my camera and get a photo of them. The second photo is of the same bunch. And looked just as lovely!

Buttermilk Falls, NY

My sister in law and I had a photography day today. It snowed off and on and the road condition wasn't so nice at times but we made it and had a great time. Here is my favorite photo of the day.

This photo made me smile. No particular reason, other than it seemed really out of place.

No we didn't listen and I am actually glad. My favorite photo of the day was taken after not "listening" to the sign.

As you drive into the park, this is your view.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my photo's!

Alexandria Bay

This past weekend we went up north for a little get away. We took our boat so we could cruise up and down the river. On one outing we went to Bolt Castle. The last time Jim and I were there I was pregnant with Nicolas, he is now 7 1/2. In that time they finished Mr. and Mrs. Bolts bedrooms and bathrooms. They are beautiful. A room that I could easily sleep in. Very comfortable and pretty. I did take a few photos of the rooms but am not posting them. I am posting a few photos of the walls around the castle.

Loons at Raquette Lake

I have been going to the Adirondack mountains with my husband for 12 years now. I fell in love with the area and the loons. I have been trying for the past 12 years to get photo's of them. They are an allusive bird. You can hear them and see them but if they see you, they go under the water to emerge farther away. This year I finally took some photo's that I am happy with. Although I think I will be getting an even more powerful lens in the future so I can get even better photo's. Aren't they the most beautiful bird!

Little Chick-a-dee

Spring is coming. I have a bunch of little birds at my feeder today. We have had so much snow over the past few weeks that the birds haven't been around much. I saw a cardinal this morning but by the time I got my camera and put the big lens on it, he flew away. I'm hoping that he knows the feeder is here and will be back. The blue jays haven't really been around either. I hear them but they aren't coming to the feeder. Not enough activity around it yet I guess. I'm waiting for the squirrel and chipmunks to find it. Once that happens, the seed will be gone in no time. I would like to grow sunflowers this year and harvest the seeds. Not sure how many I will need to be able to feed the birds all winter. Probably more than I am going to plant!

Late winter snow storm

We had a pretty powerful storm blow through here yesterday. It dumped tons of snow on us. Looking out the windows on the side of the house, the snow is half way up the windows. When the boys look out the window all they can see is snow. These are the windows I'm referring to. Thankfully Jim had someone plow this morning so we didn't have to shovel.