Birds

I've been doing a bit more bird photographing lately looking to improve both the clarity and sharpness of the images.

Eastern Bluebird with grub

From a park about 80 miles from here. I think the top image was one of the young ones as there seemed to be a whole family out pic-nic just as we were.

Father Cardinal (kinda hiding)

Mother Cardinal (i believe) with worm

Mother with two children.

Berwick's Wren

Crab Spider

The other day when i went to open the porch door i found a very small, little finger-nail size, spider on the dead-bolt latch:

I thought it very much looked like a crab from the front and when i went looking for its id: lo, it is a Crab Spider!

Somewhat cute in its own way.

Rabbits, again.

I have always been fascinated by and with rabbits and now they live at the edge of our backyard.

I know there are at least three that live around here. The one above is the one i believe that i see most often.

This one:

was taken in June and his/her ears clearly have tears in both. And he/she looks somewhat old or a bit battered.

The rabbit i have been taking photos of lately has no ear markings, and

appears to be watching the bumble bee that's just in front of her/him

This is the way i most often see her/him. Appearing to sit quietly for long periods of time with almost no movements.

Until it is time to clean him/herself.

Occasionally there are two of them in the yard at the same time and then they do this rather funny thing where they face each other about 3-5 feet apart and then just sit there looking at the other. Then one runs towards the other and the other jumps straight up in the air -as though levitating because it stays level during the jump- and lands facing the other. So far i've not had a camera when that happens so i've no photos of their antics. They often do that a bunch of times ... its very funny to watch.

I have not seen the torn ear rabbit since June.

Subscribing ??

I know little about this blog's possibilities other then it is a freebie owned by Google/Yahoo. Someone asked how they could follow this blog and i don't know the answer to that other then checking in every so often. If you reading this and know how someone can subscribe or i can invite people to view (other then sending a link) i'd appreciate hearing from you.

Chimney Rock Overlook

Morning

This morning at sunup the far southeastern mountain had clouds around it giving it a look of a Japanese Landscape. Sadly, by the time i got the camera/lens out, it had changed - still, i liked it:

Mountain name unknown

This was shot with a 70-300 lens and while sitting on the porch watching the sun rise, i notice that a Pentatomidae, better known as a Stink Bug, sitting on the top of one of the poles that the tomatoes are supported by.

Sitting very still, a perfect portrait of a stink bug.

 And the tomatoes continue to bloom.

Arboretum

Yesterday, i spent sometime at the NC Arboretum which turned out to be a rainy overcast day - my favorite. Still, that didn't deter the butterflies:

I did not read the name of this display but liked it ... seems a good introduction to the variety of plants and art works spread over the arboretum.

And the range of mushrooms was amazing:

And butterflies:

I believe this one and the one below are the same kinda of butterfly but one is female and the other male

There is an exhibit of photographs  there: "A Year in the Life of a Mountain Bog" by Michael Oppenheim. I liked the exhibit and the only criticism, which isn't really a criticism, is that i'd like to have seen less very large images and more images of the mundaneness of the bog. I recommend viewing if you are in the area.

Returning

It has been a busy few weeks starting back with a Lipscomb Reunion hosted by my cousin in Culpepper, VA about 400 miles north of where i live.

I think this'll be the only people part of the reunion i'll post as i'm in this and feel its fine to post; all others i'd want their permission 'fore i made a public posting. There are almost as many missing from the reunion as there are people in the image. It was wonderful to have such a reunion and my great thanks goes out to all those who had a hand in putting -and holding- it together.

On the way back it rained for 3/4 quarters of the drive sometimes hard enough that i was thinking of pulling over until i could see where i was going. By the time we were a short distance outside of Asheville, the mountains had wonderful wisps of clouds at tree levels. This is Rt #26 coming into Asheville and we are only 12 miles from our house.

Initially, i didn't like this photograph -it is a six image panoramic- 'cause the road was in it. But those that have seen it say the road gives it a sense of size and place and i'm coming to agree with that view.

I have continue to photograph the plants on the back porch as i love seeing the dew on the plants each morning and always want to capture them in a way that gives me a feeling of joining them with a cup of tea.