Nature in the back pasture

When I got the camera, I wanted to get some nature shots with the new zoom lens. 

I got LUCKY! I got this guy! 

How cool is that! It's a Pileated Woodpecker. I've been trying to catch one for 3 years now. They are shy & pretty much stay away if anyone is outside. They are actually quite big - known as the crows of the woodpecker world because they are big, kind of clumsy & very loud. Yep, that's how I heard him! I heard the noisy wingspan as he was flying to that tree. Then I heard his loud pecking at the tree. I had to be very careful to stalk the tree with minimal noise as not to scare him off. Got it! Then he flew away when I tried to step just a little closer, but I was able to catch him on video as well. I was shooting in weird light too. Against the sun, but in a very black shady area, so I'm happy that I got anything at all. 
The photo image isn't as clear as I'd like, but I'm glad I got anything at all. 

I didn't get any other bird photos...they all seem to disappear when I appear! Little stinkers. I can hear them in the front of the acreage when I'm in the back & vice versa. 

I did get a Mockingbird on the video, the Pileated Woodpecker & a really sharp image of a dragonfly. 
Oh & a vulture in flight. I have to practice up on flying birds. They are hard to track in flight! 
If possible, watch the video in HD for a better image. 

Please enjoy! 





~As always, be kind to your pets, clean up after your travels & respect your neighbor~

Wild Things

You don't have to travel to find amazing things. 

My friends live on 3 acres here. 

The other day, I decided to take the camera to the back pasture to see what I could shoot. 

Found some amazing wildflowers! 

A field of Primrose:

Stunning Prickly Poppy:

Wild Blackberries:

Virginia Creeper:

Now for the birds! While I had the camera in hand today, I noticed a batch of something fall from the sky. It was bedding for a birds nest. THEN I saw a big bird fight ensue! At first, I thought two cardinals were having a marital spat. It wasn't until I uploaded the photos, what the REAL issue was! 
Check out the photos below:

Pity that the camera could not catch the high speed of this shot -- it would have been an amazing shot had it been able to do that! But I still love the colors & subject of the above photo. 

In the meantime.....

...........................ihop the cat was a bit peeved that he wasn't invited to join in on the bird fight!

~As always, be kind to your pets, clean up after them on your travels & respect your neighbor~