I take a picture like this almost every year as I can’t resist the humor of a poppy blossom seemingly sticking its tongue out at me. A tiny ant is along for the ride.
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/8, 1/320″ exposure.
I spent some time stalking this song sparrow yesterday morning as he hopped about in the sumac in part of our front field. He didn’t seem too bothered by my presence, allowing me to get in fairly close as he hopped from branch to branch pausing to loose is lovely song.
Nikon D600, Sigma 120-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/1250″ exposure.
This variety of willow (that I’m not entirely sure of…) is one of my favorite early spring “poppers”. Its tight catkins burst into fireworks-like explosions of fuzzy yellow wonderfulness.
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-120mm lens @ 120mm, ISO 640, f/14, 1/320″ exposure.
The willows along our neighbor’s fenceline are popping! I caught this trio in between rain showers this afternoon.
Nikon D600, Sigma 105mm lens, ISO 1600, f/13, 1/500″ exposure
It was a fine morning to get out on fresh fallen snow. As I made it to the top of Crow Hill (where I’ve never been before), the sun came out and offered up this stunning view of Camel’s Hump and the shoulder of Bald Hill.
Sony RX100 M3
These willow branches have been bent into the snow since the heavy snowfall back in December. As the snowpack melts, the branches will spring free. Whether they ever grow straight again is another question.
Nikon D600, Nikon 24-120mm lens @ 66mm, circular polarizing filter, ISO 400, f/18, 1/200″ exposure.
We had a visit from a garrulous gaggle of Bohemian waxwings yesterday morning. They honed in on the berry laden Korean mountain ash in our front yard and chowed down for a good long time. Bohemians are similar to their Cedar cousins, but are easily differentiated by the prominent rufous coloring beneath the tail and chin.
Our pal the barred owl was back yesterday afternoon, making himself (herself?) very comfortable on the top of our feeder stand for a good two hours. He seemed to be most interested in the goings on right below the feeder, no doubt waiting for a juicy mouse or other rodent to make its appearance. At times it looked like he was napping. Interestingly, none of the little birds seemed to mind too much that he was there, as the chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and even cardinals happily munched at our other feeders just a few feet away from the owl.
Nikon D600, Sigma 120-400mm lens @ 330mm, ISO 1250, f/5.6, 1/200″ exposure.
I posted this on my Weather Blog this morning, but figured I post it here too. As I walked up our walkway yesterday afternoon coming back from a ski, I caught the movement of a larger critter flying out of the hemlock by the feeder. Sure enough, it was this barred owl lurking about looking for a meal. It flew up into the top of one of our now-broken willow trees by the pond. Note the chickadee in the branch just below the owl. Chickadees like to know where the predators are, and will stay close and even harass them as a warning to other birds. Just another reason I love chickadees so much! The owl was nice enough to wait for me as I went inside and grabbed my camera.
Nikon D600, Sigma 120-400mm lens @ 400mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/1250″ exposure
John Hadden Photography 