Dogs, Birds, and Christmas Orbs

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#405) and Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #158.
Here are Amelia and Miley:

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. I haven't been out and about too much, so here are the platter birds:

And it's too long since we've had any orbs around here. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or just have a great weekend if that's your thing!

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Miley and More

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#404). Also, to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 393 - Dirty. Also, it's already time (and then some) for Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #157 and Anni's I'd Rather B' Birdin'.

Get your dirty paws off the counter, Miley!!

That's better.

Here's Rory, surveying the back 40:

P.S. Bird pics to come soon....Here are some from a craft show:

Incoming mockingbird fence:

It was so windy out, Nutkin didn't stop clinging to this board even when I opened the kitchen door to take his pic:

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Autumn and Rainbow Colors

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#403). And I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 392 - Colors of the rainbow.
As you can see, this red maple has dropped a lot of leaves, but it's still brilliant.

Here's an interesting house on the way to Rock Creek Park:

This horse was in the Park Police corral in Rock Creek Park.

Here's Nutkin!

UPDATE: As it is Saturday (already!), I am also linking to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #156, and Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
The leucistic house sparrow still shows up once in a while:

Apparently, December 1 was laundry day:


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Talk Is Cheep!

Here are the places I meant to link to last week:

Michelle's Nature Notes (#402)

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 391 - Repetitive

Gosia k. is doing good fences now.

And Eileeninmd's Critters are on Saturday, still.




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Platter Birds, Porch Birds

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #154. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. I've been experimenting with the Canon G15 a lot lately. I suspect that it's become worn and damaged through use (and abuse, it's hit the floor once or twice), auto-mode doesn't work the way I'm used to. But it still can take decent pics, especially in macro mode. So now I'm trying other modes I've never bothered with before.
D.C. platter birds:




West Virginia porch birds:


Here's a turkey vulture:

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 390 - Out for a walk. Of course that happens several times a day when there's a dog in your household. Here's Theda having a drink from Lake Siri:

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Doggy Thanksgiving

This is my contribution to TexWiscGirls ultimate Good Fences #140 - The Final. Thank you, TWG, for hosting and commenting on everyone's blogs!

I snapped these sparrows last Thursday for Good Fences.

Here's Theda going though the community garden project at Rock Creek Park.

Practicing doggy yoga on the porch in West Virginia.

I'm also linking to Michelle's Nature Notes (#401). I've had a few Canon G-15s (like Spinal Tap drummers, they keep exploding). I find that they take good pics in the auto setting, so that's what I've mainly stuck with. But this one is not working that well anymore in auto mode, especially on white flowers, etc. I'm experimenting with the shutter speed priority and aperture priority modes (you pick one, the camera picks the other), and the Leucistic House Sparrow remains in the neighborhood.

The colors are better, but the pic should be sharper given that it was taken on a tripod about six feet away with a remote shutter. More experiments to come.

And now for the conclusion of our Doggy Thanksgiving:



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Leucistic House Sparrow

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #153. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin.

I noticed a white bird out the window yesterday, and wondered, "What the heck, is that a parakeet or something with those house sparrows (Passer domesticus)?" Then I put out some more seeds and set up the camera on the tripod. And the bird came back.


"In leucistic birds, affected plumage lacks melanin pigment due to the cells responsible for melanin production being absent. This results in a white feathers, unless the normal plumage colour also comprises carotenoids (e.g. yellows), which remain unaffected by the condition."

Some people say spotting one of these birds is lucky. Guess what, the sparrow was back again this morning (along with many friends). Maybe we can all be in luck!


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Fall Colors and Nutkin

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #139. Here's Nutkin...

There goes Nutkin!

Some neighbor trees are showing their fall finery:

And last but not least, the platter birds:

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Mystery Wasp

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#400).

Last post, I misidentified a wasp I found on the W. and O.D. trail as a Great Golden Digger Wasp. (Thanks to Phil for the heads-up!)

I guessed it was a Great Golden Digger Wasp because of similar shape, coloration, and location (this one was just a hundred feet down the trail from the ones I photographed in October). Also, it was doing what I expected a GGDW would do when it wasn't visiting goldenrod flowers: rummaging around in the trail dust. (In fact, I think it had located some hapless bug).

However, the head shape is quite different (and is all black) and the legs are black instead of orange:

Searching around google images, I found that there is a species of Thread-waisted Wasp called Ammophila procera that is a possibility. "This is the largest species in the eastern U.S. to sport the silver stripes on the side of the thorax, a hallmark of most members of the genus."

You can see silver stripes on the thorax under the right wings. (and it was quite large, at least length-wise...maybe not 2 inches, but close.)

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 389 - Drink up. The birds enjoy their frisbee bird bath in the backyard every day:


But sometimes it is mysteriously emptied. Hmmm?

Another mystery solved!

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