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:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

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:



Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

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!


Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~