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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Fall Butterflies

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #152.

I didn't see as many butterflies this year as I'm used to. But there were some out in Ashburn this month. Here is a Variegated Fritillary:

A Clouded Sulphur and Cabbage White sharing a dandelion:

I took some photos of the Great Golden Digger Wasp last month when it was shiny and getting nectar in the sun. They also get down and dirty, as the digger part of the name indicates.


I'm linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
These are vultures in Ashburn.

Some D.C. platter birds:

Last but not least, here's another shot of Miley, the St. Dane!

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Introducing Miley

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#399). Here are some more shots of the porch birds from last week in W.V.


I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 388 - Abstract. I liked his idea so I'm copying it I'm paying tribute to Carmi's masterpiece:


It's Thursday already, so time for TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #138:
Amelia and Mikey by the porch stair fences:

Rory has a bit of fence behind him:

And the newest member of my sister's pack, Miley! She's a St. Bernard/Great Dane mix (Great Bernard? Saint Dane?) and cute as a button. (A big button, she's 10 months old and a hundred pounds already.)

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Fall Colors and Critters

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #137.

I'm late with my posts this week, so this one is also for:

Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #151

Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'

and Carmi's Thematic Photographic 387 - Where I Shop

This hotel is next to Berkeley Springs State Park.

These minnows live in Warm Springs Run, the creek under that bridge.

George Washington's bath tub:

I don't shop in many stores in Berkeley Springs, but this is one I visit often.

How about a bird and a fence? This is one of 'our' porch birds, a Downy Woodpecker.

A White-breasted Nuthatch:

Race for the seeds:

Fall colors from Cacapon Mountain and Lake Siri:



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