Piperbarb's 2013 Project 365

[piperbarb]

5-20-13:

Here goes... It's red-winged blackbird day. At least it's not geese. We have lots of red-winged blackbirds around here. I really like them.

This guy was singing away for quite a while until his mate flew off.





She came out of nowhere but I was able to get this in-flight photo. Not the greatest, but at least you can recognize that it is a bird.




Finally, I was walking around the side of the barn and saw these ferns growing against it, along with the late afternoon sunlight.

Fern Alley

 

[piperbarb]

5-21-13:

Out with the photography class again. It amazes me how high school students love the playground. Below are a few photos that I played around with. I had fun with enhancing B&W photos with a single color that was on the jungle gym.

All photos were taken with my D3000, AF-S 18-55mm VR zoom. For some reason, I had it set on "portrait," not my usual aperture priority. Oh, well, they came out okay anyway.


Bars and Poles


Downward Spiral


The Blob


Up and Down

 

[piperbarb]

5-21-13:

I was just outside a few minutes ago and came across this little firefly hanging out on a honeysuckle flower. I was amazed at how much pollen was stuck to it.

 

[piperbarb]

5-22-13:

After a most bizarre day at work which included a thunderstorm where we lost power for over an hour and a very strange department meeting after school, by the time I got home I thought I'd go on a "bug hunt." It was a pretty successful endeavor if I do say so myself.

All photos were taken with my D7000, AF 105mm f/2.8 micro Nikkor, ISO 200, f/10.

Who doesn't love lady bugs.

Lady Bug



What can I say. A fly on a buttercup.

Landing Pad



Bug Love





I cannot say much about this one. Choke berry flowers do look rather alien to me, then add the fire fly.

Bug Meets Alien



These weird little pink sacs are called cherry pouch galls that I saw on a wild cherry leaf. From what I have read, these little pink galls are caused by a mite. YUCK!

Pop-up Pink



I finally found out what this plant is: Russian comfry. Two different photos of it.

Bell Cluster


Early Bloomers

 

[RockyNH_RIP]

Very nice Barb!

Pat in NH

 

[piperbarb]

Very nice Barb!

Pat in NH

Pat, thanks. After today's very weird day, I found bug hunting very relaxing.

 

[grandpaw]

5-22-13:

After a most bizarre day at work which included a thunderstorm where we lost power for over an hour and a very strange department meeting after school, by the time I got home I thought I'd go on a "bug hunt." It was a pretty successful endeavor if I do say so myself.

All photos were taken with my D7000, AF 105mm f/2.8 micro Nikkor, ISO 200, f/10.

Who doesn't love lady bugs.

Lady Bug
View attachment 38027


What can I say. A fly on a buttercup.

Landing Pad
View attachment 38029


Bug Love
View attachment 38030




I cannot say much about this one. Choke berry flowers do look rather alien to me, then add the fire fly.

Bug Meets Alien
View attachment 38031


These weird little pink sacs are called cherry pouch galls that I saw on a wild cherry leaf. From what I have read, these little pink galls are caused by a mite. YUCK!

Pop-up Pink
View attachment 38032


I finally found out what this plant is: Russian comfry. Two different photos of it.

Bell Cluster
View attachment 38033

Early Bloomers
View attachment 38034

Barbra, very nice shots!

 

[piperbarb]

Barbra, very nice shots!

Jeff, thanks. My bug hunt was fun.

 

[Roy1961]

a lot of people miss bug shots because they walk on by, some interesting critters at arms length.

 

[piperbarb]

I know, . There are some very strange, downright alien-looking, critters out there. Also, I think people ignore bugs because of the potential ick factor. I have no problems looking at bugs and spiders through a camera lens. With the naked eye.... not so much.

 

[piperbarb]

5-23-13:

With all the rain and thunderstorms on and off all day, going outside and taking photos was not really an option most of the day.

This morning, while out with the dog, I took this photo of the generally dreary sky. Yes, it's one of those desperation images. This was about as sunny as the day got today.

Morning Sky


I started this scarf on Monday evening. I am knitting it from the yarn I took a photo of on April 29th, as seen in post #409.

Ripple Scarf

 

[snaphappy]

Thats what our sky looks like too, not very inspiring but hopefully it'll make the ground green

 

[piperbarb]

5-24-13:

Another day of rain. I was able to get at least one photo between the raindrops. These ferns are on the side of the driveway. I have always liked ferns. The rain is being very kind to them.

Flourishing

 

[grandpaw]

5-24-13:

Another day of rain. I was able to get at least one photo between the raindrops. These ferns are on the side of the driveway. I have always liked ferns. The rain is being very kind to them.

Flourishing
View attachment 38197

Barbra, I don't know about the white balance on this one, everything looks a little green! LOL

 

[piperbarb]

Barbra, I don't know about the white balance on this one, everything looks a little green! LOL

HaHa! I know what you mean!!

 

[piperbarb]

5-25-13:

It's really rather yucky out, considering that it is the end of May, dreary, damp, cold and windy. Here's my contribution for today. It is the side and loft doors of our barn. At least there is no snow, yet.....

Double Doors

 

[piperbarb]

5-26-13:

I was up in the woods behind the barn this afternoon, looking for pileated woodpecker nesting holes. Suddenly, I heard the distinctive grunt of a male bear about 100 feet away. I skidaddled so fast back to the house, it wasn't funny. I have decided I am safer getting photos of persistent dandelions and the neighborhood crows for now.

We have a lot of crows around here and they all look pretty much the same. I'm not sure if this was Heckle or Jekyll.

Just Waiting


Taking Flight



It amazes me how you think you've mowed down the dandelions, and the next day or so, the pop up their little yellow heads. Stubborn little plants, to say the least.

Never Give Up

 

[piperbarb]

5-26-13: Addendum

I went out for a walk this afternoon after lunch, camera in hand.

This is just minor damage that our local bear has done to some of the trees. This tree is in the woods and about 25-30 feet from our driveway.

Scratching Post



I took a photo of this birdhouse a couple of months ago. It is really falling apart now, and, no bird, self-respecting or otherwise, is living in it.

Ghetto Birdhouse



On my way back from my walk, I saw this robin's egg shell on the shoulder. I was surprised the wind had not blown it away.

Leftovers

 

[piperbarb]

5-27-13: Birds post.

I am splitting up today's photos into birds, and not birds. This is the birds post.

While out with the dog for our 3 miles of hills walk, I took my camera with me. It was definitely worth it. All photos were taken with my D7000 and AF-S 55-200mm non-VR zoom, ISO 200. Aperture and shutter speed varied and are noted in the text for each photo.

I love swallows. We have a lot of barn swallows around here. This is one of a pair that were flying around then resting on power lines. f/8, 1/500s.

Wired



As I was walking, I saw this blue jay fly across the road with a plastic bag in its beak. It landed on a bush and started adding the bag to its nest. f/9, 1/320s.

One Person's Trash is another Bird's Treasure



Typical crow. f/9, 1/400s.

Where's Heckle?



Last bird shot for this post. This robin was just hanging out on this mailbox. Looking at the top of this mailbox, I think this robin has been doing this a lot. f/9, 1/320s.

What? No Mail?

 

[piperbarb]

5-27-13: Non birds post.

In the woods by the side of the road going up a steep hill, is an old New York Telephone sign. It was definitely there way before the breakup of the telephone companies in the late 1980s. I have two versions, color and B&W. I like both. The B&W definitely gives it an entirely different feel. Let me know which you prefer. TIA. Taken with my D7000, AF-S 55-200mm non-VR zoom, ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/125s.

Warn Who?