Piperbarb's 2013 Project 365

piperbarb

Senior Member
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.

140 Red-Winged Blackbird-130520-03_1.jpg

140 Red-Winged Blackbird-130520-06_1.jpg

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. :)

140 Red-Winged Blackbird BIF-130520_1.jpg


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
140 Fern-130520_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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
141 CHOWC Playground-130521-01_1.jpg

Downward Spiral
141 CHOWC Playground-130521-02_1.jpg

The Blob
141 CHOWC Playground-130521-03_1.jpg

Up and Down
141 CHOWC Playground-130521-04_1.jpg
 
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piperbarb

Senior Member
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.

141 Honeysuckle with Bug-130521_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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
142 Ladybug-130522-01_1.jpg


What can I say. A fly on a buttercup. :)

Landing Pad
142 Fly on Buttercup-130522_1.jpg


Bug Love
142 Fireflies-130522_1.jpg




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

Bug Meets Alien
142 Chokecherry with Firefly-130522_1.jpg


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
142 Cherry Pouch Gall-130522_1.jpg


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

Bell Cluster
142 Russian Comfrey-130522-01_1.jpg

Early Bloomers
142 Russian Comfrey-130522-02_1.jpg
 
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grandpaw

Senior Member
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

Senior Member
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. :)
 
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piperbarb

Senior Member
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
143 Sky and Trees-130523_1.jpg

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
143 Scarf-130523_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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
144 Ferns-130524_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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
145 Barn Door-130525_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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
146 Crow-130526_1.jpg

Taking Flight
146 Crow BIF-130526_1.jpg


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
146 Dandelions-130526_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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
146 Bear Evidence-130526-02_1.jpg


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
146 Birdhouse-130526_1.jpg


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
146 Robin's Egg Shell-130526_1.jpg
 
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piperbarb

Senior Member
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
147 Barn Swallow-130527-02_1.jpg


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
147 Blue Jay-130527_1.jpg


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

Where's Heckle?
147 Crow-130527_1.jpg


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?
147 Robin-130527_1.jpg
 

piperbarb

Senior Member
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?
147 NY Telephone Sign-130527_1.jpg

147 NY Telephone Sign-130527-BW_1.jpg
 
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