October Highlights
As the fall migration winds down and some of the winter birds start arriving, I thought I would post some highlights from October. As you’ll see below, I have my usual bird photos, but also a landscape and some other non-bird wildlife. Simply put, being outside with a camera in-hand presents many great opportunities for photos. Enjoy!
There’s no way of knowing how many birds are in this picture. I would assume some, but I was more taken by the fall colors and felt compelled to take this picture.
This is a Golden-crowned Kinglet from my back yard. Every photographer makes the same joke when they post a photo of a Kinglet, something like “I’m so glad this little bird sat still for ONE SECOND so I could get a picture”! It’s true though, they are brave little birds that will get closer to humans than most, but their defense is that they never sit in one place long enough to be threatened.
Don’t worry, this Eastern Cottontail has both ears, one was just hiding. Still, it gave the impression that he was “half-on-alert” which seemed like a fun picture.
Because Great Blue Herons are big, and blue, and often standing along shorelines, it makes them very easy to photograph. In fact I probably have more saved pictures of Great Blue Herons than any other species. However, capturing this photo with the fall colors behind the bird finally made for a picture that was interesting enough for me to share it.
Speaking of Fall colors, here is a photo of a Red-winged Blackbird. I wasn’t particularly proud of this photo but Cornelia thought it was amazing. This ones for her!
I have “better” pictures of Nashville Warblers, but I really love how much of the yellow I caught in this one. I spent 15 minutes watching this bird and came home with about 100 pictures, but non that captured that beautiful flash of yellow as well as this shot.
This Yellow-rumped Warbler caught a bee. I’ve seen them with other little bugs in their beaks before, but this seemed like a slightly larger meal than I’m accustomed to see them eating.
Henry and I found this sleeping Raccoon while searching for Owls. At first he was nervous because he’s been warned of the dangers of “urban Raccoons” and rabies (our neighbor was bit outside his house in broad daylight). Of course a healthy fear is good, but I reassured him that a Raccoon sleeping in a big park in the middle of the day, is doing exactly what Raccoons should be doing.
One last Kinglet! This is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I’m so glad this little bird sat still for ONE SECOND so I could get a picture!