Was your moon blue?

Did you see the blue moon? Did it look the the moon above? Well, then it might have been something you ate. A blue moon is a second full moon in the same calendar month, not something based on its color. The moon last night actually looked like the one below and was quite spectacular. Yes, it was a touch closer to earth than usual but that really wasn't noticeable by eye. People may have looked early in the evening and felt like it looked bigger because the media was reporting on it, but the difference from the last full moon would be very subtle.  

 

Fall is Coming

 

Did a bit of a bird walk in Knock Knolls Park near my home this past weekend and although I didn't really see any good birds (they will be coming through here soon on the way to Mexico and points south) but saw this bright red leaf--my first hit that fall is coming. Super hot weather was here only a week ago and some nice hot weather coming back for Labor Day, but the trees know that fall is right around the corner and some of them are making their move now. I like each season in turn but fall is the most colorful so always looking forward to some nice fall colors!!!

Two Oldest Had a Weekend

 

My two oldest grandkids, William and Clio, had themselves a weekend! William played the clarinet in the marching band for Neuqua Valley High School's first game of the season and Clio played Luciana in Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, which was quite funny. They were both fantastic and Cheryl and I enjoyed both performances. They worked hard all summer to get ready for these two performances. This was Clio's 4th summer of Shakespeare and now we have to wait another full year to see the next performance. 

Assignment: Yellow

 

Did a couple of bird walks recently but no new finds. However, that doesn't mean you can't find some color to shoot, as shown by this field of Brown-eyed Susan's.  

Bristol Renaissance Faire Interesting Look

 

I saw this gentleman walking at the Bristol Renaissance Faire when we visited last month and thought he had an interesting look. The problem with that place is that the backgrounds are so busy and full of tourist types that the pictures look uninteresting. So, I threw in a different background a spun it around just for fun. I'm not making this a wall print, but thought it turned out ok. 

Date Palm Tree Farm

 

As I was listening to the news reports regarding Hurricane Hilary, which has now weakened into a tropical storm, I thought of this Date Palm Tree farm near the Salton Sea that I saw back in March. That area is going to get a direct hit from this storm. Loved seeing the long rows of trees as shown here and hope this area as well as the rest of Southern California and Arizona don't get hit too badly.  

Bryant Park Shady Walk

 

A spring-time walk in early June in NYC at my favorite haunt, Bryant Park. 

Eli's Calling me out

 

Eli is calling me out. 

Some Musical Fun: Part 2

 

When there is no stage and the band is as friendly as the members of Shotguns and Roses, you can get right up into the action, which is what I was able to do last weekend. Fun times and a fund raiser for a good cause. 

Some Musical Fun: Part 1

 

My brother had a fund raiser at his bar (Davern's Tavern) to help raise money for ALS and the Salzburg family, who lost Dan Salzburg over 4 years ago to a fast moving version of this horrible disease. So, while the circumstances were sad, we all had a good time at Davern's, with multiple bands, dozens of volunteers and Joe and his team assisting the family in a wonderful fund raising event. I really enjoyed the bands, especially the headliners, Shotguns and Roses, who put on a wonderful show. Over the next few days, I will post in Shot of the Day some of my favorite shots of the night. 

Naperville Flasher

 

Someone should alert the authorities. A Naperville flasher is on the loose. This is a Great Blue-Heron imitating a Cormorant, spreading its wings to dry out. Shot this morning at the Naper-Plainfield prairie path pond, which is mostly empty of water again. 

St. Patrick's on 5th

Once again, just walking a couple of weeks ago in NYC, looking for the shady side of the street. I see St. Patrick's Cathedral on 5th Avenue and the lighting was just very nice. Hot, sweaty, soaking wet walk, but a nice lighting situation is still worth a stop and pop for a shot. 

Four Cuties #2

 

I think I used the Four Cuties title once before so this is Four Cuties #2. Just some shots while walking around the Bristol Renaissance Faire. Always a strange and somewhat wonderful place. Peregrine, the Falcon, Clio, the Muse, Echo the Warrior and sweet little Effie. Hope to see them soon. 

Saks Fifth Avenue on 5th Avenue

 

Walking around in NYC two weeks ago and was desperately looking for shade anywhere I could find it. I can declare that walking around when it is hot and muggy and in a suit, is not a good situation. But I survived it. Early morning walk definitely better than later in the day. 

Three Visitors

 

Three visitors over the weekend....well, maybe two.

Blue-gray Visitor

 

Sat outside a bunch on Sunday and caught a new bird. To my complete surprise, I discovered a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher up in one of our trees. This little guy was sitting right above my head as I was trying to track down where I was hearing that tweasy song it was singing. That makes four new birds in the backyard this summer: a couple of huge American Crows, two House Wrens and a Northern Flicker (no pic yet), none of which are feeder birds. I was able to identify the wren, flicker and the blue-gray gnatcatcher by ear as unfamiliar songs and then using the Merlin app to identify what bird I was hearing. With the house wren and this blue-grey, I was able to get some pictures as it is tough finding birds up high in the heavy foliage this time of the year. I was not as lucky with the much larger northern flicker. It took off before I could bring out my camera. Maybe I will get a shot later this summer. I have a tree that is dying and they like making cavity nests in dead trees. The crows were tricky as they were very quick to spot me with the camera and keep taking off right away. You hear them in the distance now and then, but this summer is the first time they have visited the yard, as far as any of us remember. Anyway, including our new visitors, I now have counted 32 backyard birds in all since Covid got me into birding. I am just totally amazed we have that many birds in the backyard. Pre-Covid, I would have guessed we had three or four species. The diversity for my suburban backyard is amazing.   

Yes, Please!

 

The new Doug's Donuts in Naperville. Near the LA Fitness on Rt. 59 near 95th Street. Oh, my!!! The colors! The calories! The taste! Happy Sunday, funday. 

Reflection of a Water Lily

 

Baseball Pano #16: Atlanta Braves

 

Here it is. My last ballpark pano. The Atlanta Braves stadium. Back in 2018 it was called Sun Trust Park  but now renamed Truist Field. I need to go back to get a better memory of this park. From this picture, it looks a bit like White Sox park with a loop that walks all the way around the park. 

So, that is it. 16 out of the 30 parks with pole-to-pole panos. Lots left to go. Some of the parks I shot need better photos. Maybe 4 of the parks I haven't been to at all. Always good to have a goal. Haven't been to any new parks this year and with the season more than half way over, not a lot of time to get to another park or two. We shall see. 

Baseball Pano #15: Busch Stadium

 

Getting on near the end of this series. This is Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. Lots of red in this stadium. Another excellent, modern park. From a work trip back in 2017.