tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83289596594393694862024-03-27T16:54:18.262-07:00Shot of the DayInteresting shots taken while traveling in the US and around the world.Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comBlogger2701125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-72853214904205200942024-03-14T19:16:00.000-07:002024-03-15T07:50:08.560-07:00Madison Square Park<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysKG1CNwsdq2NsYpIZw71OcBFAc7dzj1h1JsnE7AghinafeWGo75Z9yqUO_Ce2hjP8-7LsasoY2jhyphenhyphenNHG36t_nw86MqXFY0jj40XQxZXHsxFIDKMouAonP3TcSUFNlv2kp-zLvfmxL9qkVjB5-vpAT2aOx-83m1HvVJvG6yjGsa8qisSltLVdiXHO46k/s8256/MadisonSquarePark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysKG1CNwsdq2NsYpIZw71OcBFAc7dzj1h1JsnE7AghinafeWGo75Z9yqUO_Ce2hjP8-7LsasoY2jhyphenhyphenNHG36t_nw86MqXFY0jj40XQxZXHsxFIDKMouAonP3TcSUFNlv2kp-zLvfmxL9qkVjB5-vpAT2aOx-83m1HvVJvG6yjGsa8qisSltLVdiXHO46k/s320/MadisonSquarePark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I often find myself cutting through Madison Square Park when in New York City as it is on a convenient path to the Strand Bookstore, just a few blocks down from the park. Madison Square is a fun little New York Park that gets a lot of usage and many visitors. There are two dogs parks (one for small dogs and one for large) and food stands when the weather is nice. The buildings around it, including the Flatiron, (not shown in this shot), are given a bit of room to breathe and when the sun is low, as it was a few weeks ago on my last visit, the lighting is wonderful!!! <p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-27532469912939095952024-03-10T07:17:00.000-07:002024-03-10T07:17:49.933-07:00What Pretty Red Eye-ring You Have<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02pp77ywuWLmY6KJlyytszguFHSyHImAszKQEam_N0rbkR8rm1WUXfnGRonkxKVfXWtg6p3QCAw2KEu8fSLH5kiv3N4yzXnPn6QL9I65_2f3Q2ANYhcp6mgWLYsPV5cAagcW6RBkD831p5Uc2gGwqYHqv1PjhFFfHuLncf0r5En6ag8EflGZSTZlK8gU/s5412/KilldeerPortrait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5412" data-original-width="5412" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02pp77ywuWLmY6KJlyytszguFHSyHImAszKQEam_N0rbkR8rm1WUXfnGRonkxKVfXWtg6p3QCAw2KEu8fSLH5kiv3N4yzXnPn6QL9I65_2f3Q2ANYhcp6mgWLYsPV5cAagcW6RBkD831p5Uc2gGwqYHqv1PjhFFfHuLncf0r5En6ag8EflGZSTZlK8gU/s320/KilldeerPortrait.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mostly, all you see of Killdeer is them running away from you. Got this one from the car window with a long lens so the Killdeer didn't run away just yet. Interesting red ring around its eye. Killdeer, if they are protecting a ground nest, will put on a wounded bird show and lure you away from the nest as you try to catch it, before it flies away. Smart little bird. <p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-61487439907246791982024-03-09T08:34:00.000-08:002024-03-09T08:34:18.791-08:00A Gaggle of Geese<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdxv6AEY2YQXmGYsZeRW2uK3TbiFq3lSYUZLU1qCBH_bB0FLJu23mIcZmPg3UcyVrdA0yKJ4Gmp2lcSbR5api2O3Vpxwd86AXCPDxT8JSOwycyfHuDbc3eLbH1r3JKqJ12lFq2X_wEahJfKGSuCioHMxrB9whtxvcV9CudHIFH6SqVW2_de5I_2PGHwY/s4902/GaggleofGeese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3164" data-original-width="4902" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdxv6AEY2YQXmGYsZeRW2uK3TbiFq3lSYUZLU1qCBH_bB0FLJu23mIcZmPg3UcyVrdA0yKJ4Gmp2lcSbR5api2O3Vpxwd86AXCPDxT8JSOwycyfHuDbc3eLbH1r3JKqJ12lFq2X_wEahJfKGSuCioHMxrB9whtxvcV9CudHIFH6SqVW2_de5I_2PGHwY/s320/GaggleofGeese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Sometime in early March, the Snow Geese gather in central Illinois for a week or so feeding and resting before continuing their trip to their breeding grounds in Canada. I was able to find their feeding spot and enjoy the show. The adults are white and the juveniles with dark plumage in the shot. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-57671665409015203382024-03-04T05:14:00.000-08:002024-03-04T05:14:19.551-08:00Uncountable<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn3aK2P5ZdeKPn-m_yadZkPDDfX-XGV-D3Dqrm4RcC9CEDxtAp1pPrxPiNJbgORU2jgXh4W7-xcYhGdYc8boPpK-jCH7_-pmCc4erTNgfPA97odNjLLu_4TTmfaeX8w7R9dpp392kcCDwymn-M-AnNw1QSOJffuLx2Gc1TZHUBRWaBh3Rlpo_373Y5G0/s8022/SnowGooseGathering2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5348" data-original-width="8022" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJn3aK2P5ZdeKPn-m_yadZkPDDfX-XGV-D3Dqrm4RcC9CEDxtAp1pPrxPiNJbgORU2jgXh4W7-xcYhGdYc8boPpK-jCH7_-pmCc4erTNgfPA97odNjLLu_4TTmfaeX8w7R9dpp392kcCDwymn-M-AnNw1QSOJffuLx2Gc1TZHUBRWaBh3Rlpo_373Y5G0/s320/SnowGooseGathering2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I got an email from the DuPage Birding Club that the Snow Geese were gathering for their annual flight to their breeding grounds in Canada from points south. The email gave an approximately location and by Sunday morning, I was there to see them in tremendous numbers and this is after the morning take-off where I saw thousands fly overhead from about 6:30 to about 7:30 am. Quite amazing. A picture doesn't do it justice. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-73597184273411220972024-03-02T06:26:00.000-08:002024-03-02T06:26:39.955-08:00Florida foggy morning<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeCdw0btsLvAjeiGXPXS60UNXiALPG6X5oPi0WbkFKvpaSmTuNdGCWHxEdOrJf-9Af8B_zGS9FBNBxGRHKHiibVnh6peM_PN6TigctQjarhe0NJUnL_gftSW2rrlbEJqpKELw7OuMHjXJquAPZEJAfvs5V8x2MyXA86IsagulhAcaSox2aqeOvF4JNn8/s2048/20240126_074348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaeCdw0btsLvAjeiGXPXS60UNXiALPG6X5oPi0WbkFKvpaSmTuNdGCWHxEdOrJf-9Af8B_zGS9FBNBxGRHKHiibVnh6peM_PN6TigctQjarhe0NJUnL_gftSW2rrlbEJqpKELw7OuMHjXJquAPZEJAfvs5V8x2MyXA86IsagulhAcaSox2aqeOvF4JNn8/s320/20240126_074348.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Got up early last month to do some birding in central Florida and this was the scene before wandering around to find some local birds. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-86218514546512333582024-02-26T08:32:00.000-08:002024-02-26T08:34:00.485-08:00Ready to Play<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9NO9AosozXNVE3WUcRV3zujm5Q5EAElXu6uwdHyoKKVGZq-2xZ0VC82J39eq4Tr-DgLC6k0UFtCBGJn0JW0cYbf9mA-BGg-RyJiftsLgEuKB7yMHEyIZtfKZmFqWIlWqsdANldkbfke2bBZxUHRZRFOlVGz_TTEWP2prJ5K6swakgjRW1fAAs3CTQAM/s8256/ReadyToPlay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9NO9AosozXNVE3WUcRV3zujm5Q5EAElXu6uwdHyoKKVGZq-2xZ0VC82J39eq4Tr-DgLC6k0UFtCBGJn0JW0cYbf9mA-BGg-RyJiftsLgEuKB7yMHEyIZtfKZmFqWIlWqsdANldkbfke2bBZxUHRZRFOlVGz_TTEWP2prJ5K6swakgjRW1fAAs3CTQAM/s320/ReadyToPlay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Beautiful weather in NYC last week and the crowds came out to enjoy the weather. Street performers also came out in droves to get their share of sunshine and potential dollars. This guy in Central Park had some character and style. Always a nice time walking NYC in great weather. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-77736336096128742592024-02-25T06:29:00.000-08:002024-02-25T06:29:51.509-08:00Skating in NYC<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheIoH_2MR1UsndK4a8oITtqEr3mWQGZyE0OabhcPaY_kngDWAujQTLhJApjixSEhW4C7iRd7E2B9gFR6MbBJ5K_jiElU8HKksKKtu4hTPXRAhIWSJ2dRTgR0pC_wxIcA0QPACbT1A4-EIDbX63N20CoLVDZ2NYGVf98mUa5bSDRVZRqnMNdMOIb5iP5k/s8256/OutForASkate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheIoH_2MR1UsndK4a8oITtqEr3mWQGZyE0OabhcPaY_kngDWAujQTLhJApjixSEhW4C7iRd7E2B9gFR6MbBJ5K_jiElU8HKksKKtu4hTPXRAhIWSJ2dRTgR0pC_wxIcA0QPACbT1A4-EIDbX63N20CoLVDZ2NYGVf98mUa5bSDRVZRqnMNdMOIb5iP5k/s320/OutForASkate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>With snow left over from last week's storm, NYC had a bit of snow still around to give the Central Park ice rink a nice winterly look. <p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-63407877249965971412024-02-23T05:35:00.000-08:002024-02-23T05:35:08.194-08:00The Right Light<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX4H2CJixjqcT-FXAeAOtlJ7VIhjv_FxeuuTGLkn2zA9hmOAfscXKCn_TZwiMeO0Oqr7AvKHyHjueUzW1MgBCOsHIVGbHkVOlAmmB3r0b6zuPyloC-j7CqtXaA_iQEy4WeQec6zZMf898H2au2-SbazfRKEE9OA1xCd4KzD3Zu8qaVUXaMiAe-NQ9q5c/s8256/RightLight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX4H2CJixjqcT-FXAeAOtlJ7VIhjv_FxeuuTGLkn2zA9hmOAfscXKCn_TZwiMeO0Oqr7AvKHyHjueUzW1MgBCOsHIVGbHkVOlAmmB3r0b6zuPyloC-j7CqtXaA_iQEy4WeQec6zZMf898H2au2-SbazfRKEE9OA1xCd4KzD3Zu8qaVUXaMiAe-NQ9q5c/s320/RightLight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I always think New York City looks amazing in the right light. This is from Washington Square Park (I think) on the way to visit the Strand, an amazing book store and a must visit for me when I am in New York. Unfortunately, I also like to visit Central Park and those two locations are very, very far from each other. The rest of my visit, I pay the price with pain in my legs and hips. Oh well. It happens. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-23043398711298878272024-02-11T08:25:00.000-08:002024-02-11T08:25:43.812-08:00Painted Bunting<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIsmZfur9wJ_gzeP4QOPzrTwrKRn1WpC0epChUMwE-ux_2PjTdk85RSUJyeayoe5j0ffWa0_YksHev0FSgorZTRFdg5OpIyMeJRMPXk9BeUfoV302XQd9h3NNy5eyA6iFw9MMb_5M_QDXpI0CV_oCSKfEg2acqI2iGQTdPybvztOfc5ZttbZUaJ5Oe6g/s5504/PaintedBunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="5504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIsmZfur9wJ_gzeP4QOPzrTwrKRn1WpC0epChUMwE-ux_2PjTdk85RSUJyeayoe5j0ffWa0_YksHev0FSgorZTRFdg5OpIyMeJRMPXk9BeUfoV302XQd9h3NNy5eyA6iFw9MMb_5M_QDXpI0CV_oCSKfEg2acqI2iGQTdPybvztOfc5ZttbZUaJ5Oe6g/s320/PaintedBunting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>There have been a couple of birds that have taken my breath away as they standout in the crowd of colorful birds. This one, the Painted Bunting, has to top them all. The blues, reds and yellows, oh my! This bird has it all. You would think it was a tropical bird and maybe it is, living in a swath of Texas/Oklahoma over to Florida and south into Mexico and Central America. Just a beautiful bird. This one was an easy find as it is a feeder bird and therefore hanging around the Merritt Island Visitor Center. That area is well worth a visit if you are anywhere near the Space Coast area of Florida. <p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-66622209561623560342024-02-10T12:49:00.000-08:002024-02-10T12:49:20.304-08:00A New Bird<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxTN1mqQ2CLkrU98ma-KaHioyz2bnG-R6GPhrdXHqOyxelgtxQpkqG4xgrH8ULhmkQsJ2R9v-81FpxBjes8xZvf9G0b65WRCwo46Z7zDwl4kppCEKeSKrNRMSDH_aI16U78DqVVG7yN71GXGe-eOKMs-6fld2kaQOaB528i3JXXDHD4BNBw1rPZXpNUU/s5846/PineSiskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5371" data-original-width="5846" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxTN1mqQ2CLkrU98ma-KaHioyz2bnG-R6GPhrdXHqOyxelgtxQpkqG4xgrH8ULhmkQsJ2R9v-81FpxBjes8xZvf9G0b65WRCwo46Z7zDwl4kppCEKeSKrNRMSDH_aI16U78DqVVG7yN71GXGe-eOKMs-6fld2kaQOaB528i3JXXDHD4BNBw1rPZXpNUU/s320/PineSiskin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>You never know what a random Saturday will bring to the feeder. Mostly, it is the same birds over and over. At the thistle feeder, you get mostly American Goldfinch's, House Finches and on the ground below, Dark-eyed Juncos. Today, out of nowhere, 12 Pine Sisken's show up. Never seen them in the backyard before and actually, they are a lifer for me, as I never got a chance to see one yet in the wild. So, a two-for. A new backyard bird and a new bird!!! Not bad for a Saturday morning. They are a pretty bird, heavily streaked with yellow across the wing bars, similar to an American Goldfinch. With the 14 new lifers that I got in January and February in two trips to Florida, the Pine Siskin makes 311 birds (I think) and 35 backyard birds. Not a bad start to the year!!! </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-81048752555334894902024-02-03T09:28:00.000-08:002024-02-03T09:28:52.061-08:00Florida Birding<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRzq-uPH2lM0l9d2BoIczGmf_4qElmQeVR_20wmKIIe86BvwZOU77edhjlXVTdlGL4YqIQse2thOtK-KO21OT6Epg_4CiL399DoNiYfkPwh0-SrSaV1bOPmPgGGB2U2j05OCWPjx4bpHQO5nKyo7lsIstp3NSENk6QCbF5dJIhijirmFQIKLb3_k4qys/s5808/PelicanIsland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3596" data-original-width="5808" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRzq-uPH2lM0l9d2BoIczGmf_4qElmQeVR_20wmKIIe86BvwZOU77edhjlXVTdlGL4YqIQse2thOtK-KO21OT6Epg_4CiL399DoNiYfkPwh0-SrSaV1bOPmPgGGB2U2j05OCWPjx4bpHQO5nKyo7lsIstp3NSENk6QCbF5dJIhijirmFQIKLb3_k4qys/s320/PelicanIsland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Got to do a couple of days R&R in Florida and joined in the Space Coast Birding Festival. Lots of fun and new birds to add to the life list. Still working through about 4,000 shots!!! This is a boat trip I took to Pelican Island, a federally protected refuge for birds. This is just one portion of the island, which has weirdly sorted itself out into groups of roosting birds, each species pretty much staking out parts of the island and returning to that some locations, night after night, year after year. This pic has a couple of brown pelicans in front (along with a wood stork with its back to us) and a brown pelican flying over, white pelicans stacked in their typically location and more brown pelicans in the trees. So, just pelicans and the one stork in this shot but other parts of the island just to the left of this shot you have white ibis, egrets, many more storks and a variety of gulls. Interesting area and a wonderful trip. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-50025791586825952882024-01-29T06:55:00.000-08:002024-01-29T06:55:45.903-08:00St. John's River Airboat ride<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2UPPfbK4fgoNhKqEXdH1xLpc6EsGqIjb3dtBBqv5rtstJbOevND_dlP5sLi5efCUxL3U_Cg3PTsmN9GZkjW0HOjqHj3T-kJSP-noG16A8ob4d-eEZnbwoguyLWz3ZvcK40aSg1CQLpC_kDp_6vjOywvW2RuP9Z-e6OXzPjYq31gIvwnHL65cgaCqTwc/s8256/SwampView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2UPPfbK4fgoNhKqEXdH1xLpc6EsGqIjb3dtBBqv5rtstJbOevND_dlP5sLi5efCUxL3U_Cg3PTsmN9GZkjW0HOjqHj3T-kJSP-noG16A8ob4d-eEZnbwoguyLWz3ZvcK40aSg1CQLpC_kDp_6vjOywvW2RuP9Z-e6OXzPjYq31gIvwnHL65cgaCqTwc/s320/SwampView.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Took an airboat ride (my first!!!) with Captain Mike along the St. John's River to shoot some bird pictures and also got these wonderful views of the Cyprus trees along the river. Had a great time and I must say those boats can really move. Up to 70mph and feels faster as you are so close to the water in an open chair. Got lots of shots of egrets and herons, ospreys and kingfishers. Some alligators up close as well. Hope to share some of those shots soon but I have a few thousand to go through after a few days of birding so it will take a while! <p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-63512043394962074012024-01-07T06:52:00.000-08:002024-01-07T06:52:51.695-08:00Birds of the Year: #5-1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlR2gBQ2dWw-9KNg8nkmhuzjhzQB1v-IJ5HPUZFfwWfeHjSci2IF4hoWn2mOj3h-xoA5Fj3AwQxH8q4AFe0kiPbuPb7h_atEqjgWWY7k3BOQ-jLcNcFOMPlk1qVRqDrvUte6EW9TcDHZ9Q730KN7A-B6CSbrY3ovjW7NV3VFI45CnJPVFvmRztsHsrXRg/s5169/Top15BirdShots-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5169" data-original-width="5169" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlR2gBQ2dWw-9KNg8nkmhuzjhzQB1v-IJ5HPUZFfwWfeHjSci2IF4hoWn2mOj3h-xoA5Fj3AwQxH8q4AFe0kiPbuPb7h_atEqjgWWY7k3BOQ-jLcNcFOMPlk1qVRqDrvUte6EW9TcDHZ9Q730KN7A-B6CSbrY3ovjW7NV3VFI45CnJPVFvmRztsHsrXRg/s320/Top15BirdShots-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite shot of the year is by far the two Black-necked Stilts feeding in shallow water in the Salton Sea in California. The water gave a perfect mirror as the stilts went about their work. The Fulvous Whistling-ducks are a very recent shot from December in Florida. Loved how they were on the watch for predators and wondering which way to go as they knew I was there. The Dickcissel is a prairie bird for me. Sitting up high and signing for a mate. The Crested Caracara are huge birds. Saw them in Texas as they are not local to the midwest. The Verdin is a beautiful little bird. Caught that one also near the Salton Sea. Love how it matches its Spring surroundings. So, those are my top 15 shots for the year. Hopefully, more species to capture this year as well as returning favorites. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriM9zqp6mbg7F1GbfmZptaWZCE02f5fe2zfXJyez-hBVdot0QE5iupwzgSzmrbdKtFHGjkcO6xymnuT-SDulT9PwvKVN5RLW_q2OmYLINSEiEDpL8_YQTnsaolZFzdXexFm7sNDQV2mAls5lNceRjYTm6jeSlRU-lo11ZQXwlroXg6T1gT54zfs587TE/s4704/Top15BirdShots-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4704" data-original-width="4704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriM9zqp6mbg7F1GbfmZptaWZCE02f5fe2zfXJyez-hBVdot0QE5iupwzgSzmrbdKtFHGjkcO6xymnuT-SDulT9PwvKVN5RLW_q2OmYLINSEiEDpL8_YQTnsaolZFzdXexFm7sNDQV2mAls5lNceRjYTm6jeSlRU-lo11ZQXwlroXg6T1gT54zfs587TE/s320/Top15BirdShots-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v9n1Q4pmSuMcDC1FMjwHHyO_4TfWX3vAYRLyj_n3VZUEmR9sL0NH8XNopzA0GD43emIqOvmlzsnYx_rqXbyAdY4DF4SfXS_TrGW0h3zsqXrGzaq1D3F7t5aVc6E-3tOeKIHGDXX04Vr_YTMpMOPUjd_6mKgwMMOyYFxmEDD0UVJ8uR4c16mFM7XZ28Y/s1780/Top15BirdShots-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="1780" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5v9n1Q4pmSuMcDC1FMjwHHyO_4TfWX3vAYRLyj_n3VZUEmR9sL0NH8XNopzA0GD43emIqOvmlzsnYx_rqXbyAdY4DF4SfXS_TrGW0h3zsqXrGzaq1D3F7t5aVc6E-3tOeKIHGDXX04Vr_YTMpMOPUjd_6mKgwMMOyYFxmEDD0UVJ8uR4c16mFM7XZ28Y/s320/Top15BirdShots-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2dyF_J7Y6ltAhEfi1214dzoIpAZs7gZ9iGK_4gtrUKm3DA2L6-gxP8sAG8wr6GOCsjgTuGgi9gbW2M-I3LSZnbOT4ha5he2TRnrwn4Ttk0oGUHxIQUZ8-sFPV9XB8Ow1MrazTL2Tje_uu0FA9NfNpz87P3JUurE8ZLn1C2nub5zIWKAcQ-xqDf6nMOw/s4963/Top15BirdShots-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4911" data-original-width="4963" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2dyF_J7Y6ltAhEfi1214dzoIpAZs7gZ9iGK_4gtrUKm3DA2L6-gxP8sAG8wr6GOCsjgTuGgi9gbW2M-I3LSZnbOT4ha5he2TRnrwn4Ttk0oGUHxIQUZ8-sFPV9XB8Ow1MrazTL2Tje_uu0FA9NfNpz87P3JUurE8ZLn1C2nub5zIWKAcQ-xqDf6nMOw/s320/Top15BirdShots-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQD2W_orgOgy9bmo88zArSlYZElKns1SNenUgjm2jKuqjTtnjxNAsh7ROVo_dWKinx86bcTTT9Azr1-1FZpZeuoQqM8aVfZIjd_Rm-cn0lS1e8VsF2-rpXjZB0O8VwxeF17PKqA4X6Ftp6op4zshdnrzRtBcHIhous62z6ylJIGQswMPaa9iyKa854gw/s4234/BirdsoftheYear16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4234" data-original-width="4234" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQD2W_orgOgy9bmo88zArSlYZElKns1SNenUgjm2jKuqjTtnjxNAsh7ROVo_dWKinx86bcTTT9Azr1-1FZpZeuoQqM8aVfZIjd_Rm-cn0lS1e8VsF2-rpXjZB0O8VwxeF17PKqA4X6Ftp6op4zshdnrzRtBcHIhous62z6ylJIGQswMPaa9iyKa854gw/s320/BirdsoftheYear16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-86164548676733019212024-01-04T09:25:00.000-08:002024-01-04T09:25:49.531-08:00Birds of the Year #9 thru 5<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-e7DXuXUhiUR7UaJsLH-gBrr_p2prhWntNjO7dAJ6fNt2aKNCpt72arNGYWqf6UO1jSpIKsTtSmStmntgZRRkF5-hNJFCkJGSejvJv8NYboLVyqlsOSParbxvjiahAhNvYXu1KQ4GNW1_4CICu7nwH3B8quthFwyUqJnDMmOtX2s1VlGoM-lVLq2G3E/s2348/Top15BirdShots-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2348" data-original-width="2291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-e7DXuXUhiUR7UaJsLH-gBrr_p2prhWntNjO7dAJ6fNt2aKNCpt72arNGYWqf6UO1jSpIKsTtSmStmntgZRRkF5-hNJFCkJGSejvJv8NYboLVyqlsOSParbxvjiahAhNvYXu1KQ4GNW1_4CICu7nwH3B8quthFwyUqJnDMmOtX2s1VlGoM-lVLq2G3E/s320/Top15BirdShots-10.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love when a new species sits right out front for you to get a shot. Mostly, it is shooting through tree limbs as the bird jumps around. And then it usually flies away right before you get the shot. Not with this Lark Sparrow in Texas. Was right there in front of me on the trail. Much appreciated and a beautiful sparrow. The Eastern Phoebe as also bouncing around all over the place eating small bugs on the wing. I saw this tree limb and said to myself, it would be amazing if the Phoebe would just sit right there. Within a few minutes, he did. Again, thanks for the pose. I saw my first California Thrasher after randomly pulling off the road to stretch my legs on the same day as I saw the Lark Sparrow (and saw the annual eclipse as well). In that random road stop, I got a California Quail and this Thrasher within moments of each other. You never know what you are going to see unless you look. The American Avocet and the Spotted Sandpiper are two birds that I saw on the same day at the Salton Sea in Southern California, although I first saw the Spotted Sandpiper in Naperville, so it is a bird that is very wide spread. Both of those birds are very distinctive and easy to identify. So, these are birds 9 through 5 in my favorite bird shots of the year. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjub4elYaa-lWZet9ZVp8BT7phekQu9LWpPuwOuNHewNLL8N9hQ_hymYWhM-PPS4Z5C2dvv5gSJfi3rb2UGYbhkzC8A-ny72fPrePg60sFZQprrqoNBMnZwhalFHU5kaLTnFHSJMHavkO29UmKDee-JY2RG2earJK23WBVOnSwV_7BwqVhjj5xs9LNvU4/s5504/Top15BirdShots-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="5504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjub4elYaa-lWZet9ZVp8BT7phekQu9LWpPuwOuNHewNLL8N9hQ_hymYWhM-PPS4Z5C2dvv5gSJfi3rb2UGYbhkzC8A-ny72fPrePg60sFZQprrqoNBMnZwhalFHU5kaLTnFHSJMHavkO29UmKDee-JY2RG2earJK23WBVOnSwV_7BwqVhjj5xs9LNvU4/s320/Top15BirdShots-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwWgcks7RsGQTN8CpdadxdRftG2dLlC0gK3438XUuMd7i9OmZ5rplufl1dE7HQqTow-tur2TW385_d2spmYqydUctmQlvqNnyDCPb9K47SQwwYcupBxNrpptAVsK74Lokf9h72RnaV-1FyLo6dvDJ2PuioPE3o5c_b-v0xy2eYvyhaZUgZbBvI4X4nfg/s3794/Top15BirdShots-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3794" data-original-width="3794" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwWgcks7RsGQTN8CpdadxdRftG2dLlC0gK3438XUuMd7i9OmZ5rplufl1dE7HQqTow-tur2TW385_d2spmYqydUctmQlvqNnyDCPb9K47SQwwYcupBxNrpptAVsK74Lokf9h72RnaV-1FyLo6dvDJ2PuioPE3o5c_b-v0xy2eYvyhaZUgZbBvI4X4nfg/s320/Top15BirdShots-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J2OPxyUm13dP-9UXw8dvK87xnzQPkwjY7ask4uxf3aljTxZbuE881HkbxgH6p0gX8OWHhevxLTv84v3wexFuVoYDTpin4ULy9AxgaN0GjIH-GzIoPZ3HAImyH-VRh-DH9a0fOifWK3aGwmDuyKcaHQXfVjWffmvcy0FLDVIfpN_uI-UeT4n_96AXBGU/s5504/Top15BirdShots-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="5504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J2OPxyUm13dP-9UXw8dvK87xnzQPkwjY7ask4uxf3aljTxZbuE881HkbxgH6p0gX8OWHhevxLTv84v3wexFuVoYDTpin4ULy9AxgaN0GjIH-GzIoPZ3HAImyH-VRh-DH9a0fOifWK3aGwmDuyKcaHQXfVjWffmvcy0FLDVIfpN_uI-UeT4n_96AXBGU/s320/Top15BirdShots-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-gXmvV2hVzTTiw8ph0ZP_8HeTKl47KcYOrt1gSZLqbe3-fFf_8zPnSRb7msqnljbwcdNklDcmZvDEY1RlHCT3EvdbWWmH3Sdq1S43Ogyu54iU7Pkruvy5qqWs5eSFcj4EXvPLXc2TvMDS0dAhRqEDBkJToSJs-LXQP5gHv9YvFVLIEeNhhhx8fG_D08/s5321/Top15BirdShots-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5321" data-original-width="5321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5-gXmvV2hVzTTiw8ph0ZP_8HeTKl47KcYOrt1gSZLqbe3-fFf_8zPnSRb7msqnljbwcdNklDcmZvDEY1RlHCT3EvdbWWmH3Sdq1S43Ogyu54iU7Pkruvy5qqWs5eSFcj4EXvPLXc2TvMDS0dAhRqEDBkJToSJs-LXQP5gHv9YvFVLIEeNhhhx8fG_D08/s320/Top15BirdShots-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-79877887764373788602024-01-03T06:47:00.000-08:002024-01-03T06:53:29.244-08:00My Favorite Bird Shots of 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hzrdSzuQqR5EbWEZFu7-AfuGQwH158XKcY9rfMXXb_c7RzPdSMUGCdpPujMrYs51kSo5zR6CePV49efIC1QSCdiRJ5j9HXYO8pk_waDFRMzy0-q7ku2PMK06_cLltE6t1vEWUi0OtZD85gEfr12gYFAPGSrzhU_ZF5_mWOA61NkzOpuEsmsBh-j16b0/s2967/Top15BirdShots.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2967" data-original-width="2967" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hzrdSzuQqR5EbWEZFu7-AfuGQwH158XKcY9rfMXXb_c7RzPdSMUGCdpPujMrYs51kSo5zR6CePV49efIC1QSCdiRJ5j9HXYO8pk_waDFRMzy0-q7ku2PMK06_cLltE6t1vEWUi0OtZD85gEfr12gYFAPGSrzhU_ZF5_mWOA61NkzOpuEsmsBh-j16b0/s320/Top15BirdShots.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was able to find 70 new species in 2023, pushing my photographic total to 287 species out of about 700 in the United States. From here, it is going to get harder as I have already been able to see many of the common species in the lower 48 states. Still, there are a lot of fairly common birds left to be seen and many more less common that I might get by accident. Travel through work helps and as the days get longer again, the opportunity to bird in different parts of the country after work meetings opens up. Plus there are a lot of local birds that I still have not been able to capture, especially in the owl and raptor species and the ducks as well. So, lots more to do. These are 5 of my top 15 shots for 2023. Only the Western Bluebird and the Phainopepla were new this year. I remember the Western as so amazingly blue. Beautiful bird. Saw that near Newport Beach in California. Saw the Phainopepla in the high desert inside Joshua Tree National Park. The other three, the Black Vulture, Yellow-rumpted Warbler and Pine Warbler are pretty common, seen in lots of parts of the US, although the Black Vulture is local to the south and southeast. The Turkey Vulture is very similar with a red/baldish head and that is the vulture you see over the rest of the country. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt02hGs7c5MHJb2fUI-WLwUPks5vkdtleY_aqtMfhkfeXHku7Vt4bOSWdjwaVZ9EeGUd2gLj0itOqTHcJ3zZSnJ1fpnznux8YttnaZ5kKvseCrQcHEvLjQauQGgZnJKMISG_U9mqKAIKpYsDLCeo0dbMLGFVxBbyq7k93RyQisSVa2RrlpB99iWn1EEo/s5504/Top15BirdShots-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="5504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt02hGs7c5MHJb2fUI-WLwUPks5vkdtleY_aqtMfhkfeXHku7Vt4bOSWdjwaVZ9EeGUd2gLj0itOqTHcJ3zZSnJ1fpnznux8YttnaZ5kKvseCrQcHEvLjQauQGgZnJKMISG_U9mqKAIKpYsDLCeo0dbMLGFVxBbyq7k93RyQisSVa2RrlpB99iWn1EEo/s320/Top15BirdShots-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicc1usgEusoyefu4lp-rVvHvriPw2DUxrYmSMH2p6X5SA1X4KNAkB71d-sex3sZZFyH0573x2aWhNsqnXOgB_i1Rl0KVM0fsx4cvUC8YpYiGeOePXtxlaosEWoYyi2FAa8kcqIEohrih3UAtBgXjAimgxdk00f-q0OdMdzDBHsC1DUJI6qhPB-4QjsBnQ/s8256/Top15BirdShots-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicc1usgEusoyefu4lp-rVvHvriPw2DUxrYmSMH2p6X5SA1X4KNAkB71d-sex3sZZFyH0573x2aWhNsqnXOgB_i1Rl0KVM0fsx4cvUC8YpYiGeOePXtxlaosEWoYyi2FAa8kcqIEohrih3UAtBgXjAimgxdk00f-q0OdMdzDBHsC1DUJI6qhPB-4QjsBnQ/s320/Top15BirdShots-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciPTF9VQKw1swvFn2YLcGuKHjuVCczbmXeUFJBYNveh8CL6w9c7dNZQQ2XhTJoqXcTRLs64bIFUxrujJxCCDw9c_1pR3qafs_WCidev4X86Z1BhwS_K2c3Wv_crAofuEO-q_Fjrna_I5GGmIjuVVl5zDVjPvQyFnkTnOYm14iwVINYdCj7C4oRr6VbQI/s5504/Top15BirdShots-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="5504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciPTF9VQKw1swvFn2YLcGuKHjuVCczbmXeUFJBYNveh8CL6w9c7dNZQQ2XhTJoqXcTRLs64bIFUxrujJxCCDw9c_1pR3qafs_WCidev4X86Z1BhwS_K2c3Wv_crAofuEO-q_Fjrna_I5GGmIjuVVl5zDVjPvQyFnkTnOYm14iwVINYdCj7C4oRr6VbQI/s320/Top15BirdShots-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28N3us06gIGERxaF77OFBs2vv9CSUfWMP416e361HtIuB3QXQoUdg319PA5l7QUdZ9rNcdiVJ1pZbrzrYO6glODVUp4KwFxlY18G7M5mTgbdFkelx7dMYnJ4-ajZ4EjnMCoAoCh8cANAdAEH2YflQ7FKHfm_ah3p_etTpjefaKAti4hbIl1_4qwzCCXc/s5504/Top15BirdShots-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="5504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28N3us06gIGERxaF77OFBs2vv9CSUfWMP416e361HtIuB3QXQoUdg319PA5l7QUdZ9rNcdiVJ1pZbrzrYO6glODVUp4KwFxlY18G7M5mTgbdFkelx7dMYnJ4-ajZ4EjnMCoAoCh8cANAdAEH2YflQ7FKHfm_ah3p_etTpjefaKAti4hbIl1_4qwzCCXc/s320/Top15BirdShots-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-83654323912619693832023-12-25T10:15:00.000-08:002023-12-25T10:15:08.341-08:00The Fam 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l3jzC4x4xsPAcJ7LGHcFB9Klc4-yMOQyd6N-H_wpX1nEsekNXNFMwAbquEB9zUFWT1_hfepG3H-ZYim7MT7mBqCgBIROu-AXaS3lHbIGYCX_A1Qh34sDK3xNVYH81tF4yYhBBr6zQLCQ63MvyPEY7HSaxtaydDSft9uy8qTa2NU8crrRafloDyJUu0E/s6462/Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5350" data-original-width="6462" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5l3jzC4x4xsPAcJ7LGHcFB9Klc4-yMOQyd6N-H_wpX1nEsekNXNFMwAbquEB9zUFWT1_hfepG3H-ZYim7MT7mBqCgBIROu-AXaS3lHbIGYCX_A1Qh34sDK3xNVYH81tF4yYhBBr6zQLCQ63MvyPEY7HSaxtaydDSft9uy8qTa2NU8crrRafloDyJUu0E/s320/Family.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> The Family at Christmas. 2023.<p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-31573800689153095112023-12-23T14:01:00.000-08:002023-12-23T14:01:35.573-08:00Fulvous Whistling-duck<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iFKsWr6oaZrSWn5Ww0kf2-YizGuKH6GlRAOzvIyRgZNTp7uywSlZG-GvdVVlUqWbQq5O4pzxC3tCAEH30Z7hXXzRiNGacVbxtX5vJxzqlcwfWWBF3te2e8J-Az7gcJk9FLE6hbVZuN-bfNOiIBpziEj4oj6WbuJuWMOgss_zV31JkAthnrhT2CJsbxQ/s4704/FulvousDucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4704" data-original-width="4704" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iFKsWr6oaZrSWn5Ww0kf2-YizGuKH6GlRAOzvIyRgZNTp7uywSlZG-GvdVVlUqWbQq5O4pzxC3tCAEH30Z7hXXzRiNGacVbxtX5vJxzqlcwfWWBF3te2e8J-Az7gcJk9FLE6hbVZuN-bfNOiIBpziEj4oj6WbuJuWMOgss_zV31JkAthnrhT2CJsbxQ/s320/FulvousDucks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>You never know what you are going to get when you go out shooting. These four Fulvous Whistling-ducks saw me but didn't know where to go. They just knew they had to go somewhere. Cute, eh? </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-35862099176662558502023-12-18T06:15:00.000-08:002023-12-18T06:15:30.755-08:00Reflection on a Ring-billed Gull<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOttufCqB6P6qDRDiumYZ2ZyUwjSrSp6m90iU1CqdgbiyRBPaem7yk-IDa_EXObWqnM6V7h37Uet56bJZtksmvzZouC5aO_zRYzn7dJJrvdm-Q8P8BeoZx1Oe_89bIV9iDIV39xy9z2b688sYSOktWjkcg5rM509KYjoTr1qUOp41HSuaXGvJlpCBLY4/s3213/RingBillGullPasadena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3075" data-original-width="3213" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOttufCqB6P6qDRDiumYZ2ZyUwjSrSp6m90iU1CqdgbiyRBPaem7yk-IDa_EXObWqnM6V7h37Uet56bJZtksmvzZouC5aO_zRYzn7dJJrvdm-Q8P8BeoZx1Oe_89bIV9iDIV39xy9z2b688sYSOktWjkcg5rM509KYjoTr1qUOp41HSuaXGvJlpCBLY4/s320/RingBillGullPasadena.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Quick trip to LA and Pasadena a week ago and got to take a walk near Pasadena after work meetings. I got to say I am not a fan of the gulls as they are so tricky to identify, but this one is a ring-billed gull and gave me a nice shot while flying over a small reservoir. Gulls are extremely variable in their plumage. They vary over the year and over the first few years of their lives. So, identifying them is tricky. Makes it fun but a pain as well. In breeding season the ring-billed have a clean, white head and yellow bills and legs with a black band around their bills. In non-breeding season, they look like the above shot. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-23297729738603726312023-12-17T10:41:00.000-08:002023-12-17T10:41:06.430-08:00Nina's Christmas Cookie Party <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4RfKAw6CeL2Jk5R_a2r7qRWqGDZa5r0Xi2vFpm2iRTlksUwCjLJQB6Hwa9cHHv-JaNNcLIUYyrjgTbQ0DrRupTBOdfBBa7T6P46qOXm0rdAPFEvU0AZL8Rh3TBM4H2qz4_A0dVv08fawsyuFuwo4N1To2_OWTNCi-uXmup9945wY5tv8kfDnNE_8oiM/s3300/CookieParty6Pack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4RfKAw6CeL2Jk5R_a2r7qRWqGDZa5r0Xi2vFpm2iRTlksUwCjLJQB6Hwa9cHHv-JaNNcLIUYyrjgTbQ0DrRupTBOdfBBa7T6P46qOXm0rdAPFEvU0AZL8Rh3TBM4H2qz4_A0dVv08fawsyuFuwo4N1To2_OWTNCi-uXmup9945wY5tv8kfDnNE_8oiM/s320/CookieParty6Pack.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>A couple of shots from the cookie party last night. Lots of fun and excellent cookies <p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-69245352917660207472023-12-12T05:09:00.000-08:002023-12-12T05:09:09.501-08:00Unbelievably Cute<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXS7udf6uy9fhcn89q0WLvDExXaXHJZiG0mg6SkYZblG3Ia1KGPca12IThBQKhBM2raaho8PcFSH79o5mJVhW8XzXTZB46tniQPX1RCT-htV_r1dps0-mO1AjeZC5UnwLUfTDGEb3DgcoLT5PQ6SZpwP67CAIIGT2gVlgRDcE3aGLiBUNoecGMDgrWOY/s5261/Graham2.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5024" data-original-width="5261" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXS7udf6uy9fhcn89q0WLvDExXaXHJZiG0mg6SkYZblG3Ia1KGPca12IThBQKhBM2raaho8PcFSH79o5mJVhW8XzXTZB46tniQPX1RCT-htV_r1dps0-mO1AjeZC5UnwLUfTDGEb3DgcoLT5PQ6SZpwP67CAIIGT2gVlgRDcE3aGLiBUNoecGMDgrWOY/s320/Graham2.5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Graham at 2.5 years. Such a cutie and so smart. He has it all going on. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-24201619407533268262023-12-10T08:51:00.000-08:002023-12-10T08:51:20.736-08:00$8 a week!!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr_6peuStoq1n77AzlAHQaBSrJwkihqUhraCjhawuuxpQklSas1uvQe5INzBg1SPnHqcBahtN4UYlL1WlrwMh9EzHihRGI4VFohncPVfT37239-zRwF21cfSic7mdkfzCwbHfy0t-2kGEdBGcaW2LVglYflzzkAQv4Q8bhh88bdlmsGK6PFkMd8sNQzc/s4032/8AWeek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2444" data-original-width="4032" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOr_6peuStoq1n77AzlAHQaBSrJwkihqUhraCjhawuuxpQklSas1uvQe5INzBg1SPnHqcBahtN4UYlL1WlrwMh9EzHihRGI4VFohncPVfT37239-zRwF21cfSic7mdkfzCwbHfy0t-2kGEdBGcaW2LVglYflzzkAQv4Q8bhh88bdlmsGK6PFkMd8sNQzc/s320/8AWeek.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Talk about inflation. This is a whole $8 a week. Weird that it is the "Dallas" Hotel but it is located in Corpus Christie. From a trip back in 2019. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-10854802611295346912023-12-04T05:39:00.000-08:002023-12-04T05:39:18.175-08:00Supersonic Sandhill<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKn1j3Hja5byc60hI_ecY67N-t6feywWcnhv_xZpOMravpeYu9FUKsumdBhkr3KwHiieteclruY8YoTlcM_aY_GrpVG-iMFDha85YJpEmGB45WnmQoOrQeiWjA3TeSo7DpWfbQrDLbvuSVofAr5Nxt3YEPAM9CG8kEnngX_3vxBZYT4XmVbyHYpSvL7s/s6367/SandhillInAHurry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3233" data-original-width="6367" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKn1j3Hja5byc60hI_ecY67N-t6feywWcnhv_xZpOMravpeYu9FUKsumdBhkr3KwHiieteclruY8YoTlcM_aY_GrpVG-iMFDha85YJpEmGB45WnmQoOrQeiWjA3TeSo7DpWfbQrDLbvuSVofAr5Nxt3YEPAM9CG8kEnngX_3vxBZYT4XmVbyHYpSvL7s/s320/SandhillInAHurry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>One Sandhill Crane was in a hurry and went supersonic!!!</p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-31684650713431307002023-12-03T06:12:00.000-08:002023-12-03T06:13:47.333-08:00Sandhills heading towards the light<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihevIz3XuHYANywk-Z34xcKudMXEDP4sOB5Xst6ugJ7prg1VDMX9_8JGdSUDCE7SowUbFdVCzc042UtMw8LaNXRWYXj6toAUq1ae5lhjWMPuZfkL60l5hyphenhyphenqBu31Z5R3Z0T22iCnjbGaIy1lQvw3ioeb35WjEajBj2r_M8U5IcBQgjPeA0yQU8IbjdVZyI/s8256/SandhillsInToTheLight.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihevIz3XuHYANywk-Z34xcKudMXEDP4sOB5Xst6ugJ7prg1VDMX9_8JGdSUDCE7SowUbFdVCzc042UtMw8LaNXRWYXj6toAUq1ae5lhjWMPuZfkL60l5hyphenhyphenqBu31Z5R3Z0T22iCnjbGaIy1lQvw3ioeb35WjEajBj2r_M8U5IcBQgjPeA0yQU8IbjdVZyI/s320/SandhillsInToTheLight.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Most of my shots last week at Jasper-Pulaski State Park in Indiana were of Sandhill Cranes backlight from the sun or from very far away when they landed. These two, and a few others, were the few who flew toward us and therefore front lit by the sun, giving a better view of the birds. At as Cranes gather from a day of eating leftover seed corn on the ground from the harvest, they gather at night in a marshy area to protect themselves from predators. These two must have been going out for one last snack before dark as the sun is quite low and about to set. In any case, I was thankful to get some shots of the Cranes in flight that were well lit by the setting sun. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-37863798755077698422023-12-02T06:24:00.000-08:002023-12-02T06:24:42.871-08:00More Cranes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKmOMVolvAMKK78C9hhRpZwheVkWE169vR-oEzFfeeTiwi7x5yhCTFslh37A58IKqCvmpqUCflMv1nGGt-z1AYz7DV3Y9N5dZzJcWPjZHXSD6YzGARXTuQ6AmldRRtPPVCZ6vKjojGmmcWVUk8Lu7Pc_ho24w4vl0X6cJwPomhDjnLLB9aJvuw4836ZA/s8256/SandhillsOverheadAgain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKmOMVolvAMKK78C9hhRpZwheVkWE169vR-oEzFfeeTiwi7x5yhCTFslh37A58IKqCvmpqUCflMv1nGGt-z1AYz7DV3Y9N5dZzJcWPjZHXSD6YzGARXTuQ6AmldRRtPPVCZ6vKjojGmmcWVUk8Lu7Pc_ho24w4vl0X6cJwPomhDjnLLB9aJvuw4836ZA/s320/SandhillsOverheadAgain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>More Cranes overhead. When there are around 30,000 cranes overhead, you get lots and lots of flying shots. From Jasper-Pulaski State Park in Indiana, a sandhill crane resting area. </p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8328959659439369486.post-8511366318696384972023-12-01T05:45:00.000-08:002023-12-01T05:45:36.936-08:00Sandhills overhead<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx7P4_P631L2D-VtSxq5Tyzn7Kj1HjJqfCm7julviB5UeO2F1g-Ghyphenhyphen67MN6GSyq7phaLwBWGWoMdFgMyru9pm_xOi2voRsFDu2tBfR3DqNAOhtW8eLCcJY_C67yvacGSaJtZRWIT2dAaVbSjN6-B9CAuWq-AFbX5gVwgB-7Bi3IBp3XGGjci-Ar3ly9E/s8256/SandhillsOverhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmx7P4_P631L2D-VtSxq5Tyzn7Kj1HjJqfCm7julviB5UeO2F1g-Ghyphenhyphen67MN6GSyq7phaLwBWGWoMdFgMyru9pm_xOi2voRsFDu2tBfR3DqNAOhtW8eLCcJY_C67yvacGSaJtZRWIT2dAaVbSjN6-B9CAuWq-AFbX5gVwgB-7Bi3IBp3XGGjci-Ar3ly9E/s320/SandhillsOverhead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It is only 2 hours from home to Jasper-Pulaski State Park in Indiana but what you get for about a week this time of the year is a view of upwards of 30,000 Sandhill Cranes coming in from a day of feeding in farm fields around the area to a roosting area at night. There are only 105,000 Sandhill Cranes east of the Mississippi and about 1/3 of them were at JP the day that Bill and I visited. We saw several thousand come in for a landing but they were quite spread out and still coming in as it was getting dark. While the roosting area is quite far away, the noise starts to get deafening as the Sandhill Cranes are not shy about calling out to each other. Once you hear their call you will recognize and hear it over the course of the year as they fly over the Chicago area to/from Canada and Florida for their annual summer and winter migrations. This area in the state park is one of the few areas left for the Sandhills to rest and rejuvenate prior to the final leg of their trip south. This 1,000 acres of the 8,000 acre park is critical to a massive number of Sandhill Cranes left in the eastern part of the US. It was a thrill to see this display and I was thankful for the invitation of the Audubon Society to come and see the Cranes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgJvpda3JoV2I6QffwLvTkC4G6H4_qZnL__xlOUjLRn7E2iJ5tDf_jhNfaOIwfBq_ZbPSMlFD0W_G-Oj-VT1N8T0HnUAHvg-SmQb9rqRZ5ePp8LC56bd87XgikzI_MMvxwU10VulEC2tqZujExjXLFRP6pvKZAPp1z68mDypKd06WDDV_Vb74MCkHb8s/s8256/SandhillsOverhead-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgJvpda3JoV2I6QffwLvTkC4G6H4_qZnL__xlOUjLRn7E2iJ5tDf_jhNfaOIwfBq_ZbPSMlFD0W_G-Oj-VT1N8T0HnUAHvg-SmQb9rqRZ5ePp8LC56bd87XgikzI_MMvxwU10VulEC2tqZujExjXLFRP6pvKZAPp1z68mDypKd06WDDV_Vb74MCkHb8s/s320/SandhillsOverhead-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnVgTHDsCJ1SnruL5bTTRRMOCsSiK1SlBaES4R88DoYkSV17Cs5ciDlEKnP60XIer5ytYpIFwiiQfyNCNI1276humuZkD1U-4kvV-5FKfdr1NslWU3TRBLv5Xl8ypLZfGuK1IvRloSvnYhuq8Fkxw9AdAJogM2OzpaLQiZzWbuzgupP4jd9N7kparNC8/s8256/SandhillsOverhead-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5504" data-original-width="8256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPnVgTHDsCJ1SnruL5bTTRRMOCsSiK1SlBaES4R88DoYkSV17Cs5ciDlEKnP60XIer5ytYpIFwiiQfyNCNI1276humuZkD1U-4kvV-5FKfdr1NslWU3TRBLv5Xl8ypLZfGuK1IvRloSvnYhuq8Fkxw9AdAJogM2OzpaLQiZzWbuzgupP4jd9N7kparNC8/s320/SandhillsOverhead-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Mike Davernhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01987851060279235997noreply@blogger.com