Winner: Best Interaction

 

Hey, got a winner here. Just an at-a-boy from the DuPage Birding Club, which I just joined, but nice recognition anyway. My photo of two interacting Rufous Hummingbirds in La Jolla was picked as one of the winter bird contest winners. Nice way to start with some top local birders and photographers. This was a tough shot as these suckers are small and they move fast. Hard to get them in focus. 

Here is the link to the other winners: https://dupagebirding.org/https-dupagebirding-org-dbc-members-honored-by-dupage-county-forest-preserve-copy-copy-dbc-members-honored-by-dupage-county-forest-preserve-copy-copy-copy/.

Two New Birds

 

Baby Effie, still less than a week old, with Peregrine. In the shot below, we got a rare visit from a Blue Jay to the feeder this morning. Blue Jays are around, but they don't stop by much. With this week's first visit of a Song Sparrow, we are up to 24 documented species at the feeder. 

Stepping Up my Birding Game

 

With the recent purchase of the Z9 and a new telephoto lens, I feel like it is time to step up my birding game. Mostly, this winter I have been shooting through the window on our kitchen door and that doesn't make for a sharp shot. Long lens, hand held, fast little birds and a window---not a great combo. So, I sneaked outside and got some nice sharp shots with the new camera and lens and I got a visit from a new bird as a present, seen below. A Song Sparrow decided to stop by for the first time last week and I got him nice and sharp today. The Common Redpolls above, are a winter bird and should be packing up and heading back north soon. That's a good thing as they are eating me out of house and home. I get 30 to 35 at a time and they are none stop feeders all day long. I will miss them when they are gone. I hear they only come down every couple of years. Pretty bird with a red chest and red spot on their head. I like the Song Sparrow as well. Nice streaking and race track features on this little brown bird. 

Welcome to Effie!!!

 

Welcome to the world, Effie. What a beautiful baby. Your mom, dad, your siblings and grandparents are all happy to meet you. For Cheryl and me, we are thrilled to welcome grandkid #8. Never thought that would happen!!! Congratulations to this growing Minniti family. We love you all.

Back to the Office

 

So, almost 2 years to the day--just 6 days short--it begins today. Back to the office. Technically, it is only 3 days a week for most of our employees but it all starts today.  We are going to be all tested (weekly) and everyone is vax'ed so mingling like a bunch of sea lions, like I saw in La Jolla last week, shouldn't be a problem. The lack of sleep, however, that is a different issue!

Back to Travel: Torry Pines

 

This is one of those "shoot with what you have shots". I think I would prefer a wider view of this scene but I am carrying a super heavy 150-600 Sigma lens with my D7ii camera on a hike up a cliff and just didn't have a wider lens with me. I still like this shot and could have done a panorama if I had thought of it at the time. That's ok. Nice view of the trees on the next ridge over from me with the Sigma set at its widest 150mm setting from the top of the cliffs in Torry Pines State Park. 

Back to Travel: Torry Pines view towards Del Mar Beach

 

I did something very strange this past week and again, not so strange. I traveled somewhere. To San Diego and Newport and points in-between. Did some work meetings and in the afternoon and evenings went hiking and birding. This is a view from the top of the ridge in Torry Pines north towards Del Mar. Nice to get out again as the world slowly continues to open up.