Whatever Weds.- Dream

Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

“For my part, I know nothing with any certainty but the sight of the stars makes me dream.”

– Vincent Van Gogh

Milky Way

Nikon D810| Nikkor 20mm G| PS 24.6| Single Frame

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Whatever Weds. Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.~ Marcus Aurelius

Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Image

Nikon D810|Nikkor 20mm f/1.8G| PS CC 24.5.0

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Whatever Weds. Winter Sunrises

Copyright ©️ Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Please do not use my images without expressed written permission!

This past winter we had so many storms which really lent themselves to some pretty sunrises.

Here are just three.

February 2023 Morning after a Storm
March 2023 Pink is the color I choose
April 2023, Clouds at Sunrise

Nikon D810| Nikkor 105mm & 80-100mm | PS CC 24.5.0

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Whatever Weds. This and That June 2023

Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Peek-a- Boo!

Here are several images of things that have caught my eye since my last post. Oh, and I bought a new lens so, I’ve been using it exclusively to make sure it’s a good copy. The last time I took my 300mm lens out it was hunting an awful lot…like it was doing many years ago when the Auto-Focus motor was going out which did quit working soon after. I had it repaired/replaced then, but the lens is so old now it’s not worth repairing so it has become a bookend and, I upgraded to a newer, longer lens.

Cliff Swallow
European Starling
Bee Wasp
Western Fence Lizard aka Blue Belly Lizard
Black-chinned Hummingbird-First sighting of the year!

So, what do you think…the lens looks like a keeper? I love that it doesn’t weight a ton. It’s a little lighter than the 300mm it’s replaced!

#1 Grandson is here. He’s been here just over a week. We’ve been to the lake several times do some kayaking. We’re not sure how much longer he’s staying. He says another week. We’ll see. I think he’ll be missing his mom and littlest too much before then, but he can stay as long as he likes. 😍

I hope your week is going well, and your slide into the week-end is smooth and easy.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 500mm Pf-E| PS CC 24.5.0

more to come…

Friday’s Feathered Friends-Bullock’s Oriole

Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

We had friends from out of state come for a visit last week so I’m a bit behind with your posts, but I am beginning to get caught up. While showing our friends around the area we did a little birding and I spotted a pair of Bullock Orioles.

Here’s the Male.

Bullock’s Oriole, Male

Here’s his mate. I spied her first.

Bullock’s Oriole, Female

They love the new seeds on/in Cottonwood trees. They’re here for the breeding season. Below are some fun facts gleans as always from allaboutbirds.org.

  • Bullock’s Orioles often take nectar from flowers, and they will sometimes raid hummingbird feeders for their sugar water.
  • Both male and female Bullock’s Orioles sing—the male more sweetly, the female often more prolifically.
  • In the Great Plains, where their ranges overlap, Bullock’s and Baltimore Orioles frequently hybridize. The two species were lumped together for a while as the Northern Oriole. Genetic research has since determined, however, that they are not very closely related.
  • The Bullock’s Oriole was described and named by William Swainson in 1827, drawing on material collected by English father-and-son naturalists William and William Bullock in Mexico.
  • Bullock’s Oriole pairs may nest outside the territory where the male advertises.
  • The oldest recorded Bullock’s Oriole was a male, and at least 8 years, 11 months old when he was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in Colorado in May 2007.

I hope you all have a lovely week-end, and June has started off on the right note for you.

Nikon D810| Nikkor 300mm f/4 AF-S| PS CC 24.5.0

more to come…

Friday’s Feathered Friends- Wood Ducks

Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION!

I heard from a friend that along the river where I found the Owlets there was a family of Wood Ducks so, I went to check it out and sure enough I found some of them. My friend said there were 6 chicks, but I only saw 3.

I hope the others were just napping.

Here’s the male…aka Dad Wood Duck. Isn’t he a beautiful duck!

Here’s Mama. It looks like I caught her just after her bath. It must have been a fast one b/c now she’s after the chicks making sure they’re alright.

Here’s the first chick I spied. This is the only chick I was able to get a decent image of as the other two stayed in the reeds.

Wood Duck Fun Facts:

  • Natural cavities for nesting are scarce, and the Wood Duck readily uses nest boxes provided for it. If nest boxes are placed too close together, many females lay eggs in the nests of other females.
  • Wood Ducks pair up in January, and most birds arriving at the breeding grounds in the spring are already paired. The Wood Duck is the only North American duck that regularly produces two broods in one year.
  • The Wood Duck nests in trees near water, sometimes directly over water, but other times over a mile away. After hatching, the ducklings jump down from the nest tree and make their way to water. The mother calls them to her, but does not help them in any way. The ducklings may jump from heights of over 50 feet without injury.
  • The oldest recorded Wood Duck was a male and at least 22 years, 6 months old. He was banded in Oregon and found in California.

Fun Facts gleaned from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/

Fuji X-T3| Fuji 100-400mm| PS CC 24.5

I hope you all have a good week-end!

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Don’t worry…

Copyright ©2023 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

It looks worse than it is. It’ll grow back!

Western Fence Lizard

After I set up my new birdbath 3 lizards came to check it out straight-away…this was one of them and the bravest of the 3.

Fuji X-T3| Fujinon 100-400mm| PS CC 24.4.1

more to come...