Category: Reptiles

Whatever Weds. Surprise!

Posted in Photography, Reptiles, SNAKES, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , 60 Comments

Copyright ©2024 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

I’ve been updating and cleaning up my birding records which has me going back in my files 15 years. In the Spring of 2011 several friends and I went to Death Valley and on the way home we stopped to photograph wildflowers in a big field by the side of the road, well you’ve heard the saying, beware of a snake in the grass. Beware of Rattlesnakes in the wildflowers!

That’s not the closest I’ve come to a Rattlesnake while hiking, but it was too close for comfort even with my 300mm lens.

Then we backed out of the field and headed back to our cars only to discover another Western Diamondback coiled up sleeping beside the tire of my friend’s car soaking up the warmth from the sand and car engine! The driver had to get in via the passenger side of the car.

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

It was quite the adventure!

Nikon D300S| Nikkor 70-300mm@300mm| PS CC 25.4

Happy Valentine’s Day!💗

more to come…

Whatever Weds. This and That June 2023

Posted in Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Insects, Nikon, Photography, Reptiles, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , , , , , , 39 Comments

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…

Whatever Weds. Don’t worry…

Posted in Lizards, Nature Photography, Photography, Reptiles, Whatever WednesdayTagged , , , , , 39 Comments

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...

Our resident Lizard

Posted in Lizards, Photography, Reptiles, Santa Clara County, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , 31 Comments

Copyright © 2017 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

This Lizard and one more live in our backyard.  I think they’re Western Fence Lizards and this one is a female because I’m not seeing bright blue at her throat or belly, but I’m not positive.  The coloring and scales match the description, but… I’m guessing; nothing else in my book even comes close to matching our backyard lizards.

They like to bask in the sun on the warm cement bricks of our garden borders and retaining wall.

This one came right up to the end of the border next to the sliding glass door the other day. Luckily I had my camera nearby.  We’ve named her Lizzy the Lizard.

Western Fence Lizard

 

Daughter came home with a bug on Wednesday, and #1 Grandson came down with it yesterday.  I’ve had a dull headache and no appetite all Thursday.  I fear I’m next! That could seriously wreck my photography plans this week-end. 😦  I’m hoping it’s just the change in the barometer (it dropped) affecting me and not the bug.  It’s been really gray, overcast, and a bit chilly.  There was rain in the forecast yesterday, but it never did rain.

I hope you all have a wonderful week-end, and stay healthy!

Nikon D810| Nikkor 300mm f/4 @8| Hoodman Digital Film| PS CC 2017

more to come…

 

 

 

Life in the Garden

Posted in Life in the Garden, Lizards, Macro lens, Nikon DF, Photography, Reptiles, WildlifeTagged , , , , , , 5 Comments

Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

#1 Grandson, Diva Dog, and I weren’t the only ones in the backyard soaking up the warm rays of the sun after the rain.

Life in the Garden

It was on the brick flower border sunbathing until I scared it with my camera. It sought the shelter of the AC unit. I crept as closely as I could to make this image of it, but I pushed my luck moving too close, and off he ran under the unit, and out of sight.

Nikon Df| AF Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D micro lens @f8| 1/1000s| ISO 400| Hand-held

More to come…