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Friday’s Feathered Friends- The Anhinga

November 22, 2024November 21, 2024Posted in Bird Photography, Birding in Nevada, Friday's Feathered FriendsTagged Anhinga, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Florida Birding, Flowers, grass, late summer, Nature, Nikon39 Comments

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

The Anhinga was one of 4 birds I really wanted to see while I was in Florida in September and I saw 3 of them! One male and two Females…I think.

It’s another pre-historic cool looking bird.

I think this is a male because his neck is black. He’s drying his wings.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

Here’s the female also drying out her wings. Like Cormorants they don’t have waterproof feathers so they get on a perch or land and spread them open to dry them out.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com
As I crept closer to her to get a better shot I spooked her and off she flew.

Fun Facts:

The Anhinga’s distinctive shape earned it the nickname “water turkey” for its turkeylike tail, and “snake bird” for its long snakelike neck as it slithers through the water.
Unlike most waterbirds, the Anhinga doesn’t have waterproof feathers. While that may seem like a disadvantage for their watery lifestyle, their wet feathers and dense bones help them slowly submerge their bodies under the water so they can slyly stalk fish.
The name Anhinga comes from the Tupi Indians in Brazil, meaning “devil bird” or “evil spirit of the woods.”
The oldest recorded Anhinga was at least 12 years old when it was shot in Louisiana in 1948.

Fun facts gleaned from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Anhinga/overview

We may have a break from the wind and beat the rain this morning so I’m going birding with friends which means I’ll be a bit late checking out your blogs, and reading comments.

more to come…

Something for Sunday- First Snow in the Valley

November 17, 2024Posted in Birding in Nevada, Photography, Something for SundayTagged Birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Wildlife49 Comments

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

I woke up Friday morning pretty early to go birding with a group I’m in. When I opened the garage door to leave I discovered there was snow on the ground and flurries still swirling.

I was heading about an hour northeast from home so, I checked my email to make sure they hadn’t canceled the outing…they hadn’t so off I went.

It wasn’t snowing when I arrived at the meeting spot but, while birding the snow started to fall pretty heavy. It wasn’t in the weather forecast the day before! It was still a good morning of birding. We saw 22 species of birds. One White-crown Sparrow favored us with a nice look perched on snowy grass.

By the time we left it had quit snowing so my drive home was easy, and while the snow was sticking to the ground where I was birding it hadn’t had home. The upcoming 10 day forecast looks like we’re snow free.

Nikon D850| Nikkor 500mm| PS CC

more to come…

Friday’s Feathered Friends-Birds!

November 8, 2024November 13, 2024Posted in birding, Birds of North America, Friday's Feathered Friends, PhotographyTagged Birds in the Wild, Florida, Ibis, Magnificent Frigatebird, Nature, Nikon, Plovers59 Comments

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

It’s been awhile since I shared any birds so I’m going to share several I saw while in Florida this past September. It was a fantastic trip. I saw 21 new to me birds aka “Lifers”. I won’t share all of them in this post. 😊

Black-bellied Plover

Semipalmated Plover

A Magnificent Frigatebird. This was the first time I’d ever seen it in the United States. I have seen it in Mexico before.

And a White Ibis

Aren’t they great? I’m still excited to have seen them.

How’d you all do with the time change for those of you in states and places that end Daylight Savings Time? How many clocks did you have to reset? We have 8 clocks we needed to change including the thermostat and our cars. I’ve been waking up earlier than normal so back to my natural rhythm at last!

I hope you all have a lovely week-end.

Nikon D850|Nikkor 500mm| PS CC

more to come…

Something for Sunday-First Snow of the 2024/25 Season

November 3, 2024Posted in Landscape Photography, LandscapesTagged Break of Day, Carson Spur, Clouds, Cottonwoods, First Snow, morning light, Nikon, Sagebrush, Sierra Nevada Mountain Range53 Comments

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Beginning Friday we’ve had rain and snow up in the mountains. I woke up yesterday to this.

It’s the most wonderful time of year!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Nikon D850| Nikkor 80-200mm\ PS CC

more to come…

Whatever Weds. Chipmunk

October 23, 2024October 22, 2024Posted in Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged Chipmunks, Nature, Nikon, Rodents, Wildlife46 Comments

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The two expression this Chipmunk made while I was taking its photo had me chuckling.

I got it!

Uh, what nut?!

Nikon D850| Nikkor 500mm| PS CC

more to come…

Something for Sunday-Northern Lights

October 13, 2024October 12, 2024Posted in PhotographyTagged Aurora Borealis, Nikon, Northern Lights, Northern Nevada, Pinenut Mountains, Pink Auroras, Ranch, Solar Cycle 25, Stars56 Comments

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With the all the intense Solar activity in the way of flares, and CME’s there have been Auroras are as low as Northern Nevada! I got an alert telling me the aurora was in my town and the KP rating was 8. Nine is the highest rating so I looked out the back door and I could see it so, I grabbed my camera, tripod, and cellphone, slipped into my shoes without tightening up my laces and dashed out the door. I didn’t grab a jacket, or my headlamp I was so excited. Here’s one of the many images I made.

I’ve wanted to see the northern lights since I first learned about them as a kid. I always thought I’d have to travel way up north in the winter to have the best chance of seeing them.

Why is it pink? What causes the colors? I had to look it up because the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), here have been bright pink with some blues and purples, and very little green.

They are created when energized particles from the sun slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere at speeds up to 45 million mph (72 million kph). Our planets magnetic field protects us from the onslaught.

Earth’s magnetic field redirects those particles towards the poles transforming that energy into the dazzling display we call the Northern Lights or in the Southern Hemisphere the Southern Lights (aurora australis).

Most Northern Lights are green but when there’s been intense solar activity the color can be red, pink, blue, or purple.

Here’s a linkhttps://sciencenotes.org/aurora-colors-explained-southern-and-northern-lights/ to Science Notes that explains the Aurora colors in more detail.

I’m hearing and reading that it’s been seen all over the country. That’s so exciting!

Nikon D850| Nikkor 35mm f/1.8g| PS CC 2024

Whatever Weds. Tawny Pennant

September 25, 2024September 24, 2024Posted in Insects, Nature Photography, Whatever WednesdayTagged Dragonflies, Insects, Nikon, Pinellas Co Florida, Tropical Pennants, Whatever Wednesday26 Comments

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I was recently in Pinellas County, Florida visiting my Mom and Step-father and I did some birding too. While birding I always keep my eyes open for other things in nature like this Dragonfly.

I think it’s a Tawny Pennant-Brachymesia herbida. It’s in the Tropical Pennant family. If I’m wrong and you know what it is please let me know!

I think he looks like he’s wearing an early pilot’s helmet, eye goggles, and smiling at me. Hamming it up for the camera I suppose.😊

Nikon D850| Nikkor 500mm| PS CC

more to come…

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