LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Not So Great Photos of Interesting Birds

Sometimes the lighting is perfect. Sometimes the birds are clear of obstructing leaves and branches. Sometimes the sun is shining. But sometimes you see and photograph the best of birds under the worst of camera conditions. And so it is with this post.

I finally got a glimpse of the migrating Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. The males will soon be followed by the females. Their winter coats are not as glamorous as their spring garb, but they are beautiful and welcome nonetheless.






This little chickadee looks amazed at the new bird at the feeder.


He does look pretty large sitting there stuffing himself.


And I saw a most uncooperative little bird. He gave me two quick looks and then flitted away. I was happy to see him anyway. Black-throated Blue Warblers are rare in our area.



He turned his back on me and you can see his hallmark "pocket handkerchief."



Except for his size, it would be hard to identify this little bird.






When he turns, it is even more obvious that he is a hummingbird. We still have a few of them around, but it won't be for long.




I couldn't let the post go without some mention of the game that kept me up past midnight on Monday and sent me to bed angry.
I'm always one to give credit where it is due. And Brett Favre played like the Brett Favre I used to watch years ago. He was so outstanding that everyone stood in awe to watch as he made one bullet pass completion after another.

(Photo from the Associated Press)
As a matter of fact, the Packer defense acted like the other observers and they also stood to watch in awe to watch. I've never seen ANY quarterback have more time in the pocket before having to release the football! Sometimes it seemed as if he were practicing since no one bothered to rush him. As for the Packer offensive line...they are going to let Aaron Rodgers get killed or seriously injured. He was sacked EIGHT TIMES during the game. Aaron Rodgers is a great quarterback, but he cannot throw the ball when he's knocked down almost every play. I don't think I've agonized over a football game since I was in high school and that, dear reader, was a LONG time ago.
---------------If I sound a bit bitter about Brett Favre, it's because I am. His adolescent behavior did a great deal of damage to the Packer team and to their fans. He acted like a spoiled brat. His waffling created a major distraction to the team and to Aaron Rodgers, already installed as the quarterback. Rather than play as backup and work his way back into the starting position, Brett decided to take his marbles and go home, or in this case to New York. So don't tell me about his enthusiasm and his love for the game. Don't tell me he plays like a much younger man...he acts like one as well. Much younger, as in 18 years old.
---------------I'm not the only one who feels this way about Favre. The Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel did an Online poll after Monday night's game. The following question was asked, "So now do you think the Packers did the right thing when they parted ways with Brett Favre?" Nearly 24,000 people responded and 66% of them answered "yes."
---------------Of course, we will all sing the praises of Brett Favre when the Packers retire his green #4 jersey. And we all hope he will enter the NFL Hall of Fame as a Green Bay Packer. And we will honor the tremendous player that he has been over the years. But we will still remember his childish behavior and the damage he did to our team and its fans.

27 comments:

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Carolyn: Great bird shots of your visitors. Bret sure did make his old team look bad.

abb said...

We have been void of birds for several weeks now. Have my feeders up and had have exactly 1 cardinal and 1 chickadee. Not even the squirrels are bothering.

Your header photo of color creeping down the mountain is lovely.

robin andrea said...

Lovely bird photos. I'm not seeing very many birds yet here in the Sierra foothills. I keep watching for them, though.

troutbirder said...

Oh my! Take heart Carolyn First if your pictures are not so good mine are utterly hopeless! I've enjoyed every one in all your posts. Secondly, Brett. I thought we had made a bad move in getting an ego centric maniac to begin with. Time will tell and Minnesota will be singing his praises if he can finlly (after 4 tries) win us a Super Bowl. Its true the Vikes have bought a paid for a very good collection of players. But without a reliable quarterback its been hit and miss the last few years. Yup time will tell....
Go Twins! Speaking of team spirit.

Vicki Lane said...

Nothing wrong with these shots! I've been trying and trying to catch a good shot of a RB Grosbeak but they are most uncooperative!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Carolyn,
I think you've done an excellent job photographing the birds. I have trouble capturing birds because they fly away so quickly. This is a real nice posting.

Carol Murdock said...

Carolyn the bird shots are wonderful! Those Hummingbird shots are priceless!

Busy Bee Suz said...

Well, this is better than great photos of 'not so interesting' birds.
No comment on the football situation. You lost me when you said: football. :)

Cheryl said...

It is so frustrating when you cannot get the perfect shots of birds. They are the one thing I struggle with. I get many birds here including the unusual green woodpecker. In seven years I have never been able to photograph him....

Love your photos especially the hummingbird.......

Can't comment on the game but I did so enjoy your writings......

Rae said...

I love your bird photography but most of all I love your take on the game. I was truly disappointed in the outcome. Yes, I admit I too was in awe of Brett's gunslinger arm, but I am soured on his pre-season antics over the past years. It is hard for me to have any regard for him. For me he will go into the Hall of Fame a tarnished man. He proved his point for now, but there is still another game ahead this season. Wonder how he is going to feel when he walks onto Lambeau field later this year. Traitor is a good word, but I will mainly see a selfish, spoiled man in purple.

Dawn Fine said...

Great Birds and photos...
As far as Favre...i am not a sports follower..but my husband watches...he says Favre has to look after himself and put himself when he can play.
I know this doesnt make things easier for you...
sorry...
i find it better not to watch sports..they are too frustrating.

KB said...

I love the hummingbird photos. Ours are gone - and have been gone for a month. Enjoy them while you can! The rose-breasted grosbeak is a beauty too!

It's funny, for someone who knows almost nothing about football, I'm learning all about Brett Favre from you and TheWritersPorch. I'm almost an expert - ha!

Tina said...

Oh, I so hear what you are saying... this happens to me all the time..too much light, not enough, in the leaves, at the tippy top..grrr but I think you caught that grosbeak just right..he really is a nice rolly polly guy and how nice he is visiting your feeders! Love that you saw a black throated green..how nice! Our hummers are gone..:( guess they are visiting you now. Enjoy!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Carolyn, Glad you finally saw and got pictures of the Grosbeaks.. They are beautiful birds. The weird thing for me this Fall was that the FEMALES came first --or at least were at my feeders first. Mine are also still here --and it's been over a week now. Maybe there are different groups of them passing through...?????

Love your hummingbirds. Most of mine seem to be gone now.

AMEN--your thoughts about Brett.
Hugs,
Betsy

George said...

I think you did a pretty good job of getting pictures of your birds. We're enjoying our Grosbeaks, but they probably won't be around much longer. I'll have to admit that I don't think as highly of Bret Favre as I once did.

Anonymous said...

Even your "not so great" pictures are much better than mine.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Carolyn, I love your collection of bird photos. I especially am crazy about the Black-throated Blue. It's my favorite. I saw one in West Virginia but couldn't get a photo.
As for Favre, I don't think he handled the last year very well either but dang, he played an amazing game.

Coffee with Cathy said...

Love, love, love to see the color creeping over you beloved mountains -- contrasted with the fascinating detail of your feathered friends. Your posts always lift me up!

Jayne said...

Those grosbeaks will sit and eat, and eat, and eat now, won't they? :c) Piglets they are! LOL! Love seeing the beautiful warbler...lucky you.

As far as Farve goes, I have issues with any player that retires, UNretires, retires, waffles, and just does not seem to know when it's time to GO or not. If he did not want to stay at Green Bay, he should have parted ways for another team instead of all of the waffling. Not that he's not still a good player, but... as you said, he needs to act his age and be remembered for the great player he was.

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

I think those photos ARE amazing!

I get such a kick out of your football pictures and comments at the end of your beautiful nature posts! Makes me smile every time :)

Anonymous said...

You've given me some new birds to look for.

Remind me not to stand between you and your Packers! :)

Appalachian Lady said...

We had a female rose-breasted grosbeak at the feeder for one day last week. And, that blue warbler came to my window while I was on the computer! I couldn't identify it until I saw your photo. Thanks.

Great photos!

Also, I watch part of that game. I was just thinking how it makes the older people look a whole lot better!

Barb said...

I enjoyed your bird photos - that grosbeak does look a bit sinister - I can see why the chickadee was worried.

Twisted Fencepost said...

I still see a few hummers, I think they may just be passing through. Yesterday, in a tree beside my back door, there was this bird, who I couldn't see well, just singing his little heart out. It must have lasted about an hour. I recorded a couple minutes of it. Wish I could have gotten a picture of him and was able to post a video.

dguzman said...

Cool fall plumage photos! I would never have guessed the male RBGrosbeak. Down south here in San Antonio, we're still getting regular visitors (mostly Ruby-throateds, but supposedly we might see some Black-chinned and Rufous, though I'm still waiting) to the hummingbird feeder. I have my spotting scope set up and locked on the feeder, so my mom (who gets up early) can watch them all feeding in the morning.

And you gotta hand it to Favre--pretty amazing work. I just wish Tony Romo were half as good.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for commenting, everyone. Sorry I got a LITTLE carried away by the Packer/Viking game. Perhaps sports, like revenge is best served cold. Next time I'll wait a while to calm down.

Dawn - I totally agree with your husband. But he should have made a decision in his best interest and kept that position.

Betsy - That is unusual. We always see the juvenile males first, then the adult males, and then the females.

Jayne - Oh, they do sit and eat. We have one that looks as big as a dove.

Lynne - I also love the Black-throated Blues and I've seen them only twice in our area.

Delia - I do give Favre his due. He was outstanding. He may be the best quarterback to play the game. Looking forward to your Texas birds.

Erica Houskeeper said...

Your birding photos are quite nice. I especially like the chickadee and "uncooperative bird" photos. I would imagine that photographing birds is quite a challenge. Love the photos of your pups too!