Camera Critters #203

Recently, I took possession of Canon EOS 60D.  Unfortunately, there were some problems with the camera and I returned it for exchange.  I received the replacement a week ago, but my best lens developed problems and I sent it in for repairs.

Well, Tuesday the lens was returned to me, so I stuck it on the 60D and went to the door.  Sitting on the top of our fence were a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves.  So, shooting through the window of the door, I got my very first shot with the new system.

I am not a fan of these birds.  They are not native to North America and are taking over everything.  But they are nice looking birds.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #202

Lucky for me, I have a lot of critter photos I haven’t used here yet, so when the weather is bad and I can’t shoot, or my lens is being repaired, I have something I can use.

The day after I arrived in San Antonio, I was on my brother’s deck enjoying a cup of coffee.  At some point, I noticed a hummingbird land in a tree on the other side of the deck.  I lifted my camera and before I could get the little critter in the frame, it disappeared. 

I lowered the camera, glanced around and in a tree right near where I was sitting, the bird landed on the perfect branch for a photo.

This Black-chinned Hummingbird wasn’t the first one I had seen (they are found in my area), but it was the best look I have ever had of one.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #201

About five years ago, I visited my brother in Texas. The visit was a good one, as I met an old friend, got lots of photos of cool critters, and found a great place to carry a camera.

However, one dingy, gray morning, I was sitting on my brother’s back deck, camera at my side, when a caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye.

Scanning the area I thought was the place the movement ended, I saw the head of a bird peek around the trunk of a tree. I made sure my camera settings were set for the light conditions, lifted it and snapped off a few images of the head of the bird.

The bird then flew to a nearby branch giving me a nice view of it before it flew off to parts unknown.

I didn’t know what the bird was at the time, but I found out it was a female Golden-fronted Woodpecker…the first I had ever seen.

A close look at the area just above the base of the bill will give you a clue as to why it is called what it is called. The male of the species has a bright red cap. I wish I had seen one of them also.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #200

First of all, happy 200th Camera Critters, folks!

This has been a good week for me.  I got a new camera.  It’s a Canon EOS 60D and my photo this week, is the first image I shot with the new camera.

I generally don’t like shooting Starlings (don’t like those birds), but it was the only critter I saw, when I was out looking for critters to shoot.

The image above is a little more than one fifth of the original shot.  But I still have a lot to learn and get used to with the camera.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.