Camera Critters #247

On Christmas Day, a friend of mine called and asked if I was doing anything and then invited me to spend the day with him and his family.

Knowing he lives in the Ochoco Mountains north of Prineville, Oregon, I said okay.  Before I headed out to his place, I checked my camera…charged batteries…empty SD card…good lens…spare batteries…all were okay and I was ready to go.

When I arrived at his place, the first thing I noticed was about a dozen Mule Deer eating out of some buckets around his house.  Naturally, the deer scattered as I got out of the vehicle, which was when I realized the two inches of snow I got 30 west of there and 2,000 feet lower, was nothing compared to the foot that had fallen at my friend’s place, and was still falling.

As I walked up to his door, I noticed a group of Dark-eyed Juncos in a nearby bush.  Of course, I raised my camera and began snapping away.  There wasn't much light at the time, but I was still able to get a photo of what is nicknamed, “Snow 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 #246

I had a visitor to the gazebo in the backyard the other day.  It was trying its best to get out of the screened in place and not having much luck.

So I grabbed my camera, took a couple of shots and then, with the help of a blocking broom, pointed the little fellow out to freedom.



The little guy is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  He didn’t even thank me for showing him the way to freedom.

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 #245

One summer day in 2012, I took my camera, screwed on my close-up and walked around the yard, looking for things to get close-up shots.

Having seen very little until I made my way around to the sunflower plants, I was thrilled with everything I was seeing there.  As I attempted to get shots of the various flies on the leaves of the plants, I began focusing on one particular fly.

Slight movements of the leaf made it difficult to get a nicely focused view through the camera, so I moved a little in the hopes of blocking the wind.  Moments after I lifted the camera to my eye, something streaked in and landed on the fly.



I was able to get this one photo of the Zebra Spider before it darted off with its meal.  From the jumping spider family, these quarter inch critters are often seen in our garden.

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 #244

I been hearing about a number of Common Redpolls arriving in my area, so Dec. 5, I decided I would head out to find some.

 Unfortunately, I only found Lesser Goldfinches feeding on the seeds of a nearby tree and Red-tailed Hawk which flew over a few minutes later.





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Camera Critters #243

A couple of weeks ago, I was in my backyard chatting with my neighbor when I heard a tap...tap behind me.

 

Thinking the sound was something flapping in the light breeze, I glanced over my shoulder, saw nothing and continued talking to my neighbor.

 

Moments later, I heard the sound again, but this time it came from above me.  I looked up and no more than 10 feet above my head, on the truck of the Lodgepole Pine I was standing next to, was a bird I hadn't seen before.

 

Before my neighbor came out, I had been taking pictures of a slug I found on the walkway, so I lifted the camera and took two shots.  The bird then moved to the other side of the trunk, stay a couple of seconds, then flew off.

 

Of the two images I shot, only one showed the bird.  However, the image is a bit degraded due to a branch from the pine moving between the camera and bird.  The second image I got, the branch completely covered the bird.

 

 

After much checking and opinions from other birders in this area, we have determined that the bird is a hybrid of the Red-breasted and Red-naped Sapsuckers. 

 

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.