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"Come back little birdies. I won't eat you (My paws are crossed!)"
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"Come back little birdies. I won't eat you (My paws are crossed!)"

DSC_6844 hungry kitty

kittensmy backyardStaten IslandNYCcatsfallsld 6

  • DSC_6526 female cardinal
  • DSC_6520 female cardinal
  • DSC_6578 feeding in the bush
  • For several days I have been capturing shots of the humming birds that come to feed at this large pair of jewel wed bushes, by the brook that connects the first two lakes here at Clove Lakes park. <br /> <br /> A number of times I've spotted this young heron hunting in the shallow waters and completely ignoring me as I focused on my hummers and totally ignored him, or so he thought. But I always kept one eye on him or one corner of one at least. Taking a mental note of where he liked to walk and what spots he frequented in search of food.<br /> <br /> On this day when I spotted him headed down the stream my way, I slid between the pair of jewel weed bushes and waited for him, knowing his customary trek would taking him right past this sunning turtle.
  • DSC_6711 hummingbird
  • DSC_6725 hummingbird
  • DSC_5649 scenes from my backyard
  • DSC_5663 backyard bird feeder
  • DSC_5787 backyard bird feeder
  • DSC_5677 sparrow
  • DSC_5743 backyard bird feeder
  • If there's one thing I learned from all my attempts to capture a decent shot of the hummingbirds at Clove Lakes over the last 2 or 3 weeks is that I had to seriously up my technique, as well as pick the best lens camera combo, that I currently own.<br /> <br /> So I've spent the past several days off that found me at home for the day , with my camera's on the kitchen table taking turns hand holding one and putting the other on a tripod and vice versa. And trying out a gimbal head, and an unusual ball head, to see what yielded the best track and follow results, while honing my technique at the same time. <br /> <br /> Having placed a pair of bird feeders, one in the open and one in the branches of a tree hanging over my property. I had plenty of opportunities to improve my skills and test my gear right from the comfort of my kitchen.
  • DSC_6881 backyard bird feeder
  • It's gonna take a serious skill improvement on my part to capture high quality shots of the hummingbirds at Clove Lake next summer. If I can't regularly get clear shots of these sparrows sparing for a free spot at my bird feeders, I've got no chance of getting a crisp shot of the hummers feeding on the jewel weed next year. I've got a long way to go.
  • A birds eye view
  • Fuzzball, as I affectionately call him, is one of the surviving kittens from a cat that has made the adjoining backyards of myself and my neighbors home. He's become quite attached and affectionate with me. And I get no end of amusement watching him try to sneak up on the birds that come to my bird feeders (can't be done). But it a hoot to see him try.<br /> <br /> It hasn't dawned on him yet that he has to find someplace to hide completely out of sight and then spring on them. Instead he sits here or on my tool shed under the feeder hidden in my tree branch to the left of this feeder wondering why he can't ever catch one. <br /> <br /> The birds are so good at avoiding him, that they come and eat when he gives up and sits just 10 ft. away. Well his constant attention does have a good side effect. It slows down the rate at which the sparrows devour my bird seed. I can't believe how often I have to buy new bags of bird seed. Where do those tiny things put it all?
  • "Come back little birdies. I won't eat you (My paws are crossed!)"
  • DSC_6930 backyard bird feeder
  • DSC_5909 backyard bird feeder
  • DSC_5936 backyard bird feeder
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