Celebrating early spring--no photo winners, just beautiful weather

[Celebration]

None of these pictures deserves its own thread, but these were all taken yesterday when I went on a walk, and, taken together, you can see why I am wanting to celebrate spring. Some of these would not be possible if there were leaves on the trees.

I know this is a heron, but just wanted to show how still it was. Plus, you know, was she looking at herself???



Okay, decided to take the path by the bison, who would not sit still for a decent picture!! Ugh.



See the reason I went this was is I thought I could see some birds, and I did, including, ahem, a female cardinal



I'll still take pictures of mockingbirds (but I am over robins!)



I crossed the Disc Golf Course, and look what I found!



From there, I took the road less traveled (understatement)-- a rarely used horse path, and looky!!



That's where I tried to take a picture of thorns--just to show you a contrast to JeffR's great thorn photo, here is my pitiful attempt



Back to civilization--Pine Lake has the greatest reflections of all



Did I say civilization? Good grief, another deer? This time off the one way road......



Yup, civilization. Time to go home. Here is where I parked the car.

[teamster633]

1. I love the bluebird.

All the time I wasted waiting for a return visit around our house...I'm so envious.

[Celebration]

4. Ah that's my fave

Remember that Buddhist saying--when the photographer is ready, the bluebird will appear??

Seriously, I had to let go of the idea of finding a bluebird. Once I did, it appeared. Who would have thought to look for a bluebird in a lone tree in the middle of a frisbee golf course?

And I think it is my best photo of a bluebird.

I hope you see some soon! If you live on a lot of land, you might try those special bluebird boxes, and chase the sparrows away.

[Mira]

2. Said all this before and then lost it GRRRR

but I was really excited about the first one. Did you notice how the grasses on the left, corresponding with the trees on the right, and the shape and goings on in the center start a centrifugal move and create amazing action in such a still picture.

I think it is a total winner.

So is the deer second to the last. I'd like a tighter crop, but that's just me. LOVE the light.

The third bird, being a lover of canaries (breeder even for a while as a hobby), I just want to ruin his life by bringing him home.

The ducks swimming in golden green: Classic Celebration photos.
Beautiful.
This was a very valuable outing.

[Celebration]

5. wow, thanks for the second response

That makes me a bit crazy when that happens. So I appreciate your taking the time to repeat.

As for the first picture, I thought it was amusing, and I did notice it was balanced with the grass and the reflected tree. However, I had not thought of movement in the still picture. That's interesting.

You bred canaries? Oh, that's cool.

The deer was so far back hidden in the forest. I can hardly believe I noticed it. But the sun happened to be shining right there. What I would like to do is get a picture of a whole herd of them. That first deer was SO surprised to see me. I was being perfectly still and that made no difference. Whoosh, down the horse trail. I've seen deer out there in the past, but haven't been camera ready at the time. I think I cropped it quite a bit. I wanted lots of forest around it because it is the way I remembered seeing the deer--deep in the forest (maybe 30-40 yards from me--but I am not great at judging distances).

[Mz Pip]

3. Love the heron

It's different. Perhaps she is getting ready to meet her mate. :-)

[Celebration]

6. Hadn't thought of that

Maybe so!

My husband spoiled it by telling me that the heron was only looking for a fish. Obviously his imagination is a bit challenged.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

7. Great shot of the heron.

Here's the closest I could get to one near me....

[Celebration]

8. Only one thing better than a heron picture

That is a heron in a tree picture! I've been avoiding heron posts recently, mostly. A large and almost unhealthy percentage of my photographs since December have been of herons. But I may start another heron thread at some point and, if I do, I hope all will participate.

[hippywife]

9. I don't know about no winners.

I see quite a few, sweetie. That first one is fabulous! My husband said the same thing yours did. :rofl:

And we got out the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Sure enough, that is a Northern Cardinal. I rescind my earlier comment.

:hi:

[Celebration]

10. Thanks

I have that same Field Guide, but I can't always find it when I need it.

I wish I knew the name of that thing the heron is standing on. I think it has something to do with being near another "lake." I was trying to figure out the lakes, and they are a sort of series of dams, with pipes sometimes, and this one has this weird structure on it. Great perch for the heron, as it turns out.

Oh, and husbands have lots of things in common!