Day 161

Today's photos were taken looking out through some windows in my house.

I woke up to foggy bedroom windows. Since the dogwood and other trees have new growth, I though this fog would make a nice natural defuser. 

I looked down on the bedroom window sill, to see this little ant. I took it's photo before smooshing it. We have an ant problem every Spring and Summer. Sadly, I have to smoosh all of the ants I find, so less come in.

This is a Common Redpole chirping in Crape Myrtle tree. 

This colorful insect was on the living room window.

Later in the evening, a large moth graced Pippi and I with it's presence. I wasn't able to take a clear photo of it, because it was moving quickly and taking clear insect photos at night is hard work. I like the moth shadow this photo shows with the moth.

This is my fuzzy moth hunting assistant Pippi with her "prey".

This insect was clinging to the window. It stayed still for a while, until I started taking photos. Flash bothers insects, but it's the only way I can take clear insect photos at night.

Day 145

Today was rainy, like many spring days here. There are a lot of plants opening and more birds arriving daily.

I'm not sure what type of tree this is. It's not a Japanese Maple. The leaves of this one are bright green and maroon.

The Tulip at the bus stop is opening.

The plants that started at purple shoots, are spiraled with large leaves. There was a seed pod nestled in these wet leaves.

The leaves of the Japanese Maple, have finished opening.

The other day, I noticed how reflective the wet cars were. Today, I remembered to take a photo of the trees reflected on the hood of this black SUV.

These yellow flowers grow along one side of the stair way of the path to our house.

Pippi was meowing at this Common Redpole in the holly tree.

Later in the morning, I followed John to the airport to drop off his rental car. The rain started pouring again. While stopped, I took a photo of a tree through the rain streaked passenger side window.

After dropping off the car and eating breakfast, we headed back home. John drove, while I took photos of trees reflecting in the side mirror and window. In the window, you can see my hand holding the camera

A couple days ago, two mourning doves arrived. They have been trying to get in the house through a large high window that can't open. Silly birds. I love their cooing. I think this is a male and female, as the look slightly different from each other.

I think this is the female. The other one is trying to get inside, while she sits still. I hope she is pregnant. I'm looking forward to baby birds.

Day 133

After Alex headed to school on the bus, I walked around and took more photos of new plant growth.

These are new leaves on a Dogwood tree. The leaves were wet with rain.

This is a Dogwood tree in our front yard. I like seeing the concentrated colors of the flowers as they grow larger. 

I wanted to play with the panoramic setting to better photograph the trees.

This is from my neighbor's house (connected to mine) to the trees on the other side of us.

Same trees, but different angle of panning.

These trees are ones I've photographed a lot in the past, but never in this perspective. These trees cross over the main path to my house.

This robin was nestled in a pine tree. The camera is focused on the pine tree, so the robin is a bit hidden. It's like the "Where's Waldo" of bird photos...sort of.

These bushes have small yellowish buds. They might be berries later. I'm not sure.

This bush has small pink and cream flower buds.

About an hour later, the sun shown brightly, making the creek glisten.

Then a few minutes later, we had a quick (about 10 minutes long) hail and rain storm. After it passed, a Common Redpole landed in the holly tree This was taken though a rain drop laden window. 

Day 132

While getting Alex from the bus stop, I took a few photos of new plant developments and animals.

The Japanese Maple is growing leaves. Is there a term for that?

These two Common Redpoles were in this Dogwood tree.

The female flew up into one of the other trees.

I used the blur reduction setting to photograph this active squirrel. I just realized by old camera has too, but not as fast or clear of course. My new camera is powerful enough to take photos of wildlife without having to scare them by getting close, which makes photographing them easier for me and them.

The squirrel ran off.

The purple shoots have sprouted leaves. I'm still not sure what kind of plant these are, but there are many of them.

Another view of the leaves from the shoots.

Day 130

I wanted to try out my new camera on some of my favorite subjects to photograph.

These Common Redpolls have been building nests in our area. They have been hanging out in my Holly tree for the past few weeks.

I was inside when one landed close enough for me to photograph. This is taken through the window.

I went out on the balcony to work and take photos. These birds weren't scared of me. This is a male (bird in front) and female (bird in back) Common Redpole. If you look closely, you will notice the female had nest building materials in her beak.

There was a squirrel lounging on this branch. I'm impressed with the clarity of the photo, at such a long distance.

On the way to meeting Alex at the bus stop, I noticed these flowers had bloomed in my neighbor's garden.

This hollow in the tree was filled with water and had an ivy vine growing from it.

I know I photographed this Hyacinth before, but I wanted to see the quality difference between the photos.

This photo was a huge improvement over the last. I love the clarity of this one. The details of the leaf bud on this vine, are really clear.

This is a Vinca bud. Vinca is a ground cover plant that grows in abundance in our yard.

There were large ants scurrying about by my neighbor's steps.