Deer, lots of birds at the bird feeder, and the remains of the Rhododendron. There was a heavy thunderstorm last night that blew down the remaining section of the rhododendron bush. Last winter I lost the first half of the bush during a heavy snowstorm.
Chipping Sparrow at the Bird Feeder. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (David J Mathre)
I am back from Japan, and don’t know what time zone I am in. I’ve been wandering around the yard to see what is new. There were a few, but not many wildflowers (and weeds). The remaining Rhododendron was fully in bloom. Much of the rhododendron shrub fell down last winter, so I glad to see these blooms. If I am lucky, I will see some clearwing butterfly moths like last year. I was glad to see significant growth of plants on the Garden Towers. It looks like the electric fence charger kept the raccoon away while I was away.
Moths Mating. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)
Brick Sidewalk Progress. Image taken with a Leica CL camera and 60 mm f/2.8 lens (David J Mathre)
Gone to See Europe. Semester at Sea Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer. Ultimate Travel Photography Workshop IV with Michael Mariant. Day 28: At Sea.
It was a sea day aboard the MV Explorer as we traveled from Dublin, Ireland to Dover, United Kingdom. As the sun was beginning to set the clouds developed an intense orange color. As soon as I got up to deck 7 at the rear of the ship, I could see a cargo ship may pass directly between us and the sun. One of nine images I captured during the Spring Enrichment voyage of a ship passing in front of the sun at sunrise or sunset.
Sunset on the English Channel. Semester at Sea, Spring 2013 Enrichment Voyage on the MV Explorer on the way to Dover, England. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 80-400 mm VRII lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 3.
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec).
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec. (David J Mathre)
South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 2.
Male Painted Bunting About To Have a Bird Bath at Campos Viejos Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014.
Male Painted Bunting About To Have a Bird Bath at Campos Viejos Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 640, 600 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro 8, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CC 2014. (David J Mathre)