Colors of May
Cape May Warbler
Ya just gotta love May! I've been birding like crazy, but haven't been taking many pictures of birds. Yesterday was excellent for warbler diversity, but the warm and mild weather have them preferring to forage way up in the canopy which is really beginning to leaf out (ouch, warbler neck). Yesterday morning our group of birders had 20 warbler species at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, including gorgeous looks at a Cape May Warbler singing away atop a tree in the sunlight. For most warblers, Pheasant Branch is merely pit stop; a great stop-over point to refuel for their next leg of migration. Camera in hand, there are other colorful and delightful subjects for the nature photographer to capture right on the woodland floor. Here are some recent additions to my wildflower library:
Wild Geranium
Wood Anemone
Spring Beauty
Leisure
What is this life, if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
W. H. Davies
(selected passages)
What is this life, if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?
No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And stare as long as sheep and cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
W. H. Davies
(selected passages)
All images © 2007 Mike McDowell
posted by Mike McDowell @ 3:13 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
We have a little troop of White Crowned sparrows FINALLY. We also saw a couple little White-Throated Sparrows yesterday AND a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. We were pretty thrilled. A lady at the bird store said she saw an indigo bunting...I CANNOT WAIT to see one! :)
I've just discovered your amazing fantastic photos! Optics specialist h-m-m-m, guess that's why your pics are awesome. And I love the passages from Leisure you've posted today too, I've been thinking a lot about how I rush around all the time and never seem to have the time to slow down. That line about time to stare as long as sheep and cows. Now that's relaxation! I'll get there someday I hope!
Mike's optics are only a small part of his success. You can give the best camera and optics in the world to a casual birder and they won't get the shots he does. It's primarily his understanding of birds -- their patterns and behaviors -- that put him far above the rest of us as a photographer.
Thanks, Ryan & Susie!
Mike
SWEET! I love the nature photos. Right up my alley. I was sitting around our firepit last night, enjoying the singing, when I heard some of our turkeys come back to roost in the trees. Enjoy your blog. Great end to my stress filled workday.
I always think april showers brings mays warblers! Great colors of may post!
Magnificent Photos! I love photograpy as well, especially of birds, small animals and plants in solo. Great work.
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