13-JAN-2016
Take It Easy!
I love curves, and it seems this could be the ultimate. Back when I had a motorcycle, I would have loved riding here. I enjoyed riding them for over 25 years. And I drove for a living for some 30 years in addition to that. And for the last seven years before retiring I was in charge of training bus operators. So, driving is in my blood. :) The key is just to take it easy!
14-JAN-2016
Red-wing Blackbird
I could hear the Red-wing Blackbirds singing as I walked in Alton Baker Park this morning, and kept looking for an opportunity to capture one at it. The few shots I did get weren't very good, so many twigs and bushes in the way. I did get this shot of one posing for me.
15-JAN-2016
Colorful Friends
I thought it was interesting that a Hooded Merganser and an American Wigeon were hanging out together at Alton Baker Park. So I took a picture of this colorful pair.
16-JAN-2016
Delta Ponds With Spencer Butte in the Background
This shot was taken from the north end of Delta Ponds, looking south. In the distance is Spencer Butte and downtown Eugene rests in between. Delta Ponds started out as gravel pits and was restored by Eugene Parks and Open Spaces. It is surprising to visitors to see a relatively small wildlife area in the midst of Eugene. And it is a much appreciated area for walking, bird watching (SEE PHOTO LINK BELOW), and photography.
13-JAN-2016
Opposites Attract!
The weather has been wet and cloudy. So when I shot this photo of a barn and beautiful tree, the colors were faint and didn't contribute at all to the scene. So I thought, why not make it a black and white image. It looked much better in B&W, but still didn't have the punch I felt when I viewed it. Just for fun, I tried a negative and 'voilà'! There it was, just what I was looking for! I wanted something to make the tree stand out, because I found it so attractive. Making it a negative got what I wanted.
Whoever said that ‘opposites attract’ was right! And I turned a negative into a positive! :)
18-JAN-2016
Golden Crowned Sparrow
We had some sunshine this morning, a pleasant surprise after the rains we have had. My walk at Delta Ponds was fun, I saw several types of birds and got some exercise. This bird was caught by some nice light and looked good on that perch. There are lots of sparrows around most of the year, so they are not rare subjects. But sometimes the lighting makes the difference between the usual photograph and one that a person feels is a keeper. It's the keepers that we are constantly looking for.
19-JAN-2016
Showing a Little Wing!
I was thrilled to see the eagles again at Delta Ponds. The pair were there together and put on quite a show. They called to each other and interacted long enough for me to get a number of good shots. I liked this one because of getting to see some of the wing pattern.
20-JAN-2016
Teasel, Old World Prickly Herb
Teasel Root Extract has been widely used for symptoms of lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and arthritis. It is considered an invasive species by many.
1a : an Old World prickly herb (Dipsacus fullonum of the family Dipsacaceae, the teasel family) with flower heads that are covered with stiff hooked bracts and were used especially formerly in the woolen industry —called also fuller's teasel
b : a plant of the same genus as the teasel
2a : a flower head of the fuller's teasel used when dried to raise a nap on woolen cloth
b : a wire substitute for the teasel
21-JAN-2016
The Pied-billed Grebe, Built for Diving
The Pied-billed Grebe is an interesting and cute little bird. "The name "pied-billed" refers to bluish-gray bill with black vertical stripe on both of its sides (two-colored bill)." Another interesting thing I learned is that "the Pied-billed grebe produces cuckoo-like calls during the mating and nesting season." (From source listed below.)
Some Pied-billed Grebe facts:
"Pied-billed grebe has dark brown body with black patch on the throat and light brown or gray colored feathers on the lateral sides of the neck and flanks. Its plumage is soft and lustrous. The Pied-billed grebe has short, blunt bill, stocky body and short tail.
It has long legs with lobed toes. The legs are positioned near the end of the body to ease diving. Pied-billed grebes are clumsy on the solid ground thanks to unusual morphology and position of the legs. Diet of pied-billed grebe consists of small fish, nymphs of aquatic insects, snails, frogs, tadpoles, seed and soft, aquatic plants. It also eats its own feathers to facilitate digestion and increase tolerability toward the gastric parasites. The Pied-billed grebe is able to dive to a depth of 20 feet. Diving sessions usually last only 30 seconds. Even though pied-billed grebe can escape from the predators using its wings, it prefers to dive and hide in the water."
Information from SoftSchools.com. Click here:
22-JAN-2016
Female Common Merganser at Delta Ponds
I believe this is the first Common Merganser I have seen. It was very wary and difficult to get a photograph of. The day was overcast and not very bright, which contributed to the overall effect if this image. Still, I felt rewarded for visiting Delta Ponds again.
Some information about the Common Merganser:
"The Common Merganser is the largest merganser in North America. It has a hooked upper bill with sharp saw-like edges to help hold onto slippery fish. The male has greenish-black head, a long thin neck, white breast, and gray rump, black back, and red feet. In flight, you might be able to see a white patch on the upper surface of the entire wing. In eclipse the male resembles the female but still has his white wing patch. The female Common Merganser has a gray body and sides, crested reddish-brown head, white throat and chest, and a large white wing patch. Her bill and feet are also red. The young male resembles the female." -
http://www.birdinginformation.com/birds/ducks/common-merganser/
23-JAN-2016
Viewing Area at Delta Ponds
This is one of the spots in Delta Ponds where I watch the birds come and go. The water is higher than usual because of our recent rains. There used to be heron nests in the trees on the other side but they seem to have moved to other sites. I have seen hawks and eagles in those trees, and watched one recent year when the eagles tried to take over the heron's nests. The herons won. This is the color of winter in the ponds. Some of my photos are on the information sign in the foreground. The elevated walkway here goes out over the water for a short distance.
24-JAN-2016
Edge of the Forest, Edge of the Orchard
I thought this scene along the edge of a hazelnut orchard was attractive, especially with the sunlight at the end of the opening between orchard and forest. The fact that the open area was paved with colorful fall leaves added to the appeal, to me anyway. The scene was in Dorris Ranch, part of Willamalane Park District. The photo was taken with my Nikon F4, a great old camera, and a Tokina 28-70 f/2.8 lens, using Fuji Color Negative Film. I enjoy taking the F4 out once in a while. We old-timers get along well. :)