Thanks to the good people sending me the names of these birds. I appreciate it. This is how I learn. It took me months to grasp the names of the flowers I was photographing; it would take me longer for the birds; there are lots of them. And by Spring, I’ll forget most of the flower names.
I know little about birds, cats, or flowers, but I love taking pictures of them, and the process brings me closer to them. It just takes me a while, and I’ll be honest: I’m not looking to be an expert on flowers, birds, or even cats. I love taking photos of them and like to take pictures that differ from most of the ones you see. I need to stamp them with my mark; I am allergic to posed or standard images or photographs that might be on calendars.
I’m slowly figuring out how these new bird photos mesh with my art and photography. Thanks for coming along with me, and those messages are very welcome. Eventually, they will stick. The ones today are closer to where I’m going, and thanks, Red Cardinal, for hanging in there with me.
Today is snowy and cold. I’m working early on Saturdays and trying to observe my kind of Sabbath. Maria doesn’t work on Saturdays; she rests and reads, and we plan things together. Today, a breakthrough with my anxiety has to do with money and my lifelong fear of it. I’ll write about tomorrow or Monday; I haven’t sorted it out yet.
At first, I didn’t see the Cardinals in the snow. Then the red popped out at me, and I hit the button.
The Cardinal was almost everywhere and didn’t mind the other birds, and they didn’t mind her. It was cold, windy, and snowing. I know people love them, but I need to look for photos of the birds flying. It’s what I call National Geography Bird Pictures. They are beautiful, but I need the equipment and the patience to do that well. I want to catch the birds in their environment; it is soothing and grounding for me, and I hope it will be that way for you. Flower photography taught me I could do something other than the standard pictures. I need and want to do something different.
Two birds
Snow Dog
Snow never seems to bother the sheep. Their coats are winter-ready, thick, and warm.
I like to think St. Joseph, our statue, is in charge of the weather we get. The landscape around him is always beautiful.
Cornell U has an ornithology phone app called Merlin. We have suet feeders and my DH used it in our yard and it was announcing birds 🐦 🐦⬛ I didn’t see but was impressed by their identifications. Eventually I did see the birds the app said was in our little woods. It took three years for the elusive Red-headed Woodpecker to reveal themselves while I was outside.
The grey birds are Juncos.
interesting to hear you say you know *little* about birds, cats or flowers. Perhaps you are short changing yourself! Just because you may not know the exact identifying *name* of a flower or a bird, doesn’t mean you don’t know much about them. You *see* them in your own way, observe them, grow them (the flowers) and take it all in…….. that is already *knowing* much more than many people do!
Susan M
“When cardinals appear, angels are near.”
Actual name is Northern Cardinal. The male is red, the female is tan.
Cardinals are my favorite birds, and you really captured the beauty with all those branches surrounding him. So artistic and yes, definitely different from the standard “calendar photo”. You did good! Love all the bird pictures – and the others too.
Thanks Charlotte
Your bird pictures are lovely, am enjoying them. Thanks
I love the scarlet of the cardinal against the white backdrop of snow. We moved to Galway from a suburb of Chicago almost seventeen years ago. I took cardinals for granted living in Illinois, but miss them up here in the winter.
A bear was marauding bird feeders near us so I decided to take ours down this fall. I have bee hives and didn’t wish to offer further attractions to a hungry bear!
I hope you get to see cardinals courting someday. One female will sit on the ground and several males with come around her offering seeds. She will seem to ignore them and they will posture for each other. Eventually she will choose a seed from a suitor and that’s her choice. They often mate for life.
I love seeing all your pictures of your farm, farm animals birds dogs and Zip.