Still No Long Lens:( So Here's Some Macro

I'm still without my 300mm lens and should get the new one I had to order by Tuesday. Canon had given me an estimate for repair of my last one but rescinded it and said it was irreparable due to water damage:( In the meantime, I've been doing some macro which was my first love as far as photography goes. I took most of these shots over in my neighbor's flower garden. Thanks Shelly!

Busy Bee on a Burdock Bloom!

Butterfly on a hosta. I think it's a skipper, anyone knowing the exact species, please let me know.

Transverse Flower Fly

I haven't been out on the creek to look for the bald eagles but plan on getting out there tomorrow or Wednesday. Tom Wasilewski from the Eagle Watch Program of the Presque Isle Audubon Society and I took a walk up the creek last Saturday and said the nest looks like it's partially collapsed and was probably not used this year. I think we won't know until spring if this is a nest they will try to build upon or perhaps start over again. My neighbor, who works 2nd shift and jogs up the creek almost daily, continues to see the eagles on occasion.

I MISS My Lens!

Well, it's been a week and a half since I sent my favorite lens (300mm f/4 L IS) out to Canon to be repaired after we both took that accidental dip in the creek. Like I posted in my comments, It's like having a child away at summer camp: You know s/he is in good hands and will be back soon, but you REALLY miss him/her. Despite having 4 other lenses at my disposal, which I have been using, I have been going through withdrawals for some "long shots". The good news is that I heard from Canon today and the repairs are not nearly as expensive as I had anticipated!! I think I'll have my baby back late next week or early the following week. YAHOOOO!!! Here are a few shots I took with the 300mm over this spring and summer.

A female rose-breasted grosbeak off our deck.

A song sparrow down by the creek.

A northern flicker at Presque Isle.

Momma and baby killdeer at Presque Isle.

As for the eagles on the creek, I will be starting a new blog dedicated to the chronicling of that adventure. I'll let you know when it is up and running (or should that be "up and flying!")?

It was the best of times:)...it was the worst of times:(

Well, great news and bad news today. On Monday I finally got a chance to venture up the creek we live on to search out the bald eagles my neighbor has been seeing. The bad news is that on the way up I slipped and fell in the creek (no, that's not the bad news, yet)...and I was carrying my camera with my favorite lens attached (you see where this is going don't you) and... yep, my lens got dunked. Despite the fact it was under for less than a second water seeped into it. It is now sitting on the floor next to me snugly slipped into a box waiting to be sent to Canon for repair tomorrow. Now for the great news...as I despondently but determinedly continued forward in my search, I found not only the eagles, but their nest as well!!! My lens was still semi-functional at the time (not anymore) but the auto focus was shot so I got a few not so great photos that I am sharing here. I reported the nest to the game commission as advised by our local Eagle Watch Program representative so the game commission can put it in their records and protect it as need be. I have been asked by the Eagle Watch Program if I would like to monitor the nest for them. Would I!!?? It will be an honor to observe/monitor these beautiful and regal birds. I was going to head back up today but with the heavy rain we've had the creek was flowing to high and was very muddy. Hopefully it will have cleared up by this weekend and I can joyfully start my monitoring duties 8~)

One of two eagles I saw on the creek on Monday.

The nest.

Some bones I found along the creek several yards from the nest. I don't know what they were but I am assuming they were lunch at some point maybe for the eagles, maybe for another predator.

Six Square Feet

I got out of work early on this beautiful day, which in and of itself was wonderful. I had decided on my way home from work to take advantage of the extra time and post about all the immature woodpeckers that have been frequenting our suet. When I arrived home my 20 year old daughter, who just moved back into our home, was on the computer doing her own blogging (My Space, of course). So, with that, I decided to take a nice walk down by the creek and see what I could see. I hadn't walked far and decided to sit out on the ledge over looking the creek and see what nature brought to me. Sometimes we are so busy searching things out we miss some pretty cool things. Here are some of the cool things I might've missed if I hadn't taken my position in that six square feet.

First, there was this kingfisher (female) that has been eluding me for a year now!

Then there was this bumblebee who was collecting pollen from the crown vetch that was all around me. OK, I had to lay down for this one or this blog entry would've been "Five Square Feet". It's a six spotted tiger beetle, btw.

This beautiful song sparrow put on quite a show!
and didn't even take off when she noticed me snapping away.

So, I had an enjoyable, entertaining and productive "walk". Stay tuned for the baby woodpecker post soon. That is, unless I take another walk;)