The take off

I was driving down the road the other day and saw this red tail hawk sitting in the tree. It was my intentions to get a couple of shots of him sitting there looking regal but he had other plans.

 

Just as I got out with the camera he gave me the look and I knew he was going to take off. I didn't have time to set up the  tripod so these were taken hand held at 840mm. Four shots is all I got because I couldn't track him and hold the lens up at the same time. Excuse me while I go do some push ups.  

Duck, Duck, Duck!!

 

I happened to scare up about 100 ducks the other day while walking the shore of a nearby lake. You know, I was just out for a stroll with the bazooka lens when...

Sun Touches-part one

Peeking Through the Canopy

Old Sol was trying it's best to shine through the dense treetops and cast light upon this walker.

Golden Touch

The best it could do was filter a few small rays of direct light to the foliage. The rays were bright and intense as they highlighted natures choices.

Sun Touched

The walker who was carrying a camera and looking for a photo op was presented with a gift. His choices were ready made and the subjects were already touched by the sun!

sun touches

one

Remembering The Scouts

A Salute to all the men and women who have served the United States and our allies!

On this Veterans Day I would like to single out a seldom mentioned group that faithfully served with the United States Cavalry and Infantry during the campaign of the Western Plains. They did much to help settle the lands which led to the expansion of the States as we know them today. A controversial time that I will leave to each to make their own judgement. They wore the blue coat of the U.S. Army and some gave their lives in defense of. I give Honor and Remembrance to them this day!

Pictures were taken at Ft. Reno, located in western Canadian County, Oklahoma.

Seeing Red

Peak Color

Caught the Sugar Maples in their prime autumn showing of red.

Hot to the Touch

Seems this year the colors were more vibrant than ever. Of course I tend to say that most years when the leaves hit a hot red color! 

Breezy day!

Woke up to a brisk North Westerly wind a few days back, first real wind storm of the season. Fortunately the sun was out which made for some good photo opportunities. 

Up at the lake with the "Boys",

on the road to Coal Harbour

and several boats in Hardy Bay

Close Encounters

Please vote...

...for me! Or any of the other photographers from this blog.

 

B&H Photo is sponsoring a wilderness photo contest and giving away prizes. Several of us from this blog are entering photos and we would greatly appreciate you voting for one of our photos as the "peoples choice" winner gets a free trip to Africa to take photos on a safari.

 

You can only vote once so make your choice wisely, for one of us of course! LOL

 

You can find the contest photos at this web address;  http://www.wildernessphotocompetition.com/bin/Rate

 

Or from a web search for the B&H Wilderness Photo Competition

Drying out...

Had a fair bit of rain overnight and into the morning. Typical November weather for the West Coast. After the rain was mostly done I spotted this poor fellow drying his feathers and took a few pictures.

Just winging it

 

 

More ospreys from Oklahoma.

 

I'm headed back out to the eagles this weekend so hopefully I can get some new photos.

Doggie Drill Sergeant...

Barking orders!

Fall Color Along Route 66

Follow the Path

The good folks at the First Baptist Church (yellow bldg. at top of hill) created this Prayer Park a few years back. Located on Main Street, which is also Rt.66, it occupies lots where once old homes stood.

Ablaze In Color

Mixing mostly new trees with shrubs and flowers, along with a few remaining old trees; the Park comes alive in autumn when the Sugar Maples put on their fiery show.

Familiar Old Cedar

While walking around shooting pictures I thought of my long gone Aunt and Uncle. They once lived in a house on one of these lots. They had front row seats to all the comings and goings along the Mother Road!

 If I remember right; this old cedar marked the west side of their property. Hard working folks. Bet they never gave a thought that one day a small well manicured Park would be built on this property. Let alone a bench for sitting!

Daydreaming...

 

...it's just like meditation only easier.

Colorful Nandina with Berries

Abundance of Berries

This seems to be the year of a prolific growing season for the plants that produce the fruits and berries around my parts here in Oklahoma. Even my fellow blogger Paul, up Vancouver Island way, commented he was noticing an abundance of berries in his neck of the woods. Sign of a bad winter? Lets hope not!

Color for All Seasons

The Nandina seems to be a perfect fit for our tastes in foliage. The berries provide color during the winter as do the leaves. Spring brings pink to rusty colored leaves with white blooms. In the summer when it's 110F the leaves are green as are the berries. Late fall is what you see above. Red to orange berries with colorful leaves.

Sun Lover

When the sun is high overhead in the summer the clumps of green berries will reach out and away from the bush from which they grow. Fall and winter their color changes. Making them stand out with purpose!

Mingling with The Ivy

I have never counted how many Nandina bushes are planted in the backyard, let alone the front. Things of beauty are to be enjoyed, not counted! One of my favorite spots to view a planting, is where the Carolina Jasmine and the Nandina share an old fence which can be seen from the screened porch. Where all but the coldest of days, I indulge in a dream or two!

Front yard color

Thanks for the lead in Parker! LOL

 

I took this yesterday morning just as the sun topped the hill to the east of our house. These leaves will all be on the ground by this weekend, it's supposed to get down into the 20's tomorrow. I feel a warm fire coming on.

Backyard Color

A colorful fall is beginning to take shape here in central Oklahoma. This plum tree and crape myrtle tree are giving us quite a show outside the sunroom windows. They are always the first to reach peak color and lose their leaves in our yard. I enjoy how the colors complement each other!

In Flight Sushi

 

A few more osprey shots from my trip to Oklahoma in September.

Normally, this time of the year I travel to capture the foliage season.  But, I have been very busy with my new job, and the activities with my family this year.  Since, today is a day that we fall back one hour, I guess we could call the Fall season is here in the South.  Hopefully, I will get some free time in the next couple weeks to capture some new foliage pictures locally, other than that thanks for stopping by to look at these old pictures.  

Happy All Hallows' Day?

Poking around on the internet last couple days doing a bit of research on Halloween I have come to find that All Hallows' Eve or Halloween was originally celebrated as the day before All Hallows' Day or All Saints' Day in the Catholic Church in much the same way Christmas Eve is celebrated as the day proceeding Christmas Day. Interesting how over the decades Halloween has gone on to eclipse All Saints' Day and is now celebrated by many cultures.

All that aside... Today while in town I found this display of carved pumpkins lining the walk along the Port Hardy waterfront. This picture is just a small portion of the hundreds of pumpkins lining the walkway. I understand that later this evening the pumpkins are to be judged and that there will be a bonfire and hot chocolate and other revelry!

Holly Berries and A Mockingbird

Color For The Winter

Fall is coming fast around these parts. A good sign is when the berries on our backyard holly trees, changes from green to red. Seems there is a bumper crop this year. We love the the color they add through the winter. The resident mockingbird loves the tasty snacks the berries provide!

Eyeing An Intruder

Thinking there may be a photo hiding amongst the green and red; I was in the middle of trying to compose a shot of the berries when this guy plopped down almost in front of the lens! If he could have spoke he probably would have asked "I guess you know you're trespassing? These berries belong to me and I'll be keeping an eye on you!"

Fair Warning!

Two quick shots were all he stuck around for. His point was made!

Climbing the walls

Not me, the plant. Well, maybe me a just a little. I did just spend three days with my three year old grand daughter.

 

Now where'd I leave that drink?