Gas Continues to Fall in Price

Day before yesterday, I filled up at $1.939. When I applied by 3-cent discount from Kroger receipts, the final price per gallon was $1.909. I have not paid that low of a gas price in a bit over 2 years. Today, however, the price had dropped another 4-cents to $1.869. I must admit that the gas buddy app helps, but like when I filled up, it advised that prices were going to be stable through the weekend. Not to complain, but the 4-cent drop sure didn't sound like remaining stable to me. But, to be fair, they have saved me a lot of money on gas and I like the app.

They lined up to wait like planes waiting for take off.

Cleared for Take Off!

Here is the Osprey. They were not seen last year, but were seen two years ago. This is my first sighting this years where I could do the 7-point ID check and yes, Virginia----it is an OSPREY!

The weather today was another one of those low, low, very low cloud covered days. It seems that I am changing the white balance on my camera from cloudy to sunshine and back to cloudy more than I have in the past 10 years. Is that possible? The sunshine in Dallas was always king. Now, it seems like it is just another one of those low hanging cloud day more than most Dallas residents do not want.  And, to be fair to that cause as well, it was 76 degrees again today!. 74 tomorrow and then the bottom drops out for the next 10-days.

I went to the lake from 10-2 today even with the low hanging ceilings. I'm glad that I did. I saw the Osprey!! Big Boy too! He arrive and the two-dozen Great Egrets took off  en mass. The thing about the Osprey is that they eat nearly 100-percent fish in their diet, but egrets also have full bellies of fish, too! So, it's not like he's after the Egret for lunch, but he's after the Egret's lunch for his lunch!. The food chain is not always nice and neat, don't you know.
 Also, again, the pelican were in the tidal pool fishing. There were more than 70 that I counted. The cormorants were diving and coming up with fish at every turn. There has been a lot of fish trapped in the tidal pool and the waterfowl that have a hefty fish diet have hit the jackpot.

I watched the pelicans from up at the dam and made my way down to the tidal pool level because I knew that the pelicans would be taking to the air and it would give me some pretty good shots that I don't have in any of my portfolios. Sure enough. I had not been down there 10-minutes when they lined up for take-off. I swear, they were airline pilots in another life. I call  them the White Rock Air Force. And, being so big with a 9-foot wingspan, they are every bit as graceful as a 747 jet landing and taking off.  I could watch them all day. I've never tried to order lunch at the lake, but one day I'm going to do that. Need a picnic table for pizza but Jimmy John's would work.

I was home by two and did a snack thing for a late lunch. And, I did a fried carrot and broc thing with a salmon fillet. It was just right! Besides, I love that fried carrot thing. I'm hooked on it and even save the last two inches of the carrot to be cut in rounds rather than the strips that I slice. The little rounds are the chef's portion. I love 'em when they are hot!! While I am cooking the strips and the salmon.

I've been eating more salmon of late. I can't recall the last time I even bought raw hamburger. For one, I won't pay $6.00/lb  for hamburger period. I grew up on hamburger at $0.39/lb. It's just one of those things. Mom was a Rosy Riveter  at Willow Run Airport building bombers for the Air Force when she was 19. Her older sister made Hungarian Goulash  and guess what--- when mom married, she knew how to cook Hungarian Goulash with elbow macaroni and tomato paste, onions, blah-blah-blah. During the war it was a cheap meal. Not a thing wrong with  it. Then, hamburger started to go wild.

Sea Gulls Have Models Too!

Some of you will think that I am making this up, while others may think something equally worse, like maybe," he's had to many shots of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky." While both make me look bad, it is also funny to know that the captions under the images ARE accurate about these birds. 

One thing that I have learned the past 17 years is that animals are way smarter than we give them credit. Especailly, with waterfowl, they  have such keen smell, sound and sight. They watch our every move. While editing images, I always look to see what the subject is doing and then look to see what the subject is looking at. It's amazing that generally, they are focused on us more than we are foused on them. Some---I tell you---act as if they are models.

Like a Crow, Sea Gulls do remember individual humans. These three were flying a couple of miles from where I usually shoot images of them flying. They made a big circle and came back and paraded infront of me sitting on a park bench. After looking at some of my previous images...these three are in most of my images of seagulls.Not all...but most!

 

This one is one of my favorites.It will pose for the camera until it hears the click and motor run end. Then, it parade and watch to see if the camera is pointed at it. It then, does the same thing and will stop to pose until it hears that click and motor run end.

This one is the same one that flew in and landed on the post of the dock at Sun Set Bay. All three are camera hounds!! I'm telling you....they know what they are doing. 

A Lovely Late Fall Day and a Coyote Attack on a Runner

It was a delightful day to be out. The sky was that China Blue color and the colors that are left in the trees were amplified and stood out like boulders. 

While I always look at the stand-out spots where both red tail and red shoulder hawks watch over their territories, Not one did I see, today. Usually, I will see one or two flying or hunting or just sitting on their chosen standard---a tree, a telephone pole, a light tower, but no such luck today. Some what strange, I might add.

On the way in, I stopped at two stores for short, fill in-type purchases. Not much---just a couple of items that popped up in the Tuesday mailer that I have been waiting for. When home, I took my folding chair out on the porch and spent another hour in the sunshine before coming inside until tomorrow. It is forecast to be even warmer tomorrow at 75 degrees.

Shooting has slowed somewhat. I have had a lot published the past two to three weeks that are beginning to show up in both the portfolios and in sales. The transition into winter will start in a couple of weeks and I am already working on what those projects will look like this year. I would like to do more portrait work this coming year but that is a separate animal that once you create, you have to feed the beast and I have my hands full already with the stock and urban expanse images that I enjoy doing.

Tonight, on the local news, an aggressive coyote attack a runner on a trail up in the Frisco area. Ironically, just two weeks ago I had shot both a large male and a female that were only about 2 miles apart. Both were stalking and aggressive. I had spoken with a park ranger about it because I wanted to know what I should do if I encountered one while walking the trails for the fall colors of leaves. He had said to me to call 911 and ask for animal control to relocate an aggressive animal. It didn't answer my question about if you were attack. The runner in Frisco required surgery following her attack by that aggressive coyote.

The problem is stemming from the massive amount of building that is going on that is talking away their underbrush runs  where they normally will stay shy to humans, but when they loose that habitat, they get aggressive out of fear and break in their routines of hunting. It happened about two years ago when the first big surge of building started. Then, it subsided for a bit as the animals adapted to the new runs they were able to make.

It always amazes the different birds that hang out with the pelicans.

Berries and tender shoots that remain had two squirrels filling up their tummies!

There are only three females hanging out with the boys!

However, unlike the surge of building two years ago, this latest surge has not let up and to that end, the runner was attack in the Frisco area.

Three Firemen Hurt;One Civilian;24 Displaced

Hate To See This Anytime, but during the Holidays it is even more difficult.

3 firemen trapped as third floor collapses on firemen. Rescued, 1 civilian injured.

This was an interesting seagull. He visited with me before taking off.

Nature Decorates For the Holidays

Looking  around at what nature beholds in the form of decorations that can put our decorations to shame generally, I found the one that I have been searching for that gives us that Cathederal stain glass and tree.

This was a nature trail that held some pretty neat surprises.Click on any of the images to bring the enlarge panel into view.

The rich, deep reds

The yellows veined in red

At full resolution, the background blends into a mosaic pattern of the juniper giving off that blend look of a distant cathedral window. It's actually a stunning image.

Beginning Test for Final Phase of New Features

We have been under construction for the past 6-8 weeks and most of you didn't even know beyond the post that enlightened you to changes coming. We are in the final test of the new features and you may experience problems on the site intermittently between now and the end of the year.

Those using i-Phones and i-pads may enxperience more than those just using their computers and laptops. So, check back as often as you wish and don't give up the ship---we really are on schedule and making progress. However, there are glitches and we know that they are gong to be there.

Thanks for being readers of our blog. It's not much but we try to make it interesting even if it' just quasi-mundane at times.

The last of the color already.

Fishing Was So Good, I Went Back A Second Day

It seems amazing to watch a cormorant dive for fish, but they have been doing that for thousands of years. In Southeast Asia, fisherman train them to bring up fish to the boat. They have a cord around the cormorants neck so that a fish cannot be swallowed while they are working!

Anyway, with the heavy rains of the past, the tidal pool is full of fish that came over the dam and down the spillway into the tidal pool. And that's where the cormorants and Great Egret and Great Blues have been fishing in extraordinary numbers of late. I've got in nearly 8 hours and  hundreds of shots that tell this fish story.

Nice Fish!

And Another Fine Catch

The Old Birds Know To Get Away From The Crowds that try to steal your catch.

An Extra Posting for Thanksgiving

Hundreds of seaguls take flight from spillway.

Great Blue Heron Head-On

Cormorant with Fish

Have A Happy and Safe Thanksgiving Holiday---

but look out for Black Friday!! I hear it's likely to be more wicked than in the past. No prediction---mind you---just hear-say, of course.

SOME of you don't like airplanes, I know, but it' been a long time since the Wright Brothers left the Terra Firma at Kitty Hawk. The constant change in technology has made flying more safe than ever in the states.


I have followed a young man that I have come to admire because he flew around the world solo at 16, has come back to earth long enough  to get his education at MIT and has never owned a car---more or less, but flies a Beechcraft 36 everywhere. Last night he stopped in Bryan, Ohio to refuel on his way home to South Dakota for Thanksgiving, not landing until  01:30 this morning.  after being in Vermont and upstate New York before heading for home.

He has a foundation that he set up. He travels everywhere by his own plane; has more flight hours than some first officers that fly commercially. He writes software---for lack of a better way to describe it---and enjoys life to the fullest. 

I went out to DFW yesterday after paying my annual visit to my bank's branch in Irving. I said to the tellers that every thing has come early this year--spring;summer;fall. So, here I am in November rather than December this year! I had a little check (AARGH) people still send those, that had that little annoying statement---deposit promptly. Then why use checks....electronics work fine. Also, since I get one of those annually and it's 16 miles out to the bank and 16 miles back---unless I go to DFW from there, which I did. But I wanted the tellers to show me how to use the app to deposit the check electronically so I didn't have to heed the warning---Deposit Promptly.

One of the guys came over to the desk and I explained that I wanted to learn about the photo process of depositing checks with the app and where could I get the app since I had looked and could not fine it on the website. He paused a minute and then said," Actually, I've never used it."  I said to him, Gee. I don't even know you and I love you already!" The other teller broke out in a laugh. He said, I can tell you like being honest. Any hoot. I got the little annoyance deposited and then headed to the airport.

Founder's was packed when I got there and I didn't stay long, but long enough to see changes to the new rail line into Terminal B. It opens very soon with the TEX rail from Ft. Worth to the big airport. Terminal A has had Dart's light rail for a couple of years already and it won't be long before the Cotton belt will roll in to the mix. 

A hawk riding thermals above the 18's at DFW. Surprisingly, the planes come in under him on approach and take off below and  beyond him. It's like a soup bowl and he flies right over the center as planes come and go on the rims down into the bowl. Make sense?  Also, he scares off a lowt of the birds that could cause a problem.

Atlas at UPS with the wintering grasses being cut beyond the fence to the tarmac. The tractor driver likes to watch the planes too!!

Here, where you see the crane boom, look to the right at grade level to see the canopies for the TEX rail into Terminal B. Also, the runways at the end of the 17's are getting  a re-configuration for holding and crossings. A big improvement. One side has it already.

There was an Atlas Air 747 parked at the UPS terminal. Normally, Atlas parks father down beyond the American Airline Hangers on the west side of the field. I can only make a couple of guesses as to why: 1) UPS leased the Atlas 747 for the holidays.2) Atlas is under contract for UPS during the holidays.3) Amazon is somehow in the mix of things! (they have a plane with the A to Z arrow logo on it that flies into DFW already.

At home, I got a text from my baby brother that lives here in the Metroplex. I knew that he would be going to Houston to see his daughter over Thanksgiving and we are having lunch on Saturday. He has a way of telling me things that is funny and always tries to up one on me. He said he was taking the Von Lane to Houston (google it---he said) I said in reply, Nice Buses! I have photographed them on the road! (I just had to do that, don't ya see?) Anyway, it didn't take long to figure out that he was on the bus en route already. We had an hour and a half of texting back and forth. The buses really are nice. 22 plush recliner-type leather seats with food, refreshments, WI-FI, power plugs, even table tops for video projection in the back. That's it! 22 people-no more- direct drop-off at the hotel. I'm saying, like little brother---google it!

So, my turkey is thawed and ready for the oven tomorrow. I'm going to have a quiet Thanksgiving---I'm hoping. And I'm going to try to do some more walking with the weather being nice and getting nicer again. 70s for the weekend. Clouds are high and thin and that is an old farmers observation that a weather system is moving in. So, I got to get moving to have pictures to work on tonight. I have had a run of several straight days of sales. The hard work over the long hot summer is beginning to be realized in sales. Like the old bumper sticker from years ago---"Fly Southwest. Herb needs the Money", well, media buyers I have 8,000 images on line so " Fly dallaspaparazzo.com. I need the money like Herb did !"

Now--- I Can Say I've Been Buzzed By A Pelican

Be sure to click on any of the images to bring up the three enlarger buttons for a closer look. especially of the pelicans bill details and the leaves paneled structures.

He's even larger up close than I had imagined.

He sailed past me at near eye level. All I could hear was the camera's auto focus motor adjusting.

Here, the red is unusual on this sycamore leaf.

Once Again On The Way to That, I Found This!

This is the sister to "The Things I Find On The Way To The Doctors". I'm listening to one of my favorite programs on Sunday Evening--Sounds Choral and editing pictures. It stated out trying to recount the number of new homes that have gone up at the lake in just the past three or four years. As I'm looking at the shore in a couple of shots, I notice a big wing band on one of the pelicans in flight.

The funny thing about that is that yesterday, the number of bands that I have seen this year on the pelicans has greatly increased over the past few years. I had just read an article by the USGS (United States Geological Survey) where they had increased the banding on waterfowl. Well, it is turning up with this years migration of pelicans. According to the article the increase in pelicans from last year is a whopping 3%. Doesn't sound like much but that is a significant amount of new birds. The protection under the Migratory Bird Act seems to be paying off with numbers like that.

Back to the house count---the number stands at 17. These are not small homes, either. They are in the estate section on the west side and the ridge overlooking the lake and downtown on the east side. There is one that will be added to the 17 count but for now, the architect's sign is up and the land is being cleared from the house that was demolished to make room for this new one that foundation work has yet to begin. There is a little grouping farther up the road that was built a few years ago and another one that had several houses  built on an old church property, but they are not in lake front and Fisher Road access groups. In any event... the lake is changing again with a variety of architectural designs from Asian long houses being uplifted into something that only Corrigan could design and one that their very own  architects designed from 14 shipping containers for his personal home! Now! that's a house!!! Well done and a standout place.

I'm sure that I have overlooked one or two more from the count but the point of the all this is to mention the fact that the Crown Jewel of the Dallas Park System---White Rock Lake---is within itself a changing ecology from wildlife, plants, people, activities and architecture. The tree loss of big mighty oaks from storm damage has been rather hard-hitting too. The storms last year hit the lake hard with a loss of 24. Since then with all the rain and water logged soil, three big ones have come down from their own weight in loose soil, snapping the root system. Plus, wind damage also got three more total from both sides of the lake.

While the plantings have matched what fell, it will take another 80-90 years to equal the massive oaks that were lost. Those can only be replace in time lines that only the grandkids might note in their later years. Time waits for no man. That is a fact of life. The only thing that I hope for is that someone will take an interest to recall what comes afterwards so that there is at least a sound oral history if not a written one or one in photos. I'm sure that something will be there in time. It is to be hoped that ecology of the whole is included and not just someones personal interest. It's got to include the wholeness of the ecology for the appreciation and love of the lake to continue.

The green siding shows the new addition on the east side. The two story white portion is another house that actually faces the lake while the new construction faces a side street but does have some openings to see the lake view. Several years ago a third floor additon on the far left was added to one of the homes and the statement was heard that in Texas, someone blocks your view, you just build up and over what blocked your view. Comical---and yet---so true.

The pelican on the left ha the wide wing band on his left wing--anatomical position--of course.There is also a smaller band on the right wing--AP still applies.

I have long favored New England Architecture, especially the Cape Cod and Maine homes that have widow walks and widow towers. This fourth floor widow tower is iconic even for North Texas.

A Mid-Autumn Picnic Lunch, Pelican Flights and A Unicyclist with Dogs

It felt pretty good to discover that I had slept in this morning for an additional three hours. But, with today being the last day for more than the next ten days below today's forecast of 68-72 degrees with sunshine, I crawled out of bed, did my morning routine, took my meds, checked mail and other light task, packed my lunch in the picnic bag that is insulated and headed out the door.

It was delightful and at times, the approaching cold front was  pre-mixing some cool air at times. In reality, I think that the wind was changing directions as the low pressure approached from the Northwest. Still, the air temperature and gentle breeze was just the way that I like this time of year.

Having eaten a full breakfast before leaving the house, I had planned to have lunch about two in the afternoon. As it turned out, it was more like a later regular lunch hour.  For these lunches this time of year, I like to eat at the picnic tables on the patio of the cabin at Sunset Bay. That's were the pelicans hang out before they scatter for fishing trips or after lunch thermal riding. Much to my surprise, it hit me that all the color that I like to look at while eating was already spent. The trees were brown and barren. Just two weeks ago the colors were at peak and really amazing. But, I had forgotten we have had some strong winds, heavy rains and that brought down the leaves that I have been walking through the past two weeks. Where the time went I will never know. It has been a busy time for me with other things to do in addition to the pictures. The car problems took up a week or so. The state inspection took up a day. There was a doctor in there some where and a couple of days spent in the house when the weather was just plain mean. Trying to recall the number of times that I have said to myself---"we just can't catch a break anywhere"; the times that was said could not be accurately tallied. It has been a rough year weather wise.

The squirrel came down and visited while I ate.

Pelicans were riding thermal currents already.

The editorial image of the day was a unicycle rider "walking" his two dogs. 

Unusual In One Way or Another.

Seeing palm trees grow is a new experience. Noticed yesterday that outside the main gate of Exon Mobil's Corporate Headquarters they have palms growing one after another for several hundred feet. Never noticed that until yesterday. Their compound is rather unusual anyway. It's set in gated woods and  all you can see of the facility outside of the gates, is the expanse of roof tops that look like a sprawling ranch style home from atop the hill across Carpenter Expressway.

took off the auto focus and used manual focus on the trees getting this of the pigeons. 

I like this duck. Not only is she colorful and very different, she's also friendly and comes from the lake to see you on shore.

Learning The Ropes---Literally

Oh!, that's what that does!

Two identical. One on the east side and one on the west side. Tradition always wins in my book. Mr. President and I were born on the same day.

Nice!

A couple of things around the lake that had nothing to do with it being Veterans Day. However, I did see a fleet of convertibles drive around the rental cabin at The Big Thicket. American flags were waving for them all.

The main topic was the guy at Flag Pole Hill learning the ropes of a par-a-sail-type shoot. He might have had a jump later in the day--or that's how he got to where he was at Flag Pole Hill. Judging from his actions, I'd have to say that he was in the learning process. Don't know this for sure since I didn't get a chance to talk to him. He was pretty preoccupied, don't you see. When the wind stopped, so did he. That's the thing about that sport. Wind is required and doesn't come with the kit!

Meet a very interesting young man that had just moved here from the eastern seaboard. We were talking pictures and I didn't get one! Hopefully, I will run across him again.

The final leg of the trip today was to check out the George Bush Library to see if they had any decorations up. They did. In Bush tradition, it was in good taste. Plain. Simple. Perfect! Also noticed that the new East Campus of SMU that crossed US75 aka NCX or North Central Expressway, behind the George Bush and just north of Mockingbird Station had a new neon Mustang that covered  two of the top floors on the building facing SMU. The SMU logo banner had been there almost since they moved the support offices across making it the beginning of the East Campus. My old friend, Sarah Rincon was in that move, one of the first. There is already a new Aquatics complex that is now open. Somewhere in the files, I have that specific image. I'll look for it and pull it up with colder days setting in for the holidays.

With this being said--- to our veterans past, present and those to come-- Thank You! With out you, we would not be secure in our democracy.

Second Coyote in Past 10 Days

It was another rainy low-hanging cloud kind of day where the sky and the horizon just melted together. The temps were good at mid 50s all day and showers were  hit and miss but increasing ahead of a second cold front  ready to pass and plunge us weeks early into a freeze warning.

It was still a day of sightings that you look for and generally don't find all in one day. But, timing is everything proved the wizard correct with pelicans flying just above the water line  half the length of the lake in a line one after another. It was also pouring rain at the moment and putting the window down in the car was just not gonna happen. But, I got to see perfect shots fly by one-by-one and that will give me a mental image of what to watch for in the future. Another old adage is that you need to think like the bird and know their habits recognizing signs that they are about to take flight or about how long their glide path is if they are landing. It really does help.

The second and third sighting was two hawks in tops of trees. One at Dreyfuss Club; the other at Big Thicket. The Big Thicket hawk was getting drenched in a down pour of rain and just sat there like a stone.

The fourth sighting was another coyote with the past ten days. This one was in the horse pasture just south of where Hillside comes into West Lawther just beyond the street that goes up the hill to Cox Cemetery. There was a guy in a truck parked off the road. He waved me down and pointed to the coyote that I had already slowed down to observe. At that point, the coyote was stalking two horses and was way to close to the animals who were somewhat  nervous of his presence. As I turned around, I got three really good views of the animal but they were shot through a while split rail fence in the car with the window down. So, I did get the white of the fence and the blur of the wire backing, but the coyote, unlike the playful female 10-days ago, was a big stout male with an old mange spot that had healed over leaving a bare patch of new fur on his right hind hip and leg.

In the shot  you can see the horses.

When you click on the enlarge you get a really good look in detail of the coyote. I will devote all three shots to this amazing animal in urban settings.

A Fish Story That Holds Promise

Well, as I have explained time and time again, people discover White Rock Lake every day. I have never meet one that went away unimpressed. Such was the fish story today of two gentlemen that "were on their lunch break". I'm still trying to figure out the prop one held in his hand---a fishing rod.

Of course, I'm having a bit of fun with these gents. But, how many fishing stories really focused on a fish? Generally, fishing has been an excuse to explore. I recall when I was a kid that my best friend had lost his mother to cancer and his father had started to date again. People that new the couple put signs on their car that said, "Gone Fishing".

My friend and I had a fight in first grade over a fish that the two of us  found in a rain puddle on the play ground. Our first grade teacher was surprised  that 'you boys' who never caused a problem in class were at each other short of a fist-a-cuff. In that cloak room, we worked it out and have remained friends over the years, since.

Both situations involved a fish story and only one had a fish in it. A small  minnow at that. But in both cases---the ruckus was not over the fish in reality--- it was the story board  that won the prize in those fish tales. Such was the fish story today. Both men left to return to work having been motivated to return later and explore and enjoy the park. While the guy with the fishing rod can bring it back  again and actually fish, there is so much to see and explore at the lake that it might be a while before this fish story materializes and actually pulls a fish from the waters of White Rock Lake.

Of course, I didn't mention these guys. They do eat a lot of bait form those hooks!!

Briefly mentioned the hawks all over the place, an osprey, Bald Eagles, Baard Owls,

Places to explore from sports to activities are high on the list to check out, too!

Get Ready. They Are Coming Novenber 12th

Yes, time waits for no man ---or woman. And, with the forward motion of time, Christmas is going to be here before anyone knows. So what is November 12th? That's the day the first Christmas trees arrive from Oregon, North Carolina and Michigan. They are being cut this week. My source tells me that the deliveries will roll in on time.

Tonight, the National Weather Service has notices out about a major winter storm for the Northern Rockies and Upper Great Lakes. You might know---Interstate 80 and 90 pass through a portion of the warning area in Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Michigan. F2 Tornadoes are forecast for the South and up the Eastern Seaboard. North Carolina--heads up and get those trees cut and loaded  and heading toward Texas.

This year, numerous times I mentioned  that we just could not catch a break from the heat. Then, it was a repeat changing the word heat to rain. Now, its changing the word rain to storms, cold front and early onset to fall and even  winter.

Anyway, as stated earlier...time waits for no one and  whether we have real live trees for Christmas or not for any reason, the stage is being set now.

Landmark Neon Christmas Tree

A Dallas Landmark in Name as well as Location.

Beautiful Day, High Winds and Fantastic Yellow Black Swallowtail

The total shots today  were in the 200 range with 99.5 percent on one butterfly---the Eastern Yellow Black Swallowtail. It's black on the topside, yellow on the bottom side with counterpoint patterns in the opposite colors. The wingspan is nearly double of the Monarch.