A Little Bird Tugs Stong At My HeartSting

Most likely, people think of me as being nuts when they hear me talking to birds and squirrels, dogs, cats, or animals in general. A little bit later, I will return to this point and tie it all together. But, in the meanwhile, there is a back story, too.

Living in the Great Lakes for many years, low gray clouds called status were something you just excepted. It's like Tampa in that every afternoon a brief shower comes ashore from the Gulf. It's just how our weather system works. In previous post, this has been addresses but, regardless how many times it is discussed, it's really never the same.  And--I have come to want clear blue skies most of the time. A week of clouds gets me in that,"I am getting cabin fever" mode.

It's been unusually hot in Texas already, this first quarter of the year. On the first day of Spring we broke an existing record for the day. (92 degrees F). It's was the first day of Spring, folks. I didn't mix up the seasons. It was indeed the Equinox. The sun was just crossing the Equator on it's journey North toward the first day of S-U-M-M-E-R. That's June and not March we humans know. It is also storm time in Texas. That means tornadoes. We expect them. They are wicked. They destroy property, take lives sometimes, and most of all, destroy our lives of things. Things that we need--or think we do. Things we cannot get through the day without. We all have those "things". I'm trying to get rid of a bunch of things, but I move them from pile to pile and they end back where they started. But most of all, things we don't need are the things we dread about spring. HAIL. Hail beaks glass in cars, It puts dents all over that thing you drive and it can wipe out a perfectly good roof. Hail is a thing alright. And in Texas, you are going to take a hit sometime down the line. My re-initiation occurred the second year that I was back. New windshield. Hail dents removed. The car I had just gotten the year before. In fact, I have a dent or two in this car already.

So, today was going to be another warm day with sunshine, but a wind advisory was issued with sustained winds of 35 MPH with gust to 40. The Joint Naval Base in Ft. Worth had recorded gust to 53 MPH officially. With that said, it was my decision to head out looking for architectural elements today that make for good stock images.  And so, I set out. My camera did not come out of the bag. It sat on the passenger seat where it usually rides with me. Somewhere along the line, something interesting pops up and I unhook the clips and pull the camera out on the seat next to the bag so if I do see something interesting, it's ready to go. But, today, it was just a windy mundane day--the quiet before the storm--if you will.


Generally, I have a rule. If I head out in the opposite direction from the way to the lake, I don't make a trip around the lake that day. In fact, I don't go near the lake. As I watched the clock, ate my Fuji apple, it was fast becoming time to head in. I had in mind a trip to the grocery story to fill in the breakfast items. Twenty minutes later, I'm at my first observation point at the lake. Then came the next point, and the next and I am half way around the lake already with nothing going on of any interest except to me. I have been watching closely in high winds, just how much the swells rise and the wave action splash height. It won't be like the 20 feet splashes that hit the rocks in Maine, but I have seen some 2-feet splashes into the shore before. For an inland lake that's pretty good. As I rounded the corner of the last turn before hitting the Marina area, I noted the most advanced swells that I have ever seen on the lake swell after swell after swell. White caps were rolling, swells built and white caps broke all across the surface of the lake . My first reach for the camera of the day had the camera on the seat as I made my way to a spot where I could park and watch the waves. Plus, I like to listen to the Sirens sing on a windy day as wind does on sail rigging. But, we all know that sound is really the Sirens singing.

Then boom! A 6 to 7-foot splash hit the shoreline. It was spectacular and I was happy. Then, the wind shifted just a bit and the gust just didn't have that umph! After half an hour, while there, my rule already broken for the lake, I had to check on my owl buddy. With the high wind I was wondering if he would even be on a branch.

I walked up slowly looking for my buddy but he was just not in sight anywhere. Then, I heard a little soft hoot and heard the swooshing of wings beating air behind me. By the time I got half turned around, he flew past me and up into the tree he went. But, he wasn't as high as he usually sits. He wasn't in his regular spot and he bobbed his head and flashed those big glassy eyes at me. I started talking to him. He even started responding as I clicked my shutter time and time again. All the time, I was talking to my bud!

He entertained me for about 40-minutes and I heard his mate call from behind so I started looking in  the trees behind me for her and then I'd look back at him asking if he needed to go to her or if they were okay. He gave me that big head bob and stretched his wing away from his body that I have come to know was the signal he would take flight. And so, he did. But my story does not end there.
He showed me where his nest was located. He did this as plain as if he was talking back to me with his blessings. I could not believe my eyes. Then I focused my camera on the trees hollow and low and behold, I see two big eyes staring at me. After a couple of minutes, as if he was satisfied that I knew where to look for him again and also remembering that he had once before call out to me when I didn't see him, he called again until I saw him. He is comfortable with me being in his little clearing and he is comfortable with the click of the camera and most of all, he seems very comfortable with my voice calling out to him. Or, talking to him as he looks down then goes on about this business, checking from time to time to see if I am still there.

Unusual for the lake

This Bard is my bud. We have started to communicate. Today, he flew in to greet me and he revealed his nest site to me, which I will protect. Although, I have an image of him peeking out at me with those big glassy eyes.

He was content to have be directly below him clicking the shutters as I talked to him. He seems to like that and I think it is why he has made an effort to let me know where he is and trusted me enough to reveal his nest site to me, as well. I am truly honored at that.

With that, and it being much later than I normally stay, I forfeited my trip to Kroger's for the day, happy that my bud, Mr. Bard Owl saw me first and then greeting me on purpose. There is no doubt: that bird recognized me again, and made a point to reveal his nest to me. That's an honor that lifted this day to the top of the mountain.

Don't forget to click on an image to enlarge all three.

A Spectrum of White Rock Activity

Today started early at the vampire's. She drew three viles of blood!! I made my way to the car, drove down the service road a mile, did the loop DE loop coming out on the service road going the opposite direction and into McDonald's. My body needed food and coffee. Thankfully, I brought a little jar of my favorite orange juice with pulp to take my meds with while I ate.

The clouds were low and gray again and there were enough drops of water on the windshield to put the wipers on intermittent. At the lake, I sat in my favorite spot and ate in the car overlooking the lake. It was so pretty this morning with just the right amount of rain to make the buds, new leaves and flowers glison on their own without the sun.

By this time it was time to check on the birds,  Stopping at the lake's MC Donald's and ordering my second cup of coffee I made the short distance to Aquatics Center Shelter House which has a picnic table under roof on either end of the Center with open air picnic tables in the front and chatted with a birdwatcher who was passing my way. When finishing my second cup of coffee, it was time to stroll down to the lake's edge. Spotting the shovel bills almost instantly, the reports were coming in that the wood ducks have been sited looking for nesting sites, but the hot new was that a Chiloe Wigeons from South American had been sited and in short order appeared with two others looking for the rare site. There was also talk about a Texas native duck that is only seen in south Texas islands. Never did find that duck.

As the day progressed, the workout guys were making use of the cooler weather to do the heavy stuff. But the non bird hit was when I came around  a curve on the West Lawther side of the lake and heard
the piping of pipes!! Bagpipes!! It still sends chills down my spine to hear that sound, St. Patrick's week or not. In fact, on Saturday after shooting the parade on Greenville, I was thinking that  if I had a set of pipes, I'd go to White Rock and play the pipes.

Here's a recap in pictures.

A South American Chiloe Wigeons

Marco

Jonathan & Alejandro

Could Not Believe What I Was Seeing

It was not scheduled to be nice today. When the noon news came on as I was eating my lunch, it because very clear that the temps were good and the possibility of some clearing from the cloud cover was  looking even better. By 1 o'clock, the car was  headed for the lake. My strength has been getting better. My diet has changed yet again and not only is the weight coming off, my heart health is my main purpose. The amount of walking has increased as my strength builds and that is nothing more than the old law of physics that when a body is in motion, it remains in motion. Or, something like that.

My approach to the lake has changed because of the bird watch. The clouds filled in again and a strong southwest wind was constant. A seagull caught my eye. He was hovering in mid air about three feet above the water. He would dive to the surface and come up with a fish. Then, he would drop the fish. Then, he would dive again and come back up with a fish. After doing this a couple of times, I locked in on my settings as the wind on the waves were giving the auto focus nightmares. My motor on the lens could be heard over the wind. Then, while the camera was up to my eye and focused on the seagull, all of a sudden this big blob of white and black filled the viewfinder and it was one of those deals where I actually jumped back a bit in surprise and shock. A pelican come splashing in where the seagull had been. From there, you can see a good image and a image that was still being focused on by the auto focus. It was really somewhat bizarre. As it turned out, it was only the second time that I have actually got a shot of this happening. Good, or bad, I now have two images of this "perfect timing" event.

The arrival and point of sudden shock!

The fish is in the beak!

Down the hatch and others followed.

Film Crews Encampment

The first day of February brought the film crews back to Dallas to shoot for the day at White Rock Lake. It's always fun to see the guys and chat a bit with them. I even got an invite to the mess tent, but gracefully declined. The offer was sincere and I did appreciate the offer even being made.

The last time that I saw so much equipment was in Deep Ellum. The crews were parked under I-45 and I-30 ramps in the Good Latimer, Commerce and Main Streets corridor. That's been a couple or three years and was also during the Film Festival. While film crews shoot all the time in the Metroplex, seeing the big boys from the major studio houses is still that thrill of  scene boards, lights camera, action!  It makes watching the credits all worthwhile---sort of, kind of, maybe, he hah!

And, I must admit that the area were they set up camp on this trip makes total sense. Plenty of room, for sprawling mess tents, parking for the big gun trucks, star trailers, restrooms and such. It really is a small city when they shoot a scene or a series episode. This trip, they were shooting for the second season of  Queen of the South.
[Click any image to open up larger view] 

Operated by 20 Century Fox Film Corp.

Comfort on the Road

Catering at its finest! And I do mean fine.

 Hanna Brothers Motion Picture Catering,

 The entry is on the left.

There will be another post of pictures only to go with this post.It will be the first up as post load
from last first.

Discoveries Are Delicious For Me and German Prisoners at Winfrey Point.

It might not seem like much to some, but when you  make a discovery that has been staring you in the face for years, it is  mountain peak success. Being an old man like I am, it gets harder to get down on the ground and even harder to get up if you accomplish the original goal of getting down in the first place. So why would you want to get down if it is hard to get up again, you ask? Well, in photography it is all about changing the angle of view. If you shoot from a tripod all the time, your pictures have above level, level or that below level look which is not the same as being down seeing things from say, the eyes of a dog for better understanding of my point.

White Rock is not on level ground. It's on the edge of the  chalk cliffs but still has a rock base underlying. The roadways rise and sink depending on what side of the lake you are on. Officially, the highest point is  Winfrey Point, the barracks the government used to house German prisoners of war that had served in Rommel's little army c.1943 in Africa. The layout of the lake puts most of the higher elevations on the East side of the lake, although there are some hills on the West side along the Estate section especially.

 Last year when the city rearranged some sections of the trail along the Big Thicket side, they ran the trail from the foot bridge up through the tall prairie grass section and into the Big Thicket. That elevation is much higher than the road and does present a more scenic view of the lake while walking the trail or bike riding alone the trail. At the same time, the city installed new drainage tiles under the new trail and constructed a concrete spillway down to the tile that goes under the roadway and into the lake.

Yesterday, I got an e-mail from one of my editors seeking images of persons walking down a trail through a grove-like stand of trees. Instantly I knew where to go to get those shots. As it turned out, it was 78-degrees and people were in shorts and short sleeved shirts--or no shirts at all. Quite a contrast to bare trees and brown vegetation for the most part and tons of leaves still falling from the trees.

I had been standing up on the trail above where the culverts go under the trail leaning on the railing on the uphill side of the trail. All the shots looked the same. "What can I do to change it?",I thought. So I started to look around to find some place where I could sit down on the trail, then I remembered that while the culverts and stone work was being done last spring, I had shot (as in photograph) the the two guys that were putting in the stone work and that I was down in the trenches---so to speak--- while I got the shots of them working their crafts. The only difference was that there was this nice concrete runway to stand on now that put me about 5 feet below the trail on the up side and about 4 feet below the roadway on the downhill side. Perfect! It's funny how you think sometimes. It had been slapping me in the face for years, and even after it was made better, it still took a year to figure out that those kind of shots would be great. So I spent the rest of the afternoon experimenting with the new-found angle and it turned out very well.

Sometimes, I get so excited when I discover something that I forget to check my settings like I should and I end up with some foiled images, but you learn from those mistakes and carry on for another day. As it turned out, while reviewing images today, I discovered one that while it is somewhat blurry and the stock approvers don't like blur at all, the image did something that I had been trying to figure out for years. So, while the approvers will reject the image and give a stock cookie-cutter answer why they don't want the image, and some go a bit further to try to put you down under the cover of technical problems,  it is the type of image that could win an award. It's a strange business--this business of image creator vs. photography for stock business.

So, you are going to see one image in three different settings from one point on this planet of ours. All because I went down into a drainage ditch and liked it there!! Stay tuned as I will post more shots from that ditch later. Ditch. I said Ditch!! And who is in the gutter now?

No hurry, just an enjoyable ride from here to there.

Any other time I would have ask the guy to stop and play a tune on that stringed instrument he has riding on his back.

No shirt, no leaves, brown grass. It must be drought time in Texas.

Drag Races Between Two SD-70 Locomotives

Actually, if I had this image when I posted the 12/22/2016 post, "Perseption Is Everything, But..." this would have been a perfect image. It is impossible to show the reason why here in this image, but behind the Union Pacific engine are two more BNSG engines. The way I understand it is that the railroad that owns the tracks pulls a rerouted engine and cars for a train that is using those tracks for some reason. In short, they need an escort while on Union Pacific tracks. But, a case at first sight sure could be made that these two trains were racing.

We set another record today. While checking out the lake, and talking with  another lake goer, we pretty much decided that any scene at the lake today could be anywhere. Anywhere in the world. As Ali said, "we call it White Rock Lake". And I do believe that he captured the moment completely with that statement. He later said, we could use that as a tag line. We sure could, Ali. We now have it for the record and should we want to use it again....we are the only ones that can claim it from here on out.

"Look at that. It could be any place in the world. We call it White Rock Lake". copyright Ali and dallaspaparazzo, Tuesday, 10th January 2017.All rights reserved for us both!

"Look at that. It could be anyplace in the world. We call it White Rock Lake."

Train Drag Racing?

A beautiful little wren.

More Imagery

A little Yellow

A little Red

Equals a splash of orange for a blue sail boat!

More Color Shots

The past two days have been absolutely delightful. The comfort index when you add the humidity and the dew point together and the number is below 115, then you are in absolute delight territory. Yesterday, the total was 102. I went out yesterday because I thought that I had heard the weather service say rain today, but after checking again, the next two days will be good before the killing wind and cold rain take down a lot of the leaves this weekend.

So, probably, if I feel well enough to get out before my trip to the vampire on Thursday so that the cardio plumber can have his lab reports on time and the cardio electrician can check my battery while there, I just might go looking for some holiday decorations, too. The guys who hang lights have been working for a month or more already in the Park Cities and North Dallas. Personally, I'm happy with TXU telling me that I am 56% more economical than the average home of like characteristics. I have long known that Edison bills are a scam anyway. I carefully watch my useage and compete with TXU for prize money at the end of the month. The prize, a lower electric bill and I keep the money!!  It comes to mind that my billing cycle this December is for 34 days. Five days longer than the past two months. Why on earth do the electric utilities extend their billing cycle in the one month when people with families are trying to live, put food on the table and buy their kids Christmas gifts? It makes no logical sense at all. You cannot even justify that regardless of how you try. It's just plain greed and arrogance. The Public Utilities Commission will generally site with the utility in a case like that.

I recall in the primary elections someone asking me how I would vote this year. Frankly, I let them know that if you are an incumbent, you would not be getting my vote. Then, in early voting, I'm coming out of the polling place and a young candidate walks up to me right at the polling limit that is designed for separation of candidates and voters going into the polling place and says, "Hi, wanna take a picture with me?" I said, "NO". The young candidate then said, "Why not?"  I replied, "Because I don't like you." It must have been the first time that the guy ever got a direct answer to anything because it was obvious that my answer had shook him to the core. Quickly, he regained some equalizing sense long enough to put his foot in his mouth more solid by saying to me, "Don't you like my brown skin?" For him to go there with me was not only a validation of why I didn't like him, but a clear view of where his arrogance and center of perception was focused for me to not like him in the first place. Long ago, my parents taught me that when you make a little incision on the skin, we all look alike inside and the only thing that separates us generally, is what we do with our brains and how we treat our fellow humans and animals. It is really a simple thing to master. Hate is an evil tool and far to many people have used that tool in the past and are using that same tool today.

So, some of you are wondering how I went from comfort zone readings to utility scams to a young political candidate who immediately sees people by race rather than as human beings. It really is not that far off base. Weather comes and goes. It changes when seasons change because of the sun's angle on our planet and holidays are when the scam artist come out. The elections come spring and fall for the most part if some special election does not gets slid into the works along the way. But, all-in-all, we are like an old 8-track that just keeps playing over and over. I've come to realize that there is probably a few more dimensions in the universe than the know about and that a parallel universe is not so far fetched when you stop to really examine nature close up. Photography does that in a way. It allows you to see things, but it also allows you to see things differently in a different light (pardon the pun).

Thinking as I walk sometimes, I wonder how I got so old so fast. It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in a senior history class in high school when the news started coming in over the PA system in the class rooms without comment about the JFK's death. That was 53 years ago last week.

 I  also remember Neville, the most exciting college professor that I ever had. He had made a career out of doing translations on the works of Shelley. When he went back to his London flat during the summers, he would write to me. He had the most amazing cards that he used. They were copies of actual paintings that hung in his families country estates. I had a collect of them that I cherished. They were lost to a divorce. But, most of all, they taught me, like my parents, about people and that made a very successful life for me. So in my mind when I am out creating imagery, there will be more than one vision going on in my head. Neville's cards, mom and dad, a more youthful me and then I spot an image that for me, will bring all those things together. There has actually been a more subtle change in my work this past year and overall, I am very happy with what has been produced.

Those who follow my work from a artist viewpoint notice. What more can I ever wish for than for someone to admire my imagery and actually "get it". Now, that is a WOW factor. Here are a few more WOW factors from yesterday and the day before.

Don't forget to click on the image to enlarge all three.

What must he be thinking?

Reminds me of a sandy beach along the Grand Strand.

Iraj is a photographer from Houston. I could not resist. We all had a good laugh later.

 There will be more posted yet, today.

A Walk Around The Lake

Sometimes, when super energy power prevails  I undertake the three-hour walk around the lake. It's more enjoyable on the bike but not near as interesting nor do you find the things that you find when you walk. Before someone gets all macho and tries to toss out their ego-building attitude that they can walk the walk in a much shorter time, don't. When you get to be my age, there is more to life than just egos, for one;two, I stop with the camera and sometimes wait for the right light on partly cloudy days and on pure sunshine day, I might wait on a bird, or an animal, or a car, bike, or person crossing my path. And above all--I'm stopping to smell the flowers!!

Thursday, was just such a day when  the entire day was spent at the lake. From early sunrise to late afternoon. That evening when I sat down at the computer to upload the days work to begin editing, there were 291 images in the days work load. That's almost like what I was doing 10-years ago, but which had been cut down to around 50-60 dailies in the past few years after the surgery. It was amazing to see that volumn of work show up again.

Since we live in a love/hate world today, that was kind of  like the theme that I was looking for. The main reason I like White Rock so much is the divergent activity that can be found there. Over the past ten years, the many different things that I have observed there is absolutely astounding for one particular place. That does not include the increase in people traffic or on-lake activities. With wildlife in particular, sometimes, you just have to stop and look and watch and listen. When you do, you find that the wildlife will resume whatever that they were doing before  you appeared on the scene and they stopped to watch and wait and listen to see what you were going to do. It's the old reverse role syndrome, wait and see adage, man vs. animal/animal vs.man game or  just the downright fight or flight nervous system at work.

What I found out from the days work was that when I play with the camera's settings that I usually use, some of the shots that I would normally edit out become rather more interesting than others. There are two examples of that here and one that is as old almost as old as the world we live in. Enjoy.

LOVE

ABSTRACT

HATE-or-FEAR but disturbing find non-the-less.

A Double Take At The Lake

One reason that I assign two days for the lake is that there is always something different happening there. When shooting editorial images, especially the variety of things happening,  also builds a portfolio of news images that can be used from a draw file. You need an image of a UPS truck, you have one. You need an image of a fire truck, you have one. It's that simple. But, most of all, the different things that I have seen at the lake is most amazing. And I'm not talking about eagles, hawks, owls and pelicans and ospreys ( although I have learned a lot about Ospreys from several web cams from Montana to Maryland to Delaware.

 I'm talking about things like a steam boat on the lake. Yes, a fully functional genuine steam boat--home made, no less. A full size fire pumper in the lake. A stolen car being recovered from the lake. Sadly, I've seen a couple of drownings. Of course, there are the sail boats, and rowing club sleek long 9-man racers, too. Within the past six years, a new kayak and standup paddle board and canoe rental has returned. Now, the weekends are filled with colorful boats all over the lake.  I've seen several coyotes, one deer, lots of fish and turtles, a large outdoor weddings, a large red heart made up of humans wearing red slickers,

Today, I have added two more new things. One is a three panel solar power back pack a gentleman was wearing. He said that it charges his phone and supplies power to his music and can support his computer if so desired. Actually, it was rather smart-looking and I can see one under my camera bag one December or one birthday soon.

But the last thing that I saw today that made me turn around and come back to take a second look to make sure that what I was seeing was what I thought I was seeing. In short. It sure was!. Walking on two feed, having a feast as it wandered from insect to insects, bugs worms, grubs  and such things.

When I was a kid, my mom and dad let me raise a dozen or so. I entered them in the county fair and won blue, red and white ribbons for a number of year. The checks that came in the mail from the Fair Board afterwords was worth all the effort. So what was it? Why it was a big Rhode Island Red that was obviously now free-ranging since in the city they are permitted. Chickens are. But the rule on roosters is: If it crows, it goes! Someone either got tired of their one egg-a-day chicken or it got out of the cage.

 Obviously, someone found out the hard way and like so many people have done with dogs and cats, they take them to the park and let them loose. Only this summer I found a rabbit in a cage sitting under a tree that someone left on their lunch hour.  The good thing about chickens is that they can fly up into the trees at night for safety. This one was happy and fat and just doing the chicken thing as it would hunt and peck for food as it wondered in an area that was very well protected with plenty of places to hide and a food pantry for a life time. Not to mention being only a short stroll from a creek that feeds the lake for its water.

So, to the red hen on E. Lawther Drive, welcome to free-range White Rock Lake!

A gentleman with a neat solar cell back pack. He said that it supports his phone, music and computer on a full charge.

A free-range hen at White Rock!!!!!!!

I had to turn around and come back to make sure what I saw was what I thought I saw!.

Loss of the Willow

The storm damage on/about October 03,2014

Over the years, there have been several trees at White Rock Lake that I have been drawn to photograph. Last fall, I did a post about several of those old trees that had hundreds of years of character and mystique. Some of you may remember the ones named, The Three Sisters, or The Weeping Willow.

Going back to 2014, around October 03, or earlier by a couple of days or three, a storm hit White Rock and toppled several trees and took down large branches on others. Sadly, it was that storm that destroyed the beautiful shape of the willow  as it hung over the bank near the Fisher Road parking area off W. Lawther Drive.  Tree doctors attended the tree with their chain saws and when everything was cleaned up, the old tree stood forever wounded.  When the spring of 2015 came, the tree was making a weak comeback. This spring, it was holding it's own, but if you really paid attention to this living creation, one could tell that it had suffered dearly the past two seasons and not likely to make it to another spring.

Today, I made a point to visit the tree and photograph it one last time. It was a sad parting to something that had been so beautiful on the shores and I know of none other around the 9-mile lake that held the status of this tree. It's an old friend that will be coming down to the hum of chain saws and wood chippers. A warrior of the lake has fallen and this tree, especially, will be missed forever.

Today, September 12,2016. The tree appears to be dead, not going dormant for the winter.

The surgery after the storm in 2014

A Very New Resident at the Lake

It's not that I do not  like photographing birds, it's more that I enjoy watching them go about their normal daily routines more. I've been watching two bird nest cams for a couple of months and have learned a vast amount of things that birds do. It's more like John Muir. Observe and leave no footprint. I've seen experienced birders come plopping through like it was a grand picnic gathering!

Yesterday, I was able to do the John Muir thing and found the second nest of a pair of red shoulder hawks in a matter of a few minutes. First, you listen. The female on the nest will call out to her mate for nest change duties and even food for the kiddos. It's a screeching sound.  It sounds like a crying out. Also, the male will never be far away from the nest. The nest is in his territory and he protects that airspace from intruders. It's kind of like a fighter jet being scrambled  when a plane wanders into controlled air space.

Then, secondly, you watch such things as shadows on the ground of bigger birds, especially if there is an open area near the nesting site. Dad will be flying overhead to the nest, but never directly from where he is. It's a diversion plan that nature plants an inate ability to do such things from birth. Nature's software implant, if you will. It took three trips around before the male actually made it to the nest. The pattern was like a triangle elongated. Amazing, actually.

Then, finally, when the nest change is made or Dad flys off after delivering food to the nest, you watch to see where he went. Usually, it will be into a stand of trees. There is that inate non-direct route to the watchtower post where he watches the area near the nest. It's quite a routine. It's nature at its best.

From what I have learned from the Eagles nest is that feeding times will vary, usually the 10-11 and the 2-3 time slots are the best and most active for the nest. I applied that to the Red Shoulders and by-golly, it was like hitting the jack-pot.  I also observed something that I had never seen before. A Red Shoulder on the ground only a few feet away from a squirrel and it was like I know you are there but hey! they just mowed the grass and the bugs are like going to the Dairy Queen for ice cream!
No one was in panic mode and the Red Shoulder flew up into a tree en route to his scheduled weigh point to his hangout tree,having taken a few bugs while on the ground.

DISCLAIMER To My Editor, et al: In a lifetime of photography, I will never ever use a computer tool like Photoshop on any of my images. That is a deep seated law from years and years ago. Last night, when talking to a friend in an e-mail, I sent her the image to view since it was so cute. She photo shopped the image and sent it back to me. Therefore, there is one image that is out there that I am now aware of that has my numbering system on the photo with the added  word Kindle to the image. I am very sorry about that fact and have now destroyed the RAW image completely. Therefore, there is an amended copyright now that will show for that image MA203670_kindlephoto_52742762.jpg. That image has been altered from the original by a third party. dallaspaparazzo retains copyright for that image with the alteration noted and published herein.

Still, enjoy the cuteness

Diclaimer applied. Baby Red Shoulder Hawk at White Rock Lake.

The Met Life Blimp Is In Town

Phone Cases Samsung Galaxy S7 Case https://t.co/eVzDKb735N Inspired by a blimp over the lake yesterday.#phonecase

— dallaspaparazzo (@dallaspaparazzo) May 14, 2016

Yesterday afternoon, coming from behind and toward Winfrey Point, the Met Life Blimp was tacking toward a lake crossing. It was perfect timing to be on the dock. After shooting the crossing,  I left the west side of the lake and drove over to Winfrey Point and watched the blimp until it landed at either Lancaster Airport or the old Red Bird (Dallas Executive) airport, about 12-15 miles away. I could not tell from the angle which one it was, but the air was clean, dry and crystal clear so there was not much to distort a view. The National Weather Service was reporting visibility at 13 miles. Here is the famous blimp, one of several operated by MetLife. This one gets about 60,000 miles of travel per year and travels with a crew of 2 pilots and a ground support team of 5 vans. There is more to it than just watching a blimp sail lazily over a lake. But, gee, that is what dreams are made of, right?

At this point, he was behind Winfrey Point heading for a lake crossing  toward the Filter Building, north of the dam. He was about 3 miles out with a 5-10 MPH SE  headwind

The blimp is in town. It might be covering the Byron Nelson at Cottonwood and then the Colonial since they are one week apart and under the sports contract. Purely speculation with some common sense,though. The 2016 Schedule shows appearances for the blimp at those events.

All British and European Car Day at White Rock

The last one of these at Dreyfus Club was good. This was was even bigger and better. Even though the 0.3 mile plus walk from my car to the show was more than anticipated, it only took twenty minutes from car to event. The parade of cars still coming in was worth the walk, too. Cars were parked on the grass this year, as well as on the paved areas, both up on the hill and down around the wall.  Cool was the show as well as the breeze coming in from the North East. It was a fun afternoon.

It would really be nice to see arts and craft events in a venue like this. The arts and crafts events move North during the course of late spring,during the summer and over the early fall period. Most are held in this type venue. Some are street fairs like May Fest just ended in Ft. Worth or Deep Ellum Festival already passed for this year. Both are street fairs here, but they are so much more in a venue like Dreyfus Club. The biggest surprise was to see the increase in bike traffic at the event this year.

Cars for Everyone.

In England, the trunk is called a boot. Here there is a trunk ON the boot.

This was just beyond the stone table area.

Time Lapse Shocker at White Rock Lake

Generally, the past few years, a trip to White Rock is made about two times a week, on average. One thing about White Rock is that always, there is something new and different. A real-live steam powered boat complete with steam whistle blaring, a fire truck in the lake, a water rescue from the middle of the lake from a capsized sailboat; rowing teams in practice or in competition; a few of the odd things seen.  A new Dodge Charger being recovered by a fire department dive team was interesting,too. In short, it is such a diverse place. Quad-ped wildlife, birds, water foul or land-bound and of course, reptiles slithering or turtles crawling on a log en mass are there among plenty of fish, beaver,and things I'm sure some have never seen at all. 5K or half-marathons and the full marathons are, of course, well documented. The Bath House Cultural Center is amazing inside and out be it a performance, lectures or art deco architecture or the sculptured art and flower beds of the Master Gardeners that give care all year long are common facts to be found.

Miss a week and you really notice changes more than ever. Two examples occurred this past week. Last week when a bit under the weather, those two trips were never made. Then, when I was able and well enough to drive again, shock number one was the complete destruction (on purpose) of one of the last Asian Long Houses that had graced the drive around the lake. All that was left standing on the foundation was about a 10-15 foot section of original framing on the front side. The long stairways down from the center remains and in the yard on the curbside-- two realty type signs. One with info of the City of Dallas permits and the other from Corrigan's,

Facing Buckner

9440 Poppy Drive entrance

Buckner Lawn Sign

a well known architectural firm here in Dallas. It said that it was redeveloping and remodeling the property. That--within itself--was a relief. The owners obviously have plans of vision to have Corrigan's as their architect. But, seeing the house in the state of which I had not expected was a bit of a shock for I have long admired those Asian long houses. The week prior, I remembered driving past and admiring the structure, so to see it gone was really a shock.

The second shock was also discovered when your eye catches a drastic change on the landscape that one is so attuned to seeing time and time again. This one was a bigger shock in as much as it had just celebrated it's 50th year and now, it's gone in name. The building is the same but it is so different now. This change is, of course, Doctor's Hospital at White Rock Lake.  That is gone. It's been re-named as stated, but the shocker for the 218 bed neighborhood hospital is now Baylor-White & Scott Health. It merged with Doctor's as part of the Tenet Health Care Corporation.  It is now--under the Baylor name--the largest non-profit healthcare provider in the state of Texas at $19Billion.Still, it's another landmark to say, "I can remember when it was Doctor's Hospital".

White Rock Paddle Has A New Dock

Just about six years ago, while making my editorial rounds at White Rock Lake, I noticed a shiny trailer in the parking lot at the foot of Scout and East Lawther section as it comes under the Mockingbird bridge. When I got out and was walking up to the trailer, there was this young lady with a pink baseball cap and her pony tail dropping down through the adjustment strap on the cap. Now, at the beginning of the sixth year at White Rock Lake, Amy, the pony tailed,  pink baseball cap wearing, owner of the White Rock Paddle Company has become a dear proxy friend through her staff, although I don't get to see her as much now. As in today, I missed her by about an hour, but the Paddle Co was operating never-the-less. It was, however, operating at a different location at Big Thicket.

Actually, the new location has much more to offer than the former bank of the parking lot across from the dog park between the pedestrian bridge and the Mockingbird bridge. The new location has a large surface mat that is even and much easier to load and unload. There's a great view of the downtown skyline, a dock, a picnic table with both a water fountain and a spigot for filling bottles or bowls for the dogs. Parking is much more evenly distributed. All-in-all, it's just a paddle around the first boat marina then under the pedestrian bridge for those that like to paddle or kayak up White Rock Creek.  For others, that want to paddle the open lake, you are right there from the get!

Since we are mostly creatures of habit, it's only going to be about one trip from the new location until things begin to settle back into a routine and nothing will seem strange or awkward from then on.  To make it even easier, the White Rock Paddle Company has a sign right next to where they were in the past at the Nautical Area sign. Just turn left and head around the curve toward the Big Thicket Building and the Sailing Boat Marinas (when you pass the first one, get ready to turn in to the old boat dock). There is an orange tent by the trailer to help you zero in on the new digs.
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This is Garrett, one of the staff. He'll be watching for you!

The boats on the new mat launching area, and I hear there are a lot of new boats this year too.

Now, here's the landmark. It's just like being in the old place but much better overall! Enjoy you summer and do some serious boating from White Rock Paddle. Say hello to Garrett, too!

Love Birds--Hawk Style

 Headed out about 11 after packing a lunch.  Meds were ready at the pharmacy. Needed to cap off the tank at the gas station and do a little fill-in grocery shopping. Heading for White Rock. Drove to Dreyfuss Club, parked and took my lunch to the picnic tables overlooking the lake.

Just as the last celery stick, red grapes and peanut butter was eaten, something caught my eye in the trees between the tables and The Bath House Cultural Center. Packing up my lunch utility materials and putting them in the trunk of the car, I got the camera out and headed toward the tree, thinking it was probably nothing more than a squirrel. About that time, a guy walking his dog called out to me and said,"that's a pretty big bird." I said to him that I was just checking it out because I didn't know if it was a bird or squirrel. He confirmed again that it was a bird. Just then, I spotted a second hawk in the big sycamore in the middle of a small thicket and said to the guy as the bird was flying toward the second bird. Then, he saw both birds,too.

Continuing to walk toward the thicket, I was shooting as I walked. I would stop and shoot, watch, walk a few steps. Stop.Shoot. It was an amazing site to see both of them setting side-by-side out on a branch at the top of the tree with one of the best views for hawk eye anywhere at White Rock. Plenty of over site of the territory. A meadow of prairie grasses for rodents. Water, fishing, insects.  Plenty of small birds. It is a perfect territory to nest and it looks like the two have been discussing where this years nest will be if they are nesting for the first time.  They might have a nest from last year. That is only a guess, however. I've seen a lot of single red shoulder hawks lately and the big red tail, but this is a first to see the two together as a pair. That was the shot of the day. With that, it was time to head out to the pharmacy and grocery.   As a sidebar of information, I paid $01.629 for gas at Kroger's. It really was a good day.

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Click on any image to enlarge all three.

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White Rock Talents

Many, many times, the winds echo my words that there is always something different happening at White Rock. Today, was no exception. When is the last time you saw a tightrope walker practice? With the weather being almost perfect for a very late fall day, here is one of those surprises.

At the same time, I have been photographing since August, the leaves of the White Rock Sycamore  trees and even finding some of the largest leaves that I have ever seen. Yesterday, another record leaf was found that topped the "then recorder holder" at 9 1/2 inches by 11 and one quarter. Yesterdays was over 14-inches by 13-inches. When it finally relaxes and the folded over tips can be measured, it will be larger, no doubt.

Here is today's finds.

Practice makes perfect

The sycamore leaves are hanging on and producing excellent displays for very late fall.