Hummingbirds On The Mind

Found My Keeper!!

The past 10 days save one for flooding, I have devoted my time to capturing a near perfect image of a hummingbird in flight at a flower as if it were suspended in mid air. Today, was the lucky day.

The thing about wildlife is that when you think you have them figured out and what they will do next, they usually turn the tables on you and send you packing to regain your thoughts about what you did wrong. Yesterday, purely by accident, I discovered that the plant that I had been hiding behind was the very plant that they worked the most.

Knowing that hummingbirds like red, there was this one big lush bush were I found them working initially. As it turned out, I parked the car and walked inside the garden and sat down on one of the benches. Suddenly, there were dozens of little green hummingbirds darting in and out on the every plant that I had parked the car behind, hoping to get a clear shot of one on the big lush red plant.

Today, I headed straight to the garden and just watched what happened as I moved around the gardens perimeter. From then on, I didn't stop shooting until I have shot well over one hundred shots. Giving the camera's battery pack a rest, it was time to see what else was happening as the sky began to clear.

The first real autumn cold front is due to hit tomorrow morning early. Mid day, I have a doctor's appointment so today was the day to get enough work shot to carry me the next couple of day.


I ran into a friend with a big 600 mm of glass. We had shot the eagle together earlier in the week. I ask him if he shot hummingbirds. Long story short, he didn' t know about the area where  I had been shooting and ask if he could follow me over there. As he walked up with his camera, he was in awe of what he was seeing and as I left, he was clicking away like mad.

Photography guys are odd about letting others know what's happening and where. It's basically a little club like in high school. To me.... shooting God's beautiful creatures should be shared from the heart rather than to be selfish and hording. I know there are those who don't understand that way of thinking, but God is a benevolent  God  and  his Grace does come back to those that share His will accordingly. So, yes, I will share a location as long as it doesn't create a situation like telling were the eagle's nest is located. I know that if I gave that out, it wold be a mad rush there and either the area would get fenced off or the eagle's would book to another location miles away. So, you have to use a bit of common sense and apply it accordingly. Know what I mean, Vern? Vern, knows what I mean!

So, my goal for the summer was to reach a published goal of 8,000 images. At the moment, I sit at about 7,700 +/- a few dozen. It's been a hot summer to work that goal, but you adapt and learn and adapt and learn some more. As it turned out, I shot early in the day when it was still in the 80s  and by 11 when the temps were beginning to press that triple digit number, I'm in the house at the desk working on edits and submissions and the like. Sales have been good and growing. It's hard to stay ahead but like anything else that is worth while, you just have to put your nose to the grindstone and work a bit harder. The results have been the same as when I learned that at 14 delivering a major daily and Sunday new paper to a small town. That's right--- I said T-O-W-N! the whole town!! Goals have always been in my thinking from having learned that at an early age. I'm thankful for it today, of course.  Dad would help me on Sundays but during the week, I was on my own.

Click on an image and all three will enlarge.

The Aftermath of Flash Flooding Round One

Here are a few shots from today. It has been worse, I know, but it is also painful  to see not only the loss, but the true grit of so many that have devoted so much in the past having to redo what has been done several times beforehand.  God Speed and Lift Up Those Who Need It Most.

Getting around in situations like this is where knowing where the short cuts are and if you can't get into an area one way, how to get in that area from another. Sometimes, that back way requires a bit of a hike leaving the car in high areas. But at least I was able to cover all the areas including checking on the hawk or two that I normally check on regularly.

The Foot Bridge at 78Garland below the main spillway, tital pool and second spillway.

Boy Scout Hill between the Mockingbird  Footbridge and Mockingbird Lane Birdge

Just west of Fischer Road and W Lawther

Two years ago this wharf was completely rebuilt. It's gonna need some help again from the looks of it here.

Three Sets of Photographers Eyes Confirmed The Eagle Is Alive and Well

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day. Houston, the eagle has landed! And this eagle landed in a tree at White Rock Lake where I saw two eagles for the first time about 6 years ago and even posted the images when people were telling me they were not eagles. Come on. I am well aware of what an American Bald Eagle looks like in the air as well as perched on a tree branch. But, it has been a while since I have seen them again. That all changed yesterday.

I did get a handfull of shots. It's a big bird.One of the biggest that I have seen and I've seen more than these two. Never-the-less. Having been one set of those three photographers eyes, I'm just happy that the eagles are still finding White Rock a great place to visit.

Dead Center on the left fork . Click on the image to enlarge.

Sometimes, Timing Is Just Amazing.

It's only been a few days since the post about the rule of the shutter. Well, wouldn't you know it... the first trip out after that post and it happened. And, yes, I  went home!!

A couple of weeks ago, I ran into a guy that I have spoken with several times about what we shoot. I saw him walking up the hill toward the Filtration Building. I stopped and ask him what he was shooting that day. He said that he had been trying to shoot the hummingbirds in the area garden that another Master Gardner Group planted by the guard shack by the main water works building. I had heard the tales about shooting hummingbirds and frankly, I had not ever seen any at the lake in the 17 years that I have been going there regularly. So I started watching to see if I could see any signs of the little creatures with the fast flapping wings. Because they are more like a helicopter than an airplane, they dart here, then there then here faster than you can say hold still!!!

So, long story short, a day or so afterwards, I was at the Cultural Bathhouse garden and low and behold, I saw not one, not, two, even not three. Then, the king of them all, the red throat showed up and was darting here and there and about every where. I made the circle in the car. Sitting rather low, with the window down, was I came around the curve, I just stopped and was panning the big red bush looking through the lens to see if I could spot one on the far side. Sure enough, there he was and I started clicking the shutter. When it was all done, I had shot nearly 200 images. And, upon inspection of the images I had a few shots.Some were a bit blurred from the wings movement or the leaves moving from an east wind about 13 MPH. I had not adjusted any speed or other settings. But, following the rule, I had a capture and I went home.

I've been back twice since. The first time I saw nothing. Today, I saw one dart in and dart out. The bushes had been trimmed and a lot of the low haning branches where I could see the bird was gone altogether, But, I know know where they are. I know a bit more about their time of day and where they come from . It's suppost to be back in the low 90s next week, clear and a light breeze This time, I'm going to camp out better than before and hopefully, Ill be able to get that first truly great shot.

I need a good clean shot so will be playing around with settings until I hit the right speed and all the technical stuff.

They are cute little creatures.

This is one of two of the best from that first discovery. Look to the left of center in the first island of leaf clusters about two thirds the way up .

Still Upholding The Rule of the Shutter

China Air Cargo 747 lifts off runway 37L/18R

Looking toward DFW from Grapevine Historic Station on Left and New TEXrail station platform on right.

Three plants here. Sunflower, morning glory and flytrap

The Rule of the Shutter says that: "upon the first click of the shutter, you have surpassed all other possibilities of the day to top the image the shutter just closed upon, you go home!"

I have not been out to DFW this summer with the heat and oppressive heat index values, so when I saw the thermometer pegged on a 70 this morning, I didn't even make coffee. I popped a piece of bread into the toaster, poured a glass of OJ, took my meds and  grabbed the camera bag and Sling of Water and headed out the door.

I needed gas so checking "gas buddy" I quickly found a station within two miles that had gas ten-cents a gallon cheaper that anyone else in the vicinity, included the rogue Kroger's that gets very little of my core business anymore, including gas. The station was right on my route to DFW, too, so everything looked good. That is until I got to the station.  Problem number one. The station only had two pumps. Problem number two. The guy in front of me had a lawn mower sticking above his tailgate. I should have known. Then, Problem number three. The second pump had a lady sitting at the pump inside her car playing with her phone. No, she had yet to get out and start pumping any gas.

Back to problem number two. The guy pulled out a 5 gallon can and begin to fill it. Oh, good. He is going to fill up the 5 gallon can and be on his way. Not!! Then, the reaches over the tail gate and pulls out another can. This guy is cutting grass all day long or he has a landscape business that he is sending a worker out the a job---maybe. Then, out comes the 2.5 gallon can and then, he puts the gas hose into his truck!. I didn't even want to know how much time had already elapsed. He would glance at me ever so often. I though maybe he was working out a plan either to keep me from blowing my stack or planning his defense if I came after him in some way. I must admit he was fairly level headed in his approach and kept the gas flowing from one fill up to the next ,to the next ,to the next.

Meanwhile, back at problem three, lady is still sitting behind the wheel of her car playing with her phone and had not even thought about putting gas into her car.

Dude finally gets in his truck and pulls it to the edge of the parking area near the street. I can now pull up to the pump like any normal person that is going to fill up his tank. When I get out to begin the process, I catch lady shooting a glance at me just like the dude had done. Just as the pump pops off, the lady drives away. She sat at that pump from the time that I got there to  after my car is full. I'm just shaking my head in amazement. I'm shell shocked---I'm at a Diamond Shamrock station that is really more of a "C" store with a two pump bay. One car on one side. One car on the other side. I push the button that I wanted a receipt. No paper. Now, I must  unplug my phone, lock the camera in the trunk and go inside to get a receipt. After getting the receipt and returning to the car, I check my gas buddy again to close it out and it has me to write a review. I read the first three and looked at the rating. It was a 2.2---not that good. So, I simply said that I had to go inside to get a receipt, that they had run out of paper. Finally, I'm on my way.

When I got to Airfield Drive West, and went up over the roadway that was raised to allow the new TEXrail tracks to come into DFW under the roadway, it was clear to see that the rail line is now in and looking good. As I come around the curve to Founders Plaza, I notice landing lights at the far end of the 18 runways coming right at me. I pull over, get the camera out of the bag and get ready just as the China Air 747 cargo lifted off and was coming at me at about 50 feet and climbing slowly. He was loaded to eat up that much runway and labor a bit to get airborn. It was the prefect shot!! The day is done! The cloud deck was thick and low. He punched the clouds at about 600 feet. How to loose a 747 in the sky in less than 1000 feet.

When I got to the light to turn into Founders, it didn't take me long to realize that nothing was going on. The airport was on a north flow with the wind out of the north and that is against the normal grain of take offs and landings, which is normally a south flow. So I made the circle got out and sat at a picnic table and watched a dozen or so jets punch clouds like the 747. I then headed out for Main Street in Grapevine to see how the new station for the TEXrail was coming alone.

The rest of the time out was in the area where the old Texas Stadium once lived. The old parking lots on the south side are covered with beautiful wild sunflowers. The north side and across the street from the University of Dallas, a whole new subdivision has been construcdted. It looks like 60 or 70 homes. Amazing. 2500 square feet homes on 5 acres or a bit more in some cases. Texas does not waste land for yards!

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The End of Summer and Who Knows What Else.

While school started last week here in Dallas, summer is officially over today with Labor Day. It seems that Labor Day is also the kick off of the final run of campaigns leading up to the elections in November. I'm not done eating watermelons yet. Things are just not  working out like they have in the past.  That's not all bad. It also isn't all good, either. I'm working on some things that I hope will have me ready when all that snow comes in February.

It's been a pretty depressing summer for me and I don't get depressed. It was the heat that kept me inside more than I like and I've had three months of  high  Edison bills---high for me. I calculated with the arrival of this months bill that TXU had gotten an extra month out of me this year. An extra month! I have already located the extra blanket that I had stowed away. I'm setting the thermostat at 55 when I flip the switch from cooling to heating and I'm not moving it's time to flip back to cooling in March.

All joking aside, it has been a rough summer. I've never had cabin fever during the summertime, but I sure did this summer. It got hot a month early and even summer got an extra month of hot weather out of me. Then, I noticed that the leaves had flipped a whole month early. Then, the trees started showing signs of color change (usually follows the leaf flip) and then, the tell-tale sure thing that things were running a whole month early, the cattails that normally are harvested here about this time dealt a surprise to those that harvest them for the local florist by shedding their seed pods a whole month early. When they shed their seeds, it destroys the cattails.

So, it's been a strange year in more ways than one. We have lost people that were monuments in music and politics. We've had some really strong earthquakes all over the world that were in the 6.0 to 8.1 range and above. Wildfires and volcanoes going off were noted with unusual patterns. And---outside of the first few tropical depressions and storms that were also a month before Hurricane season started officially, there has not been a single hurricane in the Atlantic. Yes, the eastern Pacific and Central Pacific got a line of them in their neck of the woods but until just this week, there has been nothing in the Atlantic that beelines toward the Texas coast.

Which brings me to the question: What in the world is going on here on Plant Earth?  Yes, I do tend to notice the subtle changes more than most. I always have. My mom and my grandfather taught me a few things that have stuck with me and it has even helped with business over the years. It has paid off watching the weather and paying attention to it. This old world is as regular as clockwork on so many things that we notice with no exception. But, it's the other things that are so subtle that it builds and catches us by surprise. Over the years, I've gotten pretty good at reading the subtle changes and planning along with them.

And yet another sign---the scout American White Pelican is here already. This may be the injured pelican that stayed over, too. Can't id him specifically, however. Someone was telling me that they believe that there are two here. That being the case, then it would account for the injured bird and the early arrival. Usually it's October 12th

Water parks are replacing pools and the trend is that pools are probably a soon to be a dead goose.

This pool has made a start to convert. The city of Dallas opened new Water parks that are  B-I-G a week ago. They construction just completed. They were going to open until Labor Day week end. It's going to rain all Labor Day.