Wednesday, November 28, 2018

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.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

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.

Monday, November 26, 2018

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.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

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.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

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.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

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 !"



Monday, November 19, 2018

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.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

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.

Saturday, November 17, 2018

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. 




Tuesday, November 13, 2018

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.

And People Wonder Why These Signs Are Being Put Up.

 Well,  it is the fact that the Coyote is being run out of his native territories by mass population grown. The Green Belts where most have ...