Starting over

[Second Cousin Dave]

Hello again, everyone.

Last year I posted links to a number of pictures I had on my online photo site (PBase). A month or so ago I cleaned house over there and without thinking, removed several thousand images, including all the ones linked from here.

To make up for it I will post links to some newer pictures and try to do it on a more regular basis. Your comments, suggestions, recommendations or requests (as to a certain type of picture: fledglings or birds in flight, for example) are welcome.

Here are a few to start. I hope you enjoy them.

The birds that nest in my backyard have five nestlings due to fledge this weekend. They have a step-father who moved in on May 29 when the regular adult male was killed by a house sparrow while Mama was half way through incubation. I will tell you more about that and show some related pictures in a separate thread.

All the male bluebird pictures except for the last two are of the bird that was killed. He had lived in my backyard since 2004 and was practically a member of the family.

Dave


http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/567574637_xrwVE-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/567978397_GtXVn-XL.jpg

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http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/567579260_2KmNP-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/567978384_JghRA-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/567576550_9dvkK-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/554341967_MmywH-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/567978433_jn43o-XL.jpg

[Dennis/N.Illinois]

Great pictures. Thanks

[Jean Pell]

Hi Dave,

Your pictures are so wonderful! The one you took with the Blue in a downward flight mode was an amazing capture.

I do hate to hear about the male that was killed by a HOSP. Nice news that the babes have a step-father to help their mom.

Thanks for sharing your Bluebird photos!

[Second Cousin Dave]

Thanks for the comments, Dennis & Jean.

Jean, I like that female diving shot too. Here is one of a male diving that I also like.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/442091558_m7K6U-XL.jpg

I am always trying to catch them in flight but they give very little warning and I shoot at such close range, more often than not they are partly out of the frame before I can squeeze the trigger.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/442083926_Y95kh-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/441904475_MZNqL-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/442087185_2k5cw-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/442087127_E5Qz7-XL.jpg

How'd that titmouse get in there?

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/462545906_nRD42-XL.jpg

A shot similar to the one you commented on, but backlit.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/468037340_2oNgk-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/442427028_DRa9Q-XL.jpg

This last one is of the new male. I call him the step dad. Here he is chasing a house sparrow.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/562731867_aQV9W-XL.jpg

[Jean Pell]

Dave,

Those pictures are breathtaking! Every single one of them. I loved the Titmouse.:)

I just recently purchased a decent digital camera. Taking pictures of birds isn't easy at all. If I could be a tenth as good as you...I would be happy.

Thanks again for sharing your amazing work!

[Monty]

My God man! Those photos are incredible! Among the flight pix, one of them that gave me a good chuckle was the bluebird on the branch all fluffed up. Beautiful and funny! But yes, those photos of diving are outstanding. As a longtime bluebirder, I have to say, you've captured them very well.

And, looking at those photos, one HAS to wonder how anyone can even look at all fondly at house sparrows, and think how "cute" they are, when they have the absolute beauty of the bluebird! It must be beyond my comprehension.

I want to ask your permission to save some of those photos to my personal pictures file. I promise I will do nothing else with them but admire them.

Thank you.

Monty

[Second Cousin Dave]

Hi Monty.

Thank you for your kind words. I totally agree with your opinion of the bluebird's beauty. Many birds (e.g. the cardinal) are attractive from the side, but straight on and from the back, in my opinion they are not attractive at all. But the bluebird is attractve from any angle.

And yes, you may use the pictures included in this thread for your personal enjoyment, so long as you do not post or otherwise publish them, or use them commercially or for profit in any way.

Here's a few more you may like.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/503928903_4MQVK-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/515879145_sLaVi-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/463675451_QSyHV-XL.jpg

[Second Cousin Dave]

I am sorry to have neglected you all for so long. My five BB's fledged successfully on June 23. They are now coming to the feeder for meal worms and several are trying to feed themselves.

Here are a couple of shots from fledge day. First is one of the babies leaving. I think this was number two. The first three went so quickly it was hard to tell.
http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587659517_SbUMz-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587659587_GDErk-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587659655_uXWbg-XL.jpg

And here's another one.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587658164_4LESj-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587658231_hkvsQ-XL.jpg

Two of them landed in the Bradford Pear tree just outside our kitchen window, and stayed there until the parents came for them. I could see this one so I opened the window and got 50 shots or so before they moved him.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587658346_CXJ3t-XL.jpg

By 8:30 a.m. the first three had fledged and had been rounded up. These two were hold outs and didn't go until 7:15 p.m.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587658126_qE7xB-XL.jpg

Here Mama tries to coax one out.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587659118_zm4sz-XL.jpg

Here is the last one, just before he jumped. As you can see, the light was fading.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587659245_9YkKj-XL.jpg

I didn't see them up close very much for a few days after they fledged, but they were obviously busy. Here are two shots of the stepdad after they had been gone a week.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587825882_5wtnR-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587826368_giYVs-XL.jpg

Well, that is probably enough for now. All five are doing well and are now in that cute, but clumsy stage where they land on top of each other and do all sorts of things that make for interesting pictures. I will try to add a few more real soon.

Well, before I go, here are two to show what I mean by cute and clumsy.

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/587626578_AhPCK-XL.jpg

http://secondcousindave.smugmug.com/photos/588706960_6ciBY-XL.jpg