Life butts...part one...

Of course, the ONLY shot in focus is a rump shot...go figure...It's a Purple Gallinule by the way...

Maybe you've noticed I haven't posted much lately. Maybe you're happy because of that fact. Well, tough, I'm back in business again! The computer is back together, and yes, the wires are sorted out. Wise guys...I have lost a few files of photos somewhere in cyberspace, oh well. I've also come across a number that I never labeled, so over the winter I may post some "Lost and Founds."

In the meantime, I am going to share, whether you like it or not, our life birds of 2009...and maybe even a few from the front...

The only shot that came out of the White-winged Dove is this one on a feeder.

I made the others go away...DELETE,DELETE,DELETE!

This Painted Bunting was the reason we went to Florida in January...besides no snow there.
I'm not sure whether he was flashing me or trying to sell me a Rolex in this shot.

Yep, Mottled Ducks, very motley.

This may be my favorite butt of 2009.

Even this Limpkin is trying to bend around to see his own fantastic fanny!

As you can tell, we started off the year with a bang in Florida. What a place to visit in the winter to see birds, so many, so big and so patient!

I have to give special thanks to our birdin' buddies, Norma and Lloyd for spending some time with us on our visit and showing us the choice birding spots!

The Painted Buntings that weren't...

Well, we made it through the shock of going back to work in the cold and snow and it's finally the weekend. I've downloaded all the photos (927!) and will begin to look for those special behinds to post soon.


In the mean time, a little story about the birds that you can't see.

Our main reason for visiting the West Palm Beach area of Florida was to go to the Okeeheelee Park to see and photograph Painted Buntings. Imagine our shock when one of the volunteers told us that they hadn't been seen in a month due to the 'cold' weather and are never there this time of year! After picking Laurie up off the floor, we decided to bird the area anyway for anything else with feathers. Laurie does quite a bit of research before we go on our trips to make sure we are aware of what we can see.


As we walked to the rear of the nature center we saw a few birds at the feeders, Mourning and Eurasian-collared Doves, Common Grackles, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays and even a pair of Sandhill Cranes...and then we saw this little green bird popping in and out of the shrubs. Ooooh, it must be a warbler and I LOVE warblers! As we crept closer and I got a few shots of it, Laurie said "That's not a warbler, THAT is a female Painted Bunting!". Go figure. I guess it wasn't too cold after all! We 'didn't' see a number of females, like the one below, that afternoon.

We went back again earlier in the morning on Sunday and again on Monday and found the males skulking about in the shrubbery. This is the first time I had trouble trying to photograph the wrong side of a bird! I don't know if they are show offs and proud of their colors or they didn't trust anyone behind them. Other people would be happy with the 'proper' angles I suppose. In any case, I took quite a few photos of the non-existant birds!

Stay tuned for more of the exciting adventures of Laurie-loo and Loopy (that's me) in Florida!!

Winter Wonders

Well, we had to come back home to the land of ice and snow...nutz.



We had a great time in the West Palm Beach area of Florida birding in a few outstanding parks and nature reserves. Now all I have to do is download all of the photos. Somehow I managed to shoot over 800 pics in four and a half days. I'm glad I don't use film any longer!



Here's one photo I had to show with more to follow(I'm late for work!). The Painted Bunting says 'Hello!'.