Gulls

Continuing on the bird theme, here are some gulls around the Sidney waterfront (on Vancouver Island).











This last one was my print of the week.

Northern Flicker

I heard tapping above me in a tree and looked to see what was making the sound. It turned out to be a Northern Flicker (red shafted). I had a hard time getting any photos because of all the branches and leaves in the way. I gave up and wandered around a bit. When I came back it was lower in the tree.



A bit later I spotted it on the ground (where I'd normally expect to see them). Although they are a kind of woodpecker, they mostly eat ants and other insects on the ground. It almost looks like a pose amongst the flowers.



It was obviously well aware of me, but didn't seem too worried as long as I didn't try to get too close.



Beautiful birds.

Print of the Week

Back to my spring BC trip. After a walk on the beach at Patricia Bay (where we used to go as kids), my sister Clare and I stopped at Deep Cove Market for refreshments. The lilacs were blooming and this hummingbird was busy feeding. I took a ton of photos and a few of them came out fairly well. It helped to have a cooperative (or at least not uncooperative) subject.











In some of the photos, if you zoom in you can see the pollen on its beak.

Nikon 7200 with Tamron 18-400 lens at 400mm

Fall Colors

"Trees arrayed in gowns of bloody scarlet and shining gold, of bright rust and fading rose, like dancers awaiting the moment autumn’s music would falter. And then they would shed their finery in a flurry, sleep naked in winter’s arms, and wait for spring to wake them with warm and gentle kisses in all their softest places." - Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff

Print of the Week

Golden hour under the dock (Saltspring Island again)

I haven't made any new prints for a while. Time to change up the walls.