Wordless Wednesday - December Morn

November's Quiet Solitude

November is an interesting month, a month of change and of giving thanks, also a month where we tidy up after a growing season and prepare for dormancy and hibernation. The leaves have left their companions and are settling onto the ground below with the last burst  of autumn color dotting the landscape. The seasons are in a state of battle with the last warm breezes ceasing to the intruding cold winds of the north. The birds of summer have left their summer nesting grounds to the balmy warmth of the southern climate.

The month of November also leaves a lasting beauty with the natural shapes and woven creations left by the remnants of summer reeds, grasses, wildflowers & vegetation. The call of the cardinal, chickadee & titmouse remind us that there is life in the woods amid the stillness of the dormant meadow grasses. Remind yourself to look about for the natural sculptures nature has created and find that peaceful time to reflect, to renew your spirit, take some time off and relax and await the warm winds of spring to return.

                                 November's New England Aster

                                         Wild Roses of November

                                 Elegance of Queen Anne's Lace

                                             Wetlands Wildflower

                                      Northern Cardinal - Female

                                             Tufted Titmouse

                                       Black Capped Chickadee

                                         Beauty of a Simple Leaf

                                    November Forest Collage

Enjoy November, a beautiful month with an ever changing landscape. Get out take that walk in the woods and breathe in the quietness of the earth and subdued beauty of autumn. Have a Happy Thanksgiving ~ Janet  

Wings on Wednesday - American Kestrel

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) - Howell Nature Center, Howell, Michigan

Mammals On Monday - Muskrat

A friendly muskrat allowed me to get close enough for a shot as it went about it's business eating aquatic grasses, performed the occasional dive and enjoyed a sunny November afternoon at Robert H Long Park in Commerce Twp., Michigan.

Mammals On Monday - Virginia Opossum

Today's Mammals on Monday features an adult Virginia Opossum. This opossum resides at the Howell Nature Center in Howell, Michigan. This opossum loves fruit, nuts and seeds. The Virginia Opossum is North America's only marsupial. http://www.opossum.org/facts.htm

As part of it's mission to save injured animals, the Howell Nature Center rehabilitates animals and returns them to the wild, whenever possible. When an animal cannot be returned to the wild due to permanent injury or has lost it's fear of humans, they will either live the remainder of their lives at the center or a permanent home is found for them in another facility. This animal is a permanent resident of the center and was part of the Nature Photography Workshop I participated in on October 17, 2010.

Wings on Wednesday - The Osprey

As migration begins, I bid fond farewell and a safe journey to the Ospreys that live and breed in Michigan.

Food Fighting Squirrels

The BirdCam 2.0 captured a food fight between two squirrels. What is so surprising is the winner is a diminutive Red Squirrel I have nicknamed Speedy, which is nearly half the size of its opponent a Fox Squirrel.

The Winner By A Throw - Speedy The Squirrel



I May Be Small, But I Can Stick Up For Myself



Back Off, Or Face My Squirrel Wrath - Notice the nose of the Fox Squirrel on the right side of the photo.




One Of The First Photos From Last Winter - A Fox Squirrel



Birdwatching and nature photography are passions of mine and when I learned of an affordable remote control camera specializing in motion sensitive photography, I knew I had to have it. I discovered the BirdCam 2.0 from Wingscapes, first through looking at a friend's BirdCam photos on Flickr and then through advertisements in birding magazines.

I had first started using the camera last winter just after receiving it as a Christmas gift. The instructions were fairly simple and easy to follow. I set up the camera as instructed and focused it on a shallow seed tray placed on a table on the backyard deck. I didn't have to wait for long before the birds and squirrels discovered the "new" seed tray and I was soon capturing photos that were of good quality. I was so tickled after seeing the first photos I couldn't help but keep running out to the camera to take out the SD card and download them onto my computer. I felt like a kid again with a new toy. After a few days, I learned from viewing the photos that the location was not optimal for well exposed photos because during the majority of the short winter daylight hours the camera was set up in a very shaded area. After some experiments with placement, I discovered you need an open area with good lighting for the best photos. I also found out that squirrels, when given unrestrained access to a feeder, will clean out the food supply in very short order. That is okay with me because I really like squirrels, anyway.

Over the winter I had moved the camera to various spots looking for the best places for optimal exposures and non-distracting backgrounds, but lighting was always an issue with shade or shadows caused from being mounted on fences or trees. The winter came and went with some good photos, but I was on a mission to find a new spot for the bird camera. This summer, I have hopefully settled on an open spot with good light and also where the birds could have access to shrubbery cover for protection from sudden lurking predators. We shall see how this location works out, only time will tell.

Meanwhile, I will keep adding seed to the tray and watch the occasional food fight or delightful dove that smiles for the camera. Enjoy the show and thanks for viewing.

Janet