Photography Challenges, and "Just Do It"

A good description of my photography lately is "hit and miss alot". The heat keeps me indoors most of the time and I know I’ve lost a lot of photo opportunities, i.e. Tree Swallows and a Red-Tailed Hawk right before my eyes! I don't spend the time to focus lately. My daily walks on campus are on hold because I have this “thing” about perspiring in the office. I sweat very well and don’t mind it, but if I walk the track and the campus trail like I had been doing, I would need to wear a Dew Rag. Wouldn’t that be attractive when students registering for EMT come to call and see my hair soaked and get a whiff of me?

The female House Finch above still keeps an eye on her empty nest. (Yes, it’s still there, dear.)

Hummingbirds are so special and beautiful. I’ll keep photographing them until the sad day when I realize they’ve left… There’s a small army of them swarming around my house and I love it! They are multiplying and the nectar is in high demand.

The Rose of Sharon is in bloom late this year and buzzing with activity. Above, a hummingbird approaches the bulls-eye. I notice I don't zoom much anymore but I can see the little gal if I enlarge the photo. (click to enlarge all photos)

Hiding from me. The symmetry of bumble wings is a work of art.

There’s a bee in flight in this photo. What a surprise! I try to get them in flight but it’s very difficult to follow closely when they drift from flower to flower so quickly.

Here’s an indication of a very hot and dry summer. The maple leaves are lifeless in many areas but the little Chickadee sings along with the cicadas. Life goes on.

Even the chipmunks lounge in the shade.

How can I ignore the beauty of a female Cardinal who graces my house every day of the year?

Do I qualify to belong in the Bald Male Cardinal Club? I found him on campus.

A Silver-Spotted Skipper was very cooperative this morning. I hope someone notices that I identified this skipper properly. I'm trying!

Heartbreak last night. After a powerful thunderstorm, I held a flashlight and lifted the lid on the pond skimmer as I do every evening. There were no toads to rescue this time but there were four large goldfish swimming around, looking for food. They can swim out but it’s easy to capture them in the skimmer. At 9:30 at night, I had to make a decision. On my hands and knees I watched them swim around for a few minutes while I thought very seriously… too many fish, two are gone, ten to go… the integrity of this beautiful pond is on the line… don’t keep putting it off, Mary...Just Do It. My neighbor offered to take my excess goldfish since I took her three Koi as a favor. After I shook off my doubt and regret, I filled the red bucket and relocated them next door in a very small pool at the end of a stream where the three Koi lived. I don’t like it but I refused to think about it last night and I’m finished thinking about it now. Sounds ridiculous, but those four goldfish deserve better and I will do something about it. Damn.

A few sweet baby Bluebirds were having a wonderful time yesterday. Seems the siblings found a nice patch of bugs in the field next to the parking lot.

They watched me get into my car to head home. I thought about Millie and Johnny and what a wonderful job they have done!