Monday in Nature POTW 6-24-2013

<p>Good Day Everyone, I'm late to the party again, this time having spent the morning hiking in our local creek. Such a beautiful day, made more so by a light rain, even though it made the rocks quite slippery and cut down on the available light. We found a stand of California Tiger Lily (Lilium pardalinum), which I had only seen once before--several years ago. I wish I'd been able to get closer. On another note, I think, Laura, that your "two cents" is worth a great deal more than that; we are fortunate to have you as our moderator.</p><div></div>

<p>Seems like this is looking like Macro monday. So here's my entry: Bombylius Major on Grizzly Peak near Ashland, OR. </p><div></div>

<p>Hi everyone! I have never posted in the nature forum, but as I finally managed to take a half decent shot of a bee pollinating a flower, I thought I'd post it. The flowers are quite small, only about 2 centimetres, and the bee was moving very fast, so I feel quite pleased I managed to catch it in action.</p>

<p>P.S. I guess that means I'm a 'noob' :)</p><div></div>

<p>I'm fairly new to the forum, so please excuse if this is "old hat". Is there a way to respond to a specific posting, other than posting a response later on in the forum. <br>

In other words, can I click on a posting and say , "we noobs are going to take over" or the like?</p><div></div>

<p>For the record, I wholeheartedly agree with Colin and Laura. I certainly did not mean to imply that there should be anything close to a competition here. It really was just a poor choice of words on my part. Please accept my apology.</p>

<p>Robert, you have nothing to apologize for. Your moth shot is terrific! And I agree, Colin and several other regular posters, provide some inspiring photography for us all. Thanks for sharing!</p>

<p>I enjoy seeing them all; from advanced pros to the greenest of beginners. I learn from the mighty *and* the meek.</p>

<p>"In other words, can I click on a posting and say , "we noobs are going to take over" or the like?"</p>

<p>NO. This is about photography and respect. We are also posting 1 photo. </p>

<p>A welcome to first time posters, Robert M, Anthea, and Steve. Funny that you would mention Macro Monday Steve. Origins of this thread as associated with a No Words thread titled "Macro Monday". There are usually quite a few more birders, but it's been a slow start this week.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Again from the archives - bees and Althea flowers at our home in northern Virginia. I have a couple that are sharper, but I like the queue of bees that has formed in this one..definitely was a busy bush that evening.</p><div></div>

<p>I didn't think I would have a contribution this week, but this male house finch perched on a branch near the feeder this evening.<br>

<img src="http://akgosdenphotos.smugmug.com/Other/Birds-and-Animals/i-5CHgkBv/0/700x700/HouseFinch-9790-700x700.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<strong>XSi, Tamron 70-300 vc, f/5.6, 1/400s, iso 1600</strong></p>

I'm going to see if I can do this from my tablet. No promises as I'm 'software challanged'.

If this works it's Cypress trees in Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.<div></div>

<p><a href="/nature-photography-forum/photo?photo_id=17437925&size=lg"><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17437925-md.jpg" alt="dragonfly2" width="680" height="540" border="0" /></a><br>

Canon 60D, Tamron 90mm macro</p>

<p>Not a competition, certainly, but what a collection of pictures to inspire. I cannot single out any one person's image for particular praise, because they are all beautiful. The variety allowed by keeping to the general theme of nature should keep this thread fresh and interesting for a very long time.</p>

<p>Rain, work, and a family funeral have conspired to keep my camera in its bag this last week or so, so I'm delving into the archive here.<br>

This is <em>Velella</em>, or what remains of it. <em>Velella</em> is a small jellyfish that drifts on the surface of the sea, blown by the breeze that catches its triangular "sail". Like all wind-blown sailors, eventually it will be cast ashore, to form interesting shadows in the setting sun.<br>

Canon 350D 24-105 f/4.</p><div></div>

<p>Oh , I am so late to this thread ! Great shots everyone . Love seeing the variety.<br>

I was out trying to position myself to get a shot of an anhinga at the waters edge. Apparently, I got too close to the killdeers nest ( I never saw the nest). Mom came running out in front of me with the broken wing tactic to draw me away. I took a quick shot and moved back and away so as not to disturb her any more. I didn't get to the bank to shoot the anhinga, but mom got to get back to her nest :)</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Wonderful display of nature here. At the risk of repeating endlessly what others have said, this forum is a hoot. I really enjoy the photos as well as the stories attached to them.</p>

<p>This is a pair of red-breasted mergansers at Ding Darling. I wish I had a bit more depth of field, as I was set at f/9.0 with a 500 mm f/4 lens and a 1.4x TC. I believe the trailing bird is a non-breeding male. </p><div></div>

<p>N/T</p><div></div>

<p>A thieving pelican from Port Macquarie in NSW. You can see the fishing line in it's beak.. testament to stealing your dinner as opposed to catching it!</p><div></div>

<p><img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b60/renegade54/wildlife/Re-edits/DSC_2989_zps3bb2fa67.jpg" alt="" width="700" height="560" /></p>

Hi all,

Late as usual! And making a contributiom this week from this phone may be a "real challenge!"

But, we'll try.

If it works, a GBH portrait out of the archives.

Don't know how or if the resize feature of these "apps"is really working as I think they should!

Talk about "a noob!"

Here goes . . .<div></div>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17440316-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="445" /><br>

<strong>A fruit fly and a house fly sharing a spot on a dragon fruit flower bud that had been damaged by some leaf eating bees.</strong></p>

<p>The flowers secrete a sweet sap that normally attracts ants that will harvest it and also defend the flower buds. Now that the rainy season kicked in I had to spray against mosquitoes around the house and it also drove away the ants, leaving the flower buds vulnerable to the leaf eating bees. After they damage the buds the flies come in and suck up the sap that flows out of the chewed up areas.</p>

<p>A busy week, so something from this past winter, a Sandhill Crane in the morning light.</p><div></div>

DL- you seem to get much more out of your 150-500 than I do. Love the macro there Lupo. Wes stunning

composition.

Siegfried. Interesting commentary on your macro. Amazing to think about how your visitors changed based on your

spraying.

<p>Yes Douglas, I have been quite happy with its purchase. Works fairly good as a hand-held for me, but is great on a mono-pod. It tends to shoot a bit warm, but is easily corrected for. Besides the price was right.</p>

<p>-Dave</p>