When Common is uncommon

[brewmaster15]

Out and about I am always looking for something interesting to take a picture of. That can be a rare bird or seasonal migrant but sometimes its just something common that strikes me as uncommon or different.

Yellow Rumped warblers are one of the few warblers that stay around here in the winter. I can usually find them. This set of pics just cast it in a different light because of the wind and oak leaves around it.

Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Yellow Rumped Warbler by Al Sabetta, on Flickr


Red Bellied Woodpeckers are one of our more common woodpeckers. They are a pretty bird,though they can be a little loud and at feeders they are bullies.

Red Bellied woodpecker by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

They usually glide from tree to tree, but can also skydive.

Skydiver by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Chipmunks are ever present in our woodlands but usually we do don't see them in our winter months as they are warm in their burrows. This year I have seen them pretty much year round. Seems this one is not sure what to make of me.. Picture through the brush gives it a softer look.

Being watched by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Hermit Thrush are pretty shy birds. I usually see them off in the distance or rustling in the undergrowth. I rarely get a clear picture...except for this case. I watched and waited and he just strolled out in front of me..I had seen him foraging so I guess he was just focused on food.

Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) by Al Sabetta, on Flickr
Hermit Thrush by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

I do really enjoy taking pictures of Sea Gulls. They are often comical to watch as they hunt for food . Most people think of them as the rats of the Bird world. But for me , they are just another beautiful Bird to Photograph. How can you not like a bird that looks like a Plushy.

Starry Eye'd Gull by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Herring Gull by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Lastly, the lowly Gray Squirrel. I can't resist taking pics of the critters. They are smart smart smart and are always doing something. Saw this one stashing some nuts in a midden and when he saw me he raced off to his nest and disappeared I took the opportunity to move to a different spot and waited..Sure enough he popped out to see if I was gone. Thats what I was waiting for.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCHER by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

Gray Squirrel by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[wsantia1]

Beautiful pictures. You always have great pictures Al. Thanks for sharing them.

[brewmaster15]

Willie, Thank you very much! Glad you like them.

Al

[Second Hand Pat]

Great set of images Al, I love them I find you can always find something to shoot. It's only a manner of looking.
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Pat. Thats very true. During the Pandemic I spent hours shooting everything I could find in my yard and an isolated town park local to me. Ironically the pandemic which messed up so many things helped me grow as a photographer.

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Pat. Thats very true. During the Pandemic I spent hours shooting everything I could find in my yard and an isolated town park local to me. Ironically the pandemic which messed up so many things helped me grow as a photographer.

Same here Al I took my photo buddy to the beach and there was nothing happening. So we got low and started shooting the beach crab and then walked where the ocean was breaking on the shore and took photos of the water rushing over a sea shell. It's was a blast.
Pat

[Discus Fever]

As always fantastic pictures AL!!!!

[jwcarlson]

Very nice, Al! I've always loved the way birds just launch themselves and open their wings later. I don't know that there's a great human analog, but that's probably because we can't fly.

[brewmaster15]

Scott and Jacob, thank you both!

Jacob, bird flight has always amazed me. The way they are able to fly through trees,shrubs, bank in any direction. They routinely experience G-forces of 8-14 and some raptors much higher. Peregrine falcons and Gyrfalcon can pull 25 g. To put that into perspective , humans can take 4-6 G and uo to 10 for a few seconds... sustained 6 G Is fatal to us. Astronauts deal with 3 G at take off.

[jwcarlson]

Al, I had an internship at a power plant quite awhile ago. They had a peregrine falcon nesting box and at lunch time I would climb all the way to the top of the plant and watch the adult or adults hunt the pigeons. There was a good updraft because of the big building and the speed that those birds could fly was mind blowing for sure.

[brewmaster15]

I probably would have gotten fired for excessive lunch breaks!