A Late Winter’s Tale

We’re closing in on blog #100. It’s interesting. My most-read blog to date is one I wrote a few months back entitled “A Life Lesson.” Why are readers drawn to it? It’s mostly about European Starlings, so it’s not the content. I think it’s the title and the promise that readers will learn something about life and how to live it. That sort of learning is an ongoing quest for most of us. It also helps explain why autobiographies and biographies top most of our reading lists. We take our cues from other people and always have. That’s my “thought for the day.”

Another thought for the day is that spring is around the corner. Major League pitchers and catchers have reported, position players aren’t far behind, and some SE Virginia Bald Eagles are feeding young.

The Starling and the Red-bellied

Speaking of Bald Eagles (and European Starlings), I visited the Portsmouth, VA eagle’s nest on 2/21. Before I laid eyes on the eagle, I heard and spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Unlike the Downy that had built a home in a snag, it appeared that the woodpecker had built a home in a dead or dying limb of a live tree. I didn’t watch the construction, so I can’t be sure. This is one of those photos that I look at and say, “I didn’t create it, light did.”

But as I looked away, a European Starling showed up and displaced the woodpecker. I never even saw the woodpecker leave.

And then the starling continued the work of excavating the hole (or at least removing the wood chips). Unlike the Downy Woodpecker featured in “Whispers of Spring,” the European Starling just took off with the chips and deposited them elsewhere. There wasn’t any of that violent head-shaking.

European Starlings, like bluebirds, are secondary cavity nesters. They use cavities created by other birds. Starlings may be admired for their plumage and their intelligence, but they’re reviled for their aggressiveness and for doing what the one above apparently did in ousting the woodpecker. This is something else I’ve never seen in the field.

The Eagle’s Nest

After witnessing the above, I looked up at the eagle’s nest; I hadn’t seen any activity there yet. But after a few minutes I noticed a little area of pure white just above the top. And it moved. My first thought was “eaglet,” but I soon realized it was one of the adults. No eaglets yet. My second thought was how do I capture the eagle’s head and not the nest? So I picked up my camera, quickly switched from Single-point AF to Single-point Spot AF (for pinpoint focusing), and held the camera and lens steady. I may have rested my lens on one of my side mirrors or on the edge of the truck bed. I do that kind of thing a lot. Anything to better stabilize the lens. Here’s what I came away with.

That experience made me think of another photo I took using Spot AF. (I generally use the center AF point and Single-point AF.) I jokingly refer to it as my “Where’s Waldo” image. It’s also an environmental image if ever there was one. Now, I’m a big believer in “context,” but usually not this much!

And This Just In

Thanks to Curtis Warrenfeltz for the photo of the eagle feeding young. It’s a great shot. I joked with him that he either used a mighty long lens, or he lives in the apartment building next door. Along those lines, Bald Eagles usually build their nests at least several stories up. Also, thanks to those who commented on the “Swampie” photo at the end of the “Finding Humor, Finding Birds.” Reuben, for one, wrote, “Wonderful composition.” That’s high praise.

Photographer Jaymes Dempsey has written a piece about camera focus points. I recommend it highly.

 Quip, Question, Quote

Here’s a quote from a reader. Wayne Brindle left this comment after reading “Finding Humor, Finding Birds”: “I love reading your thoughts and seeing your photos. If you like humor, take a look at this: https://amzn.to/35kVfYq
Wayne”

I share that to encourage you to check out his book. My wife and I made the decision to buy after reading the following from one of the reviewers: “The breadth of jokes contained is astonishing, and the overall composition of the jokes into related categories will provide you many moments where you will truly laugh out loud.”

And who doesn’t need to laugh out loud—especially now?