OK. I have to explain something. I am not the picture person in the family. Nosirreee Bob. I'm not the one that you trust with the family photos. Never shown any talent for it. Have never been one to carry a camera. I generally walk around oblivious to my surroundings. Trust me on this. "Walking around with your head in the clouds" is a phrase I heard at least once a week growing up.
But, I have taken the majority of the pictures on this blog, (I think all of them with the exception of these birds.), including three now, count them, three, sunsets. (Click photos for larger images.)
(BTW. Are there any birders out there who can identify this heron type bird for my curiosities sake?)
So what is up with stuff like this?
There are two things to which I attribute these strange goings on. You'll be relieved, I know, to hear that neither has anything to do with Karl Rove.
First, the digital camera. Let's face it. I'm not patient or organized enough to handle film that requires developing. Then, if you get it developed, you have to get a disk and mess around with that. But, with the digital camera you slip out the memory card, plug it into the cable already attached to the back of my system, and Presto: Instant Photographer.
Second, when I started to blog, I grabbed the digital and dropped it into my purse, (OK some might call it luggage, but that's another conversation altogether), just in case I were to pass by something interesting while out and about, (well at least something I found interesting anyway.) I'm thinking it's probably making me take a closer look at my surroundings.
Exhibit B. Nature Girl is not a name that anyone would ever consider suitable to describe me. You have my solemn word on that.
I'm also compelled to explain the sunset thing. I could probably count on one hand the number of sunsets I've noticed in the last year. So how do I now have pictures of three of them in less than a month? You have The Girl and The Boy to thank for that, I'm afraid. All three were taken when I was in transit from point A to point B, C,D,E, etc. while transporting them to and from various activities.
By the way, none of the photos are retouched in any way. (Maybe that was already obvious....lol.) The sky was literally pink all the way to the horizon this night, for all of about 2 minutes, when I happened to be on the road into town.
The Family is starting to get used to me suddenly pulling over to the side of the road while simultaneously digging through my purse to grab the camera. Whether anyone else is enjoying the shots or not, I'm thinking it's an OK thing for me to notice what's going on past my windshield occasionally.
DC
Sure looks like one of the herons that have visited my folks farm now and again... I think we narrowed ours down to a Great Blue Heron...
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i1940id.html
Second picture down on the right looks like yours to me...
Posted by: Tim | September 30, 2003 at 09:56 PM
Great Blue Herons, most definitely.
When I was a little girl, we never, ever saw them. Now they are in abundance.
I remember the first one I saw as an adult - about 18 years ago - it was flying overhead, only about 15 feet above me, and it was huge, I thought it must be a Pterodactyl (-:. I immediately went out and bought a birding book, and found it listed there - as a Great Blue Heron, not a Pterodactyl.
Posted by: Beth Donovan | October 01, 2003 at 11:51 AM
Thank you both. I compared Tim's picture to the photo we took and I think blue heron is right, (although Pterodactyl would be really cool.) There were groups of them in the fields on both sides of the road.
I missed a bald eagle the other day when I got out of the car to get a closer shot.
The only problem is I'm now starting to think.....hmmmmm.......I could use a camera with a much better zoom lens on it.
DC
Posted by: DC | October 01, 2003 at 03:20 PM