Water N Ice

Before winter set in last year. I manged in my whole Nano Second of time to get out and capture some interesting images that showed the wondrous beauty in frost. Nothing like the first frost before the onset of winter. It's like magic adding that coating of white on everything it touches. In the first shot I managed to find some plants that still had some berries on it...kinda adds a little contrast into the picture. Here in the second shot I found a back half of a leaf exposed and was amazed at how long some of the crystals of water extended out from the leaf....

The last two pictures are of basic puddles that froze over...I was hoping to capture some the the water designs as the water froze during the night. Interesting perspectives on water and how the molecules change with heat and freezing temperatures.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet ~ I Finally Found One

This Ruby Crowned Kinglet is a great find for me.....I knew we had them here but they are so hard to find. They love to hang out in the thick undergrowth. Last year I managed to get a picture of the beautiful Golden Crowned Kinglet which you can find in my past history. I have to tell you these shots where a challenge for me....one I tracked this male for over an hour to be able to get a clear shot of him. He only came out three different times to quickly grab a bug then just a quick head back into the bushes to my frustration. I tried my best to get a shot of the top of his head for you to see the beautiful red crown, but he just was too fast for me to get the shot. I'm hopeful that now that I've located their Habitat that I might find them again and get some better pictures of their beautiful head. Nothing quite like it.

Mother Nature's Natural Gifts of Spring

I love to look for the unusual the hidden surprises that Nature can provide if you take the time to walk slowly and look for it. While on one of my walks of late I came across this unique flower here in the top picture. Stunning look at the petals it's like a patchwork quilt!!! I couldn't believe my eyes...so beautiful. I wish I knew what I was looking at...so if any of you know please let me know what it is. This shot is of a Salmon Berry Blossom very prolific here on the West Coast. Our moist conditions and swampy areas are ideal for this plant.

Yes all of you know what this is...Blue Bells...so delicate and I think at time under appreciated, but with new camera technologies this flower stands out in a crowd!!

Bushtit Activity before nesting

While on one of my many walks of late I heard the wonderful sounds of the Bushtit's Squeak. Since they travel in packs like wolves it's not hard to track them. But the challenge is to get a good shot off before they hop from one branch to another searching for bugs. In the top shot here I managed to get one eating an earwig. Gross bugs earwigs I'm glad someone eats them!!!

I love these little birds no bigger than a cotton ball so precious.

A Rare Find!!! American Bittern

What a wonderful day it was here in the city. Lots of sunshine and plenty of birds to see, I really lucked out today I saw allot of species and managed to get some decent shots off. Of course I could have used a telephoto lens today to get the best shots off of this amazing American Bittern. This bird was at Swan Lake today, and very hard to get pictures of apparently. This bird is shy and doesn't like allot of noise or people for that matter. I would have missed this amazing bird if it wasn't for two birders already there taking pictures of it as well. I'm thank full for them both, because I don't see well they were able to show me where to look. Took me awhile to see the Bittern, the bird was well blended into the background.

I'm BACK!!!!!

Hello everyone!!!! Wow I've been gone for awhile haven't I. Well it couldn't be helped I'm afraid, working two jobs just took the time away from my photography. Not only that but my old computer crashed and we had to get me another one. That took some time and money LOL....but I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I will be leaving my second job at the end of April....managed to get rid of a very large bill, so I will have my weekends back. Yay!!!!!

I hope all is well with all of you which I'm sure it is. Here are some lovely spring flowers for all of you to admire. I've managed to get Photo shop and I'm practicing with some new techniques.
In the picture above (forget-me-nots) I did an application using a interesting application that makes your picture look like it's sinking into the page...drawing your eyes into the subject matter. I love the results I got with this.

In the middle shot I took a lovely picture of a Tulip Tree, white blossoms against a blue sky...a lovely affect indeed. But using this beauty I then added to it giving the outer petals of the flowers and stems a dreamy feel and texture.

Finally I gave COLLAGE an honest attempt with some lovely spring flowers I found in the forest last week. Yes I noticed a gray spot that I didn't fill, but I'm happy with the results. Very fresh I think.

Goldstream Park Part 2 ~ The Sands Of Time

Time what a precious commodity...like sand in an hour glass it just slips through your fingers so fast that you can't believe that it has slipped by you. I'm finding that now that I'm working two jobs...good intentions end up being put on the shelf for later. I've started a new job at the hospital I now work 8-1600 Monday to Friday, I'm in my second week there and I'm defiantly going through brain melt...it should subside soon though as things are starting to click in my brain with working between two data bases and 8 Excel spread sheets!!! Where I input data from one system into another. Wow!!!! allot to learn...but I've always been up to the challenge...just exhausting that's for sure. So since my new job is 90% Computer work now coming home and sitting in front of another one has not been a motivator for me that's for sure. For my post today I have finished my day at Goldstream for you...with I believe some lovely pictures of song sparrows and some scenic shots I hope you enjoy them.

Thank you Laura from Wildenblue Farm Journal

I would like to take the time today to say A Warm Thank you to Laura http://wildenbluefarmjournal.blogspot.com for this wonderful surprise and lovely award. What I find amazing about blogging is the people you meet and get to know here. I have met some very amazing, talented and wonderful people...people who somehow manage to make me smile, laugh out loud and cry. So with warmth in my heart I gladly pass this award to 6 other blogs who have inspired me and shown me a level of friendship I could never forget.

The rules of this award-

This award is bestowed onto blogs that are exceedingly charming.

These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.

They are not interested in self-aggrandizement.

Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.

Deliver this award to 6 bloggers who must choose 6 more and include this cleverly writen text into the body of their award.

I will pass this award to six blogs that I find exceedingly Charming.

Carol ~ http://carolmattinglyphotogrphy.blogspot.com

Chrs ~ http://photonature.blogspot.com

Cinner ~ http://memyfourchinsandi.blogspot.com

John ~ http://midmarsh.blogspot.com

Frank ~ http://fabearlybirder.blogspot.com

Shelley ~ http://shelleyslens.blogspot.com

I hope those of you who follow my blog take the time to check out these lovely blogs, they all have touched my heart in one way or another. The world is may be large but in the same breath can be viewed as small and precious. Blessed be to one and all Hugs Crista

P.S a warm hug to you Laura for your lovely and wonderful blog that I come and enjoy frequently :)

My Day Off ~ Bonus It Was Sunny!! ~ Dipper Shots

Wow finally I have managed to get out and get some new shots. I have been going crazy not being able to blog!!! Our weather here has been awful lots of wind and rain not a good combination for picture taking. Plus with my work schedule I have been stretched to the max to say the least. Thankfully today on my one day off this month I was able to get out and putter around. My family went to Goldstream Park for the morning, it's the fall salmon run now so I thought I would see if there were any Bald Eagles around. I did see some but they were too far away for a good shot. But instead I saw this little dipper. For those of you who are not familiar with this little bird I will give you a little blurb for you now. This little bird swims!!! Yes and catches food underwater, they also love the salmon run and swim under the water to catch the salmon eggs. In the first shot you can see the lovely little egg in it's beak. Yes I was in the right place at the right time!!! I couldn't believe my luck. I managed to get some lovely shots of the park and I look foreword to posting them this week. Ahhhh nice to be back...enjoy the pictures

Rainy Days And My Work Schedule

Well it's hard to believe that I haven't posted since last week Tuesday...Time flies doesn't it. Unfortunately our weather here has been the typical Coastal weather as of late. Heavy rain on the days I have time to go out and take some pictures. Beautiful sunshine like today when I have to go to work. Sigh..... This is where I get a little frustrated and I apologize to all of you who follow my blog. I'm hopeful that this Sunday I will have the opportunity before I head in for a 12noon work start to at least get in a walk and see what our high winds and heavy rains have done to change natures environment...but until then my friends I will be checking in on all of you instead and try to catch up with what has been happening in your worlds. Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!!

Blue Heron Caught In Willow Tree

When I was at Beacon Hill Park the other day I spotted this Blue Heron in a Willow tree having a nap. It didn't take long for the Heron to wake up and I tried my best to get as close as possible to get a decent snap of this wonderful bird. I have in the past tried to get good shots of them, but my light wasn't very good or they were too far away for my camera. I'm happy with the shot I got of this magnificent bird. I went back to work yesterday...man was it hard after being off sick for a week. I got tired fast and easy and it was smokin busy. Life on a Surgical floor...Tonight I will catch up will all of you and see what you've been up too. Till then have a wonderful day everyone!!!

Beautiful Images of Beacon Hill Park In Victoria B.C

Since I have been posting so much on birds, I felt a change was due. Here are some wonderful shots of our Large local down town park. It's name is Beacon Hill and it's quite a large area containing lovely gardens, water features, old bridges, birds and just a feast of things to look at while your wandering around. Enjoy what our city offers and the beauty it holds.

A Fresh Kill ~ Cooper's Hawk

Yesterday I couldn't stay in the house for 5 more minutes!!! I have been couped up in my house since Tuesday last week and I couldn't resist heading outside for a small walk. Was I ever rewarded!!! A Cooper's Hawk had just done a fresh kill. Please don't ask me why I was able to get this close, but I'm thrilled with the result I'm able to post for you today. The pictures unfortunately are in the wrong order...but I don't think it really matters. I left most of the gross shots out...the first shot is as gross as I wanted to get. Not appealing seeing a kill...but the beauty and power with this bird is breath taking and I wanted something this dynamic for my blog. Nature isn't nature without the realization that in order for some animals to live others must die. Sad yes I can't say I wasn't affected by this kill...I'm a very sensitive person so I felt it from beginning to end.

My Yard ~ American Golden Finches And A Fall Image

Lately I've been having an abundance of birds at my feeders...yes fall is here and my suet feeders and seed feeders which weren't used that much this summer are now so busy I'm filling the seed feeders twice a day now. Yesterday we had our real first heavy rain fall, the rain drops were as big a quarters the poor birds were extremely soggy yesterday but still stayed out in the rain to feed as much as possible since no bugs would be found on such a wet day. Visitors to my feeders were: Downy and Hair Woodpeckers, Bushtit's, American Golden Finches, Red Breasted Nuthatches, Chickadee's, Junco's, Sp0tted Towhee's, and Golden Crowned Sparrow. We also had some House Finches, and House Sparrow. Unfortunately it was very dark and too wet for me to hide outside to get all of this activity I'm sure all of you would have loved some great shots of this excitement in my yard. I sipped hot coffee and sat at my window seat enjoying the view. I also finished a book yesterday.....oh yes I still work weekends but I'm home this weekend sick...I have a suspected case of H1N1 and I won't be cleared to go back to work until sometime next week. Anyhoo enough about me...have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

My Thanksgiving Walk ~ The Forest Floor..Beauty in the Smallest of Things

Well today is about the small the beautiful, it's about fungus and what it does with the decaying wood on the forest floor. Living and helping with the decomposing process. Providing nutrients to the soil for the other trees to absorb in the spring. I love the simple things in life...the things overlooked and taken for granted. Our forest are our largest resource and provider of the oxygen that we breath and the homes for our animals. Our forest and all that live there should always be something we stop and look at and not forget about. Something we should always protect.....our future depends on it.