Janet Brien's photos with the keyword: flying

Visiting a garden for photography means more than taking pictures of flowers. There are plants, leaves, and interesting landscaping elements too. But the biggest reward might be capturing an insect in flight! I was taking a picture of the Coral Bell flowers when a bumble bee zoomed in for some nectar. I managed to get this shot, and even though the focus isn't razor-sharp, I felt it was such a great angle that I thought it was worth processing and sharing with all of you! :)

6 more pictures in notes above! This morning I let the dogs out as usual and got their breakfast ready before calling them back inside. Only, when I opened the door, there were no dogs waiting for me. I called. No dogs. I yelled. No dogs. I took Pumpkin (my parrot) back upstairs and put her in her cage, and went out and went looking for the dogs, calling the whole time. Where could they be? I had my suspicions. Molly, our Border Collie, was the one who got them into mischief. It's always been something very stinky and very dead. I was not amused. After going around our lower forest and making my way up to our granite valley, I suddenly found Zoe, our Boxer, charging gayly in my direction, followed by Moosie, our Basset. But no Molly. "Oh no," I moaned, "She's found something reeking and dead to roll in...please don't be that!!" We got back to the house and still no sign of Molly. I went around back and yelled again, and there she was at the edge of the meadow, making her way at an easy 3-legged lope with tail high. When she got to the house, I was very happy to find that she didn't stink! Hardly any burrs...but...oh Molly...she'd been eating something that was freshly dead, so I washed the blood off her face and feet and let her into the house. Looking out back, I saw some vultures flying around and then land near the place I saw Molly running back from. I thought I'd go take a look after lunch. I went with my camera, not to take any pictures of something gruesome, but hopefully to get pictures of the vultures. And WOW, did I ever!! My best pictures of vultures yet!! I walked slowly over to the place where the dead animal was and the vultures flew close enough that I could take many pictures. It turned out to be a young deer, probably hit by a car and died where it lay. Almost all of it was gone, so though it was sad that it died, its death meant that many animals were fed...including Molly! We have coyotes, bobcats, foxes, feral cats, and though I don't think any are right here, there are cougars and bears in our county too. I love living in this wild place, but it's not always kind and I no longer get so angry when an animal is hit by a car because there are so many hungry animals that need to eat. At least their death helps others to live. James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 – September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He is a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were as loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955), and as the surly ranch hand, Jett Rink, in Giant (1956). Dean's enduring fame and popularity rests on his performances in only these three films, all leading roles. His premature death in a car crash cemented his legendary status. Wikipedia: James Dean Explored on September 4, 2013. Highest placement, page 2.

4 pictures above in notes! (one of them was one I took a while ago, it's clickable) I was delighted that these birds flew close enough that I could get nice pictures with my 100mm lens! This text is from another picture I posted of a Turkey Vulture: Turkey Vultures are found all over North and South America, from Canada to the southern tip of Chile. They are scavengers and eat carrion exclusively, using their keen eyesight and sense of smell to find their prey. This bird has no ability to sing and call like other birds, and can only grunt or hiss! Turkey vultures raise a pair of chicks in the months between March and August depending on latitude (Here they raise babies between March and June). If you would like to know more about Turkey Vultures, Wiki has an extensive page here: Wiki: Turkey Vulture {Cathartes aura}

Who doesn't love hoverflies?! They are so beautiful and it's so incredibly cool how they can hover in place, perfectly still, and then, quick as a flash, disappear in a burst of speed! These insects are also known as "flower flies" because adults eat nectar and pollen for their diet. They are excellent mimics of bees and wasps, and are often mistaken for them, though hoverflies are actually harmless! :) Did you know there are over 6,000 species worldwide?! They range in size from smaller than a grain of rice to larger than a bumble bee! If you would like to know more about these super cool flies, Wiki has a great page here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoverfly

A bunch of the geese decided to take off, but instead of trying to get a picture of the geese, I thought it would be more fun getting a picture of Laura while she tried to photograph them! As it worked out, I got a picture of the geese too, yay! :) This image was taken during my trip to San Francisco during September 12-15, 2011.

[best appreciated at full size against black] Dedicated to my Flickr friend, Joe the Phographer , who keeps insisting that I take pictures of birds in flight! :D These don't fill the frame but I hope they count, buddy! :D Yesterday Steve and I did our yearly burn, where we gather up all of our grass clippings, and at least one of the brush piles that I made while cleaning up our property. After the fire dwindles, one of us needs to stay outside near the embers to keep an eye on it. I enjoy the chance to wander around, take pictures, listen to the birds, and watch our dogs playing. At one point I noticed a trio of Turkey Vultures flying around on the thermals above me, and took a bunch of pictures. Turkey Vultures are found all over North and South America, from Canada to the southern tip of Chile. They are scavengers and eat carrion exclusively, using their keey eyesight and sense of smell to find their prey. This bird has no ability to sing and call like other birds, and can only grunt or hiss! Turkey vultures raise a pair of chicks in the months between March and August depending on latitude (Here they raise babies betwen March and June). Last year I wrote a picture essay about our yearly burn which you might enjoy reading! Here's the link! Burn, Baby Burn If you would like to know more about Turkey Vultures, Wiki has an extensive page here: Wiki: Turkey Vulture {Cathartes aura}

[best appreciated at full size against black] I'm starting to play around with high shutter speed shots so I can take pictures of birds in flight. What better to practice on than the never-ending stream of birds that come to visit our bird feeders every day?! :D I've been getting some really great results, though I've also discovered this is an easy way to fill up a memory card with pictures!! :D This picture I really like because I managed to caprure a Lesser Goldfinch a split second before it took off! Stay tuned for some fun action-oriented collages and fun images! I would also like to give a big thanks to my dear friend Joe , who's been urging me to practice! Thanks Joe! I'm on my way! :) This image was taken in April, 2012. Explored on April 14, 2012.

While we were walking around one edge of the Upper Table Rock, I saw a hawk flying by, and I managed to get this picture! Not sure what kind it is though!

I was taking a look for signs of tadpoles at our pond when I heard the "Honk-Honk" of approaching geese. It's so nice of them to announce their arrival so I can prepare myself to take pictures! I think waterfowl are the Photographer Training Wheel Birds of Flight! :D These birds flew DIRECTLY overhead and then they turned in a circle to fly over my head again, and then AGAIN! I couldn't believe it!! I walked away from the pond in case they meant to land, but after the third pass they circled back the way they came. This is closest I've gotten to a flying bird before with my camera, and I could have almost filled the frame with one of these beauties!! So fantastic!! *high five to all of my amazing bird photographer buddies*

Yesterday was a lucky day for flying birds! I got a wonderful image of the turkey vulture I shared yesterday, and I also got several pictures of a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks that were circling on the thermals along the ridge line. I was delighted when they flew close enough to get some reasonable pictures! If you would like to know more about Red-Tailed Hawks, Wiki has a super page here: Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

As I made my way back along our ridge line, my quiet movement startled three vultures in a tree just 10 feet away. The sound of their wings was like sails flapping in the wind!! I watched them fly up and away, circling off into the distance, and it was a wondrous thing to see such enormous birds gliding on the thermals! Turkey Vultures are found all over North and South America, from Canada to the southern tip of Chile. They are scavengers and eat carrion exclusively, using their keen eyesight and sense of smell to find their prey. This bird has no ability to sing and call like other birds, and can only grunt or hiss! Turkey vultures raise a pair of chicks in the months between March and August depending on latitude (Here they raise babies between March and June). If you would like to know more about Turkey Vultures, Wiki has an extensive page here: Wiki: Turkey Vulture {Cathartes aura}

The other day I took some pictures of our lovely bearded irises and saw something huge fly by. How nice to be in the right place at the right time! I got several pictures of this bee on the iris, but this is my favorite, taken just as he lifted off for his next assignment! :D