We’ve been seeing this hawk so frequently around the neighborhood Cynthia’s given her a name. Violet.
Nut Raiders
Balloon Over Houston
There’s a tethered balloon at Discovery Green Park. It goes up 350 ft and back down again. The ride lasts about 10 minutes. A unique photo opportunity, not to be missed. Unless you’re petrified of heights.
George R. Brown through a fisheye lens
The George R. Brown via the Sigma 12-24mm.
Discovery Green Park viewed through the center of the gondola. Notice the ice skating rink. Also a fisheye shot
Minute Maid Park and two more via the 24-70 Zeiss
Nearby construction via the 70-300mm G.
Tora Tora Tora!
Wings Over Houston Air Show recreation of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Click any image to see larger version.
Backyard Birding Report Oct. 25th, 2009
A murder of very large, very loud and very clever crows have taken up station at the end of the block. Apparently there’s a pecan tree down there yielding some nuts. The crows are flying to the top of the neighbor’s house and attempting to crack the nuts using their beaks. When this fails they let the nut roll down the roof and into the street to be crushed by oncoming cars. It’s quite a site to see. At one point there were about 7 or 8 crows lining the peak of the roof and all had pecans they were working on. One by one they let skitter to the street below. I can only imagine what it sounds like inside the house.
Here Be Dragons
Trip To The Zoo
Weather was great so we headed to the zoo on Sunday. Always nice to see the animals. All these were shot with the new Sony A850 and the Sony 70-300G lens.
Wait A Minute Mr. Postman
I headed off this morning to go to Starbucks and grab a coffee in preparation for the day ahead. In the front yard there were feathers scattered across the lawn, an indication that something horrible happened to one of the many doves that frequent our yard. I assumed that a neighborhood cat had scored a tasty meal and hoped the day’s rain would wash the carnage away.
As I was returning home, having acquired the aforementioned coffee I spotted the neighborhood Cooper’s Hawk landing on the neighbor’s mailbox. I ran inside and grabbed the camera and managed a few shots before he spooked and flew away.
If you click the images below and examine the larger version you can clearly see feathers in his talons. Feathers that match the feathers that litter my front lawn. I guess this clears the neighborhood cats of suspicion in at least one bird death…