So, since, I received my new camera, I’ve been practicing. So far, I’m still just using the Auto Mode, trying to figure out all of the features. I’m only about halfway through reading the book. Steve and I are both very interested in learning more about digital photography and particularly in wildlife photography. Here are some of my “practice shots”. I’m sure that this camera is making me a better photographer than I really am. Here is the camera that we are working with.
So, on to the photos








Steve’s favorite, the White Breasted Nuthatch.
I’ve been really pleased with the camera so far. It’s been really neat to try and get some good shots. Woodpeckers and nuthatches have been the most difficult to photograph. I was trying very hard to get a photo of the Red Breasted Nuthatch, but he was just too quick. My ultimate goal for this summer is to get a few shots of our Ruby Throated hummingbirds. Sparrows are pretty easy. They really aren’t afraid of us. They’ve been great for practicing. They also actually look really beautiful, also. It is pretty easy to overlook them at the feeder for the more flashy colorful birds, but they are really interesting.
I also saw the Eastern Towhee again yesterday. He was in the hoods doing the double scratch in the leaves just behind the feeders and red shed. I was able to just barely photograph him. He was a little far off for the zoom on the camera and I didn’t want to try and get closer and scare him off. The interesting thing is that this is the exact same place I spotted him in last year. I wonder what is so great in these leaves? Here is the picture I got, not my best work, but you can clearly see his “orange/brown” sides.

We also did a bunch of work outside yesterday. We bought a couple new Shepherd’s hooks to hang our nectar on for hummingbirds and orioles. We also added some annuals to the flower bed near the red shed, planted annuals in the “stump”, tried to revive one of our juniper bushes that has failed to thrive, and mulched the flower bed. Here is a shot after the work was done.

