Jim Pottkotter
@HappyPixr
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Inspired by photography - Healed by nature - Loved by friends and family - Very happy. All photos © Jim Pottkotter. All rights reserved.
Tennessee
Joined October 2013
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The male northern cardinal is known for its striking red plumage, making it one of the most recognizable birds in North America. After the breeding season, they undergo a molt, replacing their feathers and showcasing their stunning plumage in late fall and winter.
#birds
#nature
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Although I've seen many American Kestrels, most fly away if I get within 200 feet. But this one stayed rock-steady on the tiny perch, and I got a profile of him warmed in the soft colors of the setting sun with the reflected cool blue of the sky on his back.
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I was coming back from a disappointing afternoon of birding when I saw this Great Horned Owl in a distant tree. I knew I would only get one shot. The light was gone, so I used every trick in the photographer's book to get this photo. I was so excited because I see very few owls.
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This is by far the happiest-looking Tree Swallow I have ever seen. I was on a balcony looking around for birds to photograph when he landed below. I quickly took a few shots but was in such a hurry that this is the only shot that came out. Thankfully, it was also the best.
#birds
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Sometimes I "think" a bird is watching me, but in this case, I was sure of it. This male Northern Cardinal landed behind one tree and then another, occasionally peeking out at me. It was brief, so at first, I wasn't prepared, but I was ready the third time and captured this shot.
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The Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker was my spark bird, the species that got me into birding. Every time I see one, it rekindles that original excitement, but it landed on the other side of the tree "as usual." I held my breath until it came around, and I got this shot.
#wildlife
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Sometimes I get photos that look like the bird is posing, but not every time. This male Painted Bunting landed facing away from me. I clicked out of reflex and quickly got a couple of back shots not worth sharing. Thankfully, he turned to face me just before he took off.
#birds
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I was surprised to find this Tricolored Heron in cloudy water because there was an alligator nearby. The heron was in low light, but very still, as I photographed him. Later I noticed the surreal reflection of the surrounding vegetation.
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#photography
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I stopped periodically along a dirt road, and at one place, I saw this male Indigo Bunting gleaning insects. He was behind the limbs and leaves most of the time. I was tempted to get any shot I could and risk scaring him off, but I waited for this one.
#birds
#naturephotography
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I got up early one morning to go birding in the desert and was fortunate enough to see several birds. The one that stood out the most was this Vermilion Flycatcher. He's puffed out a little due to the chilly morning. The sun was up, but not high enough yet to warm the air.
#birds
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Occasionally I see some bird, usually a Blue Jay, chasing a Barred Owl or hawk in flight, but it's been a challenge to capture that behavior. Here is an example of a brave Northern Mockingbird about to pounce on a Barred Owl, fussing all the way.
#birds
#photography
#wildlife
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I headed to a spot to be in nature, not planning to concentrate on birds. However, I took my camera just in case. When I stopped at a picnic area, I found this Western Tanager. I could tell he was used to people because he didn't fly away until I got this shot.
#birdphotography
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My granddaughter (4), likes bird photos and is learning their names. Yesterday she went birding with me and saw several birds, including this Red-headed Woodpecker. She learned to be quiet and walk slowly towards the birds. This is the photo she suggested I share with you.
#birds
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I was sitting quietly watching for birds when this Ruby-crowned Kinglet showed up. I got a couple of quick shots, but soon he was way too fast to follow as he started gleaning insects. His red tuft started going down and was no longer visible by the time he left.
#naturelovers
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I watched Tree Swallows swirl in the sky at the edge of a lake. The sun was setting across the lake so catching one in flight was out of the question as I would be shooting into the sun. I went birding in the area and came back at dusk to capture this perched female.
#wildlife
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I moved quickly as soon as this Steller's Jay landed. I had to back up a bit to get his whole body in the composition, knowing I wouldn't get a second chance. Their long body and tail make them challenging to frame up in the photo. As soon as I got this shot, he flew away.
#birds
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It had been raining off and on all day, but I decided to go birding anyway. I was some distance from the car when it started to rain again. Just then, this Tricolored Heron landed nearby. I didn't want to get my camera wet, but I stopped long enough to get this shot.
#birds
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I stood in a large open area, deciding where to go next, when this male Acorn Woodpecker landed on the other side of this pole. I knew better than to chase him around and patiently waited. He hopped into view after a while, and I got this shot just before he took off.
#birding
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I spotted this Red-tailed Hawk with the sun high in the sky. It nearly blinded me several times as the hawk crossed between me and the sun. I was just about to give up when he crossed one more time, and I was relieved to finally get this shot.
#raptors
#flying
#NaturePhotography
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When you're in the Pileated Woodpeckers range, look for these birds near water. Every one I've seen was near a river, lake, swamp, or creek. Also, listen for their shrill call. That's how I found this one, and he continued calling even after he spotted me.
#nature
#photography
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As I walked along a waterway, I found more butterflies than birds. One was this Common Buckeye. I only come across one or two a year and often find they are beaten up and not very photogenic, so I was excited to find one in great shape.
#Butterflies
#naturephotography
#insects
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Intensely-colored birds such as this Indigo Bunting look good in all habitats, but I think his plumage really pops against a green background. That's why each encounter is such a treat, no matter how brief. This one stuck around just seconds.
#naturephotography
#birdphotography
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The Pyrrhuloxia, a unique bird of the desert southwest and Mexico, is closely related to the Northern Cardinal. This male seemed comfortable at first but only stuck around for a few seconds. Fortunately, that was enough time to get two shots before he was gone.
#birdphotography
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We had heard the exciting calls of Pileated Woodpeckers in an area, and the next day my wife discovered their nest. Later, she showed me the location, but they weren't there. Suddenly, the female stuck her head out of the hole. I got a few shots, and we quickly left.
#birds
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Sometimes I don't understand why a bird's plumage looks a certain way until I see it in an environment where it clearly makes sense. That was the case with this female Downy Woodpecker. But for those who click the photo, what else do you see?
#birdphotography
#wildlifephotography
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A park ranger noticed me photographing birds and asked me about my work, experience, approach, and birding behavior. After I answered all of his questions, he directed me to this nest of young Florida Red-shouldered Hawks at sunset.
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I looked at several places in the woods and eventually found one that looked promising. In a few minutes, this sweet little Red-breasted Nuthatch came along. It looked like he was a shy bird peeking out from behind the pine needles. Too cute.
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#photography
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The Painted Bunting loves trees with dense foliage, perhaps unaware that he will never blend in. This one landed looking away, so I held my breath and waited for him to turn around just enough to get this profile photo before he flew away.
#birds
#NaturePhotography
#wildlife
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When I first saw this bird, it was so far away that I couldn't tell what it was. As I got closer, I could see he was an Orchard Oriole, upside-down half of the time as he looked for insects. Moving slowly, I finally got close enough to get this shot.
#wildlifephotography
#nature
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I was trying to photograph this male Ruby-crowned Kinglet, but he was moving at high speed in search of food. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a Mockingbird fly by. The little kinglet noticed him too and stopped briefly before quickly moving on.
#birds
#nature
#MondayMotivation
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This male Vermilion Flycatcher was on an old stump in a field of massive Cottonwood trees about 75 feet away. The bird was stunning against this all gray setting, but when I approached, he flew away. I retreated and he returned. That's when I got this shot.
#birds
#ShareYourLight
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I was driving along a back road when I saw this Cooper's Hawk intently watching a large open area. My presence didn't seem to interrupt his concentration, so I got out and snapped this photo before continuing on my way.
#nature
#wildlife
#photography
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Near a trailhead, I came across a pond with lots of reeds and tall grasses. I was immediately on the lookout for birds. As I rounded a bend, I saw this Great Blue Heron statue-still, standing on one leg. He was some distance away and didn't move as I raised my camera.
#wildlife
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I was watching this Great Blue Heron striding towards the reeds and assumed he was seeking cover. But then, there was that telltale crouch that indicated he was about to take off. I started taking photos and captured him just as he was leaping into the air.
#wildlifephotography
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Birds like water, so when I positioned myself near dense brush along the backwaters of a river, I was reasonably expectant. After about 30 minutes, this Yellow Warbler came through, working each leaf and limb for insects. When he paused in front of me, I got this shot.
#wildlife
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From a distance, the Pyrrhuloxia looks a bit like a female Northern Cardinal. While they are related, this desert songbird has a larger crest and a parrot-like beak. I found this one calling, but they are very skittish, so I had to move slowly to get this shot.
#birdphotography
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Imagine that you've found the perfect place for a picnic and have set the table. Just as you are about to sit down and enjoy lunch, you see a harmless Rough Green Snake stick it's head out of a hole in the table. What would you do?
#snake
#reptiles
#wildlife
#naturephotography
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I've observed the Belted Kingfisher in multiple states, but getting a good photo has been infuriatingly difficult. They are skittish and fast, so many successful photos are taken from blinds, but I got this pic by slowly approaching the bird.
#birdphotography
#nature
#wildlife
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I usually don't crop off part of the bird or even photograph birds with commercial food, but I made an exception with this stunning male Golden-fronted Woodpecker. I love the way it shows the fantastic colors and details of this bird. I hope you like it.
#birds
#naturelovers
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This is one of the tightest close-ups I've gotten of the Pine Siskin. These busy birds are in perpetual motion, usually twittering all the time. They seem to forage constantly, but fortunately, I caught this one in a two-second burst of shots as he paused between branches.
#birds
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The Lazuli Bunting is a bird of the western states. I have seen them in large bushes, but this one was in a Cottonwood tree with branches lower to the ground than usual. He was moving from branch to branch, inspecting each leaf. This was the best shot I got.
#wildlifephotography
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I could see this male Painted Bunting on the far side of a tree, but there were several limbs in the way. I slowly worked my way around to the left, hoping he would not fly off. It was a distant shot, but I finally got him almost clear.
#birds
#nature
#wildlife
#photography
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When the sun is within a couple of hours setting, I get progressively excited. Those are the famed golden hours when the light softens. If I do see something special, there is a chance I'll get a good shot. That's how I got this Red-bellied Woodpecker.
#birds
#wildlifephotography
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I often see the Ruby-crowned Kinglet whenever I'm in its territory. It zips through the trees, gleaning insects along the way. I usually have just seconds to get a photo before it's gone, so I was excited to find this shot while I was reviewing pics after a day of birding.
#birds
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This Blue-gray Gnatcatcher had come and gone several times in an area I was watching for birds. Each time it was a frenzied trip through leaves and branches. After several disappointing shots of him obscured behind some part of the tree, I finally got this keeper.
#wildlife
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In every birder's life, there is that magical moment when a new bird flies by, followed by the rush to see where it lands and the fear of never seeing it again. That pretty much describes how I felt when I saw the Green Jay in South Texas.
#birdphotography
#naturephotography
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When I saw this male Lazuli Bunting, I was in a panic to get his photo. This is my favorite bird, so I was holding my breath, hoping that he would not fly away. It took all the discipline I had to SLOWLY turn my camera towards him and click the shutter to get this shot.
#birds
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I had decided to go birding in the late morning even though the light is usually too harsh. It was cool, but the sky was clear, and the sun was bright. Fortunately, I briefly saw this Mountain Bluebird. He was in just enough shade to soften the shadows.
#birding
#naturelovers
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I like to photograph birds on an open perch with a clean background, and I was frustrated because everywhere I turned, there was a tangle of brush and small trees. Of course, none of that mattered when this Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay landed on a nearby stump.
#nature
#photography
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I saw a Northern Flicker digging in the distance and slowly approached as he flew up into a tree. When I got closer, I could tell it was a Yellow-shafted male. He wasn't skittish, and after a while, I caught him in this light.
#birds
#birding
#nature
#wildlife
#naturephotography
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The Gila Woodpecker is limited primarily to southern Arizona in the US and depends heavily on the massive Saguaro Cactus. This distant male on the upper part of a 30-foot Saguaro was my first glimpse of the Gila and the only shot I got of it that day.
#birds
#photography
#Arizona
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I had just photographed another bird when this Pine Warbler came through and landed on an adjacent Pine Tree. They move more slowly than other warblers, digging for insects and pine seeds. He soon flew up to probe the upper limbs for more food.
#birds
#wildlife
#naturephotography
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I visited a park and one of the first birds I noticed was this Blue Jay. He seemed to be used to people, watching closely to see if I had anything to eat. Unfortunately, I didn't. I took this photo as he leaned in one last time before giving up on me and flying away.
#birding
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When I first saw this male Ruby-crowned Kinglet, he was moving at the speeds this species made famous. I swung the camera back and forth wildly, but I couldn't keep up. Finally, I did capture him in dense foliage, but his body was partially blurred by a limb.
#birdphotography
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I look for bright areas to capture birds in detail, but the Prothonotary Warbler often prefers dark or dim places. So, every time I find this bird in good light, I find myself talking to it, "Please don't fly away." Tell me I'm not the only one.😬
#photography
#SaturdayThoughts
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Vermilion Flycatchers will often rotate between a small number of trees, so when I saw this male in the distance, I waited patiently to discover his route. While he was away from his preferred perch, I positioned myself within camera range and got this shot when he returned.
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I was driving down a gravel road when I saw a small bird working a bush, gleaning for insects. It turned out to be this Blue-gray Gnatchater. His pose was a surprise. I wasn't expecting a staredown, but it does show off his most striking field marks.
#birds
#naturephotography
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Many people who feed birds eventually find that a Cooper's Hawk has captured a bird in their yard. It can be upsetting when the bird it captures is a favorite. And yet, it is part of nature, the circle of life. Have you lost a favorite bird in this way?
#raptor
#naturephotography
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I had been looking for birds when this male Western Tanager landed on the other side of a tree. I moved to the right just enough to get him completely in view. I thought he might fly away when he saw me, but luckily, he didn't seem bothered.
#naturephotography
#ShareYourLight
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I remember a week when I had spent so many hours in the field I was behind on everything except birding. The day wasn't over, but I was tired and decided to head back. Then this Yellow Warbler landed nearby. I perked right up and got a couple of shots before he took off.
#warbler
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I was content to listen to this male Red-winged Blackbird bobbing in distant thick reeds as he sang his evening calls, knowing I couldn't get a clear photo of him. Then he flew nearer and proceeded to call with such passion I almost forgot to get this shot.
#NaturePhotography
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I was waiting for another bird when this Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay landed nearby, but at an unfortunate angle. I couldn't get a shot. As if he read my mind, he jumped up on this rock and gave me a backward glance before flying away, leaving me with the best photo of the day.
#birds
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This male Red-winged Blackbird landed and fluffed his wings a bit just after sunrise. Other males were calling, but he was surprisingly silent. He changed positions a few times, glancing at me occasionally, but seemed content to hold his ground as the sun rose higher.
#birds
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The Northern Flicker is one of the beautiful birds that inspired me to learn more about birding, so I was excited to capture this yellow-shafted variety on the ground. It's not unusual to find one there since they like to feed on ants and beetles they dig up.
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I have a lovely photo of the Western Meadowlark on a clear perch, but think this shot is also compelling. I think he felt safer behind a few brambles and let me get within 20 ft. He sang his heart out, and it was a wonderful experience as sunlight lit his afternoon performance.
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It was a cool day, but the sun kept me warm, and the birds kept me going. I had been taking photos of common birds when this uncommon to me, Golden-crowned Kinglet landed nearby. I forgot about the other birds and grabbed a couple of quick shots before he took off.
#FridayVibes
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I had spent months trying to photograph my 1st Great Blue Heron. One day I spotted this one and I crawled on my belly through weeds and brush to get this shot. When I tried to get closer he noticed me and immediately took off with a squawk.
#birds
#nature
#naturelovers
#wildlife
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I found this male Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the spring as he was migrating to his northern breeding grounds. His mate was about, but she didn't come out to get a shot. I love this species and count myself lucky for each of the few times I've seen one.
#birds
#nature
#photography
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With his bright plumage against a green canopy, this immature male Bullock's Oriole wasn't hard to spot, but it was seldom in the open. I watched as he gleaned insects from the foliage with several branches in the way until he eventually presented a clear shot.
#naturephotography
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As I moved around one side of a small lake, I saw this Tricolored Heron walking toward me. It was quite a distance away, so I just froze, then slowly turned, so I faced the lake where the heron would pass. It seemed to take forever, but I finally got this shot.
#naturephotography
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I saw this male Mountain Bluebird on a downed tree and moved slowly towards him. He was stretching his wings and fluffing his feathers. Preening birds make good subjects because they are more relaxed, and it's an opportunity to catch one of their daily behaviors.
#birdphotography
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The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is known not only for its distinctive plumage but also for its calls. Both the male and female sing a lovely song. You can listen to their calls here and learn more about them.
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I was having a slow birding day. The skies were overcast, with brief glimmers of sunshine. I often look around for other parts of nature to photograph during those days. That's when I found this cute little Gray Squirrel with white ear tufts eating a mushroom cap.
#wildlife
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This Little Blue Heron landed in a small tree beside a narrow stream. It took him a bit to get a foothold on the tiny branches. When he turned back to check out the water I got this shot in the muted light of the larger canopy.
#birds
#birdsoftwitter
#nature
#wildlife
#Florida
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This backlit photo of a Hermit Thrush is a tough shot to get. When the background is lighter than the bird, the bird often gets lost in the picture. I hoped this one would come out into the light, but it never did and then flew away. At least I got this shot.
#nature
#photography
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This Tricolored Heron was in low light, and it was getting darker, but he was too good to pass up. I was concerned about scaring him away but decided to move closer. It turned out my concerns were unfounded. He was clearly focused on something else, and I got this shot.
#birds
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The Red-headed Woodpecker is still my granddaughter's (4) favorite bird. On a recent walk with her Nana, she proudly pointed out two Red-headed Woodpeckers, explaining that "Granddaddy taught me." Something tells me it's going to be my favorite bird too.
#family
#familytime
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It was not as difficult to find this Western Tanager as it was to get this shot. A man stopped and asked what kind of bird had a red head and yellow body. I happily answered him in exchange for the area where he sighted the bird. Then it was all about moving slowly.
#wildlife
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I was very contentedly photographing another bird when this Carolina Wren butted in. They are curious and often check you out if other birds are in the area. This one kept moving frequently but eventually paused just long enough on the side of this tree.
#naturephotography
#birds
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I remember saying "Wow!" as soon as I saw this male Hooded Warbler. I get excited over many birds, usually the one in front of my camera, but this bird took me to a whole new level. There's something about his bold markings and curious looks that holds my attention.
#naturelovers
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Knowing it was going to be a hot day, I got out early. I was excited to see this male Eastern Bluebird because his full summer breeding plumage is more intense than his winter coat. He paused just long enough for me to get this shot before we both moved on.
#NaturePhotography
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