My Ride & the Kestrel

Whoa! It has been a while since I have been out here working on the bloggishness of my site. Can I use that long b..... word? I will try to do some updating over the next several days and try to get more regular on blogging. Wanted to make sure what I was to be regular on! It also helps having our daughter out for four days at a camp (her first) so we will not see much of her until Wednesday. Hope she makes it through.

Back in June I was taking a little ride, a bit rainy and some wind out on the west side of the 'eola hills' from where I live in West Salem. Just ahead of me along Greenwood rd heading south I see two birds hanging by the side of the road. As I approach one flies off but the other kind of hovers by the road. I go by it and then turn around as I thought it looked like a little immature Hawk or something. After staring it down and having it retreat to the brush about seven feet from the road I felt better and kept peddling along. Still not sure what type of bird, but am sure it is a member of those 'Birds of Prey'!

As curiosity killed the cat so did this feathered friend spark my interest. So later in the day around 4:30 PM I drove back out to the area with some of my camera gear and would you believe it, the little bugger was sitting in a field across the road from the AM siting. So I walked along the road and got some shots and it was working its wings with the wind and flew off to a post close by my car parked on a side road. Then I just let the bird sit there on the post and it allowed me to get closer to it, until I was about 15-20 feet max distance from it. I was also shooting with a 70-200/f2.8 lens so didn't need to be super close!

Anyway after about five minutes the little fella tested it's wings and flew back across the road next to another field. That is where the other shot came in, as I was able to sit along the side of the road where the bird flexed its wings and made itself look like a big old monster....can you see it!

It eventually flew off to some small scrub oaks and blackberry vines near the field and away from the road so I packed up and headed for home. Upon return I was tring to figure out what the bird was and thinking a 'Sharped Shinned Hawk' or a 'Copper's Hawk'? Obviously in an immature stage but was not paying attention to markings on the head. Neither was correct, after looking at my birding books, the answer was right in front of me.....'American Kestrel'. Looks like it is in the immature stage and watching it learn to fly I would guess that to be true.

No harm came of this bird while capturing the images and I gave it as much space as needed so hopefully not to stress it. What a great day that was, and makes me appreciate those rare moments when I get a chance to be so close to something so beautiful. Oh yeah it was back on June 24th, I have ridden by there several times since but have yet to see the Kestrel or any of its other family. I took a bunch more shots but just sampling two out on the blog.

Tim -

Backyard Birds

Earlier I had posted about various birds that visit the feeders in my backyard and here I am wondering what the male House Finch is saying or asking the Female. Maybe something like, " Hey I know a great place for some bird seed.." or looking at his beak, she might let him know that he has a 'little something' on it and it looks embarrassing! More will be posted to my smugmug area that has the birds!

These little devils are starting to let me set up my gear outside and then I stand/sit and wait for a little while and let them get comfortable enough to come and eat and hang around the feeders. Some of the shots I have taken are from within the house so not only shooting through all the glass in the lens but also the window glass.....way too much glass.

So another little House Finch is hanging out on a plant trellis looking all cool and then "Poof"!

He makes his whole little body and feathers just pop out! Kind of like saying "How do you like me now! You want some of this?!"

Of course the equalizer in the whole show is when the friendly Cooper's Hawk comes around and sits on the feeders. Now he is looking for a free meal too, but most of the other birds that hang out for the free meals do not like becoming a meal themselves. I am not totally sure this is a Cooper's Hawk or possible a Sharp-Shinned Hawk? If you know, feel free to let me know.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!

Tim -

Upcoming

Hello family, friends and fellow countrymen! I will be getting some posts out, again about those little birds in the backyard. I need to sit down and unload the camera that is getting full on the disk. Also will be updating some of the "Smugmug" areas this week, energy permitting.

I also have a number of items that need to be outta the garage so will be posting not only to OBRA but also to this blog which will have pictures and prices included.

That's it for the moment, guess I should get back to my day job!

Tim -

Sunrise, Birds and shoot the Moon

Here we are just flying though June and I am sitting down to the once a week deal of an update to the page.

I spent a little time in May sitting out in front of my house shooting the moon! The neighbors did not seem to mind as it was actually me taking photos of the moon as it was working towards full. During the early and later part of May the moon made it to full so the later we call a 'blue moon'. I try to pick it up in various stages and with the longer daylight you have more sunlight from the setting sun to help light the moon. This moon shot is from the first week of May, and has been cropped in a bit to help show some of the craters. Sorry for being a bit out of focus, I should have used the remote trigger on this application. I am working on more of these shots to post to my regular "smugmug" account.

I also have some bird feeders off the deck in the back yard and they attract a fair number of finches, sparrows and other little birds to feed for free. This shot is a handful of the little feathered friends waiting their turn for an open space at the feeder below (out of shot).

It is also great to wake up in the morning and see where the sun is rising in proximity to Mt. Hood. I have some great view of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens from the deck, of course some of that is weather dependent. Here is a shot from a sunrise in May, if you like it you should check out some other sunrise shots in my 'smugmug' site. Just look for the links on the right of this page.

Well that will wrap it for the moment. Have to get something else done but can not remember what it is. Thanks for stopping in for a look.

Tim -

Memorial W/E - Silverton RR (5/27/07)

well this is a few days past but went to the Silverton RR to volunteer some time for the cycling sport and was a corner marshal on the back part of the 17 mile loop. A bit of chilly day with overcast skies and temps in the upper 50's to low 60's by mid-day.

I was only doing my part for the AM races and had Dave who races for OSU (beavers) was helping at this intersection with marshal duties. Races were pretty well smashed apart during the first lap except about 35-40 cat 4/5 men were able to stay together for all three laps. I found out later that there had been a pretty nasty crash with about 300-500 meters left. mulitple broken collar bones and one individual who was rushed to Silverton then life flighted to OHSU where he is making some a very good recovery the last time I checked. His name is Ryan McKnab and friends have set up a blogspot that you can check to see how he is doing. The blog location is ryanmcknab.blogspot.com if you get a chance put in a little prayer or send some positive vibes to PDX/OHSU and Corvallis where he and his spouse live.

I am going to post out a few pictures in the next few days of some of the general racing. I did take a few shots while some of the morning groups came by. Not much in the way of traffic so was able to get the 'ol trusty pentax out a get some clicks in.

Not much else for the moment...thanks for reading.
Tim -