Rainy Saturday

Today was a mostly rainy day with thunderstorms passing through. Sophie doesn’t care for rain, but she hates thunder. She wouldn’t go outside as long as she could hear thunder. Here she is looking out the door while I was in the yard. Settings were f/6.3, 1/80, ISO 400.

Trees with dark clouds passing behind them. Settings were f/7.1, 1/60, ISO 250.

The flock of Cedar Waxwings as a storm moved in. The shutter speed was slow but I like the effect of motion with the birds in flight. Settings were f/5, 1/50, ISO 250.

During the afternoon we had a pause between storms when the sun came out for awhile. I went out with the camera and Sophie was finally willing to come outside too. On the fence at the side of the yard I saw another Brown Anole, a female this time. Females usually have a white or light-colored stripe down the middle of their backs with sort of wavy lines around it. This is a side view of course, but it’s a dark brown female and the white line is pretty visible. Settings were f/7.1, 1/100, ISO 125.

The young male Brown Anole on the pool steps was out in the afternoon sunshine as well. Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 125.

He seems to think he’s getting to be a big guy now and flashed his dewlap a few times. Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 125.

Then he faced off against a fly that landed on the step near him–you can see how small this anole still is. He was considering grabbing that fly but it flew away before he could make his move. Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 125.

Friday Photos

Friday is here and our spring break from school has started. I’m looking forward to a week off. Out in the yard, the tomato plants are continuing to do well. Here’s one of the plants this afternoon. Settings were f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 250.

I didn’t realize how much the plants had grown since I planted them last Sunday, until I compared that photo to one I took of the same plant from almost the same angle on Sunday. It’s pretty surprising to see how much bigger that plant is in less than a week.

We have another tomato plant in a pot too. It’s a volunteer–a plant that came up on its own in the basil pot during the winter. I brought it in during the freezes and it survived, so I put it in a big pot just to see what would happen with it. It’s tall and spindly with some yellowing lower leaves, but the upper leaves are greener and better-looking, and a few blossoms have appeared on the plant. I have no idea what  kind of tomato plant it is, so I’m eager to see its tomatoes. Settings were f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 250.

The little Brown Anole was out on the pool step again today–definitely getting a bit more comfortable with me. Settings were f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 250.

On the fence at the side of the yard I came across a big dark male Brown Anole that I haven’t seen before. He was a very confident and assertive sort of guy, holding his ground on the fence, eyeing me calmly and flashing his dewlap to tell me this fence was his territory. You can get a good idea of the size of an adult male anole from this picture. The individual pieces of wood making up the fence are 3 1/2 inches across (about 9 centimeters), so you can see that if this anole’s tail and body were out straight, he would probably be about the width of 2 fence pieces. That would make him around 7 inches/18 centimeters long. Settings were f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 400.

Here’s a closer look at this anole. He is darker than the other ones I’ve been seeing lately, with tan and lighter brown markings. The bit of red at his throat is a little of his dewlap showing. Settings were f/6.3, 1/250, ISO 400.

And here he is showing his dewlap. Settings were f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 400.

I saw an interesting large black and red beetle today under the palm trees (where I haven’t yet refreshed the ground cloth and mulch). I don’t know what kind of beetle this is–I’ll try to identify it at What’s That Bug. Settings were f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 400. Edited to add that after checking around at What’s That Bug and BugGuide, this seems to be a Red Palm Weevil. Some of them are more solidly red with black spots, but I did see some with the mostly black body and red stripes like this one.

The last photo for today is Sophie. Settings were f/6.3, 1/640, ISO 200.

Thursday Photos

A few photos tonight after a very long day at work. Oxalis, a weed with shamrock-shaped leaves and yellow flowers, is growing here and there in the yard. In spite of being a weed, the leaves and flowers are pretty. Settings were f/7.1, 1/160, ISO 320.

Lantana is growing back on the side of the house where I had some planted last year. Settings were f/6.3, 1/125, ISO 400.

The only bird I was able to photograph today was this Grackle up in a tree, against the gray cloudy sky. Settings were f/7.1, 1/1600, ISO 30.

I was very pleased to see the young Brown Anole on the pool steps today. This little fellow sat calmly on a step for awhile as I took some photos, and even looked toward me once or twice without getting scared and running away. Settings were f/7.1, 1/200, ISO 250.

And last for today is Sophie, so happy I finally came home and went outside with her. Settings were f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 320.

Wednesday Photos

It’s Wednesday, so we’re past the half-way point to spring break next week! The tomato plants are continuing to thrive, and both plants have buds now. You can see the little buds on this one in the middle of the plant. Settings were f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 250.

This looks like the same slender young Mourning Dove I saw yesterday. Settings were f/8, 1/640, ISO 160.

The Carpenter Bees are still hovering around near the fence, but today I saw something different: a pollen-covered Carpenter Bee sitting on the fence. Settings were f/8, 1/320, ISO 160.

The Brown Anole on the palm tree was around again today. It seems to be getting accustomed to seeing me and isn’t so quick to run away. I’ve noticed this before with anoles, and it does make it easier to take photos when they’re willing to sit still! Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 250.

Another look at this Brown Anole. I’ve also noticed that anoles can be curious, poking out their heads to see what’s going on around them. Settings were f/8, 1/250, ISO 160.

Here’s the little Brown Anole on the pool steps. This anole is still very skittish when I’m around, but with time it may become more used to seeing me. Settings were f/8, 1/640, ISO 160.

I love this photo of Lulu in the grass. Settings were f/6.3, 1/320, ISO 160.

Sophie the bird-watcher. Settings were f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 250.

And happy Sophie out in the sun. Settings were f/8, 1/160, ISO 160.

Doves, Sophie, and the Moon

There were birds flying around this afternoon–Grackles, Crows, Mockingbirds, a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings, gulls–but none that stopped close enough for photos, except for a couple of Mourning Doves. I saw this Mourning Dove in a tree in the back yard. Settings were f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 125.

And this Mourning Dove was sitting on a wire out front. It looks smaller and slimmer than most of the Mourning Doves I see–compare it to the bigger, plumper dove in the photo above–so I suspect it’s a young bird. Settings were f/8, 1/140, ISO 160.

Here’s Sophie lying in the grass near the palm trees. The area under the trees is mostly cleared except for a few remaining weeds and some little palm shoots poking up. Soon I’ll finish clearing it out and put down new mulch. Settings were f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 125.

A little palm growing up through the mulch from last year. Settings were f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 320.

I saw a crescent moon in the sky when I stepped outside tonight. I went and got the camera and took a few photos. I didn’t really stop to think about the settings I’ve used in the past for moon photography so my photos weren’t quite what I wanted, but a little post-processing helped. Settings were f/5.6, 1/100, ISO 500.

One more photo of Sophie. Settings were f/8, 1/500, ISO 160.

 

A Few Photos on Monday

I had some errands after work and it was late when I got home, so just a few photos today. I went out to check on the tomato plants first, and they look sturdy and green and healthy. Settings were f/5.6, 1/250, ISO 125.

Then I checked around for the anoles. The Brown Anole in the palm tree was in its usual area when I saw it, a dark silhouette against the bright light. Settings were f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 160.

I went around to the other side of the tree and took a photo from that side, where there was a little more light on the anole and less brightness behind it. Settings were f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 320.

Over on the pool steps I saw the young Brown Anole that’s living there. This anole is more tan and brown, while the one in the palm tree has more gray and black. The colors and markings on Brown Anoles are different and distinctive, and after watching them for awhile it’s not hard to tell individuals apart. This little anole ducked down under the steps where I took this photo. I didn’t think about it then, but this would have been a good time to use partial metering for exposure. Settings were f/6.3, 1/125, ISO 125.

A tree branch with new buds opening. Settings were f/5.6, 1/640, ISO 125.

And some palm fronds in the sun. Settings were f/5.6, 1/500, 1/125.

Sunday Photos

Today I put the two new tomato plants into the big pots we used for the tomatoes last year. I changed the soil in the pots, put in the new plants, and watered and fertilized. The plants are looking nice and healthy, and I hope they do well. Settings were f/7.1, 1/250, ISO 1250. (I had automatic ISO on for awhile today and this area was mostly shady at the time, which accounts for that ISO number.)

Sophie helped me by vigilantly surveying the yard for intruders while I was working. Settings were f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 160.

Lulu had a more relaxed approach. Settings were f/5.6, 1/50, ISO 400.

A branch with bright green leaves in the sun against a bright blue sky. Settings were f/7.1, 1/640, ISO 160.

This Grackle caught something in the grass and was looking very possessive of its prey! Settings were f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 800.

Saturday Assortment

It rained most of the day today. This Cardinal was sitting in a little tree in the rain. Settings were f/6.3, 1/200, ISO 400.

After most of the rain was over a Ground-Dove arrived in the yard. The Ground-Dove is a small dove with a scaled-looking head and neck, and a orange beak with a black tip. The blue-gray tint to the back of its head and neck seems to indicate that this one is a male. Settings were f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400.

I saw a few anoles today too. The Brown Anole in the palm tree was peering out at me when I went by with the camera. Settings were f/6.3, 1/160, ISO 320.

There is a young male Brown Anole living around the pool steps. I often see it there but haven’t been able to take any photos until now because it’s so quick to dart out of sight. In this photo it had run down into some dead grass–you have to look carefully to spot it. Settings were f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 200.

The young Brown Anole then ran up one of the posts of the pool steps and I was able to get more photos. Compared to the big tan male I saw the other day, this little guy is much smaller. The chevron-shaped markings on its back show that it’s a male, and it’s raising a slight crest along its neck and back as a territorial display. Settings were f/8, 1/320, ISO 200.

A closer look at the young male Brown Anole. Settings were f/8, 1/200, ISO 200.

I’ve spent some time lately cutting and pulling vines off the fences because they can quickly grow out of control. But the vines can look pretty too, like these behind the shed. Settings were f/6.3, 1/500, ISO 320.

Last spring I got two Super Sweet 100′s tomato plants and put them in large pots. They were very successful, producing a steady crop of sweet cherry tomatoes from late spring until New Year’s. I went out today looking for Super Sweet 100′s plants and found them in the third store I checked. I got two new plants which will go into the large pots as I soon as I get some new soil. Here’s one of the plants. Settings were f/8, 1/320, ISO 200.

This plant already has some buds on it. Settings were f/6.3, 1/320, ISO 320.

The big pine tree at sunset tonight. Settings were f/3.5, 1/40, ISO 400.

And here’s Sophie looking pink/purple in the light from the setting sun. Settings were f/3.5, 1/15, ISO 800.

Friday Photos

Another Brown Anole showed up today, a big handsome tan male who was posing on top of a fence post. He looks very much like a big male Brown Anole I used to see all the time in the same area a couple of years ago, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one is a descendant of that anole. Settings were f/7.1, 1/260, ISO 200.

Another look at the Brown Anole. Settings were f/7.1, 1/125, ISO 200.

We don’t know what breeds of dogs went into Sophie’s mix. She was an unwanted stray puppy wandering in our neighborhood when we adopted her 5 years ago. She’s turned out to be an intelligent, sweet, funny, affectionate, happy dog. From some angles, like this photo, she looks like she has some Pit Bull in her. Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 200.

From other angles, like this photo of Sophie watching a bird fly overhead, her face looks long and slim like a Fox Terrier or Jack Russell with terrier ears. She has spots like a pointer, and a tail that curls up over her back like a northern breed of dog. She’s a unique combination and we’re lucky to have her. Settings were f/7.1, 1/2000, ISO 320.

Birds, an Anole, and Dogs on Wednesday

I saw the Carolina Wren again today. I always enjoy seeing this pretty little bird and hearing its song. Settings were f7.1, 1/800, ISO 160.

I love the way it throws its head back to sing. Settings were f/7.1, 1/800, ISO 160.

There were Mockingbirds around today too, several of them watching and chasing each other. Unfortunately none of them was the friendly Mockingbird I saw every day for so long. This Mockingbird was looking down from the little tree with the intensity of a hawk. Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 400.

This is the same bird looking upward with the same intensity. Settings were f/7.1, 1/160, ISO 200.

A Mockingbird sitting on a wooden post. Settings were f/7.1, 1/320, ISO 200.

Now that I’ve seen a few anoles around I’ve been checking their favorite locations every day. The Brown Anole was on the palm tree again today. The Brown Anole has a shorter, heavier head and a stockier body with patterned markings, while the Green Anole has a more slender and almost solidly colored body. Settings were f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 400.

My happy girl Sophie. Settings were f/5.6, 1/400, ISO 200.

And here’s Lulu looking sad with a mosquito on top of her head.  The mosquito is on the left as you look at the photo. Settings were f/7.1, 1/160, ISO 200.