Reviving an old camera

My cameras are all point and shoots, so no great shakes here.  But in the next three months or so I'll be going on a big trip.  Trying to think about what bins I'll take and also considering taking two cameras.  My first Lumix was the FZ35, 12 megapixels with 18 mm zoom purchased around ten years ago.  I was surprised to be reminded how small and light it is - perfect for packing as a back-up or alternate.  I recharged the original batteries and they didn't seem to hold the charge. Purchased two new off-brand batteries and took it out for a test run this morning.     

All of these photos were taken for practice.  

Spring and fall robins are one of my favorite subjects.  

The great blue heron landed in a tree quite distant from where I was standing.

This is the time of year that interesting birds can frequently be found at Belle Isle.  Today, above and below, this solitary mallard with female features, but also with male features on his head, bill, breast, and back was perched on a log in Nashua creek.  All of the other male mallards were in their bright, new plumage.  Perhaps his molt is just slower.

For comparison, above and below, this solitary and plump female mallard was perched in the creek further along.

The Lumix FZ35 was the first point and shoot that gave me photos where I could really enjoy and appreciate the results and was probably responsible for hooking me into bird photography.  In 2009 I recall going to southern California for a conference and visiting a state park while there.  The photos I took are in an early entry of this blog and several still remain my favorites.  I've had my black-throated sparrow photo perched in a cactus from that trip pinned up in my cubicle at work all this time later.

Especially with the distant photos, I struggled with finding the birds (I missed a perched song sparrow  and a perched winter wren for not being able to locate in the viewfinder).  Where I think reviving this camera will really be helpful is with dragonfly photos.

Since I'm not doing any birding on my own

Again, from the NYT

State birds forced out of their states by climate change

And on the bright side ...

These photos were sent by a friend who found them on Facebook.    

The first photo appears to be real, as in unedited or unphotoshopped.  I can imagine this occurring and would be thrilled to get such a photo.

This second photo seems unreal.  If it's supposed to be a robin's nest, it's a little too tidy and not muddy enough.  And the nest basket appears too big.  This tiny operatic singer looks a little too staged.  But the photo is totally cute and I can imagine that it might happen in real life, albeit unlikely to be captured in a photo.

Really depressing, and more uplifting

1.  From the front page of the on-line 09/19/2019 New York Times:

Birds are Vanishing from North America

The number of birds in the United States and Canada has declined by 3 billion, or 29 percent, over the past half-century, scientists find.

2.  And something more uplifting from the on-line times 09/21/2019 NYT:

Sydney is for the Birds. The Bigger and Bolder, the Better.

From the 08/31/19 New York Times

A Rare Greenshank is Spotted in Russia

And just seeing now, from 02/09/2019:

A Rare Bird Indeed:  A Cardinal That's Half Male, Half Female

Crosswinds Marsh

In bloom now.

A first for me, Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha).  Of course, I had help to make the ID.  The downward curved abdomen and the big nose give it away.  

01/02/2024 addendum to Cyrano Darner above:  From Argia, journal of Dragonfly Society of the Americas, the January 1, 2024 blog highlights Cyrano Darner.

Not exactly a baby but small snapping turtle, maybe the size of a man's fist.  Even that small, I did not pick it up.

Above and below:  Sympetrum sp.

Magee Marsh photos

Monday, 05/20/19 was a cold, gray and a little windy birding day at Magee.  Definitely past peak in terms of numbers, but there was still a good number of birds around.  Plenty of these were not seen or did not pause for photos.  A super relaxing birding day.

Still trying to figure this bird out - female-type Bay-breasted vs. hybrid vs. still not alternate plumage filled-out.  The field marks that confuse me are the eye-ring, for a female bolder than it should be, the muted rufous flanks and the partial rufous cap.  Lower down are two photos of full-breeding male Bay-breasted.

Above and below:  Philadelphia vireo - the first I've seen in years and very welcome.

A little screech nicely tucked away from the crowds.

Monday was the day of the redstart.  There were a couple of black and orange males, but female and first spring male American Redstarts were everywhere.

Canada Warbler is a bird that's easily missed by me.  This was the first I've seen in a couple of years.

Singing male Bay-breasted Warbler.  I love that the bird is singing - a really tiny little song - and below.  Compare these photos to the first photo to see the confusing details of the bird in the first photo.

I love this photo of Swainson's Thrush just for the composition of it.  So typical of Swainson's.  I saw only one Gray-cheeked (I thought there would be many) and could not get a photo of that bird.  I would have loved to include here just for comparison.

Above and below:  Empid sp.  Alder, Willow, Acadian?  I was hoping to see Yellow-bellied, which is often possible at Magee, but no luck for me on this day.

Baby Great Horned Owl

Singing Song Sparrow - such a typical pose.

Is our Cedar Waxwing an under appreciated bird?

Warbling Vireo

Eastern Kingbird - I was surprised how few were around.  So difficult to get the eye to show up in this bird.

My best bird to photograph all day.  First spring male Yellow Warbler.  

Black-throated Blue Warbler.  For as little as I've been out, I've been fortunate to see many this spring.

Wilson's Warbler - so happy to see this bird.  Another that I can easily miss in any given year.

I really liked this little reddish Song Sparrow with tiny twigs in its bill and below with its typically alert stance and pretty face.  I think it may be a first spring bird.   

Above, female Blackpoll

Finally, there were a few Chestnut-sided around.  This was the most photographable.  I think it could be a first spring male.

Watering hole

From my yard over the past couple of weeks ... 

     American Robin

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird

My big miss was on Saturday when a male Scarlet Tanager stopped by and I didn't have my camera!  The chances of that happening again seem pretty slim.