Surprise .. BO

No, not that type of BO: It’s a Baltimore Oriole. I have been waiting for this photo for a long time. This Baltimore Oriole showed up while I was walking on the bike path near the Miami River (Farrington Reserve).

I had a difficult time getting a good photo. I would get a good photo lined up, and then he would jump to another location. The leaves are also making it harder to see birds now too. I just waited him out, and he continued to jump around until I was able to get a decent photo. I love the brilliant color, and the contrast. It was worth the wait.  

~ Rick  

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Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Hey, Red Head

I have been watching for a Red-headed Woodpecker for a long time, and I was finally able to get a good photo of one while I was participating in an organized nature hike at Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary.

The hike was a lot of fun, but this photo was the best part of the entire two-hour event. There was actually two of them, and I also saw a Pileated Woodpecker, but I was not able to get a photo. Sometimes you take what nature gives you, and just enjoy the experience. 

~ Rick

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 Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Tree Swallow

The swallows are so fun to watch. They fly in crazy patterns that resemble a bird that smoked something or had a little too much to drink. Seriously, they are fun to just watch. They seem to play tag, and just have a good time.

I have tired to photograph one for a long time, but on this day, this particular swallow just didn’t move much. It perched on this post, and just let me take photos. I always saw a Bank Swallows too, but they were not as wllling to be photographed. 

~ Rick  

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 Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Green or blue?

Saturday was a very cold spring day. Teresa and I stayed indoors most of the day, but later in the afternoon, we took a drive. After a short pass by the eagle nest just south of PIqua, we took a headed to Garbry Big Woods.

I have seen more variety of birds there this year than any time in the past. I don’t think there are any more species flying around the reserve. So what is going on? I think I am listening and watching more intensely. I am connecting with nature more deeply than before. Retirement? Maybe. Whatever, I am enjoying this time in my life. 

I was disappointed that there was some kind of social event going on and lots of noise. The birds were silent and out of sight. On they way out, we drove by this remote little pond. It’s not the one where everyone was fishing, and playing. I saw this large winged bird ... what was that. It looked blue, and graceful, flying over the water. I could not get a photo, and I felt frustrated. I drove a little further and started looking for it. Teresa was the 1st to spot him. I saw him, and focused my 600mm lens his direction. I cropped the image to get the above photo.

This is a Green Heron. Yes, green. I saw blue, but what can I say. I did learn one cool fact about this bird: They are one of the few types of bird that will use a tool! Yes, they often will drop bait on the surface of the water, then grab the fish it attracts. Cool. 

~ Rick

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Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright

Fix it in post ...

This silhouette is of a cardinal. The original photo was not great, mostly because of the position of the sun relative to the cardinal, and where I was standing. I just went with what I was given. Much like life, sometimes you are not given ideal situations for that perfect photo. 

So, when life gives you what looks like a dud, take the shot anyway .. fix it in post:).  

Apps used to produce this photo: Snapseed

~ Rick

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 Prints are available for many of the photos on this site on canvas, metal or glass. They are stunning and you can purchase them for a wall at home. Click the link or the ‘prints and such’ tab.

©2018 Rick Cartwright