Reflection and life

It’s hard to tell where shore ends, and the reflection begins. Sometimes life is like that too. I will tell you one secret .. stick your toe in and you will know if it’s real, and when you are about to get wet. :)  

I find myself looking back on life, as if it is a big reflection. I remember my childhood days, and find myself reflecting on my parents often. There are some good memories, and then of course, times when I feel I let them down. We all have moments like that. The reality is, there were many good times in my childhood, and I am grateful for everyone of them.  

Then I reflect on my early years with my wife. We had four amazing sons. I was not a perfect father in the early days, I tended to lack patience and focus. I was not bad, but I could have been better. As I have aged (and boy, have I aged), I have a lot more clarity about what life is about.  

Reflecting is good, but what is important is the the ‘here and now’. Stick your toe in and enjoy every moment.  

 ~ 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

Mr Ugly is back ...

Stretching or cooling .. it was hot, so I am guessing this is a cooling strategy.  

It has been a while since I posted a photo of Mr Ugly, the Turkey Vulture. These photos were taken at several different county parks and reserves in Miami County. I just had to share. 

From the iBird app, a couple facts:  

“Turkey Vultures, like other carrion birds, are protected from disease associated with decaying animals by a very sophisticated immune system.” I have always wondered how they can avoid serious issue with the road kill they eat, after it rots in the heat for hours. And ... 

The ‘cast’ or ‘committee’, feasting on dried fish.  

“Like its stork relatives, it often defecate on its own legs, using the evaporation of the water in the feces to cool itself.” Now that is disgusting. 

And Teresa said this, “They are really a pretty bird, until you look at the head.” Yes, that is a quote. I will admit, they are beautiful flyers, but they are just ugly. And now that I know they need diapers, I am forever not a fan.  

~ 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

You can’t see me ..

We had a family get together in Springfield on Saturday. I took my camera so I could capture some special family photos.

Just to the west of Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary we saw this young dear standing in the road. She just watched as we drove closer, then darted into the tree cover. I figured she was gone, but she was just off the road, in the trees, watching us. Cute.  

 ~ 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

Carolina chickadee

I saw this Carolina Chickadee on a very early walk Friday.  I had about 2 seconds to get this photo before she flew off. I tried to get a second photo, but my experience has been to snap the first photo quickly, hoping for a good focus, and then try to get something better the second shot. As it turns out, this was the only photo I was able to capture of this beautiful bird (for now).

We are at the northern edge of how far this bird roams. If anyone has see one around here, I would love to know. Just email or post a comment.  

~ 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

Brown-headed cowbirds

This is the first time I have photographed a male and female brown-headed cowbird together. I was surprised when I saw them. Teresa and I were setting in the parking lot at the Garbry Big Woods Sanctuary and I caught a glimpse of the male as he flew to this tree. When I focused in with my camera, I caught this view.

A herd of Brown-headed cowbirds

I am not suggesting this birds is rare, it’s just the 1st time I have photographed a pair. I have several photos of a herd of cowbirds, but never a male and female together. (Yes, a group of cowbirds is called a herd). 

The cowbird is a brood parasite. They drop their eggs in the nest of other birds. “The cowbird eggs typically hatch earlier than their host’s eggs which gives them a competitive advantage over the other hatchlings. Some of the birds they parasitize remove the eggs from their nests or cover them with new nest material so that they are not incubated.” Amazing. (Reference to the iBird Pro Guide to Birds app)

~ 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