Cold and Hungry!

Song Sparrow

F/8.0, 1/320, ISO 100.

Song Sparrow

Day 51 / 365

“Got any food? ”

Interesting Fact:   They recognizes enemies by both instinctual and learned patterns, and adjusts future behavior based on both its own experiences in encounters, and from watching other birds interact with enemies. ( http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/146/_/Song_Sparrow.aspx )

Here’s Looking At You, Kid!

Merlin

F/8.0, 1/125, ISO 100.

Merlin

Day 47 / 365

“I see you, and after you take that photo I am out of here ”

Interesting Fact: Merlin pairs have been seen teaming up to hunt large flocks of waxwings: one Merlin flushes the flock by attacking from below; the other comes in moments later to take advantage of the confusion. ( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/merlin/lifehistory )

Freezing And In Love!

gadwall

F/6.3, 1/320, ISO 1600.
Gadwall Duck
Day 45 / 365

Even on a frozen ocean you can find love today.

Interesting Fact: Gadwall sometimes steal food from American Coots and from other ducks.
( http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/gadwall/lifehistory )

Bonus Valentine Facts: 2. Valentine’s Day may have a rather gory history. As one variation of a popular myth goes, Claudius II, the Emperor of Rome, forbade young men from marrying because he wanted them as soldiers in his army instead. St. Valentine defied him and married people in secret, so he was executed on Feb. 14 in the year AD 269 – or so the story goes. ( http://m.ibtimes.com/valentines-day-facts-history-fun-ideas-free-burritos-singles-awareness-other-things-1813226 )

Bloody Hell!!!

Peregrine Falcon

F/6.3, 1/125, ISO 1600.

Peregrine Falcon

Day 39 / 365

Don’t Mind The Mess I Was Just Having A Snack!

Interesting Fact: Falcons are the swiftest birds of prey and are very muscular. In level flight the travel about 50 kilometers (31 miles) an hour.  In a dive, called a “stoop” they reach speeds over 300 kilometers (186.33 miles) an hour! ( http://www.powayusd.com/teachers/lharvey/falcon2006/facts.htm )

 

Check this!!!

Devils

F/5.6, 1/250, ISO 450.

Day 34 / 365

You don’t have to be crazy to play hockey but it does help.  🙂

Interesting Fact: The first player to accumulate more than 300 penalty minutes in one season was Philadelphia Flyer Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, who had 348 in 1974. The next year, he had 472 penalty minutes, still the most ever. ( http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0771579.html )

Jack Frost Knocking At The Door!

one way freez

F/14.0, 1/60, ISO 100.

Day 33 / 365

This sign had only one way to freeze..

Interesting Fact:  One story of the origin of the one-way street in the United States originated in Asbury Park, New Jersey. On 9 September 1934, the on-fire SS Morro Castle[10] was towed to the shore near the Asbury Park Convention Center and the sightseeing traffic was enormous. The Asbury Park Police Chief decided to make the Ocean Avenue one-way going North and the street one block over (Kingsley) in one-way going south creating a circular route. By the Fifties this cruising the circuit became a draw to the area in itself since teens would drive around it looking to hook up with other teens. The circuit was in place until the streets went back to two way in 2007 due to new housing and retail development. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-way_traffic )

This Duck Baffled My Head!

Bufflehead Duck

F/6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400.

Bufflehead Duck

Day 25 / 365

Freezing my bum off for an hour in one spot today paid off.    🙂

Interesting Fact: Buffleheads are highly active and will undertake dives almost continuously. One duck will serve as a sentry, watching for predators as the others in the group dive in search of food. ( http://www.withmephotographyblog.com/10-interesting-facts-about-the-bufflehead )

Show-Off!

American Kestrel

F/6.3, 1/125, ISO 400.

Day 24 /365

“I have very nice feathers and I like to show them off, so stop bothering me”.

Interesting Fact: American kestrels do not need to drink free-standing water. They get all the water they need from the moisture of their prey. ( http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=470372 )

Frozen!

great blue heron

F/6.3, 1/320, ISO 400.

Day 17 / 365

I feel bad for this heron, the lake is frozen. Imagine your refrigerator is empty and all the stores are closed.  😦

Interesting Fact:  Great blue herons have been known to choke to death by attempting to swallow fish too large for their long, S-shaped necks.  (  http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/great-blue-heron/ )