I have a Canon 100 to 400 and it doesn’t seem to reach far enough. It cost me a lot of money and I can’t afford another one. I do so need to get out and walk in the woods with it. Because it’s so heavy I tend to walk in the woods with my kit lens.
Loved this humorous observation. The ruby-crowned kinglet delights me every time, so tiny, round, quick, so curious about the human who stops to chat a while.
One of my favorites is our Pygmy Nuthatches. We might get excited about a hawk that has landed near the house for a short time, but the Nuthatches are consistent, familiar and fascinating to watch. Their busy, noisy family life that doesn't seem to care if I come closer to see them is a wonderful pause to my days.
Ohhh, I'm so delighted by this. Thank you, Abert Essays for dropping into this discussion. I never see Pygmy Nuthatches (plenty of red-breasted), around here but two or three times a year I find myself in Pygmy Nuthatch country and I am always fascinated by their busy and yet easygoing natures, as well. I'm smiling at the thought of it.
This made me laugh out loud. It makes me think of the contrast between conquest and kinship. Here where I live a rock climbers and mountain bikers and epic experience seekers like your alpha birder. I like to walk the same 2-mile loop twice a day with my dog and see how it changes the whole year round. And I have seen magnificent beings up close in the process. Thanks for your humor and for the little beings that you called to my attention.
"The contrast between conquest and kinship" - I so relate to this description. I also live in a place where there are many epic experience seekers, here in New Zealand. I am one of them I guess. But I am constantly stopping to notice the "little beings" as well as the big and obvious beauty. I actually wrote about my witnessing of the conquering just last week. 😊
Just now getting to read comments and OH! — yours! I’ve been covering the same ground almost every day for 10 years now. Sometimes the one mile version, sometimes two, or three or four or five, depending, but always the same fields, forest, river. To “see how it changes the whole year round”. Yes! I am in relationship with “my” place and the life forms that inhabit it, and so I actively look, and notice, and indulge my curiosity, and feel appreciation. Happy to know that you do as well.
Epic experience seekers; so few of them realize that holding a tadpole momentarily in a cupped palm full of pond water, or lifting a red salamander out of the trail to place safely beside the creek, or watching two crows skootch up next to one another on a branch to nuzzle and pair bond is really what some part of them seeks.
My first read of the morning David… I’m smiling broadly over my coffee here whilst watching a coal tit rip all the peach blossom to shreds… sadly I’m not an owner of any ‘Swarovski green birder regalia,’ or I’d snap it up on film, proof eternal of the reason we never have any peaches in summer.
I’ll just carry on grinning and watching the little bugger!
I have a very wise and eloquent "posey" bird - "obnoxious" human metaphor on the tip of my tongue for this wonderful story of yours. However, I can't quite find it right now. But someone will have one I am sure!
When I read your list of "unworthy" birds I briefly misread "bushtits" for "bullshit." I should know better and that you would not use such language David! 😉. But I do at times. And that is probably as eloquent as I can get right now. It's bullshit to overlook and negate the beauty of the little things, the so called insignificant birds. His loss. His lack. His blindness. The world needs more openness to "All Creatures Great and Small."
OMG, this is so far above and beyond, weedom1. I love this bull-shitty little fork in the road. And Jo, I blame you for gathering the twigs and adding the spark that ignited this playful little fire, with just the right amount of smoke. Just the chuckle my heart needs today. Thank you, both!!!
Those three birds are ones that this "alpha birder" (if that's what having the green optics makes me 😉) is really impressed by and more than a little envious of. How did you persuade the Kinglet to stay for its portrait? Beautiful pictures. Common-ish birds are always worth stopping for.
Richard, I hope you understand that I do not judge anyone by the color of their binoculars or spotting scopes and have absolutely no animosity toward Swarovski owners. Reverse snobbery is still snobbery. I do, however tend to snicker at people who act as if buying some label, or the color of their binoculars somehow gives them super-powers or faster reflexes, or superior worth, while failing utterly in the wonder and curiosity departments. I'm a huge fan of really good optics (probably obvious), but not at all fan of ivory-tower attitudes. Some of the most intuitive and accomplished naturalists I've known over the years carried pretty inexpensive and/or beat up gear that they loved for the stories, shared adventures and familiarity more than any other reason. Like my twenty five year old 4wt. fly rod. I know its moods and quirks, inside out. Thank you for your kind words and for making time to add to this little picnic.
Of course … there are not many such as you describe amongst the tribe of green optics carriers but there are some. There are some with that alpha birder attitude at all levels of gear, of course. I was just laughing with you. It was a nice piece that you wrote and I enjoyed it. I’ve been there I guess we all have.
If reincarnation was the certain fate of all, what would I choose to be If I had to be a bird? I'd want the best of all worlds, both one and many, fields and oceans, flying, hanging, running, twittering.
Don't scorn the small! Bushtits and those tiny skittering shorebirds would fill my bill!
Thank you, sir. I'd have felt horrible if I made you, or anyone feel wrongly insulted. And yes, most birdy folk are absolutely wondrous souls, to my imagining. But every now and then, there's one ponce who really does take the cake.
I thank you, good sir. Biscuit really does seem perfect in this instance. And off on a tangent is a wonderful place for a playful wander with a bird of similar feather.
Oh man, two of my favorite local birds in one place! Thanks for celebrating the commonplace and poking some fun at those too cool to notice :)
That shot of the kinglet is amazing. I enjoy them so much - they entirely do what they want, and if I'm right there with my camera and that's where they feel like being, they will carry on as though I don't exist! I still rarely capture a great image due to low lighting and their energetic motion :) But I enjoy their absolute freedom, the way they just look at me like, "Hey, how's it going? Coming through!"
And I had never seen Brown Creepers before moving to Maine. I learned to identify them by their flight pattern - swooping to the base of a tree, working their way up, swooping down to the base of the next tree to start again. I was so delighted with their habit, and the fondness has only grown :)
Your essay today is just what I needed. A contrast to my recent observations. I missed birds this evening as I stood watching the moon rise. The moon was framed by the branches of a field grown sugar maple. It was a silent vigil. Juncos and Pine Siskins had settled for the night and the Barred Owls were quiet.
“Listen heart, to the whispering of the World. That is how it makes love to you.” - R. Tagore
(Your alpha-birder is impotent.)
Beautiful ruby- crowned kinglet. And, beautiful piece.
What telephoto lens do you use?
I have a Canon 100 to 400 and it doesn’t seem to reach far enough. It cost me a lot of money and I can’t afford another one. I do so need to get out and walk in the woods with it. Because it’s so heavy I tend to walk in the woods with my kit lens.
Loved this humorous observation. The ruby-crowned kinglet delights me every time, so tiny, round, quick, so curious about the human who stops to chat a while.
thank you, Carmine.
Love it!
Thank you, debi.
One of my favorites is our Pygmy Nuthatches. We might get excited about a hawk that has landed near the house for a short time, but the Nuthatches are consistent, familiar and fascinating to watch. Their busy, noisy family life that doesn't seem to care if I come closer to see them is a wonderful pause to my days.
Ohhh, I'm so delighted by this. Thank you, Abert Essays for dropping into this discussion. I never see Pygmy Nuthatches (plenty of red-breasted), around here but two or three times a year I find myself in Pygmy Nuthatch country and I am always fascinated by their busy and yet easygoing natures, as well. I'm smiling at the thought of it.
This made me laugh out loud. It makes me think of the contrast between conquest and kinship. Here where I live a rock climbers and mountain bikers and epic experience seekers like your alpha birder. I like to walk the same 2-mile loop twice a day with my dog and see how it changes the whole year round. And I have seen magnificent beings up close in the process. Thanks for your humor and for the little beings that you called to my attention.
"The contrast between conquest and kinship" - I so relate to this description. I also live in a place where there are many epic experience seekers, here in New Zealand. I am one of them I guess. But I am constantly stopping to notice the "little beings" as well as the big and obvious beauty. I actually wrote about my witnessing of the conquering just last week. 😊
Cool! I will check out what you wrote.
Just now getting to read comments and OH! — yours! I’ve been covering the same ground almost every day for 10 years now. Sometimes the one mile version, sometimes two, or three or four or five, depending, but always the same fields, forest, river. To “see how it changes the whole year round”. Yes! I am in relationship with “my” place and the life forms that inhabit it, and so I actively look, and notice, and indulge my curiosity, and feel appreciation. Happy to know that you do as well.
You, dear Heather, sound exceptionally cool.
Epic experience seekers; so few of them realize that holding a tadpole momentarily in a cupped palm full of pond water, or lifting a red salamander out of the trail to place safely beside the creek, or watching two crows skootch up next to one another on a branch to nuzzle and pair bond is really what some part of them seeks.
Beautiful and true.
Thanks for making me feel like less of a fool for being in love with the finches, sparrows, and robins of the world.
Beautiful pics!
My first read of the morning David… I’m smiling broadly over my coffee here whilst watching a coal tit rip all the peach blossom to shreds… sadly I’m not an owner of any ‘Swarovski green birder regalia,’ or I’d snap it up on film, proof eternal of the reason we never have any peaches in summer.
I’ll just carry on grinning and watching the little bugger!
Who needs peaches anyway?
You, Susie dear are a peach. I'm so very glad you're here.
A blushing peach! Thank you David.
I have a secret love of that door you use as a back drop for your scrumptious photos almost as much as your words!
oooo this is getting a bit racy. 😉
Haha, Just door envy! 🙃
😊. Yes, of course it is. xx
It's just that, all this talk of Song Sparrows, Ruby -Crowned Kinglets, nature's wonder, and peaches stimulate my senses and fire my imagination. 💖
Don’t count on the peaches doing much more than that Jo, the coal tits ate them! 😉
ya'll are funny... and fun.
I have a very wise and eloquent "posey" bird - "obnoxious" human metaphor on the tip of my tongue for this wonderful story of yours. However, I can't quite find it right now. But someone will have one I am sure!
When I read your list of "unworthy" birds I briefly misread "bushtits" for "bullshit." I should know better and that you would not use such language David! 😉. But I do at times. And that is probably as eloquent as I can get right now. It's bullshit to overlook and negate the beauty of the little things, the so called insignificant birds. His loss. His lack. His blindness. The world needs more openness to "All Creatures Great and Small."
Just love your wanderings. Thank you. 💚
"I should know better and that you would not use such language David! 😉. But I do at times."
I fucking love the word, bullshit. Use it all the time. 😉
Wish I could show you our Angus bull, who really gives a mega 💩 that's every bit as useful as the word.
OMG, this is so far above and beyond, weedom1. I love this bull-shitty little fork in the road. And Jo, I blame you for gathering the twigs and adding the spark that ignited this playful little fire, with just the right amount of smoke. Just the chuckle my heart needs today. Thank you, both!!!
😀
Those three birds are ones that this "alpha birder" (if that's what having the green optics makes me 😉) is really impressed by and more than a little envious of. How did you persuade the Kinglet to stay for its portrait? Beautiful pictures. Common-ish birds are always worth stopping for.
Richard, I hope you understand that I do not judge anyone by the color of their binoculars or spotting scopes and have absolutely no animosity toward Swarovski owners. Reverse snobbery is still snobbery. I do, however tend to snicker at people who act as if buying some label, or the color of their binoculars somehow gives them super-powers or faster reflexes, or superior worth, while failing utterly in the wonder and curiosity departments. I'm a huge fan of really good optics (probably obvious), but not at all fan of ivory-tower attitudes. Some of the most intuitive and accomplished naturalists I've known over the years carried pretty inexpensive and/or beat up gear that they loved for the stories, shared adventures and familiarity more than any other reason. Like my twenty five year old 4wt. fly rod. I know its moods and quirks, inside out. Thank you for your kind words and for making time to add to this little picnic.
Of course … there are not many such as you describe amongst the tribe of green optics carriers but there are some. There are some with that alpha birder attitude at all levels of gear, of course. I was just laughing with you. It was a nice piece that you wrote and I enjoyed it. I’ve been there I guess we all have.
If reincarnation was the certain fate of all, what would I choose to be If I had to be a bird? I'd want the best of all worlds, both one and many, fields and oceans, flying, hanging, running, twittering.
Don't scorn the small! Bushtits and those tiny skittering shorebirds would fill my bill!
Thank you, sir. I'd have felt horrible if I made you, or anyone feel wrongly insulted. And yes, most birdy folk are absolutely wondrous souls, to my imagining. But every now and then, there's one ponce who really does take the cake.
Or, going off on a tangent as one who learned English idioms in England, " ... there's one ponce who really does take the BISCUIT"
I thank you, good sir. Biscuit really does seem perfect in this instance. And off on a tangent is a wonderful place for a playful wander with a bird of similar feather.
If you search google and enter;
celeryfarm.net Classic 'Beverly Hillbillies' Birding Episode
I promise, the first five minutes will just about say it all.
I think Miss Hathaway is hawt!
Sounds like a perfect day.
Plum-ploo...
perfect.
Oh man, two of my favorite local birds in one place! Thanks for celebrating the commonplace and poking some fun at those too cool to notice :)
That shot of the kinglet is amazing. I enjoy them so much - they entirely do what they want, and if I'm right there with my camera and that's where they feel like being, they will carry on as though I don't exist! I still rarely capture a great image due to low lighting and their energetic motion :) But I enjoy their absolute freedom, the way they just look at me like, "Hey, how's it going? Coming through!"
And I had never seen Brown Creepers before moving to Maine. I learned to identify them by their flight pattern - swooping to the base of a tree, working their way up, swooping down to the base of the next tree to start again. I was so delighted with their habit, and the fondness has only grown :)
Thanks for sharing these beauties!
An absolutely delightful note, Sydney. Thank you.
Obviously I'm not quite compatible with every birder in the woods, but I sense we'd get along just fine. Your descriptions, perfection!
Surgical snark
Your essay today is just what I needed. A contrast to my recent observations. I missed birds this evening as I stood watching the moon rise. The moon was framed by the branches of a field grown sugar maple. It was a silent vigil. Juncos and Pine Siskins had settled for the night and the Barred Owls were quiet.
Ohhh, such a poetic vision! Thank you.
Thank you David.
You got me chuckling, Malcolm.
I try not to feed my snark too often, but some days...
I too have those days.