Please share your photos of nature, wildlife, etc.

[marcy]

Great pictures everyone. I need to browse through the entire thread again.

December Fire the vibrant colors on the trees is incredible! Wow!!!

I was looking for one of my star trails photos this week to scan and found these 2 so I thought I'd post them here.

 

[WinkHPD]

Well, it is WAY cold here right now. Here is a picture, of a kestrel I believe. As you can see, it is all puffed up to create warmth in the spaces between feathers.



I got some nice shots of some Urban Ducks this afternoon. I will try to find time to process them sometime soon...

Wink

 

[Scandinavian]

The first morning of the new year

 

[Matata]

It's getting dark and the snow is coming down harder. This little one has been sitting on the feeder for an hour loading up on enough nectar to make it through the night :love

Edited to add: Anna's Hummingbird, year-round residents in this part of Oregon.

 

[december-fire]

I love all the new additions! Thanks for sharing, everyone!

Marcy,
Thanks for sharing the star trails photos! I've purchased a tripod and remote, now just have to get out and give it a shot.

Matata,
I had no idea that hummingbirds and snow might make an appearance at the same time!
New things to learn every day!
Over the holidays, someone was telling me about the different hummingbirds they see at their cottage. I thought there was only one type of hummingbird in my area. Apparently, there are five different ones that might be spotted around here!

While out on the trails last February/March, I spotted a bird that looked like a Robin. However, I always thought a Robin sighting meant Spring had arrived. Another person out on the trails told me that some Robins stay here all Winter.

Well, guess who's been coming to my heated bird bath! A Robin! And, no its not quite Spring here yet.

 

[jordyonbass]

So the lunch room at my new job has a nice view....

 

[violet3]

So the lunch room at my new job has a nice view....

Love the view from your job!!!

Here's a really cool sight I saw recently - an enormous flock of snow geese landed together on the ocean, and spanned about two blocks. They were SO loud and beautiful - I wish I'd been able to wait long enough to watch them fly off together.

 

[violet3]

My grandparents both passed away in the last year and we shared a love of sunsets (that time of day is my favorite time of the day, hands down). It's so peaceful. I've spent a lot of the last year, chasing the sunset each day, to feel connected to my grandparents and my mom in heaven. I've seen some beauties over the year, and I'm lucky enough to live a block from the bay, where the sun sets.

Here are a few of my favorites from the last year...

 

[violet3]

Here's one more, because this one was so cool - I've never seen this in my life - someone had landed a sea plane right on the bay!

I'm also going to add the one day in the last decade that I watched the sun rise (over the ocean) - in the picture is my best buddy, Ripley, who passed away in August.

 

[momhappy]

My grandparents both passed away in the last year and we shared a love of sunsets (that time of day is my favorite time of the day, hands down). It's so peaceful. I've spent a lot of the last year, chasing the sunset each day, to feel connected to my grandparents and my mom in heaven. I've seen some beauties over the year, and I'm lucky enough to live a block from the bay, where the sun sets.

Here are a few of my favorites from the last year...

Gorgeous sunsets!
I enjoy scrolling through this thread - thanks to those who've shared here

 

[december-fire]

violet3,

Above, with your beautiful photos, you mention that you lost both your grandparents during the past year and your adorable Ripley in August, as well as having lost your Mother. My sincere sympathy to you. I love that sunsets make you feel connected with them.

Thank you for sharing your lovely photos.

 

[WinkHPD]

Finally made the time to process some of my "Urban Ducks" shots. I took these at a small pond with a fountain in it, the large column of Ice at the fountain is actually frozen from the water level up, as the actual fontain is way smaller than the column of ice.

The ducks found a sanctuary in the middle of a neighborhood and I sat there in freezing cold weather, near zero, and had a blast taking photos.

Here is a late comer dropping in to share the pond



Here is a shot to show how cold the water is, and the ducks must love it, as some of them just park themselves in the spray from the fountain.



And here is a lovely lady, all asleep.



And finally, my best shot of the day, his highness



I hope you can enjoy these "wild" ducks in a gentrified setting.

Wink

 

[momhappy]

Love the duck shots, wink!

 

[december-fire]

Minus 18 degrees Celsius = 0 degrees Farenheit = Hot Tub Weather! WooHoo!

 

[december-fire]

Is that Kenny shouting at us? Sounds like he's yelling You kids get out of my Hot Tub!

 

[december-fire]

Hey, Kenny!, the water level in the Hot Tub seems to be getting lower for some reason.

 

[december-fire]

Just caught a quick glimpse of this handsome lad.
Lots of trees obstructing the view, and he was gone by the time I made it to the clearing.

 

[sonnyjane]

Less politics, more owls lol!

 

[WinkHPD]

Sonnyjane,

I am hard pressed to choose which of those I like best. Wow! Just Wow!

Wink

 

[sonnyjane]

Sonnyjane,

I am hard pressed to choose which of those I like best. Wow! Just Wow!

Wink

Thanks! It involved quite a lot of stalking.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Oh look... a black kitty cat with white racing stripes... NOT!

And this is him on his way OUT of the complex after the CB chased him around the parking lot with MY car. I was afraid he was going to run him over -- YUCK!!!

 

[liloette]

Some shots of where I live

 

[december-fire]

I love all the new additions! Beautiful!

Dee-Jay, what a cute little 'cat'. The CB sounds like a wise man taking your car.

liloette, what a beautiful location! I'm not sure where (what country) you live in, but it looks wonderful! Are those your dogs? They're so handsome! I love big dogs. Well, actually, I love all animals. Except spiders.

sonnyjane, your photos are always wonderful and so much fun to see! With PS members living all around the World, we get to enjoy photos of animals and landscapes that aren't necessarily found locally. Love it!

Thanks, everyone, for sharing your photos!

OK, now to post a few of mine.

 

[december-fire]

These guys were across the river, so my lens really had to stretch and the photos are a bit blurry.

First up is a Goldeneye duck, so named because of ... nevermind, you guys are smart. I'm sure you can figure it out.

Next is a pair of Common Merganser ducks; male has the dark head and female is the red head. Gee, I should be posting the shot of the red head tomorrow, on Saint Paddy's Day!

 

[december-fire]

Canada Goose and female Mallard Duck. It was freezing outside and the wind was brutal. It was late afternoon when I was out, and the birds tended to be hunkered down with their feathers puffed up to try and trap warm air near their bodies. I need Spring! Now! Or better gloves.

 

[december-fire]

Male Mallard Duck and then the female Mallard Duck.

 

[december-fire]

One more of a female Mallard Duck.

And what would have been a great photo of a male Mallard Duck, except a tree jumped in front of me.

 

[december-fire]

Canada Geese.

Yes, that's ice on the head of the Canada Goose. Did I mention it was freezing outside that day?

 

[december-fire]

A female Mallard Duck. This little lady was limping; something wrong with her right leg. But she could still manage, and there was a male with her, leading the way.

After freezing by the river, I jumped in the car to go home. En route, this lovely deer was by the side of the road (another one is in the woods, out of sight), and waited patiently for me to pull over, get out my camera, and take a few shots. She was the only animal that didn't seem to mind the cold that day.

 

[december-fire]

The ride in the car allowed my fingertips to thaw sufficiently for me to go to another location. Briefly. During my quick visit, I spotted some more birds out in the cold, including this Robin.