tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82996348817187873262024-03-05T13:25:09.752-08:00Don't Bug Me!Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-54937775729777481112015-11-20T11:59:00.000-08:002015-11-24T19:21:30.265-08:00Hola Ecuador! It's Me Again.
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panose-1:2 Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-64676625262010433402014-10-06T17:12:00.001-07:002014-10-12T19:04:13.423-07:00Wait.......What.......a New Post!?!I know - I can't believe it either - but we have been trying for three years to catch these little balls of fluff, cuteness and death and we finally did!
Northern saw-whet owls.
Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-1329941594200520252013-06-02T15:55:00.001-07:002013-06-02T15:55:29.525-07:00Macro Monday - Who? Who?Who? Who?
A long-eared owl, that's who!
And yes, I have had far too much coffee.
And no, I never blink!
And no, those long ear-like feathers are not my ears, those are just feathers. My ears are on either side of my head. The openings are asymmetrical: the left ear opening is higher than the
right. This positioning helps me to locate prey by sound and I can Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-78168641408601055732013-05-26T19:43:00.001-07:002013-05-26T19:43:23.638-07:00Macro Monday - Wow!I know you aren't going to believe these photos. I know you are going to think that I must have supersaturated them using Photoshop. But really, these tiny little rufous hummingbirds really are this brilliant, this shiny, this sparkling, this absolutely fabulous!
Let me introduce to you the diminutive rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus). This bird is not found in some far-flung tropical Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-921263326576314842012-12-15T12:20:00.000-08:002012-12-15T12:20:42.544-08:00Why Do Hummingbirds Hum?Because they don't know the words!
Obviously.
Tyrian metaltails
White-bellied woodstar - male
White-bellied woodstar - female
Chestnut-breasted coronet
Glowing puffleg
Hummingbirds really do know the words, they just hum because they beat their wings so rapidly (12-80 times per second)!
All photos were taken Guango Lodge, at 2700m in the cloud forest on the eastern slope Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-63099607692168815262012-11-22T21:36:00.000-08:002012-11-22T21:47:35.244-08:00I Love Evolution
One of my favourite questions at work is "Do you believe in evolution?" Of course, it is not a matter of belief; it is a matter of science and of evidence. No-one asks whether you believe in gravity or not or whether the theory of relativity is has been made up just to annoy Christians. I go with what makes the most sense, based on scientific evidence. Well, I am a scientist, what did you Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-29079764782373327272012-10-14T19:46:00.000-07:002012-10-14T20:46:41.733-07:00Macro Monday - Shimmering Jewels of the Cloud ForestI have recently spent three weeks in the rainforest and cloud forest of Ecuador. Now, before you all start chirping on about how lucky I am, I would like to point out that most of the time I was running around looking after 17 students and worrying about what they might do next to maim, injure or kill themselves. It was an exhausting experience, let me tell you. Still, we managed to get all 17 Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-44459248791071230482012-09-23T18:41:00.000-07:002012-09-24T01:20:35.839-07:00Macro Monday - CreeperNo, not creepy, but creeper - this adorable brown creeper (Certhia americana). This happens to be one of my favourite birds. I have no idea why, but I like little birds with lots of attitude. These cute little guys always look as if they are scowling at the camera and always look very annoyed to see you. I just love that!
These birds are common in mature coniferous woodlands, but canDon't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-22912166815890549932012-06-16T14:49:00.000-07:002012-06-24T17:24:51.382-07:00Have Aliens Landed?I have to say, I am getting a little tired of this Juneuary weather. Some sun might be nice.......
Still, it means that I am not out birding, which means that I can do "things" around the house. This generally involves installing doors of some description, drywalling or putting up shelving and usually ends up with me in a foetal position on the floor, wimpering and crying, having first put Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-82881015149910723582012-05-03T17:32:00.000-07:002012-05-16T15:53:46.126-07:00Spot-the-DifferenceHmmmmm - I fear I might be getting a bit boring. A bit too birdy nerdy, perhaps? It seems that recently I have only posted photos of birds. Birds, birds and more birds. Admittedly, they are all very beautiful birds, but I fear I may be becoming a one-subject wonder. Or perhaps a one subject bore?
Oh well, since there doesn't seem to be much else happening in my life at the moment, I shall have Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-7991255116394129832012-04-09T14:53:00.000-07:002012-04-09T14:53:13.303-07:00Bird in a Box - Common YellowthroatAnother Spring has Sprung - and here is the first warbler of the year for me. A gorgeous, bright and shiny new common yellowthroat.
These are shy little birds, rarely seen, hiding out in thick vegetation, usually close to water. However, its "wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty, wich-i-ty"call is often heard warbling throughout the wetlands. Apparently the males, while looking rather naughty with their facesDon't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-22028380908398512632012-04-01T17:07:00.000-07:002012-04-01T17:07:23.020-07:00What!?! Snow in April!?!I woke up this morning to be informed that it was snowing in the valley.
Uh Uh - April Fools, right?
Apparently not - if I were an Eastern Kingbird, my face might look something like this!
Happy April Fools - she says sarcastically.
I did just hear one April Fools joke that made me chuckle - mostly because I wish it were true:
Westjet Announces Child-Free Cabins.
If only...............Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-63807154935081670042012-03-27T15:00:00.001-07:002012-03-27T15:01:55.203-07:00Alien JelliesI haven't quite got into the blogging groove again, but I was sorting through some photos this morning when I came across this one:
This was taken at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium in California a couple of summers ago. You will notice that the title refers to them as "jellies". Now, this really bugs me! I know, it is my own blog and I can call them jellyfish if I want, can't I? Well, I know quite Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-45520664340914697132012-03-19T21:07:00.000-07:002012-03-19T21:07:12.546-07:00Bird in a Box IIThis photo was taken in the same manner as the first Bird in a Box photo, except more swearing was involved - black-capped chickadees are vicious little buggers that are the Houdinis of the bird world.
Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-49173455315543154642012-03-14T10:13:00.000-07:002012-03-14T10:13:33.293-07:00A Sigh of ContentmentThere are certain things in life, little things, that make us happy. Small things that seem to be disproportionate in their simplicity and the amount of happiness that they bring us. You will be able to recognise such a thing since it will result in a little sigh of contentment. Here are a few of my little contentment moments:
Warm sun on your face after a long, cold winter.
The first sip of iceDon't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-1159607533916099552012-03-09T11:22:00.000-08:002012-03-09T11:22:07.634-08:00To HDR or not to HDR?That is the question.......
Actually, I suspect the question right now is, what is HDR?
First of all, lets get the "nerd alert" out of the way, since this post may start to get a little nerdy. Instead of getting all technical, let's have a look at two photos and then you can tell me what you think.
The Mittens, Monument Valley - 1 exposure, no HDR
The Mittens, Monument Valley - 5 exposuresDon't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-34572839436257260502012-03-06T15:26:00.000-08:002012-03-06T15:26:26.655-08:00Bird in a BoxSo, more photos.......
How about this one? I call it "Bird in a Box 1".
It is an dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), subspecies Oregon junco. Very plentiful around here in the winter and very obvious as they fly way, flashing their outer white tail feathers.
For those of you wanting details about how the photo was taken, well, here you go:
1. Catch the bird - I never said that this would be Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-21382426157278387012012-03-02T14:42:00.000-08:002012-03-02T14:42:52.180-08:00What to do?I'd be surprised if anyone even visits this blog anymore - it has been a while since I posted anything.......
So, the question is, do I just shut it down? I am seriously thinking of changing to a more exclusively photographic blog or even setting up my own photography webpage, since I seem to spend most of my time doing that these days. What do you think?
Dead Horse Canyon, Utah
Grand Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-78844441492671172572011-06-13T09:20:00.000-07:002011-06-13T09:20:17.970-07:00The Cats are Back!That's it, I have had enough!
Everytime I come to my blog, I see those same old photos over and over again. OK, so they might be nice photos, but I really don't want to look at them forever. So, the time as come to post something new. And can anyone possibly think of anything more beautiful to look at than my cats!?!
I haven't been around for quite some time due to a little bit of surgery I Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-57366834889933794192011-03-31T19:56:00.000-07:002011-03-31T19:56:25.960-07:00Some Soothing Photos.........Well, my surgery was cancelled yesterday, so I thought I would pass some time looking at some old photos........ a few soothing photos to keep you readers happy in my absence.........
A goose on the Fraser River near Steveston, British Columbia
Gansbaai, South Africa - a stroll at sunset
Sunset at the waterhole, Etosha National Park, Namibia
I shall be back soon......even sooner if theyDon't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-58757824377380569042011-03-27T16:44:00.000-07:002011-03-27T16:44:59.499-07:00Macro Monday - Northern Flicker
The other day, I was sitting at my computer, staring out the window, daydreaming working really, really hard, when, all of a sudden, someone decided that it would be a good idea to start using a pneumatic drill on my roof. I was not impressed and neither was my cat.
"What the bloody hell!" I declared
"Prrrrruupppp!!!" she declared.
We both craned our necks out of the window and what should Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-51310097129640385962011-03-24T21:09:00.000-07:002011-03-24T21:09:26.307-07:00Supermoon.................and no, I am not talking about my brother!
Nope, I am talking about this:
A supermoon is, and I quote astrologer Richard Nolle, 1979:
"A new or full moon which occurs with the Moon at or near (within 90% of) its closest approach to Earth in a given orbit (perigee). In short, Earth, Moon and Sun are all in a line, with Moon in its nearest approach to Earth."
This happened on Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-90721044142116104132011-03-20T16:36:00.000-07:002011-03-20T16:36:04.168-07:00Macro Monday: WoodliceWoodlice, aka "armadillo bug", "carpenter" (Newfoundland), "cheeselog" (Reading, Berkshire), "cheesy bug" (North-West Kent), "doodlebug" (also used for the larva of an antlion), "pill bug" (usually applied only to the genus Armadillidium), "potato bug", "roly-poly", "sow bug", "roll up bug", "chuggypig" or "chucky pig", "slater","gramersow" (Cornwall), "butcher boy" or "butchy boy" Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-69249350098406840312011-03-13T15:27:00.000-07:002011-03-13T15:27:27.132-07:00Macro Monday : Grass of ParnassusLast week, I posted what I thought was a fiendishly difficult Macro Monday Mystery. Obviously, I was wrong, since nearly all of you guessed what it was.
Sooo, I thought that I would skulk off back to my archives to find something nobody could ever possibly guess - mwah-ha-ha! But then I got sidetracked and found this delightful flower instead. So, you are spared from the agony of a macro mysteryDon't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8299634881718787326.post-16330087193241298202011-03-11T16:35:00.000-08:002011-03-11T16:35:46.271-08:00Macro Monday : Mystery # 10 - The AnswerFunny really - whenever I think a Macro Mystery is easy, hardly anyone gets it, but when I think it is a difficult one, nearly everyone gets it!?!
So, well done all of you that correctly identified the photo as a macro shot of some coral.
Here is a shot of a simlar coral from further away:
Don't Bug Me!http://www.blogger.com/profile/02708604858395669253noreply@blogger.com3