Vivitar Digital Camera--Binoculars

The binoculars actually work quite well. But the camera leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, the camera doesn't take a good picture. These two are examples:

The first is a photo taken while standing on my porch and aiming the binocs toward my side yard, maybe 60 feet away. I brought the clump of daffodils into focus with the binoculars, then shot the picture.



This photo is also taken from the porch, and I aimed the binocs and brought a sunlighted portion of the valley below into focus, then shot the picture.
















No wonder there are so many of these out there on the internet, like at Wal-Mart and Overstocks.com for around $25. Don't waste your money. Luckily, I paid just under $10 for mine, and will keep them for the binoculars. Problem with the binocs, tho', is that the eyepieces aren't large enough to go over my glasses, so for real birdwatching, I'll need to buy a better pair.

Outdoor Solar Lights

Well, okay. We put these solar lights around the sidewalk two days ago. Followed by two days of heavily overcast skies. And even with the low light, no obvious sunshine, they went on last night. After a couple of hours, the lights dimmed and went out. We'll see how they do after a day of real sunshine, which is expected today. Funny thing, tho', the lights are in the shade most of the day in the winter time, so we'll see how they do on a sunny day, when they're in the shade.

Well, I Missed It . . . .

Yep, I totally missed the Great American Backyard Bird Count this year. Actually, I was there, staring into my backyard, but the rain and snow were coming down so heavily that no bird in its right mind would be out in it. I saw two canyon towhees and one scrub jay during a short respite between storms, and since then there's been little or no bird activity, so no birds in this area, except those that are quietly hiding in their nests or thickets of brush or trees. No chirping. Nothing. Just a raven now and then circling overhead, looking for something to eat, I suppose. Matter of fact, there goes one now. Probably hoping to find those two little cottontail rabbits that just raced across my yard.

More Snow Today

As the snow began to fall . . .


And kept on coming down . . .





And more . . . and more . . . and more . . .







Lots of snow fell. Surprising, for this desert.

A younger HP

  That's Hybrid Poplar, not Hewlett Packard (ha-ha). This guy was planted last year from a tree that sprouted up from one of the big guy's roots. I just yanked it out of the ground and stuck it in some good potting soil. It doubled in height last summer. I give it high marks for durability.

Hybrid Poplars

 

This guy's been in the ground a number of years and is doing well.

More daffodils

  This healthy clump is a group of long-established daffodils that should do well with all the snow. They just keep blooming and blooming and blooming, year after year.

Tulips and Daffodils

  These are transplants, and I'm not sure how they'll do here.

New Crepe Myrtles

This little guy isn't at all comfortable yet. He's only been planted a couple of weeks, and already he's covered with snow. Hmmmmm. I hope he doesn't get discouraged.

 

Trees Ready for Spring

The big-boy ash tree is already getting little fuzzy blossoms.  

Trees Getting Ready for Spring

The established crepe myrtle is showing tiny buds.

Roses Love Snow

If you listen closely, you can hear the rose bushes saying "Aaaaaaaaaah, this feels good." The snow will actually keep them warm and unharmed from the crisp temperatures.

Snowed in our Valley Yesterday

We didn't get as much snow as expected . . . not nearly as much as our last snowstorm a month ago, but always welcome.

A Kettle of Turkey Vultures

I just found out from a representative at the Audubon Society that my photo is of Turkey Vultures. See the reply to my email:

"Nice photo! They are Turkey Vultures in a kettle. Some of the birds in the photo show the wide wings of Turkey Vultures. Some of the birds show the dihedral (slightly upturned wings making a shallow "v" shape) characteristic of Turkey Vultures. And, the way they are floating in all different directions in a kettle is also characteristic of Turkey Vultures. By the way, I counted the vultures in your photo. It looks like you got a picture of a little over 50 individual Turkey
Vultures. Continued Happy & Productive Birding, (signed) "

Nice term: kettle.

So, I think my next big purchase will be "good" binoculars.

And I'll be able to actively participate in the upcoming backyard bird count Feb 13 to 16, 2009.

What Kind of Birds are These?

This huge flock of (some kind of raptor) birds rose into the air and circled on the air currents for about fifteen minutes today soon after the rain began to fall over the lake in the valley below my house (around 3 p.m. today). They reminded me of the scenes I've noted when the Turkey Vultures migrate to this area every Fall. It seems way too late for Turkey Vultures, but since my camera was zoomed to the max and I didn't have time to get out my binoculars, well, I'm just left having to guess what they were and where they were going.