Saturday, December 31, 2011

The end of 2011

Hard to believe it went so quickly... We just got back from visiting family in Ohio. Everyone is well although I picked up a cold when I got there. The cold is much improved as I'm no longer stuck inside the dry heat.

Christmas brought me a new camera! It is a Canon PowerShot SX40 HS zooms from 24mm to 840mm pretty cool! It also has a red button on the back, press the red button and your shooting video. The video is pretty good, tested it inside a restaurant with my 2 yo grand niece in Ohio.  All photos and video below were using the new SX40 HS
White-throated Sparrow in our back yard. Hand held from about 12 foot awa

Here are Rainbow Carrots picked today, the cold frames are growing nicely. Some reason I lost a few photos and video just after Christmas, I think the new 16gb PNY memory card is at fault or I some how deleted them. Anyway not very happy about loosing some Mail Pouch Barn photos and the 10 beautiful Rainbow Carrots photos we ate with Christmas dinner.
New yard art Meg got for Christmas.
Rowdy squirrel at our feeders, which all were empty when we got back home.


One of the first photos I took with the new camera on Christmas day. Here is the tiny Brown Creeper now a regular visitor to our suet station.



The bees on December 31 2011 today! You can see two large orange pollen packets in this photo.





The bees are bring in pollen like crazy, three kinds from what I could tell on this 60+ degree day here in Rougemont, NC.  Helleborus foetidus  is blooming and I saw at least 6 bees on it in the few minutes I was observing, the pollen was a straw color. Locals have reported seeing bees on maples in blooms, so many the buzz could be heard.

 Bee with pollen on Helleborus foetidus in our back yard on December 31, 2011.

Done with your tax deductible contributions? Please do check out the link below. 

 DOUBLE YOUR GIFT! Planned Parenthood needs our help to continue to stand up for women's health and ensure there is a compassionate, reliable place to turn for those who may not have any other health care options. Online donations made today will be matched -- I just gave and had my gift DOUBLED. Will you join me?
http://ppaction.org/splash2011fb

11 comments:

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I can see a difference in the photos with your new camera. It's working for you. The best in 2012 to you and yours.

Lona said...

I wondered where the bees were getting pollen this time of the year. Your new camera takes wonderful pictures. I got a new Canon to carry in my purse for Christmas too. I am always armed with a camera. LOL! The Sparrow shot is fantastic.
Happy New Year to you and Meg.

eileeninmd said...

Great pic's from your new Canon! The birds are great, Ilove the Brown Creeper and the sparrow id wonderful. I wish you and your family a very happy New Year!

Bom said...

Great shots from your new toy. And video, too.

Happy New Year!!!

Bonnie K said...

Great shots! The bee photos are awsome. I love the brown creeper. I used to have a pair on our front pines, but they moved on. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Shirley said...

Oh Randy, I do love that first image! What very pretty bird. We don’t see this one in Scotland. Great results from your new camera and good video too.

I can’t see bees like this at a hive without remembering a recent piece of footage (shown on television) of Hornets devouring a hive of honey bees in just a few hours. An absolute massacre it was. The wildlife cameraman had set up cameras in the hive and they gave incredible views of the carnage. He had mixed feelings, knowing his footage was unique but at the same time watching the honey bees go down like this was also hard to see.

Sorry, didn’t mean to chat on. Just popped by to wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope it’s a good one for camera opportunities :-)

Les said...

Nice shots. Have fun with your new toy and happy new year!

Carol said...

Happy New Year Randy! Wishing you and Meg an abundance of blessing throughout 2012. Your new camera sure shoots great photos. Love the bee trying to get into the helebore and the White-throated Sparrow is so crisp! Those carrots look so real and yummy. All that good food will help your cold. Great to support Plan Parenthood! Shameful cuts . . . they need our help. Kudos to you for sharing. Carol

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

That sparrow picture is amazing! I need to learn how to take pictures of birds.
Randy, I want to thank you for your comment on my post about killing our forest. One of the worst parts of the story is that that person who did it lives in our neighborhood and used to walk his own dog in that forest. When prices on timber went up he swapped another property for this piece of land with the only purpose - to harvest trees and sell them to China... Thanks again!

John said...

It's not clear you needed a new camera. All your pictures are always fabulous. :)

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