Old Camera

Couldn't resist taking photographs of this old Kodak that belongs to my grand daughter, Allison. Too bad that you can no longer buy film for it. I would love to see what kind of pictures it would take. I had one similar when I was in high school that my aunt gave me. Don't recall that I had to do anything with settings though. It does fold up into a nice compact camera.

Roseate Spoonbill

 I was so excited to see my first Roseate Spoonbill that I wasn't thinking about my camera settings. Firstly, I was shooting into the rising sunlight...no choice there but then the water was gray and lifeless. Anyway, I tried to do some editing to make the pictures more interesting.
 About 2 hours later, I came back to the causeway and got some excellent photos of a brown Pelican and those 2 hours made all the difference with the lighting. Unfortunately the Spoonbill was gone.

ISO  and shutter speed too low...bummer!

I think that sometimes taking pictures sure distracts from what is going on. Just wish that I had the opportunity to see a fantastic bird like this again...may be a once in a life time thing. After all, I live in Michigan and only visit South Carolina once a year.

I had fun watching the Spoonbill run up and down the shore moving his neck quickly back and forth "spooning" for his breakfast.

What an interesting creature!

Thinking of Warmer Days

Crack O' Dawn May

May? Really?

 Can't believe that it is May and the weather stinks yet another month.

We did see a few migrants though...a few Red-eyed Vireos and a small flock of Yellow Warblers.

 Remains of a Mute Swan that didn't make it through the winter.

I know that you really can't see what this is but it is a Ring-necked Pheasant. I haven't seen one since the early '80s when they were so abundant on the hospital property where I worked. My son tells me that he sees them in the middle of Detroit near the Pepsi Plant.

This is last October

 Then November

Then the snow hit in December and I stayed home for the next 4 months...surly it will be better in June!

I have a few bird walks this month..the annual Mother's day walk which I look forward to every year is next week.  Hope the warblers are out for all of us Mothers.

(click to enlarge my masterpiece)

Walking

Saw all of this on one morning walk at the state park in Murrell's Inlet, SC. Love this gnarly old cedar tree. It is on the way to the main beach area. This was when I first arrived the second week of April and I was so thrilled with the weather...it was a great morning.

A few weeks after I took this photo I met one of these women by the nature center. She came from New Hampshire with 7 other ladies but she was the only birder in the group. We had a nice conversation. They were all bundled up with their coffee and enjoying the morning sun.

Brown Pelican looking for breakfast.

Egrets

Fresh water side of the causeway

Enjoyed watching this Osprey making pass after pass looking and diving for fish.

It was a morning for crocs...they were laying on the sides of the causeway and floating in the water catching some rays!

I'm Back!

We took this panoramic with my new I phone....you can see our shadows in this shot. My last day by the sea!
Arrived home late afternoon Tuesday and have been busy ever since. Haven't even unpacked yet. It is good to be home but I really miss the Mitsuoka family. I had such a great time and I appreciate their generosity and kindness. It was a great vacation. Counted today....took 2200 pictures. Yikes and I have to edit some of those. Luckily, before I put them on a flash drive I sorted the best so I can find them more easily.

Chevy Cruze

This is what I spent the day doing today...turning in my lease and getting a new one. My last Cruze was a pretty light blue but they don't make them anymore so I decided on white for a change. It is almost identical to the old one but a 2014.

At Brookgreen

Came home from getting my car to find that our power was out....a very rare occurrence here. So, I went out to eat lunch and shop and 2 hours later when I returned home the power was back.

I really miss the garden. Although things are starting to warm up a little here and things are greening up (I also have tulips and daffs) it isn't the same as SC. 

Crack O' Dawn on Saturday :-)