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Second Chances

Yesterday, I posted a capture that I was afraid would be my only sighting of a Baltimore Oriole in my yard.  Fortunately, a got a second chance since they seem to like the feeders we have out.  I am happy to have gotten a nice bird portrait.  This was the result of two things, luck and patience.

Patience is a virtue.  It is however, one that is learned and not one that just happens.  Those who…

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Surprise!

As I said in yesterday’s post, this seems to be the time for changes in the bird population.  We spotted an unusual visitor to the suet feeders and couldn’t tell what it was.  A yellowish bird but larger than any of the ones we normally see.  This was a particular challenge to try to identify for a couple of reasons.  First, we don’t normally see this bird around here.  Second, the coloring is…

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Just hanging out

It’s great to just watch birds in the yard and not worry about anything else.  I like to see new visitors but when the common residents appear, it’s kind of comforting.  To see the cardinals and sparrrows and finches always there makes me feel at home.  It’s nice to just hang out and enjoy nature sometimes.

House Finch Roswell, Georgia

Nikon D500 Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod Tamron SP…

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Are you Nuts?

My favorite little bird to chase is the Nuthatch.  In this case a white-breasted variety.  They are so energetic, it’s next to impossible to get them when they aren’t moving.  Even when they perch for a while, their heads are constantly twisting from one position to another.  I have quite a collection of blurred nuthatch pictures.  Every once in a while, I get one that comes out OK.  Hope you…

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Ready to Go

Carolina Wrens are lots of fun to watch.  Not so easy to capture in images since they’re almost always in motion, but lots of fun.  I got this one enjoying a bit of sunshine.  Looks like a pose that says, this is MY stick and nobody’s going to make me move.  Of course, two seconds later, off he went…

It is really looking like spring is right around the corner.  Daffodils are blooming and some of…

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Atkinson-Eakes Cottage

Continuing with my tour of Madison, Georgia – this is one of the historic cottages just a couple of blocks off of Main Street.  Although it isn’t one of the antebellum homes that Madison is famous for, the historic home was built around 1911.

It would have been great to see the inside.  The realtor’s information says it has heartwood pine floors, 12 foot celings and is built in the traditional…

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Jessup-Atkinson House

Well, eventhough I was looking for more off-the-beat homes in Madison, I couldn’t pass up some of the more famous ones.  The Jessup-Atkinson House, built in 1820, is one of the stately antebellum homes on Madison’s Main Street.  It is certainly a fantastic example of a southern mansion of the day.  I love the wrap-around porch and the white columns surrounding the entrance.  Definitely, one of…

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Another view from the street

Another view from the street

Just down the street from the shop I posted yesterday was the Antique store.  I loved the bright yellow sign and the statue in front of it made an interesting composition.  I’m not sure I’d buy anything with fabric on it from a store named for fleas and ticks but, it is a memorable name anyway.

Nikon D500 Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD 220mm @ f/5.6 – 1/125 sec – ISO 400

#architecture…

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Barkin' Dogs

Barkin’ Dogs

Sometimes, to get a good image, you have to look down!  In this case, we were walkinig through the shopping district of South Main Street in Madison, Georgia when I did just that.  The stores in the quaint little town are cute but what caught my eye were the shoes left on the steps of this shop.  Being just south of Athens, Georgia, the reference to your feet (dogs) and bulldogs (dawgs) fit in…

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Although it’s hard to miss, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center may not be on everyone’s top architectural sites in Historic Madison.  The building, originally a public school constructed just 30 years after the Civil War, was a groundbreaking idea at the time.

Over the entrance to the main building, are the words “Graded School”.  My first thought was – You mean there were schools where they didn’t grade the work?  But, it actually refers to the fact that most schools of the time were single room structures with all ages in the same class area.  This was an innovative structure where the different age groups were in separate classrooms.  It was also unique in being brick, where most schools of the day were simper, wooden structures.

The building is in the Romanesque Revival style, popular at the end of the eighteenth century.  There are a mix of interesting elements all over the building but especially along the roofline.  This was used as a public school up until 1957 when new facilities were constructed.  Saved from demolition in the early 1960’s by a local group called the Morgan County Foundation, it was re-purposed for use as the Public Library headquarters.  In the 1970’s when the library outgrew the space, it was renovated and converted to it’s current function as the area’s Performing and Visual Arts center.

Madison-Morgan Cultural Center 434 South Main Street Madison, GA 30650

Nikon D500 Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD 32mm @ f/8.0 – 1/1600 sec – ISO 400

#architecture #RomanesqueRevival #MadisonMorganCulturalCenter #Madison #Georgia #WithMyTamron

Madison-Morgan Cultural Center Although it's hard to miss, the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center may not be on everyone's top architectural sites in Historic Madison. 

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More gingerbread

Another example of the gingerbread decorated porch and columns from Madison, Georgia.  There are many homes that exhibit this style in the neighborhoods surrounding South Main Street where the antebellum mansions attract most of the attention.  Walking through this part of the city really gives you the small town feeling.

Nikon D500 Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD 32mm @ f/8.0 – 1/1600 sec…

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Madison, Georgia

So, yesterday we went out for a visit with the new grand daughter.   Mostly, we gave our daughter and son-in-law a chance to do something other than 24-hour baby duty.  To get out of the house, Ryan and I went on a photo walk of nearby Madison.  This town is one of very few Georgia towns that retains pre-Civil War homes.  There are many homes that are frequently photographed but we went a little…

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Need some new subjects

Need some new subjects

Well, it’s supposed to be rainy for a good while now.  Maybe I will be forced to look for some different subjects and leave the birds alone.  This one was just too good not to share.  The beautiful red tones and the great detail really let you see a fine example of a male Houst Finch.

I promise, something different tomorrow…

House Finch Roswell, Georgia, USA

Nikon D7100 Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT…

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What can you do?

What can you do?

Yes, I have posted several shots of House Finches lately but what can I say?  They just love to pose for me.

The light was fantastic and they kept coming by the feeder and just striking poses.  I am amazed at how well you can see all the detail in the feathers.  Looks like someone painted in all those patterns.  Even with a monochrome palate, this is a beautiful bird.

I will keep my eyes open for…

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Being together

Hope everyone has the chance to get together with those you love on this Valentine’s Day.  If you can’t be with the ones you love, think of them and hold them in your heart!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

House Finches Roswell, Georgia, USA

Nikon D7100 Vanguard Altra Pro 263 AT tripod Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 600mm @ f/6.3 – 1/50 sec – ISO 800

#BirdWatching #birds #HouseFinches #winter…

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Showing off for the Ladies

Showing off for the Ladies

I’m always amazed at how the male House Finch has so much color while the female is so drab.  There are surely a number of reasons for this but it seems unfair to the ladies.  I guess when you think about it, the females don’t need any extra to get the guys interested.  As long as there is some nice color out there, I’m happy to watch any of the birds!

House Finch Roswell, Georgia, USA

Nikon D7100

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Keeping watch

Cardinals always have at least one bird keeping watch.  While some are feeding, others are on guard.  They are ready to give the warning if anything seems to present a danger.  When a cat comes near or people walk by, they zoom away and let the others know it’s time to leave.

Fortunately, they are pretty well acclimated to my yard and don’t bolt off too easily.  But they never fail to have the…