Yellow Rose

I took this picture on Sunday over at Sarah Duke Garden. Skies were gray and the lack of direct sun made for great photos. We'd had rain recently and everything was very green despite it being a cold day.

Needles

Pretty needles and not-so-pretty needles. Just a few yards apart on the same path.

A Small Pond

This pond is in southwestern Wake County near Harris Lake. I was hiking early in the morning along side it.

A Tree beside a Lake

Wordless Wednesday

Backyard Purple

Ride 'em Turtle

There's a turtle in that picture above. Even if you click on it and look at it full size, the turtle's not easy to see. In fact, you can just barely see the waterlogged stick that he's riding.

In the picture below, where I zoomed in on him, it's a little more obvious what's going on. Still, what turtle in its right mind is going to be riding a stick that's moving at a good clip in a strong April breeze?

It's not obvious in the picture but that log that the turtle is perched on is in the middle of a bay and moving along at about a normal walking pace. The turtle was effectively acting as a sail, allowing the wind to move the branch a lot faster than the water it was in.

Purple in March

Raindrops on Pine Needles

The title says it all. It started pouring while I was hiking this past weekend and I took a picture of some drops on the end of pine needles before putting my camera away for the day.

Alpacas in East NC

I visited with some alpacas yesterday. I was at a roving house party near Pittsboro, NC on Saturday and took this picture at an alpaca farm which happened to be the first stop on the tour.

Two Birds Honking

Red-bellied Woodpecker

This little guy visited me today. I live away from wooded areas so I don't see these guys very often. I was quite happy to get a few good pictures of him before he left for leafier areas.

SC Pinecone

Early morning on the lake

Just before 7am in the morning, when I arrived at Lake Hartwell this past Saturday.

It's two squirrels

Almost Sunset

The sun almost all the way down while kayaking across Lake Hartwell in SC.

Rocks on the shore

Who are YOU calling Fluffy?

It was a rather cold morning today and this dove was all fluffed up trying to stay warm. The poor little dear. I almost forgave the beast for pooping on my railing. Almost!

I snapped this picture while hiking along a creek yesterday. It was a gray overcast day, quite chilly, and that coolness is reflected in the water.

Crazy Squirrel

Just get a look at that crazy glint in this squirrel's eye. That guy is nuts!

Bad Apple

A little photoshopping on this image. I emphasized the withered apple and decreased the contrast on the background. Sue me!

At least it's wet

Yellow

I took this picture on Sunday and while I love the rich yellow color, it looks almost like some of the petals are missing. I can assure you that I didn't pluck this flower and deprive it of it's beauty---but if not me, then who?

Green sky

Lovely green fronds between me and the sky. Now living on my desktop wallpaper. A little bit of NC summer inside with me.

It's a Duck

Yes, I'm quasi-quoting Monty Python there. "So, if she weighs the same as a duck...?"

This particular duck was found today at Sarah Duke Garden, floating away and happy as could be. His partner was on the bank and acting kinda bossy and contrary. I don't know what accounts for the temperament difference but speculating on that difference could get me into trouble within my own species.

Sunrise

The sun is rising above the trees as I stop paddling for a minute to admire the scenery.

Heron before Dawn

I went out on the lake at 6am, about 25 minutes before dawn, and saw this bird at a point between two coves. I only got a few pictures of the heron before it flew off and these are the only two that weren't too blurred by the motion of my kayak and the dim light available.

The picture above was taken first, as I was approaching the point, and was taken at maximum zoom. The picture below I took about 2 minutes later while looking sideways at the heron. It was this motion, turning around in the kayak, that caused the bird to take off. Odd that he'd be afraid of people.

Laying up along shore

I was taking a picture of a heron while close to shore and got pushed onto the small rocks alongside the shoreline. It was hard to take a steady shot from this vantage point! Oh, the heron flew away, dammit.

Heron

Here's the fellow I was referring to in that last post. He was quite a ways away. I was using my 12X zoom and it's a little fuzzy due to the waves bouncing me around and it being an overcast day. I opened up my aperture as much as I could...

Want some tires?

I was kayaking this morning and took a picture of some tires. They're being used as a wave barrier at a sailboat marina. I used them as cover to take some pictures of a heron. They're rather shy and prone to fly off once they see you. The tires, on the other hand, are quite reliable and don't go anywhere. Not as pretty tho.