So what was in YOUR backyard in 2008?

[Loupey]

Literally, your backyard - but I suppose front yard and even side yards would count.

This time of year many of us are house-bound due to the weather and some extra time to review the images of the current year is available. So please, post images here which you shot in your own property to remind us that N&W can be had no farther than one's own doorstep.

We've had these types of threads in the past, so I'd like to keep it limited to just 2008. But post them even if you've already posted them in other 2008 threads. So lets share some ideas.

Even the common and mundane might inspire us to look for more subjects in new and creative ways in 2009. Show us what you had!


I'll start with these three:

1) mourning dove - November
2) goldfinch - October
3) ruby-throated hummingbird - September

[OldClicker]

Started in August.

1 - Goldfinch, September
2 - Red Bellied Woodpecker, November
3 - Gray Squirrel, November

TF

[A.M.D.A.]

Excellent thread Loupey! Love your hummingbird shot – it's beautiful.:thumbsup:

That squirrel one of yours is very nice too, OldClicker.
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#1. Male american robin sunning itself.

Date taken: July 2008.
Yard: Side yard.

#2. Black slug on a rock.

Date taken: July 2008.
Yard: Front yard.

#3. Mosquito.

Date taken: October 2008.
Yard: Front yard.

#4. Male spotted towhee.

Date taken: November 2008.
Yard: Back yard.

#5. Bud between two tree branches.

Date taken: December 2008.
Yard: Back yard.
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[Pink Dragonfly]

Really nice shots everybody Alex, that slug is disgusting!!! (or is it just because I'm a girl that I can't see the beauty in a slug? )

What a great thread, I hope to see some backyard wildlife here! And remember, what you might think of as very common (maybe even boring), is rather exotic to some of us

Loupey, I'd love to see some of your blue jay shots Pretty please....

Mette

[mjs1973]

Both of these are from this past weekend.

[Pink Dragonfly]

Wow...what colours!!! Please enlighten an ignorant foreigner on what these birds are

Mette

[mn shutterbug]

A cardinal in the snow. That makes for a sweet shot.

[Pink Dragonfly]

Okay, Mike read my mind, thanks The second would be a goldfinch?

Mette

[A.M.D.A.]

Okay, Mike read my mind, thanks The second would be a goldfinch?

Mette

#1. Male northern cardinal.
#2. Male american goldfinch in winter plumage.

[OldClicker]

I think that is the best 'slug on a rock' picture I have ever seen. :-) TF

[Pink Dragonfly]

Thanks, Alex By the way, how are the winter wrens in your backyard?

Hehe, nice that somebody appreciates the slug

Mette

[A.M.D.A.]

Thanks, Alex By the way, how are the winter wrens in your backyard?

Still there – rain or shine. (Though there hasn’t been much shine lately).

[Loupey]

Thanks for contributing, guys! Nice shooting too.

Here are a couple of blue jays. The first two in October, the 3rd in November (last weekend).

[Loupey]

A tiny winter cosmos just 2 feet from the side of the house.

Shot in February with an extremely cold aluminum tripod.

[mjs1973]

Here are a couple more. The cedar waxwing is from October. The beetle is from November. Technically it was not from my yard, but was inside my house.

[A.M.D.A.]

TERRIFIC shots, Mike!

That one of the waxwing is absolutely gorgeous.:thumbsup:

[mjs1973]

TERRIFIC shots, Mike!

That one of the waxwing is absolutely gorgeous.:thumbsup:

Thanks. The waxwing is a full frame image taken with a 100mm lens. It let me get very close. At one time, it was even sitting on my arm.

[OldClicker]

Thanks. The waxwing is a full frame image taken with a 100mm lens. It let me get very close. At one time, it was even sitting on my arm.

The waxwing is a great shot. I remember that you talked about it being stunned. It seems that they do fly into windows a lot. - TF

[mjs1973]

Here are a few more from the archives.

[mjs1973]

This one is only a few minutes old.

[OldClicker]

Nice shot of the Coopers Hawk. I have a couple of accipiters hanging around my feeders, but I can never get a shot of them. – TF

[Loupey]

We have one wild, large mulberry tree which is older than our house. It stands immediately behind our deck and it rains staining berries by the bucket loads.

But boy does it attract birds of all kinds - even birds that don't eat the berries but, instead, eat the bugs that are themselves attracted to the fruit.

This group of images all shot in one day (maybe two) in June:

1) Gray catbird
2) immature American robin
3) cedar waxwing
4) my most prized backyard shot of the year (because I have never seen one before nor since) - Red-eyed vireo.

Some of these were shot out of an open window in the 2nd floor. I expected a bird to fly through it, but none did, this year

[paulnj]

Awesome thread and some great images everyone.

Condo life gives me they typical house sparrows, mourning doves, sond sparrows, cardinals, grey catbirds, turkey vultures, red tailed hawks......

working like a dog gives me..... no time for images ....sorry.

[Don Kondra]

Winter has arrived, sigh... this is from today.






Cheers, Don

[scott-devon]

Great shots Don, I love that first one.