This didn't get as many looks on UHH as I thought it deserved, but you may be interested in this story:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-668805-1.html

Marshall

Some very good images, KTJohnson, and am glad you enjoyed your KY visit.

The Ark is in our backyard, so to speak, being a few miles north of us up I-75, and has been a source of controversy since its inception and construction.

Out of curiosity, my wife and I visited while still under construction, and got a few pictures before being invited to leave by site security.

PBS Independent Lens did a very good documentary, "We Believe In Dinosaurs", on the Arc controversy and Ken Ham, the money man behind it, and his related Creation Museum nearby. Well worth a watch if you can hunt it up:

https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/we-believe-in-dinosaurs

And here is another good article link:

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/opinion/2020/02/24/opinion-ham-fleeced-town-gave-him-his-ark-encounter/4831987002/


Marshall

Graveman, I don't believe this is a post mortem photo, just don't see any of the usual indicators.

Here is a link that you might find helpful:

https://cabinetofcuriosities.ca/pictures-of-the-dead-the-truth-about-post-mortem-photography/


Marshall

Thanks, Curmudgeon, glad you liked it!

I was real happy with the way the black of the crow looked against our KY Fall colors.

Marshall

Thanks, UTMike, I've been trying to get this shot right for a while now.

Continuous autofocus wasn't getting it done this time, for me, and I ended up initially focussing on the takeoff spot, taking my finger off the BBF, and relying on DOF as I tried to follow him to the ground.

Marshall

I've been putting out a seed mixture in our front yard driveway in an effort to attract a family of crows that frequent our property.

Modest success, so far, and just watching them has been very interesting. One has a landing spot on a big white oak branch, and he checks things out for a few moments before committing to swoop down to the treats.


Crow26Oct2021_040 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall

Thanks all! Glad you liked it.

I'm finding that crows are really hard to photograph.

If there is not the right amount and direction of light reflecting off those feathers all I end up with is a black blob with an eye highlight, if I'm lucky. lol!

Marshall

You're not being helpful to tinyman by saying that his photo looks sharp...better look again.

Marshall

Tufted Titmice are very quick little birds! I believe you have mostly motion blur here. Try a faster shutter speed and take a burst of shots. Pick the sharpest one.

I've watched many herons fishing and they will eat an incredible variety of food, including, at times, dead stuff.

Possibly this fish was already dead on the bottom, rigor mortis may have set in, and the heron was deciding whether it was possible to swallow it safely; and the jabbing and shaking was an attempt to loosen it up before going for it.

"Rigor in fish usually starts at the tail, and the muscles harden gradually along the body towards the head until the whole fish is quite stiff. The fish remains rigid for a period which can vary from an hour or so to three days, depending on a number of factors described later, and then the muscles soften again."


Marshall

Fine set of photos, hettmoe!

Here in KY we have only the Eastern Kingbirds and it looks to me like that's what you got, but do you all also have the Western version, as an Audubon map shows their ranges may overlap?

Marshall

Also, do you ever see the small red crest of feathers that they only show when being super aggressive?

That's funny! We watch a lot of BritBox and often have to Google such questions.

The serious Audubon bird people have developed a shorthand code for birds that saves a lot of time and keystrokes. A Great Blue Heron would be recorded as a GBHE.

https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/bandcodes.html

Marshall

I've been throwing a medley of sunflower seeds, peanuts, mealworms, and dog food pellets around our driveway on recent mornings, hoping to develop a relationship with a murder of crows in our area.

With some success, they've come most days, but they are a wary bunch and don't hang around long if they see me.

Got a flyby early this AM.

Crow_10Oct2021_079 by Marshall Smith, on Flickr


Marshall

Marg,

I just now saw this posted in The Daily Beast and thought you would find it interesting. Hope the link works for you.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-blue-heron-is-the-most-badass-new-yorker?source=articles&via=rss&traffic_source=Connatix


Marshall

Very good and interesting series of that GBHE with a BIG fish, Marg!

I've watched them catch big fish, too, and sometimes think there is no way it could get it down. After much work and many repositioning tries they usually get it done, but I've also seen them try and try and try and finally just have to walk off from the catch, leaving it for some scavenger to feast on.

I may be wrong, but don't think a GBHE has tearing a catch into more manageable pieces in its tool kit. That long bill in not suitable for that, like an eagle or osprey is. I've never seen a heron do anything but swallow a meal, always head first, usually after carrying it out of the water to a safer place on the bank.

I've also read that they can choke themselves to death by eating something too big. Thankfully I've never seen that!

Keep up the good work, Marg, I really enjoy your photos.

Marshall