Birds of Prey Made the Day

During November Outdoors is Where to Be

 

This morning, I decided it was time to go for a long walk with the camera.

No need to check email or Facebook, with election USA so close.

There's nothing but a bunch of mud-slinging going on, between two candidates.

Disown me if, you want, neither of them is fit to run a country, in my opinion.

It's November 1st and the weather finally got comfortably cool.  No A/C required anymore.

Quietly, I slipped out of the house, before anyone else woke up.

At the office, I didn't bother turning any computers on. Just grab a camera and tripod and, go.

Almost forgot, I packed a lunch in a camera bag and, slung it over my shoulder.

My destination was the Kin Dam but, I took a roundabout way, to get there.

The dam entrance, is only about a 45 minute walk if, you go in a straight line.

Well, I walked sort of in the opposite direction, for awhile, along a backroad.

Buzzard Eagles, returned to the island recently and, I knew where, I might find one.

Five minutes, after starting out, I spotted one and, shot a dozen photos.

It was among telephone and electric wires on a concrete pole but, I shot it anyway.

Good target practice and, I got a golden eye, with sun shining in it.

But, I don't like wildlife photos looking, like they were taken in the city.

Facebook has been a pain lately so, maybe, I'll post the bird in wires, over there.

The bird above, wasn't much larger than a pigeon but, at least it was out in the countryside.

Before I got to the dam, two Grey-faced Buzzard Eagles, were shot. Not a bad day.

This all took place, before 8 o'clock in the morning. Should I quit and, go home?

The thought had crossed my mind. It's been a long time since I hiked the distance to the dam.

Stifling summer heat, kept me away from doing long walks, for the past few months.

But, I had already packed a lunch and, was enjoying the fresh air so, kept on going.

There's something soothing, about taking a long walk out in the wilderness.

The sights, sounds and smells of nature, must wake up something in the brain.

Don't listen to creaking bones or aching muscles. Just keep on walking to the damn dam.

That was the original plan so, that's what we were going to do, dammit. Keep walking.

Before long, I was halfway around the dam and, got thinking.

Take ten steps, in any direction and, you'll be ten steps closer, to your ultimate destination.

It may not be where you initially planned on going. Know what I mean?

It don't matter, what your plans might be. Ten steps, gets you closer.

Whether you're planning on going to heaven or hell, it's ten less steps, you'll need, to get there.

Back to the Birds

Before 10 AM this Osprey image was captured. There will be many more this season.

None of the bird photos, I shot today, would be considered trophies.

But, it was the first time, this autumn, I had a camera handy, to get some shooting done.

Wild critter photography, like hiking, takes practice and patience.

Just as, you're body gets out of shape, from not exercising, camera skills, can get rusty, too.

Being satisfied with the photographic capture of two different birds, it was time for a break.

A bit past 10 o'clock, I decided to sit down and, have a little brunch.

Ritz Crackers and tuna, are what I pack away for excursions like this.  Coffee, too.

My tripod and camera bag are in the grass, behind the curb.

Wouldn't you know it?  Take your eyes off the sky for just a moment and, birds show up.

Two mechanical military Ospreys and three Osprey birds, flew overhead.

But, I was on my break so, shot this dinner picture, for you, with the cellphone !

Meandering, back towards the office, I stopped to buy a bento.

It was just about noon, when I arrived there, sweaty and tuckered out.

That does it. Tomorrow, I'll leave home at five and, pack a larger lunch, to stay out longer.

Today, there was 420MM worth of lens on the camera. Maybe, tomorrow, we'll try 700MM !


Related Posts:

Grey-faced Buzzard Eagle in Flight

Osprey, Fish and Lickiddy Split


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TYPES of RAPTORS

Having a Blast at the Local Mud Festival

2014 Tanbo Festival in Kin Town

 

 

For those who don't already know, a tanbo is a flooded field.

Somebody donates their land for this event during Golden Week.

 Kids love playing games in the mud.

They get to do stuff like slide and splash.

Big people are allowed to have fun in the mud, too.

Sometimes, parents and children participate in relays where they do some crazy stuff in the mud.

There was good, clean fun, away from the flooded fields, too.

Try catching noodles with chopsticks while they are sliding down a bamboo pipe.

This is what's called, Nagashi (flowing) Somen (similar to ramen) but, it's not hot.

Not many noodles make it to the end of the line.

That kid in the red shirt was happy, just catching a few !

Running around, trying to capture all the events at this festival gave me an appetite.

So, while the camera was downloading, I went down the street and grabbed a hamburger.

Chopsticks in Japan: An Insider's Tip

In Japan, you're never supposed to pass food to someone with chopsticks. I had learned this in college, and had seen many Japanese parents teach this rule to their children, but I had forgotten the reasons behind it.

When my wife's mother passed away I was reminded of the origin of the taboo. After her body was cremated, everyone in the family, including her great-grandchildren, picked up her remaining bones with chopsticks and passed them to a priestess, who used chopsticks to place the bones into an urn.

To offer someone food when it’s out of reach, pass the plate it’s on so they may reach it with their chopsticks. Never use your chopsticks to pass food and expect someone to receive it with theirs.