I’m re-entering the Flickr world with a backyard post of a bumblebee (I believe) enjoying the bounty of my blooming butterfly bush. One of my fun bargain rack tennis shoes is an added bonus.

I’ve been on hiatus due to a hiking accident. Hiking with cousins on an early June vacation in Grand Teton National Park, I took a tumble on a downhill trail, falling forward and landing with all of my body weight on my arm that came out to try and catch me. The force of the fall dislocated and broke my elbow, tearing ligaments in the process.; thus, my vacation came to an early end, as I had to return home and find a doctor to operate and put my arm back together.

Surgery was successful and I’ve been working on recovering. I was only taking iPhone and point-and-shoot photos at first. I just wanted to photograph something! So the bee made an excellent subject.

Tags:   wildlife nature broken elbow colorful stripes shoe flowers blooming bee butterfly bush backyard my yard summer 2021 July Apple iPhone 6S

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I can’t get enough of Virginia Bluebells. This is a photo from last spring that didn’t get posted. I’ll be back to birds soon, as my friend and I are going on a midweek birdwalk at a new place. Hopefully we will see lots of great ones and some new ones as well!

Tags:   Canon PowerShot SX720 HS April 2020 0079 Virginia Bluebells Cooper Wildflower Woods wildflowers spring bee flying entering flower Bristol Village

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Work projects and projects around home have kept me away from Flickr. The wildflowers have been absolutely stunning this spring.

Tags:   Canon EOS M5 5519R April 2021 Scioto Brush Creek Nature Preserve spring nature walk hike family fun memories beautiful Virginia Bluebells wildflowers outdoors trail path sunflare sunlit evening Scioto Brush Creek State Nature Preserve

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This photo makes me smile - a cute bird posed perfectly in beautiful spring flowers. It was taken almost two years ago on vacation in Arizona and it was my first time ever seeing and photographing a Verlin. It certainly is an adorable little bird. I was just aiming, firing and hoping as it flitted in and out of the flowers.

I took the photo on the "What Bird Is That?" guided hike at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy's Lost Dog Wash trailhead. This was one of the birds our guide said we might see and/or hear. She was right.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Verdin/overview

Tags:   1817RC Canon EOS M5 April 2019 Arizona Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Lost Dog Wash Lost Dog Wash Trailhead bird Verdin first time seeing lifer new to me bird vacation friends family memories

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In multiple years, a late February or early March stop by this off-the-beaten path lake rewards me with the opportunity for some migrating duck photos.

The first roadside pull-off is above the lake, and it requires photographing waterfowl through some trees and branches, or walking a little ways along the road for an open spot.

First, I took some photos out the passenger window of the visiting Ring-necked Ducks. Then I quietly got out, staying behind the car and using it as a blind while supporting the camera on the car roof.

Then something interesting occurred. A small portion of the flock seemed to be looking up in the direction of the car and swimming toward it for a closer look. I was astounded and thrilled, snapping away while taking advantage of the sunlight.

My uneducated theory was that the ducks could see hints of my mom's bright red car through the openings in the trees, and perhaps they were trying to decide what they were seeing. It is a much newer and quiet compared to my 21-year old car that has its rattles, clunks and squeaks.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad they decided to swim closer instead of flying away!

Tags:   0577R Canon EOS 7D Mark II 300mm f4 lens 2X Extender ducks waterfowl migrants migration late winter almost spring Ring-necked Ducks Jackson Lake Blackie's Lake Big Rock Lake Waterloo Lake Processed from RAW

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