Still having gout issues but it was just too beautiful today to stay inside. So, I put the Nikon D800 on the tripod with the Nikon 200-500 lens, stuck the D3300 with the Nikon 105 Micro in the holster on my belt and limped off the the woods.
If anyone saw me, I know I must have been a sight to behold with the tripod extended and that big lens hanging down as I very slowly limped to the woods. You really didn't have to look close to see that it was a bit painful, but I didn't care. Woods . . .
I got to my little clearing where I have the lake on one side (under the trees), a small creek in front of me and a path going uphill into the deep woods in front of that. Nice spot. I usually just lean back against a big oak tree and before long the birds forget that I am there.
In just a few minutes I heard a Yellow-Billed Cuckoo and then got a quick glimpse of him. He wouldn't cooperate but I did get a shot of him overhead - belly shot. It was not a very good photo, but I posted it below anyway since I rarely see these cool birds.
A cute immature Eastern Phoebe posed for me about thirty feet away. He flicked about the bushes catching insects and didn't give much of a shot for a while, but then he got used to me being there and got out into the open. I took quite a few pictures of him as he would dart out, grab a bug then land back on a branch.
I missed a little warbler that I never could see very well in the brush. I didn't shoot at the Carolina Chickadees playing in the brush or the Mockingbirds. There were also a few crows, but they didn't stay long and then a pair of Cardinals. One of the Summer Tanagers flew past (we have a pair back here) but didn't stay to pose for me.
After about an hour, it was time to head back but I did so shooting all the way - Mimosa buds and flowers, Water Hyacinth blooms (DIE! DIE!) and a few passing shots at odds and ends including a feeding Damselfly.
Here are some of the shots from the day.
