A real cute birdie that probably nests in the far northwest corner of Connecticut but comes through our area Fall and Spring in numbers and busy enough filling up for migration that they pretty much ignore obnoxious photographers. Their primary breeding habitat ranges across lower Canada, but extends into higher elevations of the far West and New England. Interestingly, there is also a small year-round population in central Mexico.

Flanders Nature Center Woodbury Connecticut, Oct 2024. © C.S. Wood

Ospreys

A cute little bittern, usually quite shy and secretive, blending into the reeds with camouflaged coloration.

The Celery Fields Sarasota FL, Feb 2025. © C.S. Wood

Blog post about this Arizona trip here cswood022.blogspot.com/2023/08/birding-in-arizona-heat.html

With high hopes for adding my 16th US hummingbird (and 112th overall) we hit the Paton Center for Hummingbirds first thing the day after we arrived in Arizona. Lots of hummingbird activity, including this rarity, although it seems to have become more regular since I first chased one down here about 6 years ago. On this trip we had the species at Jay’s house and at The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Canyon Preserve. Apparently the Starthroat heard we were coming and decided to end its northern vacation the day before we arrived.

Paton Center for Hummingbirds Patagonia AZ, Jul 2023. © C.S. Wood

Famous entry gate to Vatersay Beach - Outer Hebrides

Shot in the Edro III shipwreck site in Paphos, Cyprus.

Shot taken in the old town of Nicosia, Cyprus.

Another back garden image using my new Tamron 35mm f/1.4 lens. The new pup is seriously curtailing my photography opportunities, bless her little brown nose! This one is an attempt at in camera focus stacking hand held. Wonderful camera the canon R6 mk2, but my technique definitely needs some finesse.

Shot in the old town of Nicosia

Eisvogel - Kingfisher - blauer Juwel

#eisvogel #kingfisher #alcedoatthis #ornitologia #birdphotography #king_birds #wildlifephotography #world_bestanimal #earthcapture #vogel #bird #natur #vogel #ornitologia #heimischevögel #sigmasport #birdwatching #wildlifeplanet #birdsofparadise #birdsonearth #goodbirds #birdlife #bns_birds #king_birds #birdfreaks #germanwildlife #canon #canondeutschland #r6mk2 #rf100500

Shot taken in the Kourion beach of Limassol, Cyprus.

Similar in appearance to the Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the eastern US, but actually in a different genus (selasphorus) and more closely related to Rufous, Allen’s, and Calliope Hummingbirds.

Blog post about this Arizona trip here cswood022.blogspot.com/2023/08/birding-in-arizona-heat.html

Beatty's Guest Ranch Hereford AZ, Jul 2023. © C.S. Wood

Shot in Paphos, Cyprus, Venus beach area.

Another wandering cat in the island of Cyprus.

Shot in the old town of Nicosia

Shot in the Qannoubine valley of Lebanon

Shot taken of a flower in the Pissouri Bay, Limassol district, Cyprus.

This was also shot with the Mamiya Sekor 55mm F1.8 for M42, at its minimum focus distance.

Here, you can see how surprisingly sharp the lens is for a 55 year old lens! Yet it renders really nicely as well...

My only concern is whether or not it is radioactive as I have read mixed reports on the Internet. Needless to say, I ordered a cheap Geiger counter to confirm that so I can become aware of how to handle it.

Shot taken in the Kourion beach of Limassol, Cyprus.

Captured with a Mamiya Sekor 55mm F1.8.

Shot in Nicosia, Cyprus

Throwback to hot summer days in the Kalopanagiotis village of Cyprus.

Shot taken in the Kourion beach of Cyprus, Limassol district.

Captured with a Mamiya Sekor 55mm F1.8.

Shot in thr Pissouri bay of Cyprus, Limassol district.

Shot in Lefkara, Cyprus

Thank you for all the comments, likes and views. Happy Easter to all!

Shot during the late November snowstorm in Paris, France.

Shot taken in the Venus beach of Paphos, Cyprus.

Orange cat, captured during our visit to the "Lady of Qannoubine" monastery in Lebanon

After my friend Mark proposed to his girlfriend Rita, we headed to a secret sunset spot that I knew in the Troodos mountains.

There, we were able to take some magical shots during the golden hour. The light was particularly special as the skies were just clearing after heavy afternoon showers.

As the autumn and winter rains prevail between October and April, the landscapes in Cyprus transform and wear all sorts of lively colors. It is a good time for me to invest in some landscape photography before the summer draught strips all the colors away and the lands dries into yellow nothingness.

Shot in Athens, Ermou avenue, Greece.

Shot in the Athalassa park, Cyprus.

Shot in Dhour Choueir, Lebanon.

Shot in the Lofou village of Cyprus

Shot in the Troodos mountains of Cyprus

Shot in a café in Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus.

Shot from La Clusaz ski resort towards the Alps mountains

Late afternoon at Thornham Staithe.

Shot in the Troodos mountains of Cyprus.

Shot taken in the Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain, with a Thypoch Simera 28mm F1.4

You may run into street musicians in Athens, some of which are very skilled. Like most street musicians, their music falls deaf on the ears of bystanders and people passing by.

This gentleman was putting on quite a magical show and thus got me hooked in place, like many other Athenian musicians.

Sunset shot taken in the Larnaca salt lake.

Shot in Lyon, France.

Shot in the Troodos mountains, Cyprus, after a rainy afternoon.