I’ve Got The Blues (Birds That Is…)
My last post featured the red, orange, and yellow birds I photographed this past November at Lake Greenwood, South Carolina. Just as fun and challenging were the resident birds of blue.
The smallest of the three were the Eastern Bluebirds. Always cute and adorable.
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Then there were the Blue Jays. They were quite busy darting from tree to tree, looking for and collecting berries.
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
Blue Jay
And finally, the biggest of all the blues was a daily visitor, a Great Blue Heron.
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron hiding under the ramp to the floating docks
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
I can’t help but enjoy those blues!
I hope everyone had a beautiful celebration of the Holiday season. Best wishes for a Happy New Year, and Happy Shooting everyone!
Birds of Red, Orange & Yellow
My last post showcased a few November autumn captures at Lake Greenwood. Here are the resident birds of red, orange and yellow I captured as well. Those photographed in the trees offered loads of fall background color-splash.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
The Northern Flicker in flight flashes lots of yellow on his underside wings and tail as he approaches a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on the tree.
Northern Flicker (left) and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (on tree)
Northern Flicker
The Northern Cardinal is one of my favorite birds, and I had an awesome time photographing them. It wasn’t easy to post just this few! 🙂
Female Northern Cardinal
Male Northern Cardinal
Male Northern Cardinal
Female Northern Cardinal
Female Northern Cardinal
These, of course, weren’t the only birds at the lake during our November visit. In my next post, some of the others get to show-off their beauty!
Fall Foliage & Flowers at Lake Greenwood
Before Thanksgiving, the fall colors finally began to develop around Lake Greenwood, South Carolina. Having missed the color changes up north, I was excited to experience them at the lake.
Here’s a few of my captures…..
I also had the opportunity to work on photographing a few flowers still going strong.
I did a different crop of the above flower and couldn’t decide which I liked the best, so I posted both. 🙂
One more fall foliage across the lake…..
The summer is quite busy, but it is always so tranquil during the spring and fall at Lake Greenwood. And the birds, oh my! They’ll be showing off in my next posts…..
Crazy Horse Memorial
Several months before my Mom passed late November 2014, we had discussed my hope to some day be able to travel cross-country in our motorhome. She made me promise that if I ever got the chance, I had to go see the Crazy Horse Memorial for her, a sighting she had longed to see herself but never got the chance.
I fulfilled my promise to her this past summer. In the Black Hills of South Dakota and only 17 miles from Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, we visited Crazy Horse Memorial, the world’s largest, ongoing mountain carving.
Back in 1939, Korczak Ziolkowski, a noted New England sculptor, first came to the Black Hills to help Gutzon Borglum on the creation of Mt. Rushmore. That same year, Korczak received recognition at the New York World’s Fair for winning first prize for his Carrara marble portrait, “PADEREWSKI, Study of an Immortal.”
When the carving of Mt. Rushmore began in 1927, the local Lakota Indians objected loudly. The Black Hills of South Dakota, by treaty, belonged to them.
Hearing the news of Korczak’s NY World’s Fair win, Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear sent Korczak a letter to come back to the Black Hills and do a mountain carving for their people because “my fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has great heroes also”.
Korczak decided to accept the invitation of Chief Standing Bear. Crazy Horse was the chosen subject. Korczak said, “By carving Crazy Horse, if I can give back to the Indian some of his pride and create a means to keep alive his culture and heritage, my life will have been worthwhile.”
Korczak carved a clay model to present to Chief Standing Bear, depicting Crazy Horse on his horse, his hand outstretched that would point to the Black Hills in answer to the sarcastic question asked by the white man, “Where are your lands now?” with “My lands are where my dead lie buried”.
Photo Courtesy of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation
Several scaled models range from 1/24th to 1/300th
Korczak’s “Dream” began construction in 1948 with only $174. He worked alone with one small jackhammer powered by a gas compressor (“Old Buda”) at the bottom of the mountain. Korczak later built a 741-step staircase, descending and reclimbing it several times daily, often to restart “Old Buda” that would “kaput”.
“Old Buda” gas compressor
Having met Korczak a few times prior, Ruth Ross followed him from Connecticut to the Black Hills to volunteer her assistance. They fell in love, married in 1950, and had ten children. The children contributed to the “Dream”; the five boys worked on the mountain, and the five girls assisted Ruth in the Visitor Center.
After having several health scares, Korczak realized that Ruth might one day inherit the responsibility of carrying on the Crazy Horse Dream, so they prepared three books of comprehensive plans for the continuation of the mountain carving.
Mr. & Mrs. Korczak Ziolkowski
(photo courtesy of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation)
Korczak dedicated 36 years of his life working on the project until his death on October 20, 1982, at age 74. After his passing, his wife, Ruth, took over leadership, until her passing in 2014. Ruth was accredited for completing Crazy Horse’s head and the growth of the Foundation.
The beautiful Black Hills Nature Gates to Crazy Horse Memorial
Today, the Dream is still alive in those who remain at Crazy Horse, including four of the 10 children and many of the 23 grandchildren who work on the project and foundation along with a volunteer Board of Directors and many dedicated skilled professionals.
The Crazy Horse Memorial does not nor has it ever accepted federal or state funding. The project is financed entirely by admissions and contributions. Much more information and a donation link can be found at the Crazy Horse Memorial website.
Planned Mountain Dimensions –
Entire Carving – 641 feet long
Entire Carving – 563 feet high
Crazy Horse’s Face – 87 feet, 6 inches (completed June 3, 1998)
(compared to Mt. Rushmore, the heads of the four U.S. Presidents are each 60 feet high)
Outstretched Arm – 263 feet
Opening under arm – 70 feet wide and 100 feet high
Hand – 25 feet high
Finger – 29 1/2 feet long
Horse’s Head – 219 feet high (22 stories)
Horse’s Mane – 62 feet high
Horse’s Ears – 54 feet long
Horse’s Eyes – 20 feet wide; 15 feet high
Horse’s Nostrils – 26 foot diameter
“Never forget your dreams.” – Korczak Ziolkowski, Storyteller in Stone
(photo courtesy of Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation)
Today would have been my Mom’s 77th birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom. It was an inspiring & emotional joy to see this with you in spirit this past summer. I love and miss you always.
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to my U.S. friends!
Wild Turkey, Black Hills, South Dakota
(taken August 2016)
Enjoy your day, and please be safe if you’re traveling the highways.
November 2016 Supermoon
Each year, November’s full moon is called the Beaver Moon. Algonquin Native American tribes as well as American colonists called it the Beaver Moon because “this was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs,” according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Tonight’s Beaver Moon was also the long-awaited Supermoon, the largest moon in 69 years. The most spectacular Supermoon since 1948, it appeared 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual. Nothing will match it until the moon makes a similar approach on November 25, 2034.
I couldn’t set up for a location and so tried my luck from our campsite. When it first appeared, it was bright and golden.
Fooling around with different ideas, I caught this next shot I thought was neat.
I waited five hours after the Supermoon rose and tried my luck once more. I processed this one in black and white.
It was fun and challenging, and that’s what photography is all about!
I had practiced this past week where I had a little better luck. The next photo was taken a few days ago on November 10, 2016.
I am excited to see everyone else’s moon photos. Many put a lot of thought into the time and location; and I know there are going to be some awesome captures.
Thank you for taking a little peek at mine….. 🙂
Birding in South Carolina
Autumn is just beginning here at Lake Greenwood, with the trees transforming into bold colors of yellow, orange, and red. I’m waiting for the group of trees across the lake to fire up….fingers crossed.
I headed down to the lake’s edge in the last hour before sunset. The House Finches were busy, dangling upside down in the Sweet Gum Tree, eating from the tree’s seed pods (popularly called monkey balls or gumballs).
Male House Finch
Male House Finch – “Peek-A-Boo!”
Female House Finch
However, a Red-winged Blackbird just pulled the seed pod up with his feet for his feast. To heck with all that dangling!
Red-winged Blackbird
Sightings of other birds…….
Northern Mockingbird
Tufted Titmouse
Pine Warbler
Northern Flicker enjoying a few sips from the edge of the lake
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (a new lifer for me!)
Cormorant Fly-Over
Female Northern Cardinal
We’ve had a few nice sunsets since we’ve been here but none have been as gorgeous so far as this one taken from our site a week ago.
Sunset over Lake Greenwood
Enjoy your day, my friends!
Birding From a Beach Chair on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
Waiting for my scheduled knee surgery, we decided to go to the southern tip of Virginia’s Eastern Shore to spend a few days to pass the time. We stayed at Sunset Beach Hotel and RV Campground that is along the bay side and has direct beach access.
With the summer season gone and the resort not busy just yet with the surge of visitors for the upcoming 24th Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival, it was a beautiful time of year for the beginning of the Chesapeake’s major fly-way southern migration. Just north of us was Kiptopeke’s hawk observatory that is among the top 15 nationwide. I couldn’t make the trek to the observatory and had to settle for my beach chair. That was okay, I enjoyed being the only ones sitting on the beach. Just hubby, me and my camera.
Here’s my collection from those few days.
The Brown Pelicans and Cormorants were in full force every day.
Brown Pelicans and Cormorants chillin’ with me
Brown Pelican
A Great Blue Heron stopped by. As far as I was from him, he still kept his eye on me.
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Of course, there were a few exciting fly-bys…..
Cooper’s Hawk
American Bald Eagle
Merlin (a new lifer for me!)
Willet
Back to the shoreline……
Sanderling
Willet
Willet
Even the little crabs were out and about….
I was very excited to watch Osprey fishing each day!
Osprey
Osprey looking for a fish to snag!
Osprey
Osprey
We took a drive into Cape Charles. I shot these next photos of interest from the truck window.
Cape Charles
Common Buckeye
Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron (another lifer!)
All in all, these sightings during our few days to Virginia’s Eastern Shore helped ease my pain and worry about the surgery. I even made it down to the beach to capture a sunset from our golf cart.
I’m recovering well now thanks to all your prayers! We’re in South Carolina soaking up the warmer rays, and I’ve just begun some birding again. Yay!
Nature has it’s way of making us feel better. 🙂
Rocky Mountain Goats
This past August after leaving Mount Rushmore and traveling along Highway 89 in the Black Hills, we stopped at a highway turn-out for some photos. Looking at the beauty of the landscape and odd rock formations as well as searching for wildlife, it was then that I spotted several Rocky Mountain Goats just hanging out below and to my right on the rocky granite cliffs.
Rocky Mountain Goats are not native to South Dakota. In 1924, six of these goats were gifted to nearby Custer State Park by the Canadian government. Excellent climbers, those six goats quickly escaped their penned area and headed to the craggy granite core of the Black Hills for refuge.
.
Today, their primary range now extends over 32,000 acres at elevations from about 4,000 feet to over 7,200 feet.
Once fall and winter approach, the Rocky Mountain Goat’s fur coat will grow longer and quite shaggy to protect them from the elements.
Rocky Mountain Goats are grazing animals. Their diet includes grasses, herbs, sedges, ferns, moss, lichen, and shrubs.
As I watched and shot some wonderful photo ops, the goats skillfully climbed and stood on sides of granite as if it was no accomplishment. It was quite amazing!
The Rocky Mountain Goat has been part of regulated hunting through the years since their arrival, but it was stopped in 2007 due to a noticeable decline in population. This year marks the reopening of the Rocky Mountain Goat hunting season September 1 – December 31 after being closed for the past nine years.
I was disappointed to find out that information. They are too cute to shoot, except with a camera! By the time I stopped photographing them, there was a crowd of people around me, watching and laughing and totally enjoying these unique animals. I am certain they would all agree with me.
Hopefully, this small group of goats has been outsmarting the hunters! 🙂
Happy 75th Anniversary Mount Rushmore
Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota and carved into a 5,725 foot high mountain of granite, Mount Rushmore National Memorial features the faces of our U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. This year Mount Rushmore celebrated it’s 75th anniversary on October 31st.
Carving began on October 4, 1927 by Sculptor Gutzon Borglum. More than 90% was carved using dynamite, the rest by jackhammers and hand chisels. Borglum hired approximately 30 men at a time to assist his creation, totaling more than 400 individuals by completion. Would you believe, each worker had to climb 700 stairs every morning to punch a time clock. Whew!
To give you a perspective of size, George Washington’s head is 60 feet tall, with a 20 foot nose, an 18 foot wide mouth, and each eye is 11 feet across. At these proportions, if George’s entire body was carved, he’d have been as tall as a 40-story building.
First President George Washington
Third President Thomas Jefferson and 26th President Theodore Roosevelt
16th President Abraham Lincoln
Actually, the original carvings were to be Wild West heroes to include explorers Lewis & Clark, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Sioux Chief Red Cloud. But Borglum was inspired to due something more of a national significance.
Washington was chosen to represent our country’s founding, Jefferson for growth (purchasing of the Louisiana Territory, doubling our country’s size), Roosevelt for development (the National Park Service and the Panama Canal), and Lincoln for preservation (served during the Civil War and credited for keeping our country united).
For 18 months, Thomas Jefferson’s face was on Washington’s right, but undetected fractures in the rock caused the stone to be too weak. Borglum was forced to change his design to put Jefferson on Washington’s left. This change actually provided Washington’s profile to show perfectly from one pull-over location along Highway 244.
In 1937, a bill was introduced to Congress to propose social reformer and women’s suffrage activist, Susan B. Anthony’s face to be added to the Memorial. Unfortunately, the proposal fell through due to limited federal funds.
Although the carving was not complete, early in 1941 Congress cut all funding for Mount Rushmore. Sculptor Borglum died a week later. His son, Lincoln Borglum, oversaw some final touches throughout the rest of the year on his own to best complete his father’s masterpiece. Congress then declared the monument complete October 31, 1941.
However, per Gutzon Borglum before his death, it was not yet complete. Borglum specifically calculated three extra inches on all the face features to allow for natural weathering. He had stated, “Three inches would require 300,000 years to bring the work down to the point that I would like to finish it. In other words, the work will not be done for another 300,000 years, as it should be.”
From 1927 to 1941, the total cost to carve Mount Rushmore was $989,992.32, mostly paid from the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
What an awe-inspiring, magnificent work of art for visitors to see year-round.
Bay Photos by Donna 