Light & Shadow

Light & Shadow
Originally uploaded by mightyquinninwky©

Here's an example of an American Goldfinch..these guys/gals feed on thistle seed that I provide in a 'seed sock'. These socks are nice because the larger birds and squirrels can't feed on them and squeeze these little guys out..they are only about four inches tall!! They are a very beautiful bird, even in their drab winter colours..they become a brilliant gold in spring...and have a wonderful advertising call. I highly recommend putting out thistle to attract these wonderful birds!!

New character in my backyard play....

Originally uploaded by mightyquinninwky©

I have been feeding the birds in my backyard for sometime now.. I really enjoy seeing the types of birds that live and pass through this beautiful area..its so full of life.. We have an abundance of American Goldfinches, House finches, swallows, Cardinals (of course, Carolina Wrens, Chicadees, Woodpeckers (mainly downey and hairy), bluejays, indigo buntings, ect. ect. Here lately I have noticed a few new birds I had never seen within the city limits before (not that Morganfield could really be considered urban with only 3700 people), a Cooper hawk and a Merlin. These guys/gals have decided to take up feeding on the birds I am feeding. So I guess in a round about way I am feeding them as well. At first I was upset that they were preying on my little friends and thought..these guys/gals have to eat as well, so who am I to judge what Mother Nature has set up. These birds are wonderfully graceful and powerful fliers, that have a presence that can't be denied... So I welcome them as they are an important part of the circle of life..I just have provided more cover for the prey birds to even the odds!!!

Sundog Over The Sloughs

Sundog Over The Sloughs
Originally uploaded by mightyquinninwky

This is a sundog that I witnessed over the sloughs outside of Geneva, Kentucky... I have been seeing these more lately than I ever have at any other time in my life...

Contrail and Sunsetting Over The Ohio

Originally uploaded by mightyquinninwky

A busy sky over the Ohio right before the Thanksgiving holiday. Beautiful and scary in the same instance. Love the sunset no matter where I am!!

Flying In A Golden Sky

Flying In A Golden Sky
Originally uploaded by mightyquinninwky

This shot was taken over the Ohio River, just outside of Uniontown, Kentucky and across from Indiana... A very beautiful day!!

St. Vincent's Cemetery

I just wanted to share some shots I took the other night at St. Vincent's cemetery outside of Waverly, Kentucky. This is one of the oldest cemeteries in this area. Many people have seen orbs and other strange lights at this location..This night I didn't..it was a new moon...so it was awfully dark...actually it may have been low in the sky...but it was dark...anyway heres the photos....
More to come..I am going to shot out here from time to time to see if there is anything to the rumours...

Ohio River Bottoms In Bloom

I went down to the Ohio river near Uniontown, Kentucky a couple of days ago and found some interesting things..
The first thing I came by was a collection of geese and ducks summering in the flood waters near the boat ramp. Its fun to watch them cross the road and all of them keeping the little ones in line. The thing that amazed me were the amount of wild flowers in bloom in the Ohio river bottoms right now!! I first came across a Wild Potato Vine....this plant have heart shaped leaves and trumpet shaped blooms that are white with a small amount of purple. This plant is also called bindweed because it can choke out anything around it...small bushes, trees, and ground plants. The wildest thing is the tubers of this plant have been known to get up to thirty pounds and are edible, but bland (I don't know this myself...just looked it up!!). What really surprised me was the amount of black-eyed susans in the open fields..they were everywhere and IMHO very beautiful! But the flower that blew me away was the coneflower or the Echinacea purpurea. Absolutely gorgeous this time of year! While I was photographing this flower I see some blue streaks out the corner of my eye....I look over and I see an indigo bunting hanging out in the tall grass...A beautiful site!! This is what makes this area so special...all the natural beauty..