Back to Theler

My 100-400mm lens proved its versatility on its first trip to Theler. As it turned out, birding was slow, and I ended up focusing more on the flowers than on the birds. Though I love the challenge of photographing birds, I also enjoy the beauty of flowers. For me, the first Trillium I see of the year

FrstTrlm

is almost as delightful as the first Tree Swallow.

Of course, it’ s also impossible to ignore the beauty of al the apple, plum, and cherry trees in full bloom,

CrbApl

even if I still can’t tell them apart.

No wonder so much Chinese and Japanese poetry revels in their spring beauty.

SnyBlsms

I can’t see lilacs

LilcsBlm

without being reminded of Whitman’s masterpiece “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d.”

It wasn’t until I near the end of my trip that I finally saw a few birds, like this male Tree Swallow

400mmTreSwlw

and the first Barn Swallow I’ve seen this year.

FrstBrnSwlw

I’ll have to wait until a later trip to see how well the lens handles birds in flight, but so far it has done everything I’ve asked of it, despite the inconvenience of hauling around a heavier lens than I’m used to.

7 thoughts on “Back to Theler”

  1. Loren, you just need to reframe the “inconvenience” of the heavier lens to “opportunity to increase my weight workout.” (!!)

    Great shots, looks like you’re at least a couple of weeks behind us here in Santa Rosa with all your fruit trees still in glorious bloom. Pretty much a done deal here, our world all leafed out and plums and strawberries already showing their fruit.

    1. Sure you’re right, Andrew. One of the reasons I like to go to Santa Rosa in February or March is so I can experience two Springs in one year.

  2. I hear ya – I’m definitely having to get use to carrying nearly 3 pounds of camera & lens now that I have my Nikon 105mm macro lens.

    Your bird shots are beautiful. I’m from New Mexico, and we don’t have a variety of birds like we do up here in the PacNW. I wasn’t all that interested in birds until I moved here, but now I can’t get enough of them.

    1. Funny. People in the Northwest go to New Mexico and Arizona to find new birds.

      By the way, birding slows down a lot in the summer if you haven’t been here then. In large part, we’re a winter refuge and a stop-over on migration routes.

      1. I lived in the southeastern part of the state, so aside from the birds that frequented Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, it was mostly doves and pigeons around. At least that I noticed.

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