Easter Sunday
My Easter Squirrel
I used my off day to spend a little time looking for birds before the family Easter dinner today. I woke up to some beautiful sun that was shining through my bedroom window and although temps were below freezing . . . I couldn’t have asked for a better day. Everything was wonderful except I just didn’t have what it took for any good pictures!
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks were vocalizing where I can always expect to find them! I could only capture one picture of the bird before it disappeared into the woods . . . teasing me with its “errrr, Errrr, ERRRR” vocalization (as if to say photographer, PHOTOgrapher, PHOTOGRAPHER!!)!” All not lost . . . a bazillion miles up into the sky there were two Turkey Vultures (CHECK, first for 2008)! One vulture did a quick fly-by to check out what the Red-shouldered Hawk was screaming about (but it was still up high in the sky)!
Turkey Vulture
Walking back to my vehicle, I had two Common Mergansers flying directly towards me and I could hear them say . . . . “take the picture right, we are only going to pass you once”! Nope, out of frame and those tail feathers that I captured were blurry! I think I had a similar picture of some Woodducks later in the day when I tried sneaking up on them in a beaver pond! They were 100% aware that was coming and don’t you love the sounds they make when they fly away?? That’s what I remember most about those Woodducks!
Bufflehead
Before heading over to my mothers . . . I did a quick detour to the Allegheny River for some casual waterfowl passing through. River is still a little high but I was able to find a few duck spots! Bufflehead, Pied Billed Grebe, Mallard, Woodduck, and American Wigeon . . . . all just a “little” too far away for any good pictures!
American Wigeon
I finally gave up on my birdwatching and decided to spend my afternoon with an excellent family Easter dinner. I guess some days Mother Nature is very bold in telling you when you should be somewhere else with your family (instead of taking pictures). But . . . . every photographer must have patience!! When I arrived at home after dinner, I found this unique Easter Squirrel under my bird feeder. I have been trying to capture of picture of this little guy all winter and now I can say that the Easter Bunny finally arrived at my house!
 Subscribe to Mon@rch |
All Rights Reserved ©2006-2008 |
 Stumble this post! |
Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
What an adorable squirrel! I have a black squirrel that lives in the woods outside my bedroom window, but I’ve never seen one like yours! Very cool! Glad you had a good Easter with family.
23 March 2008 at 9:48 pm
I’m glad somebody else has these kind of photo days! But your little Easter squirrel is ADORABLE!
23 March 2008 at 9:49 pm
Monarch, your photo adventure sounds a lot like what I’ve been experiencing lately. The birds don’t want to sit long enough for me to focus, the bees refuse to land on the wisteria blossoms I’m taking photos of, and even my cats and dogs refuse to pose for me. Sound familiar? I’m glad you had a nice Easter meal with your family. We had a really good day, too.
23 March 2008 at 10:04 pm
Sounds like a wonderful day! I loves me some turkey vultures! And that black squirrel with the gray tail is really quite pretty.
23 March 2008 at 10:16 pm
It does take great patience to photograph nature doesn’t it? So many obstacles and they rarely pose for their pictures. Great shot of the squirrel though!
23 March 2008 at 10:23 pm
@ Rondi – Thanks and I do get funny looking ones from time to time!
@ Barb – I have many of these days! Just don’t blog about them much! LOL!
@ Mary – I always love your photos! But, I have never met a bird who would sit long! Flowers are much more cooperative! It was a great dinner!
@ Lynne – it was and this squirrel has been visiting me once a week since the first snow fall! I was just happy to have a chance to photograph it!
@ Robin – It sure does! Thanks
23 March 2008 at 10:47 pm
Cute little squirrel. I can’t say that I’ve seen one that color before. The vulture looks just beautiful flying against the blue sky. Who knew they were so pretty? Enjoying family is a wonderful thing, there will always be more pictures to take tomorrow. At our Easter dinner at the in-laws, Pileated Woodpeckers where about 6 feet outside the window several times and I forgot my camera and camcorder at home. It was meant to be. I actually got to just enjoy watching them instead seeing them through a little lens trying to get that great shot.
24 March 2008 at 12:04 am
@ Linda – sounds like a good reason for returning for leftovers tomorrow! Thanks and glad you had a good dinner!
24 March 2008 at 12:08 am
Wow! A turkey vulture! Awesome shot by the way. I loved your squirrel however, got totally worked up over your vulture find! sweet!
24 March 2008 at 1:11 am
Love your Easter squirrel! Hope your Easter evening was just as joyful.
24 March 2008 at 6:31 am
There are several of those melanistic squirrels at my Mom’s house, but I’ve never managed to get a good pic. They seem very skittish! Great shots!
24 March 2008 at 7:48 am
Happy Easter Tom! Sounds like you had a very nice day. A sunny day with family and your Easter squirrel.
And, hey, your “poor” photos are a lot better than mine! LOL! Good job!
24 March 2008 at 8:55 am
Happy Easter! At least you saw some birds, even if they weren’t all cooperating!
Good birding (and photographing) to you! 🙂
24 March 2008 at 8:56 am
That squirrel pulled the wrong tail out of the closet when he got dressed. Reminds me of a recent day when I went to work with one blue shoe and one black shoe on.
24 March 2008 at 9:05 am
Easter bunny – check! Easter chick – check! Easter squirrel – a stretch, but I s’pose a check there too. 🙂
24 March 2008 at 9:11 am
I often have days when the birds are just out of range, or I have the camera turned off when they fly directly over head. But I am usually not rewarded with a shot of a very cool, unusual, and beautiful little squirrel like this one. What a cutie.
24 March 2008 at 11:09 am
It sounds like a wonderful, if frustrating day! It makes you appreciate the great shots you are able to make even more!
24 March 2008 at 11:34 am
Sounds like a good Easter – I saw a robin yesterday. Does that count? 😉
24 March 2008 at 1:17 pm
What kind of squirrel is that? All we have is gray squirrels around the house. I have to go a little further to find the fox or red squirrels. Nice photos.
24 March 2008 at 1:35 pm
Thank goodness the squirrel sat still for you to take its picture. Don’t know what we would do without a nature photo by you. At least some of the ducks were cooperative.
24 March 2008 at 2:34 pm
@ Aullori – Thanks and sometimes get them closer! Actually, I think I had one or two vultures roosting in the pines behind my house last night!
@ jayne – Thanks and was very much so!
@ Rurality – These guys are fun and they are tricky in capturing a picture of!
@ Mary – Thanks and was for sure! I have seen your photos . . . I don’t think so!
@ Birdfreak – Thanks and did see some birds!
@ Ruth – LOL, I think you are right with putting the wrong tail on! LOL
@ Barb – CHECK . . I forgot that didn’t I!
@ Robin – Thanks and we all get those days from time to time!
@ Sherri – not frustrating . . . a typical photographers day but normally I get one good shot!
@ Marty – Thanks and sure does! LOL
@ Joan – That’s for sure a Gray Squirrel with its tux on! LOL
@ Lisa – Exactly! What would one of my post look like without a picture?? I should try that some day!!
24 March 2008 at 8:13 pm
The squirrel is a cutie and the vultures are always beautiful.
25 March 2008 at 10:23 am
Awww. . . . an Easter squirrel. You seem to have a magic touch when it comes to encountering nature’s magic.
( I had a bit of a pause when I read ‘woodchucks’ instead of ‘woodducks’ and was wondering why you’d be sneaking up on ’em in that beaver pond :0D
26 March 2008 at 7:05 pm
Your Easter squirrel is beautiful! So glad you had time for dinner though. With this type of addiction, sometimes we forget it’s mealtime. You had a very productive day! Thanks for the shot of the squirrel I love him/her!
3 April 2008 at 5:27 pm
Tom-I can’t believe it! You actually have days when you have difficulty getting photos.-One would never know it if they followed your blog.-It seems to be such a rare event! Eventhen you still managed more photos than I would get.-Happy belated Easter.
3 April 2008 at 9:10 pm