The guy behind the lens

Saturday, May 28, 2011

BPRC - Red Tailed Hawks

Last weekend I had the great pleasure to visit the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center on the shores of Lake Lavon just east of Plano, Texas. I had the privilege of meeting 11 birds of prey which I will  share here on the Blue Lion Blog over time. Each of the BPRC's educations birds are unable to survive in the wild due to either physical or behavioral issues that would prevent their adaptation to a wild state.The first installment features the Red Tailed Hawk. These are the largest hawks we have in North Texas and are a common sight in our skies. Because of their wide distribution in North America, you (assuming you're in North America!) you are probably familiar with them.  To learn more about these great birds, I strongly recommend Cornell University's Ornithology Lab as a fundamental resource regarding birds.





I hope you enjoyed these great raptors.... also feel free to visit Camera Critters for a wealth of other animals!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Thoughts on an Eagle's Eye.....

After having a great morning at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center (BPRC) here in North Texas, I thought I'd share an image that I talked about with fellow photographers at the BPRC today.

In particular, we were discussing the fact that owls have small feathers on their eyelids and the discussion got around to the additional fact that many birds also posses a nictitating membrane which serves as a "middle" eyelid that allows the bird to blink without having to move the larger outer eyelid. The nictitating membrane allows most birds to blink but lets them to retain their vision as the membrane is usually semi-transparent. This membrane also moves differently from the usual eyelid as it closes horizontally over the eye rather than vertically. Occasionally when photographing birds, you may capture this nictitating membrane in mid blink and it creates a most interesting view as you see here. In this image I think the eagle looks like it could be a character out of the X - Men comics and movies.

Tawny eagle with nictitating membrane in place.

Here's an image of the same Tawny Eagle moments later....
Tawny EagleCenter for Birds of Prey, Awendaw, South Carolina

By the way, you do not posses a nictitating membrane, but the corner of your eye next to your nose does have the remnants of an vestigial nictitating membrane called the plica semilunaris. To see other interesting animal postings, visit Camera Critters!


Saturday, May 14, 2011

Beautiful Indian Blankets

I was very pleased earlier this week to discover a field of one of my very favorite native Texas wildflowers growing less than a mile from my house! Once the weather  and wind cooperated I was able to get out today and shoot some of theseWonderful flowers. They go by several names, the most popular of which are Firewheels, Indian Blankets, and Sundance flower. the scientific name is Gaillardia pulchella . The genus name is in honor of a French legislator who was a patron of 17th centrury botanical research, Gaillard de Charentonneu.


The name Indan Blanket cones from a Native American legend that a weaver wanted to honor the Great Spirit by weaving a blanket that had all the colors of the sunset. Upon his death, he asked to be buried in his masterpeice so that he could present it to the Great Spirit in the Afterlife. As recogition of the gift, the Great Spirit covered the plains in this flower.

This flower was significant to the Aztecs as well, but for a vastly different reason. Their story of the creation of this flower was that it was originally pure yellow. However, once the Conquistator Cortes spilled the blood of the Aztec people, the center of these flowers became stained red.


This widely distributed flower is found as a spring bloom in much of the south & southwest and a fall bloom farther north. It prefers full sun and dry soils. Gardeners compalin that if you water it "enough" it does very poorly. As such it's a great choice for a garden trying to conserve water!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

During this spring season of rebirth and growth, we take a day to recognize and celebrate those women in our lives who play such a pivotal role in the outcome of each of our lives. From the nausea, cravings, and discomfort of the miracle of pregnancy and childbirth to the sleep deprived nights of infancy to the hyper vigilance of the active toddler years through the terrible twos (and Threes!) and teaching us how to be more self sufficient as we grew from childhood into the mazes of the tween and teen landscapes. From friendly advice to heartfelt admonitions, to some extra cash when the account was low, our mothers have each shared of themselves in a myriad of ways (blood sweat and tears) that has molded us into the successes we are today.

Moms are there to listen to our trials and tribulations.

All Mine!Yellowstone National Park
Moms teach us to share
Bad Hair Day Fossil Rim Wildlife Park, Glen Rose, Texas
Moms teach us that beauty is more than skin deep!
Wasp visiting a Thistle Bud
Moms help take the sting out of life's unpleasantries
Baby Chacma Baboon digging for grubs.Chobe National Park, Botswana
Moms give us the freedom learn things on our own...

but they are there to carry us when we get overwhelmed!


Moms help show us the right paths in life.
Watchful Ladies
Moms stand by us even when we are big enough to think we know better ;-)

To all the MOMS of the world, you have the EVERLASTING LOVE of your sons and daughters!
In short Mom, You're ONE OF A KIND!

PS - feel free to send this to a special MOM in your life to let her know you appreciate all she's done for you.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

And Justice was Served....

To honor the work of the brave soldiers who helped bring Osama Bin Laden to justice.
No more needs to be said.



Click in the images to see either in their original gallery

Visit Wordless Wednesday for more non-verbose offerings....