Yes we did, it came with an 18-55, I bought a second 55-200. Both of these work in full auto and have the VR. I also picked up a 2x converter and a 500 for manual mode. I also got an auxiliary flash, view finder boot, screen protector, and wrist grip. We already had a good tripod and mono pod. The only thing I want yet is a wireless shutter release. I did all my shopping on Ebay and got really great prices. The SLR is a little big but with the grip you would have to try and drop it.

I don't have any balance problems or tremors & STILL I am very thankful for the image stabilization feature on my camera.

Doing some photo editing today and found this series of shots I took this past summer of a couple of Steller's Jays having a dispute over who got first pick of the peanuts, they really made the feathers fly.

For best viewing please click on photo to enlarge.

Wonderful to see them.

Love the dispute pictures.

Great shots Margaret. Thanks for these pictures. I have never seen a Stellar Jay, so they are more important to me. My only news today is that we are still covered with ice and/or snow about everywhere you look. And if that's not enough we have another major winter storm developing over Arizona which will spread another 5-12 inches here and across several states Tuesday & Wednesday. The good news is that I actually SAW and HEARD four (4) Robins this morning ahead of the approaching storm. They do not usually show up until mid to late March. Maybe a good omen?

Thanks guys.

Sorry to hear about more snow for you Leon. I wonder how those Robins will survive with the ice and snow everywhere.

Margaret, what amazingly AWESOME action shots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm speechless. Totally cool!

I agree. I have one as a screen background. Hope you don't mind Margaret.

Ohhhhhh, I need to do that too!!! Great idea Glen. May I Margaret? huh? huh? may I?

Really enjoyed those Jay photos, Margaret. Must have been hilarious to watch.

Thanks guys! I am delighted that you want to them them as a screen shot.

Thank you Linda, it was pretty funny alright, but it wasn't the first time I have seen them get into a real battle, just lucked out, had the camera on that day.

Ann, thank you for the tip.

I felt I was right there in the midst of the 'angry birds'. Way to go Margret!
Super series of pics from all you birders.

J, thank you for the very nice comment and the tip.

Most welcome.

Winter weather update: I just checked the national weather map and it appears the snow has begun across most of the central Mid-west. It looks like six states are currently under a snowy radar from Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri & Indiana. It also looks as though there is some dangerous icing in western KY & northeast AR. So I know this whole system will affect a wide area before its over tomorrow.

The good news is that my best half (my beautiful wife) spotted some large dark blobs in a cornfield across the road early this afternoon. These blobs were about 1/4 mile from the house so it was difficult to tell what they were. Using the binoculars we discovered they were a flock of 9 wild turkeys. I was ecstatic to know we had them this close to the house! I hadn't seen any around locally in about two years. I am thankful to know they are safe and have plenty of corn to forage from the fields. Here are a couple of pictures that I zoomed from my living room window. Also another dove and nuthatch picture.


At the risk of boring everybody I am including the current radar map for the region at 4:05 pm. I also ran across a couple pictures from last May that I had taken at our local aircraft museum. I am an aircraft enthusiast and enjoy studying them. What I also like is that birds find them useful for building nests. So I'll throw in a couple of those pictures too. The first aircraft picture shows a C-119 Flying Box Car. The 2nd picture shows a dove on her nest in the engine housing behind the prop of that plane. The 3rd picture shows a mother robin firmly in control of her nest in an engine nacelle.

Beautiful pictures, everyone!

I've put out seed four times today, and the feeders are still packed with birds! Their feeding habits are so very heightened before a winter storm that I know we're in for some weather.

Many critters are super hungry right now; I saw four deer in a field near the road mid-day, and they weren't worried about me at all. Also saw two dozen turkeys; about half in one field, and the rest in the next.

Hawks scare our little birds into the windows and snatch them up once they're stunned.

This predatory bird made the mistake of stunning itself for a bit, instead. Does anyone know which it is?



(This is a picture from last year...we see nothing but white right now. )

Chelle, You saw that many turkeys? I am encouraged to hear that. I was beginning to think the coyotes were getting them. A hawk got another Junco on my back door step this morning. They must be hungry too. Thanks for the information & picture of the hawk. It looks like a male Cooper's Hawk. (Can't be sure though, but they seem to have more solid color on their backs. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/g...)

Fabulous pictures Leon. Yes, I feel really sorry for the birds in this cold snowy winter weather.