Thanks y'all. Most of my photos don't seem to come out as good as they used to. I thought the photo of the green heron was a bit busy and off-focus with the reflections in the background. I was sure my camera settings were messed up again but my husband checked and said everything is set correctly. The cataract on my right eye is really bad; everything is a total blur when I look through the viewfinder so I just take a few pictures in hopes that once downloaded, one or two will be recognizable. I had an eye exam a few weeks ago and thought for sure the Optometrist would refer me to the Ophthalmologist for removal of the cataracts but she said it could be corrected with glasses so she sent me over to the Optician and I got glasses. My correction is for distance vision and I haven't worn glasses in 40 years and I'm having a heck of a time getting used to them! One day last week I decided to try my new glasses while driving. I backed out of our long, curved driveway and backed off the pavers into the culvert/swale area. I heard the scraping of the bottom of my car against the brick pavers and cringed. My car is old but there wasn't any visible damage ... and luckily the car didn't get stuck or it would have been sitting there until my husband got home that evening.
After the first of the year (if not sooner) I'm going to insist on a referral to the Ophthalmology department and get the cataracts removed so I won't have to worry about glasses or contact lenses!
Margaret, great shot of that male Pileated Woodpecker! I love those big woodpeckers but they sure are elusive down this way. I even like their loud, raucous call which some find very annoying.
The Loggerhead Shrike is a year-round resident for us but it's been a few years since I've spotted one. From a distance they look like a small to medium sized, rather meek bird ... until you see that strong, hooked bill that they use to skewer their prey. These Loggerhead Shrike pic's are from four or five years ago.
