I have been learning to use the settings on my DSLR camera. I've had this camera for over a decade, and I think it's time to learn how to use all those more advanced settings in the manual mode.
I'm still not good at choosing correct aperture and shutter speed.
I walked around the backyard, and near the lake, and took these photos.
Does anyone know what these white flowers are?
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| I don't know the name of these flowers. Aren't they pretty? |
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| Another photo of the unknown wild flowers |
These tickseed flowers are popping up everywhere near the lake.
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| Coreopsis (tickseed) is the official state of Florida wild flower |
This softshell turtle must have come from the lake. He (she?) was going towards the road. Later, when I was in the kitchen, I saw him back in the backyard, trying to climb the back fence! He couldn't even climb one inch, but trying hard and going back and forth along the fence to get out. I tried to guide him to the lake by giving some lettuce leaves, but he completely ignore me and my lettuce pieces. 😔
I went inside, but I could see him struggling to get out. So I moved a wheelbarrow next to him, tilted, hoping he would get in. It took about 10 minutes and a mini war to finally get him to the wheel barrow. Then I ran around the fence towards the lake, pushing the wheelbarrow because the turtle was trying to get out and he was heavy. Finally I let him out the wheelbarrow, about 20 feet from the lake. As I walked back, he sat there with his neck sticking all out. 😁
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| Softshell turtle |
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| Mockingbird |
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| Mockingbird eggs |
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| Mockingbird |
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| Morning dove |
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| Red winged blackbird |
XXX
Nil
I think the flower is known as Queen Anne's lace. Lovely wildlife photos Nil
ReplyDeleteThank you earthmotherwithin. Thanks to you I was able to look it up on Google. :) It's also called wild carrot. I wonder it's edible.
DeleteBeautiful flowers and photos. How cute, the turtle...I never saw a softshell. Now I know what a mockingbird and what her eggs look like! I usually mix them up with catbirds. Andrea
ReplyDeleteI've never seen catbirds. :)
DeleteWhat beautiful pictures! And bless you for helping that turtle! :)
ReplyDeleteHehee I don't think he will come into my yard again. :)
DeleteLovely photos. We have very different birds over here in the UK so it's interesting to see your bird photos.
ReplyDeletexx
Bird watching is fun, isn't it? I am trying to attract hummingbirds, but they rarely come. I saw them twice so far. :)
DeleteI could try to identify the plant for you, Nil, but, I'll need to see a picture of the leaves. There is another white flowered plant that grows well in Florida, especially in wet areas such as near a lake, which is water hemlock and it is VERY POISONOUS! One way to tell them apart is to look at the stem - the stem of the Queen Anne's lace will have fine hairs all along it; the stem of the water hemlock won't have any hairs, but, there will be purple spots on it. Also, Queen Anne's lace flowers form a cluster that looks a bit like an umbrella turned inside out and, when it sets seeds, the umbel comes together to cup the seeds inside. Queen Anne's lace, Daucus carota, is a type of wild carrot and is edible. The flowers in your pictures look like they could also be wild caraway, Carum carvi.
ReplyDeleteToo funny about the soft shelled turtle! Wonder how it got into your yard?
I will take a photo of the leaves and post it, Bless.
DeleteIf I remember correctly, these don't have purple spots on the stem. I remember researching about water hemlock because I have two elderberry trees and some mistake them for water hemlock.
Someone in a gardening group told me these looked like mock Bishopsweed, a Florida native.
I need to look up everything carefully. :)
The fence on one side of the yard doesn't run all the way, so cats and turtles can freely enter the yard. :)
Yes, it does look like it might be Mock Bishopsweed!
DeleteVery, Very cool. That's what I'm doing with my new mirrorless camera. I'm learning to shoot in manual and it's a blast. Before this I had a Nikon DSRL and I never got out of auto on that one. But when I got the new Canon, my world changed and I'm where you are, taking pictures and learning. I love it. Well done on your pictures. So fun. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI've been mostly using the phone to take photos, because the camera is bulky. I think mirrorless cameras are lighter. :)
DeleteNil how lovely to see a mockingbird and the beautiful speckled eggs. Unfortunately we don't have mockingbirds here. It's great and heartwarming that you could rescue the turtle. All of the wildflowers are pretty, a sure sign of summer coming on I suppose. Hope you have a good week, Pauline
ReplyDeleteYes, Pauline. There are so many beautiful wildflowers blooming now. I love this time of the year, jut before it gets too hot. :)
DeleteHa ha would love to have seen you running with the turtle in the wheelbarrow, such a funny story.....bless your kind heart for rescuing him/her 😁
ReplyDeleteHehee every time I think about it I laugh. I don't think that turtle will ever come back to my yard. :)
DeleteI'd suggest you look online as there are plenty of free short courses available at present. It doesn't matter if your particular camera make isn't offering a course as the basic principles remain the same. I've had a look at Nikon's offering to see if I could pick up any tips. Here's a link to an article about the online courses:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/www.digitalcameraworld.com/amp/news/best-free-photography-courses-and-content
Well done for dealing with your turtle problem. Do they often come in your garden?
Thank you so much for the link, Eileen. I will check it.
DeleteThere's a lake behind the yard, so turtles come once in a while. Not too often thankfully. :)
I agree with Eartmotherwithin. It looks like Queen Anne's lace. It grows along the roadsides here (central Virginia) and in hay fields. I have heard it's edible but I've never tried it. (And what parts are edible??) How nice of you to help the turtle! Yes, they can get so heavy.
ReplyDeleteApparently there are so many plants that look like this flower, Priscilla. Some are even poisonous.
DeleteI need to take more close up photos and study it. :)
I think the flower is not a queen anne's lace. It doesn't have pronounced lace heads like a queen anne's and even for Florida, it is too early for that. I think it is a water cowbane. Andrea
ReplyDeleteIs water cowbane also called water hemlock? That's what I saw on Google. There are many similar plants. Perhaps they all are in the same family.
DeleteNot the same but if it is water hemlock that is dangerous. Like Bless said, take photos of the leaves for identification along with the flowers. So many plants look similar to me by photos...it is best to have someone who knows come over and look. Andrea
DeleteOh yes. I would not try to grow or eat anything unless I'm 100% sure it's safe. :)
DeleteWhat a lucky turtle to have found a friend like you!
ReplyDeleteHahaa I think I really scared him. :)
DeleteWe call those 'lacey' white flowers, Queen Anne's Lace. And there are other names. A lovely wild flower. Also invasive. Keep an eye on it, and keep it in its place. :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely camera work!!!!
This is a perfect time, to master another skill. And a camera is a skill!!!!
Hope the silly turtle, finally figured out, you were trying to help him! -gigggles-
Thank you for your comment on our awful wind and T-storm. We and family, are all safe, and that's what really counts.
💨💦 💨💦 💨💦
Hehee I don't think that the turtle appreciated my help, Wisps. He struggled so much to get out of the wheelbarrow. LOL
DeleteI think the mystery wildflower is Queen Anne's Lace, Nil. It's so very pretty. I love your story of trying to help that turtle ... it must have been so funny to be pushing a turtle in a wheelbarrow! Meg😀
ReplyDeleteHehee I wish I had a video to show my struggle to help the turtle. It was very funny. :)
DeleteYou and a few other Florida birders convince me that spring is a good time for birding in Florida. We have done more in January and February when there are storks and other big birds nesting.
ReplyDeleteBe well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
There was a couple of hawks November and December, but they don't come anymore. I guess different birds have different seasons. :)
DeleteWow, those nature pictures are amazing, loce the one with turle! Stay safe and healthy everyone ☺
ReplyDeleteThanks Natalia. Hope you are doing well.
DeleteWell done for rescuing the turtle. I'm sure it would have appreciated your efforts :)
ReplyDeleteYou've taken some lovely nature photographs. I'm in awe at anyone who can operate a camera, the most I can do is point and click. X
Jules, your photos are always lovely. 😊
DeleteI’m not sure if the turtle appreciated my help. He was very reluctant until the very end. 😁
Queen Annes would be my guess as well. What ever it is, it is lovely. Love turtles,you were brave to do that.
ReplyDeleteI felt sorry for the turtle. But it was a struggle and I hope he won’t be back anytime soon. 😊
DeleteWe used to have wildflowers like those first ones you showed, Nil, but sadly I can't recall their name. I do recall seeing a lot of Mouse-eared chickweed, so named because of the shape of the flowers and what they resembled. Glad you got the DSLR camera out and I also admit to never knowing how all the settings worked on ones I had years ago, so you are definitely not alone. Now I have a newer digital camera which has manual settings and haven't learned about those as well...one day. I hope the turtle found its way back to the lake, too bad he ignored your helpful attempts.
ReplyDeleteHehee I think the turtle was too scared and confused. 😊
DeleteThose are beautiful photos, Nil. I just love seeing all of the wildlife. The birds are exquisite. I have never seen a soft shell turtle. I had a deer run right in front of me on the highway this morning. Fortunately, I didn't hit her. We have colorful woodpeckers, blue jays, and mourning doves up at the cabin. I usually see them in pairs. A small mountain lion even flashed in front of me on my walk the other day. I blinked and it was gone.
ReplyDeleteOh wow! A mountain lion sounds scary.
DeleteThe previous owner told me that there had been alligators in the lake many years ago. I’m glad there are no alligators there now.
When I was trying to get the turtle into the wheelbarrow, he flipped but I forgot to check if it was a male or female. LOL
ReplyDelete