Thursday, December 1, 2016

Crops & Clips: Flashback to December, 2013

This post concludes two years of monthly searches through my photo archives for images which match the themes of critters, fences, skies, flowers, macros and reflections. This is a peek through the retroscope at photos taken three years ago, in December, 2013. 

This process brings to mind the creatures and sights I might expect to see once again at this time of year. Let's see how far I need to go into the month to find at least one for each meme. I have won this self-imposed contest twenty-four months in a row since starting in January, 2015. It has been fun but I must decide whether to continue.

It was a colorful month, with a spectacular rainbow followed the next morning by a brilliant sunrise over our back yard lake, on December 26 (click on images for expanded views):

Rainbow2 20131226

After the rainbow 20131226

On the day before Christmas, sun, spider silk and dewdrops had combined to produce a rainbow effect:

Silk and dew rainbow 20131224

A Common Buckeye carried its own rainbow colors:

Common Buckeye 20131203

A Boat-tailed Grackle's iridescent cloak added to the mix:

Boat-tailed Grackle 20131208

The palette included this back-lit Tricolored Heron:

Tricolored Heron 2-20131210

The Lantana was not content to exhibit only one hue in its flowers...

Lantana 20131203

...as well as its berries:

Lantana berries 20131205

The frontal shield of a Gray-headed Swamphen glares as, parrot-like, it uses its prehensile foot to uproot a tasty shoot of spike-rush:

Purple Swamphen eating 20131210

A male Anhinga dons turquoise goggles for the breeding season:

Anhinga 2-20131210

More primary color is contributed by this male Northern Cardinal:

Northern Cardinal in Trema tree 2-20131228

A Great Egret's white reflects on blue:

Great Egret preening 2-20131205

Its background colors show through as this huge Green Iguana fades with age (click on image for better view):

Iguana 20131210

Green shows up well on these female Painted Buntings as they splash in a mud puddle:

Painted Buntings 20131222

The American Kestrel is a bright little falcon:

American Kestrel 3-20131222

The "eyes had it" in December, starting with these Burrowing Owls...

Burrowing Owl pair 3-20131223

...those of a pair of Egyptian Geese...

Egyptian Geese 20131225

...a vignetted Great Horned Owl...

GHO vignette2 20131223

...and my reflection in the eye of this Gray Squirrel:

Gray Squirrel 20131215

Look closely-- that indeed is me with my hat and camera!

My reflection in squirrel eye 20131215

Alas, on first try I found no fence for Theresa's meme. Maybe those far-away fences in the rainbow photo will suffice. Another search provided a better example. Our home is the brownish one on the left without a fence, but look at those of some of my neighbors across the water!

Our home 20131215

= = =  = = =  = = = =  = = = = =

Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Gosia

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart

Linking to Today's Flowers Friday by Denise

Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display

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18 comments:

  1. a plethora of wonderful shots.

    Rainbows and flutterbys two of Mother's amazing gifts.

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  2. An absolutely glorious series, Kenneth, and what a lovely way to begin December!

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  3. Thank you for this serie. I LOVE the red bird and the squirrel. Beautiful.

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  4. Stunning! A joy to see these wonderful photos. That green iguana would have me running, though :)

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  5. Great photos! Magnificent rainbow!

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  6. Wonderful photography! I love that spider web shot.

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  7. Beautiful, beautiful pictures. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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  8. Wow - what a stunning series of shots.

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  9. Hello Ken, beautiful rainbow. awesome shots of all the beautiful birds. I like the cool iguana too. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

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  10. AMAZING photos! Hope you've made it safely to your winter home. We are headed to OR in less than a week (silly us...headed north! :-) ) All my best. Will start posting again soon.

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  11. You always amaze us with your photos! I love the owl but the reflection in the squirrel's eye wins the prize! WOW!

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  12. Great photos. Can't pick a favourite though the Common Buckeye is in the running.

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  13. Ohhhhhhhhhh, how green with envy I am right now!! I've gone out several times in the last few years when a Burrowing Owl has been reported in our area, only to come back home without spotting it. They're so sweet! And your photo of that one in particular just thrills me!!

    Wonderful array of images from your archives.

    Have a blessed week ahead, and thanks for sharing your link at I'd Rather B Birdin'!

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  14. That is one heck of a rainbow! I saw Burrowing Owls from the window of a taxi a few years ago - I'd love to spend time photographing them.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  15. Hello Ken!:) Just stunning nature images, and outstanding photography. This is a great series, and I love each and every one of your captures.

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  16. Marvelous images!
    I love that rainbow - what a stunner!
    Thanks for linking up with us at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-church-of-transfiguration.html

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  17. Wow! Impressive photos! They are gorgeous! Love the rainbow and spider web!

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  18. So many good photos! I think it is great to go through old photos. It does bring back good memories. That closeup into the squirrel's eye is superb. #WordlessWednesday

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