Little Brown Heron

This is similar to heron I spotted a few days ago. I got to watch him from a great vantage point on a wall about 10 feet away. He was aware of my presence but continued to fish from this perch and others. He seemed to be feeding on various aquatic life, but I did not see any fish. He would jump from rock to rock using his wings as assists. It appeared he also was feeding on something on the blades of grass on the bank. This bird seemed young by his size and seeming lack of fishing skills.
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Great Blue Heron

Carroll Creek
Walking home from work this afternoon I got to watch this magnificent bird as it fished within view of my abode for a very long time. It is described here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blue_Heron

A neighbor came running by with his pointer who decided to drink the cool running waters of the creek not more than 10 feet from the Heron, which naturally took flight. I can honestly say that I have never seen a bird in the wild with as wide a wing span -- simply the most beautiful sight I have ever personally witnessed.
msc

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Rabbit Patch

Our apartment proper along Carroll Parkway has become the home of a family of rabbits this year. I see them early and late and the are becoming much more used to the neighbors as the summer goes along. I muse that with some proper morsels I might have some success in befriending them.
msc
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Fisher

This very pretty Fisher was working Carroll Creek just across from my abode. I had set out on this pleasant afternoon with a new 2X Tam ron Teleconverter (for my Yashica FX-3 Super) that I picked up on Ebay at a great deal. I was going to try it out on the Geese and ducks at Culler Lake with tripod in hand and 200 zoom lens. Along the way I spotted this beautiful bird. I got off about three shots with the Yashica: two at 400mm. I will be interested to see how they come out. He was a very cooperative subject as his method is to remain motionless while unsuspecting fish swim within range of his long neck and pointed beak. His long and strong legs help to propel him quickly down into the creek for his next meal. They are green and so appear like vegetation to unsuspecting minnows that swim near his post. I watched him awhile longer as he fed on his catch. His eyes are amber. His beak a dark gray on top and green below. His feathering a medium brown with light brown highlights. I must check with Amy, my birding authority, to see what the name of this fine fellow might be. He is about the size of a small crow. The only noise I heard was when he flew across the creek for another hunt, and I heard a "cluck"
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Col John Singleton Mosby

Warren ton Courthouse
1833 1916. Lawyer-Soldier-Patriot
A marble obelisk with the bronze relief of the Grey Ghost sits it the Courthouse Square. "He has left a name that will live till honor, virtue, courage, all shall cease to claim the homage of the heart.
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Slave Auction Block

Warrenton Courthouse

The sign says this naturally shaped rock was here at the courthouse in Warrenton from the early days and sometimes served as a slave auction block. In my hometown of Lexington there used to be one on the Cheapside of the Courthouse. I think it was moved in a recent renovation. These old blocks serve as a good reminder, I think, of a way of life that was overcome as a part of the culmination of that Late Unpleasantness.
msc.
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Sushi Art

Habachi Buffet & Sushi
Fredericksburg Virginia

Colorful artistic sushi. I got one of each type of sushi and they filled my plate. All you care to eat, and oh so delightful. Notice that the only proper way to consume these gourmet delights is with chop sticks. A great father's day feast today with another great father -- and friend
msc

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Old Carroll Creek Covered Bridge

I framed this shot to capture a bit of the evening sun on this old bridge just about 3 minutes from my front door. I also wanted to give a sense of movement as the old road is shown extending out in the frame. I read a bit ago that when the owner donated this land some years ago, the city had plans of tearing down the bridge. The park covers about 35 acres along Carroll Creek. The city altered its plans, built a new road a few hundred yards away, and maintains the gem from the past for Frederick residents. It is one of the favorite locations for engagement photo shoots. This weeks Digital Photography School's assignment was "10 Minutes from Your Front Door"
msc
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Sol Invictus and his Temple Virgins

These Tall Daylilies (Hemerocallis altissima) really worship the Sun. Their name "hermerocallis") is taken from Greek and means "beauty" and "day". The Unconquered Sun "rises" in the east each morning to call the virgins to their homage. Day by day new virgins open their pedals in the morning-as in an orans position-- to gather all the light they can and attract the pollinators, and then close them again in the evening after the sun sets--forever. That is right--never again to open as though they had made their final complete sacrifice to the sun. Inside their protective shroud they have pulled about themselves, a miracle is occurring as they protect and nurture the seed within. By and by their beauty wilts and they fall to the ground to begin another new life in God's amazing ordered creation. In their midst, here at home, is this terra cotta crowned sun mask-- reminiscent of Sol Invictus in his Roman temple where tall priestesses stood about his image --as do these fiery lilies here.
msc
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Take Two

illuminated Tower. Another corner shot with BB flash fill when after the concert the lighting came on. I also noted that the faux supports do not reach quite to the top of the tower. Makes a much nicer shot and the lighting warms the stone to a golden color
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Come Together -- Beatles Impersonated

Baker Park -- the Brothers

This group does a lot of the old Beatles songs -- and very well. The crowd sure likes it. The lead in white is for Lennon I gather. Most of the folk I see were probably dancing to this music in a bygone day -- including me on rare occasion. (I did not especially care for their brand of rock.) This opening concert kicks off the Frederick summer park concert Sunday Evening season.

msc

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Architecture Perspective

Bell Tower Baker Park
This is the bell tower close up and a perspective looking up toward the evening sky. Each of the four corners has two supports that reach to the top of the wall
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Paul Revere History Quiz

What did Paul Revere do besides ride about warning that the British are coming?

Sarah, this is a "Gotcha" question

A - He made Silverware, Pewterware, etc. Pictured is a Revere Mint Julep Cup filled this evening with the mystical elixer of the gods made with fine Kentucky Bourbon, mint crushed ice, spring water, and sugar: which I felt compelled to prepare to honor Patriot Revere after listening to your explanation of how he warned the British that they could not get the militia's guns and stores. I am still pondering that one. Maybe this sweet concoction will help clear the fog that settled in when I read the explanation you offered to Fox News.
Read more here
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/zontv/2011/06/sarah_palin_of_course_ignoranc.html

BTW: My love of the past 44 years and I each received one of these Julep Cups after we won the Bluegrass "Run of the Mill" rally in about 1969. She drove her MGB and I navigated.
msc
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Geese on Guard

Culler Lake
These two Canadian Geese flanked their young today to guard against intruders -- or their young running off. The one in the left of the photo had tuned to keep me under watch as I moved closer to frame this shot. One improvement I would like to see on future blackberry phone cameras is an exposure compensation feature so one could adjust for back-lit exposures
msc

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Locknut?

Carroll Creek Parkway
Tonight while on a short photo walk looking for some target and thinking of Ken Rockwell's Advice to FART for better photos I observed this lock that someone had placed in a Pink Bradford Pear tree next to the sidewalk by pulling a leaf through the eye of the lock. It just hung there like a nut. So I FARTed (R): Feel Ask Refine Take -- Feel the photo opportunity. Ask what it is unique about the find that gave rise to the feeling. Refine the shot (light, frame, compose, angle). Take the shot
Did you ever before see a "Lock-nut" before. -- nor had I
If you would like to lean more about how to FART, visit Ken's site here
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/fart.htm
msc
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