Greetings everyone, hope all is well with you. My spirits have definitely been lifted thanks to yesterday being my first day in the therapy pool! Feels good to actually walk again albeit with the assistance of water dynamics. For an hour there I felt somewhat whole again, enjoying the various strengthening and stretching routines and even the treadmill didn’t fill me with dread like it normally does during the off-season – something about it being submerged made it more intriguing. Of course, reality hit when my time was up and re-emerged into gravity – a solid reminder I still have miles to go. The best part, I was completely exhausted later that night, forgotten muscles fidgeting and squawking. It has been 11 frustrating months since I’ve had a really hard run and last night brought a flood of good memories back (runners are wired differently ha). While I sit here in anticipation of tomorrow’s pool session, thought I would crank out another post from the recently processed Colorado trip.
Hit the jump to see a few more shots that “could have been awesome”
I have a few tenets I have adopted from my many years on the hunt. A few of those make their way into a list of “Golden Rules” that the Intrigued staff are subjected to time and time again. Oh, good reminder, our mandatory annual training requirements are coming due soon! Some of the rules are simply useful birding tips you are more than likely going to hear if you spend any time out in the field with me. Take for instance “Always Shoot the Loners” as those are where the real interesting sightings come from. Another being “Tin the Mates” as sometimes the ones they are with get you that valuable piece of information leading to the ID. Another set of rules are more personal (and not on the competency test hehehe). Turns out one of those bit me in the ass with this set of images.
Ron can attest, it takes a lot for me to “Chimp” in the field. For those not familiar with this wildlife photography concept, it is the act of taking a picture and immediately looking at the back of the camera and “Oooh, Oooh, Ooohing” at the capture – it’s more of a visual thing, you will know it when you witness it! My philosophy being there is relatively limited time available for the hunt, I’d rather keep my head up for something interesting to happen.
Granted, there are quick looks from time to time to check exposure or confirm a faraway bird, but I know my camera and what can be “addressed” in the digital darkroom so no reason to pixel peek (display zoom). This also means there is a tendency to find birds in shots I didn’t know were there when the shutter slapped. For example, 5 new birds were added to my 2024 count while processing the backlog soon after surgery – nothing like birding from the comfort of the den ha. A companion Golden Rule is “Scrutinize Tins in the Digital Darkroom” as lots of things can lurk in the corners and background.
Now there is a definite downside to this philosophy and it reared its ugly head in these shots of the Red-Breasted Nuthatch. Last September we were at the Teacup Agility Dog Nationals in Loveland Co (not too far from our Denver satellite HQ), when we found ourselves with some extra time. Grabbed the camera and went to Lake Loveland as there was a Sabine’s Gull spotted there (a potential lifer). What we found there was absolutely surprising as the lake looked like someone had pulled the drain plug. If there is anyone familiar with this lake, can you add a comment and let us know if this is regular event for this lake, a planned draining or really experiencing this level of drought last fall. Basically mud flats for as far as one could see. I did find the Sabine’s huddled with a small group of other Gulls, but far enough away it won’t be featured here anytime soon. Another surprise is when I tried following the bank to get to a bit of distant water. Signage stated Lake Loveland was a private lake and no trespassing allowed. Disappointed, I headed back to the Linda and the dogs. I did learn later were in a small public area for the lake – Marie Antoinette came to mind, “Let them eat mud”.
Linda found a nearby park call North Lake Park that had access to water with sightings of Hooded Mergansers which were missed earlier in the year. That place had plenty of water which increased the curiosity on the state of the lake we had just left. Sure enough, there was a group of Hoodies paddling along hoping someone would take their pictures. So far you know everything BUT the subject of this post – apologies for that. All of this culminated in spotting a set of tall evergreens near the entrance to the park. Made my way over there and confirmed a hunch, there were Red-Breasted Hatches probing for conifer seeds. For the next hour I waged an epic battle of arms versus wings. None in this flock wanted to be seen…or at least photographed by this dorky looking out of stater. One specimen decided to take pity on me and popped up near the top of the tree providing a decent, but short, look.
Got some tins and gave a big sigh of relief. Arms were thankful to finally get a rest. The deed was done, time to go. This is when future self would have given a swift kick to past Bri “you are getting ready to leave anyway, at least take a look at what you did get in the tin“. Think about that the next time you get an unexpected sudden pain in your lower extremities.
Why was future Bri so upset – because when viewing the shots in the digital darkroom I noticed some decent shots of the RBNU with a beautiful evergreen cross in the background. Had I seen that composition, definitely would have stayed longer and done everything possible to get the annoying foreground pine cones and needles OUT of the shot. Imagine how beautiful these shots could have been without those @#$%@$^@ smudges…arrrrgggghhh! The only saving grace is it might have cost me the one chance I did have at getting a clean shot at the bird. To chimp or not to chimp, that is the question – let’s see how the staff does on their upcoming competency test!
Take care everyone. We are in the midst of haunt season which means the clock is ticking to the big event. Let’s hope the plague doctors don’t come a knockin’.
Wildlife Intrigued 
Hope you are back to your old young self soon, all fixed up.
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Slowly getting there, although the haunted trail work was a bit hard on the ankle. Guessing several more weeks in the brace and then I can really start working to get back on the trail – fingers crossed.
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All in good time.
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Whoa! You are almost as scary as your creatures in Das Boot and crutches. There was a nutty bunch of pinecones for the nuthatch. Wonderful photos. The thing that’s nice about a treadmill is that there are no tree roots of all evil or rocks from Rikers Island to trip you up or give you TROAESD or RFRISD or plain old PTSD.
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As the saying goes, hurt my foot kicking those ghouls in the ass ha. True, the treadmill is definitely safer in the long run (pardon the pun), but the boredom is mind-numbing. Actually, I take some of that back, I did really enjoy the treadmill in the pool once I got over the weird weightless experience. They graduated me out of the pool now so I am now on the land torture plan. Get this, my main therapist tore his Achilles/ankle and had to have surgery and now doing the knee scooter thing. I told him I know exactly how he feels ha.
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We have a commercial treadmill set up so we can work while we tread. I did a lot of programming while treading between 2007 and 2010 when I was still the main programmer. I don’t use it much anymore. Laurie will tread now and then, but we try to get our treading out in the wild.
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I always wanted a stand up desk at work, but my employer didn’t get on that bandwagon until the last few years – now every desk in the office can raise up. Didn’t see any treadmills at the desks the last time I was in there, but I definitely would go for that option if available – assuming they had showers put in as well ha! In general, when I am healthy, it takes a LOT for me to be on a treadmill. Would much rather be out in the rain, sleet and snow than torture myself inside.
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When we were downtown, a lot of staff wanted standing desks before sit/stand desks were readily available. I raised a lot of people’s desks to standing height. The next thing I know, they wanted fancy drafting chairs to sit on at their standing desks. I told folks they could use a stool, but they whined to their sympathetic, wussy manager, and I ended up buying $5k worth of fancy drafting chairs. I thought about giving the whiny staff members bibs and pacifiers with their high chairs, but I didn’t think that would go over very well. Now we have sit/stand desks and high chairs for staff who want them.
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Good lord…wait until one falls off the high chair and puts in a workers comp claim…then corporate will have to put the monitors on the ground and issue carpet squares (and a carton of milk) each morning. Can you at least provide condescending looks when you see them sitting on the high chairs?
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We are going to put in carpet squares when we repace the carpet.
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I didn’t work in our actual compute room back in the day – was entire floor of my building when I first started and it basically shrunk every year until it was maybe a quarter of its size at best when I left – all those mainframes and massive magnetic drives replaced by thin devices in racks. Mention that as I did get to see under the raised floor at one point to see the massive amount of wires ran under the raised floor…covered with carpet squares. Pretty sure towards the end they just clipped the wires and ran new ones with the tangled mess that became over the years ha.
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I’m sure you’re right. Even small networks become a tangled mess.
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That goes for my home network for sure, although my OCD keeps it somewhat under control ha.
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You captured the little one so tenderly with a gentle warm light. Oh, my. The photo at the end. Let’s hope you get well soon and outrun those scary beings on your tail! 😊
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I hope you’re not putting that plague doctor in the yellow shirt on your trail? That will give kids nightmares for years!
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Nice little RBNH. Ironically, I saw the fuzzy cross in the background right away and wondered whether it was planned or accidental. Now I know the answer. What does that say about my observation skills? Did I pass the annual training?
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I’ve been preconditioned by my own photos (complete with wayward sticks and leaves and … well, just about every occlusion you can imagine), so your fuzzy spruce branch didn’t even register. I was ooohing and aaahing over the golden back-lighting on the pinecones and feathers of the bird, a really lovely effect. I don’t remember ever seeing this nuthatch in my young years, so glad you introduced us!
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On your first few images Brian I saw the “cross”. Maybe after years of working as a photojournalist I look for symbols and other “visual quick reads” that might inform a reader and add interest. Might have been interesting with a juxtaposition of placing the little guy within one of the right angles. Fun to see a different shaded Nuthatch.
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Hello Brian,
Very glad to hear the first session went as well! I too was busy “ooh-ing” at the lovely lighting and images of your Nuthatch. I love how some of our birds are so different, yet there are also those that look comforting familiar. And I noted with great interest how “Chimps” are a global phenomenon 😊
Hope all is well with Linda, Brad and Jan too. Greetings as always from your birder friends in Japan🍁
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Sorry for the late response Takami, things finally settling down on the haunted trail front. Rest assured, the chimping is a a global phenom hahahaha. Brad and Jan are out on assignment and can’t wait for them to get back and show us what they discovered – there will definitely be stories coming from this trip. Like me, Linda is slowly recovering from all the work related to the haunt – she has to deal with all the food/drinks, cleaning and indoor decorations which is probably even more taxing than our work in the woods. Hope all is well in your world and tell everyone hi from us in the States.
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No apologies needed☺️
Taking care of yourselves is most important. We are also doing well and warm hello from your friends in Japan.
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Glad to hear all is well. Our leaves are turning their beautiful autumn shades, soon winter will be here!
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Brilliant photos! It sounds like you have really been through it lately. I just stumbled up on your blog and I shall follow! Continued rest for you sir!
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So glad you found us Michelle, welcome aboard! Appreciate the kind words on our field work. This has been a tough year for sure, but there is light at the end of the tunnel as they say so keeping focused on that. Take care and thanks again for coming by.
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It truly has been a tough year it seems like for so many. Life’s twists & turns can truly shake our foundation. Hope you have a fantastic weekend!
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I say the key to life is to keep the head up and charge through regardless of setbacks. Been late on responding to these comments with the haunt work, but hoping you are having a wonderful days as well!
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Gini is recovering pretty well from knee replacement and appreciates a little of what you’re going through. She started physical therapy this week and has been able to sleep through the past two nights as overall pain has reduced a bit. Here’s hoping you both are able to return to your respective happy trails soon.
Your photography philosophy is quite similar to what I adopted in the olden times. Since wisdom comes with age (I made that up), I’ve revised my approach a bit. Nowadays, I think each image I manage to take is awesome. If I had not taken that path, not looked up into that tree, not heard the call of that bird, not pressed the shutter release at that moment – there would have no image. (Granted, I may not choose to show that awesome image to anyone.)
I know. Pretty deep into the existential weed patch.
Take care. Continue to heal.
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Hi Wally, apologies for the ridiculously long response time – when the haunt calls, you gotta go ha. Hoping Gini is well on her recovery by now and maybe even ready for more walks with you in the field (still need to get caught up on everyone’s posts). I hear you Wally, when you think about it holistically, the amount of things that have to come together just right to be able to take said photograph is pretty amazing… especially when the subject often has a mind of its own. The amount of absolutely amazing and awesome shots that I decide to keep for my own viewing pleasure is pretty selfish – I should be ashamed hehehehe! As always Wally, I like the way you think. The ankle is healing faster than my mental side at the moment as I am still longing to be back on the trail. It was especially hard as two weekends ago was the race I broke my ankle in putting in perspective just how long I’ve been battling this injury…plus all my friends were racing that day and I wanted dearly to be right there suffering alongside them. Appreciate the well wishes and also hope everything is shaping up well for you and Gini!
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Great pictures of the little nuthatch, Brian! That tree had a ton of cones. I hope your physical therapy is going well.
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Hope you heal well!
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Thank you! So far so good, but still a long road to where I need to be with the ankle to get fully back to running. Appreciate you coming by.
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