MACRO..... Sycamore Seeds..... Interesting to look inside the round spiked fruit clusters of dried sycamore. Hair seem to be spring loaded to eject seeds from the fruit balls. Hairs are then used for the distribution of seeds ,on air currents. At least, those are my thoughts!!!! . These seeds are approx. 10 mm. in length.

Macro....Small blooming plant.... Was walking around my yard today, noticed this very small plant. I got down on my knees to observe it,an for some reason was amazed at how delicate it was. Most of the time ,I like most people, would have just walked over it or on it. Noticed several in this area, so I gently lifted it and the roots can out of the ground all in one piece. Flower is less than 1/8 inch in diameter, note several bud balls to the right. Don't know what the plant is,but I guess that doesn't really matter, it's NATURE at its best.

Digital Camera Preset Modes.....Never even looked at presets on any camera; they were for amateurs. Well, I could be wrong!!!!! Was having some trouble ,stopping motion at ISO 800,even with the shake control on. So as a last resort get out the manual. Found a HIGH SENS. preset, ISO 3200 ,good for 4x6 pic size. This deer was looking in the window at me,so I took a couple of shots. Whereas the image lacks sharpness and shows pixelation, I found it interesting (kind of art-like) especially, inside the ears. Picked up veins above the eyes and the buttons on the head. f8.0 at 1/1600 sec, 432mm (35mm focal length) . READ those Manuals !!!!!!!

WHITETAIL DEER in freshly mowed meadow.....Every year I try to mow off my meadow in very early spring. Last year I cut a portion of it in October, leaving a small circle of it standing over the winter. Last week I mowed the small circle patch. The natural grasses had caught a lot of leaves, that created warmth, thus new green tender shots started to grow. The deer don't miss much.

Photo-Study of Wild (hen) Turkey head/neck . Are they a handsome bird? More on this subject latter,

NEW THOUGHTS.....See turkeys every day, sometimes when alarmed they fly immediately,sometimes they run. What triggers the thought pattern or is it instincts? They seem to be very good at running and seem to resemble the dinosaur-birds, neck extended and very good balance , for an out of balanced body. What about the non-feathered heads,like the VULTURES, rather small head to control such a large body, Why??? . Appears to be a very smart,at times ,has excellent memory at least to remember where to find food, had a feeding stump,for the turkeys, dug out the stump and they returned to that precise spot for 3 years. On Nov. 6, 2008 blog,I was feeding turkeys by hand, these guys disappeared,until last week , when I saw one standing in my meadow, went outside to throw away some table scraps,with a similar feeding hand motion,and the tom came running. Went up on the upper deck,so he could see me better and made similar hand motions ( no food ) he also came running. Assume he recognized hand motion with food,processing information or just instincts ? I don't have any idea!!!!!

still doing research.

LOOKING EYE TO EYE with a WILD TURKEY. Beginning to use my blind again ,to get some close-up photos , of these guys.

RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE waits it's turn at the feeders this icy cold day. Have several breeding pair.

Southeastern Indiana Coyote....The middle of April 2007 ,photographed this good looking coyote going through my meadow. Don't see them very often, usually they are very ragged and skinny. Coyotes range through-out the US,Canada and Mexico,and have accumulated to human civilization much better than it's grey wolf cousin. Typical packs consist of 6 closely related adults, yearlings and young. Coyotes reach their full growth in one year, whereas wolves reach full growth in the second year. Coyotes can dig their own burrows ,but usually take the burrows of groundhogs,at least in our area. Territorial ranges can be up to 10 miles around the den. Reports indicate 50 to 70% of pups do not attain adulthood. Reference.......Wikipedia

Male turkey position in a " gobble". In the spring ,during the mating season ,male wild turkeys respond to a quick,loud noise with a gobble. Some times when a thunder storm is approaching,I hear turkeys responding to the sound of thunder. My great granddaughter's voice , also receives a response. Photographed this guy in the middle of a gobble. Spring of 2008.

MOURNING DOVES bring back memories. Was born and raised on a hilly farm in southern Indiana, life was good, but harsh. Remember setting on the front porch with my Grandmother , after supper, she said "Listen to the Rain crows" will rain soon !!. Our heritage is German, don't know if this a German name for doves. Back then, some 70 years ago, it was a rarity to see doves. As I write this blog ,there is 10 feeding outside my window. Thought for the day....Have a good 2009 and may all people find peace.