Pic of the Day

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus:

Horse Cove; Gurley, Alabama

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/800 second @ f8

Pic of the Day

    Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis – Horse Cove, Alabama:  The cardinal flower is widespread throughout the United States from Maine to Minnesota, south to Florida and west to northern California.  I saw my first cardinal flower at Sarett Nature Center in Benton Harbor, Michigan, back in 1978.  When I saw the cardinal flower I thought it to be the most beautiful flower I had ever seen and it instantly became my favorite wildflower. 

     An endemic to North America it was introduced to Europe in the mid 1620’s, and the name, cardinal flower was in use by 1629.  Its name is attributed to the vesture of Roman Catholic Cardinals.

     I photographed this one in my backyard today, thirty-four years after seeing  my first cardinal flower in Michigan.  It is still just as beautiful and still remains my favorite wildflower.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300 f2.8, 1/20 sec. @ f10

Video of the Day

I have discovered that the videos do not appear on the blog when using an iPad.

  Pileated Woodpecker -- Horsecove; Gurley, Alabama:  This video was taken in 2007, when a Pileated Woodpecker nested in my front yard.  I shot over a hundred hours of video and hundreds of still photos.  I have always been fascinated with woodpeckers, and could not believe my good fortune to have a pileated nest in my front yard (only 250 feet from my front door steps).  To see  a still image of the male with nestlings go to the May 6, 2010 Pic of the Day post (click here: http://bobbyharrison.blogspot.com/2010/05/pic-of-day_06.html.)  The video was taken with a digital  Sony Mini-DVcamcorder.