Out of the water for a bit, this male Mallard tries to hide among the Dandelions. These images were all taken one morning at Lincoln Park’s North Pond. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Grooming is ever a process when out of the water. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg.
Male Wood Duck sunning on a warm spring day. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Mallard Duck family enjoying an outing in Lincoln’s Park, North Pond, Chicago. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
This weekend was the Belmont-Sheffield Music (and Art) Festival in Chicago. Summertime is full of festivals in Chicago; the fun is continuous. Enjoy! Note: I had the most fun taking images of people while listening to the music; forgot to capture the musicians.
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Of course I couldn’t resist a Lilac Bloom! Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
A clear sign that I’ve observed over my many years, is that when the Chipmunk sits still for a portrait it means it has just awoken from it’s winter sleep. They may sit in a patch of sunshine for quite awhile and gradually stretch to loosen it’s unused muscles. Next week it will be very unusual to catch such a long pause; portrait capture will be a challenge. This one was at Lincoln Park’s Caldwell Lily Pond. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Couldn’t leave out the Bonnet House’s beloved Spider Monkeys from my collection of images. I only saw two of the three remaining monkeys that live freely on this property. They are old and so sighting them is treasured by volunteers and staff and visitors. they are the remaining generation of monkeys brought to the estate by the Bartletts. The Bartletts brought many kinds of tropical plants as well as parrots and monkeys to brighten their summer home, the Bonnett House.
The monkeys will not be replaced because of laws against such practice, of which I have no argument. The volunteers feed them each morning making seeing them easiest in those early morning hours. I will treasure these images more when they are no longer apart of Bonnet House.
Easy to love from a distance. A Bonnet House Spider Monkey. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
One of the treasured Spider Monkeys of Bonnet House, Ft. Lauderdale Florida. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Shadows of Sea Grass accompanied by bird tracks, probably a Seagull’s. The occasional shell adds to the composition without changing our focus. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The cats on this quaint street in Miami easily roamed from backyard to sites around the neighborhood. The dog was too large to fit between the fence rails ensuring it’s limited experiences. The differences in their demeanor were striking to me.
Cat trying to hide it’s presence as it birdwatches. It was happy to expose itself when people came near so they could get him/her. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Cat enjoying socializing with passer-bys. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
This dear dog looked totally bored and yearning for more in life. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Royal Terns attempting to claim space while they watch for a meal. Perhaps acting un-royal at this moment. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) means “greatest Sea fisherman”. Quite a statement to live up to. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Royal Terns‘ tail feathers fan out when they are flight. Compare to the closed position otherwise on the beach. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Amid the human footprints the Royal Terns take a break from fishing, yet remain alert for more human feet. Notice their wings-out stance. They waddle to and from the shoreline in this stance. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
Backgrounds should compliment and not distract the viewer from the main subject. When they are out of focus they add an element of dimension to the image. These two images of Ibis, at Flaminco Gardens in their Rookery area, cleary demonstrate impressionistic, out-of-focus backgrounds. Not sure if they’re too distracting; but for me they add an element of design not usually found in images of birds. Enjoy or not; let me know please.
Ibis in the Duckweed rich Rookery at Flamingo Gardens. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
A little while later the Ibis was in a clearer patch of the Rookery pond. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The Ahinga (Ahinga Ahinga) seems to need it’s name reinforced with repetition. Other telling names are Snake Bird, Water Turkey and American Darter. When in the water the body is submerged except for the long neck yielding the appearance of a snake, giving it the nickname of Snake Bird, which is a translation the Brazillian Tupi word “Ahinga.
Female Ahinga. Notice it’s Scarlett red eyes rimmed with blue. The pale neck and breast distinguish it from the male. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
The Ahinga uses it’s beak like a spear to catch it’s fish dinner. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
CLICK on the image above for more information on the Ahinga. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg
An oxymoron it seems; but someone chose its name, Dingy-flowered Star Orchid (Epidendrum amphistomum). Orchids are never “dingy”. But this is this dear Orchid’s name.
The Dingy-flowered Star Orchid is considered an endangered native of Florida.
Tiny Orchid blooms have visitors. This flower has no nectar but it’s aroma attracts moths (not shown here) for pollination. Copyright 2018, Pamela Breitberg
Overall view of the Dingy-flowered Star Orchid. Copyright 2018 Pamela Breitberg