Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A Cloud of Blackbirds

This is my wife's special day when she turns 65. I offer one of my spring tulips to a special lady. She is still improving after the eyelid surgery. Today I was treated to a cloud of Blackbirds in the trees as I came out of work. I got my camera out and shot part of the trees.
I went in closer and you can start to get the feel for the numbers.
I went in a little closer with the zoom and then it happened.
The whole group decided to take off at the same time.
This is the reason they are referred to as a cloud of birds, this was only a 1/4 of the group. I estimate the total cloud at about 1 to 2,000.
This was a fun capture.

37 comments:

gina said...

good shot. i've often wanted to take this very type of photo, but never ready with my camera at the opportune time.

Unknown said...

Wow, so many birds! great captures!

Twisted Fencepost said...

Such a sweet gesture for your lady!! I know she appreciates all that you do for her.
Each spring and fall, everyday when I drive home from work, in the same spot, I see a cloud of blackbirds. And I enjoy every time I see them.
Great shot, FG!

Jan said...

Really great captures. Love bird shots.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Lovely flower,and o,so many birds.Amazing!
Blessings,Ruth

Unknown said...

What a sweet gesture to your wife, I wish her a good recovery. Great bird shots too.

Anonymous said...

My neighbor up the hill told me a story about a sky-darkening flock of blackbirds like that. I'll be in Ohio for the holiday, I'll have to keep my eyes open. I hope your wife will be on the mend before Christmas.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Happy birthday Mrs FG!! May your day be filled with love and laughter!! I hope you feel better soon!!

My goodness that is a lot of birds!! Wow!!

George said...

A great sequence of photos. I can see why it's a cloud of birds! I hope your wife had a very happy birthday.

magiceye said...

many happy returns of the day for your wife!
those pictures are indeed lovely!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

FG, Please tell your Sweetheart Happy Birthday!!! Take good care of her.. I know you are!!!

Man--that's a 'wad' of birds isn't it???? Don't think I would want that MANY at my feeders. HA!
Betsy

raccoonlover1963/Lisa Myers said...

Hi Tom. Great capture. It's not always as easy as people may think to capture shots like this, especially the fly-off.
Take care and have a great week.
Lisa

Pietro Brosio said...

Very fine photographs, Fishing Guy. You were there just at the right moment for the cloud of birds and you took it greatly.

Leedra said...

Happy Birthday to your wife.

Great capture, they are so much fun when they do this and we do have the camera in hand.

Leora said...

Best wishes and happy birthday to your wife. The birds are fun, great shots. I can feel your enthusiasm.

Unknown said...

Beautiful flower, glad your wife is continuing to improve and HOLY COW at all those birds! Great pics.

Anonymous said...

So glad your wife is improving-really great news. Love the birds-I've always been mesmerized by flocks of blackbirds.

Mary said...

Happy Birthday to your wife! I hate those huge clouds of blackbirds. They sometimes storm my feeders in the winter and I can't feed the regulars. Doesn't happen often ,but when I does I dread it.

Shelley said...

A beautiful & romantic gesture for your recovering special lady!
Also - really liked that last photo w/ the mass of blackbirds flying!

Anonymous said...

Yes that IS a good shot & that's a LOT of birds! Wow!

And Happy Birthday to your special lady & many more to come! That's so sweet of you Mr Fishing Guy!!! ;)

Ken Conger Photography said...

Nice shots. A photo never really captures the sight and sound with a huge blast off of these guys. Blue Skies.

Jack and Joann said...

Saying Hello to Fishing Guy and his wife from Haymarket, VA. We pulled into the Lorton Auto Train Center this morning. Sure feels good to be back home after my little hospital caper in Orlando.

Got to run and do some laundry and take a nap!

Carletta said...

A very Happy Birthday to your wife!You chose a great tulip shot with lots of detail to salute her.
The birds - Hitchcock Comes to Ohio! :)

Warren Baker said...

That's some flock of birds there Fg.we'll make a birder of you yet!!

abb said...

Happy birthday, FG wife, and many many more!

I usually see clouds of birds like that when I'm driving in my car...wreck the car, take the picture...such a dilemma!

Jo Castillo said...

Happy Birthday to your wife. Hope her day was so special, the flower was beautiful.

Great photos of the house and critters. More from NM....

Michele said...

Many birthday blessings to your wonderful wife!!! What a beautiful tribute.. I am amazed at these birds. WOW... that is incredible... what a capture! I just can't help looking at these. Whoa... fantastic! I'll have to come back to see these and show hubby when he is up.
((HUGS))
~Michele~

Craig Glenn said...

Nice job and HB to your wife. Congrats on POTD on David M's page.

Craig

Sandi McBride said...

I love that flock of birds...it always warms me to see a flock of them fly across the sky, and I make sure that the feeders are full to entice them...great post...congrats on the Post of the Day nomination!
Sandi

Tessa said...

First of all - I'm so pleased to 'meet' you (via David on authorblog) and next...Happy Birthday and happy, happy days to your wife!

What a beautiful tulip you've given her and WOW that sequence of blackbirds flocking is spectacular!

Lee said...

Wow! It's impressive when birds take off like that, isn't it! Great capture!

I'm over from David's. Congratulations on making his Post of the Day list!

Peace!
Lee

Susie of Arabia said...

What a terrific series! I love these blackbird shots. Nice job!
And I hope your wife had a lovely birthday.

Judy said...

I love the tulip, and the blackbirds! Isn't it amazing when they do that!!
Thanks for sharing!

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