Birds Outside The Kitchen

Every year we have California Quail that nest and raise chicks in our area.  Lately, we've often seen a male quail that sits on top of the hedge outside our kitchen while on lookout duty.

Also we have Scrub Jays that like to come and use our bird bath.  Here are a few images of a pair of jays recently in the bird bath.

New gear and playing with some old Equipment

I decided to upgrade some of my photo equipment this spring.

A new very high quality tripod (RRS TVC-34L)

With a leveling base (RRS TA-3-LC-HK) holding my BH-55 ballhead

Holding a new Canon 7D mark II body
and a new Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM II zoom lens

While cleaning out the house and getting stuff ready to sell, I decided I had better test the operation of my Superbright 2000SW ultraviolet lamp.


Here is a set of fluorescent mineral specimens under normal light.

And the same specimens under short wave UV light.