Cattails and Redwings

Cattails at dusk

I got a new camera and couldn't wait to try it out. The pics in the Goodnight Moon post were also taken with this new camera. They were actually the very fist pictures taken. I got a Nikon D3400. It's an entry level DSLR that works well for those trying to move into the DSLR world from the smartphone world. Hope I don't outgrow it too fast, but looking forward to becoming knowledgeable enough to move onto that next level. You can read a review of the camera on Digital Photography Review's page. I went down to the small bog area, near my home, just before sunset with the intention of getting a few sunset pictures of the Rampart Range in front of that sinking sun. Then, I saw the cattails and the red-winged blackbirds. I knew the sun would be setting behind them too. Change of plans.

Sunbathing tails Cattails: not all are straight Disintegrating into cottony fluff Tall and Proud

Two days after taking these photos, we were the lucky, or unlucky pending your opinion, recipients of 10" of snow. Regardless, I am told Spring is here. The cattails seem to agree and show this in the photos above as each of them seem eager to call themselves ripened and have their heads disintegrated allowing their cottony insides to disperse their seeds into the wind.

Still learning the camera, here I am attempting to play with light a bit. With the sun on it's way down, this seemed the perfect time. Any constructive comments or tips would be greatly appreciated. I want to get the camera out of automatic mode asap but, with this being my first day, learning how the automatic focus works on the camera and how it chooses between the different f-stops, apertures and ISO settings would have to do for this particular outing.

Common Teasel

Mixed in with the cattails, I found the occasional Common Teasel. According to the USDA, the Common Teasel is an invasive species brought here from Europe.

Single female Red-winged Blackbird Perched on cattails Pair of female Red-winged Blackbirds Basking in the sun

The females sit, perched atop the cattails, listening to the males calling to them. The female Red-winged Blackbird can easily be differentiated from her male counterparts most easily by their coloring.

Male Red-Winged Blackbird perched in the distance Male displaying mid call Male perched atop a cattail Male Red-Winged Blackbird perched in the distance

The male Red-winged Blackbird sits atop a cattail calling and displaying in the waning sunlight.In the future, hope to get a few closer shots to replace some of the more distant ones here on the blog. Wish me luck! Next to the bog, where the Red-winged Blackbirds like to hang out, is the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Snapped a few pics of a train going by. I was totally unprepared and will have to go back to get more. See them on my Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway sub-page.