Verna and Bob's Weblog

Backyard Critters Eating

Several times a week, kitchen scraps are tossed into the little wash area behind our retaining wall out back. Rather than sending the scraps to the landfill, we figure the desert critters will benefit from them more.

An Antelope Squirrel snacking on a cashew:

A Desert Cottontail Rabbit snacking on the heel from a loaf of bread:

Of course, there are other critters in that area including Quail, Thrashers, Cardinals, etc. all too camera shy for me to get a good photo this time. Click on images to enlarge.

February 28, 2025 by Arizona Critters Photography 0

Panoramic Images

Panoramic Image of Our House

Earlier this month, I retired my venerable Canon Powershot A710IS Camera and started using my newer Kodak PIXPRO FZ152 Camera. The older camera had roughly 18 years on it and after it got retired, I started using the newer camera. The newer camera, it turns out, had more features that I didn’t know about because I used it so seldom. Lo and behold, there is a “panoramic image” mode.

To make panoramic images using the FZ152, one must select the proper mode and shooting left to right (other direction optional) snap three or four images as you move the camera. There is a “ghost” image of the preceding image that helps the user to align the camera. When done, select the “SET” button and the camera begins to “stitch” the images into a single elongated image — a panoramic image.

I am still learning how to use the panoramic image mode, although some of the image results from following the procedure have been disappointing, with visible disconnects in the continuity of the image. I thought I was using the proper procedure and got the result seen below:

Discontinuity example

As you can see, the right half of the panned image jumps from a place in the middle of the house to repeating (in a distorted fashion) the same image segment going to the right. The image is not useful except to demonstrate the problem.

I guess I am spoiled by having had a really good Canon Utility in the past that would render panoramas from several images with very good results, even with marginally acceptable images. Unfortunately, that utility stopped being supported and did not work with later versions of Windows subsequent to about seven years ago or so.

I will keep trying to get panoramas with the Kodak Camera in the future, but I may opt for a Photoshop ($$$) utility to do the things I used to do with ease and for free with the Canon App.

February 24, 2025 by Nerdliness Panoramas Photography 0

Spring Song

This 10 second video is of a Curve-Billed Thrasher singing what sounds like a mating call. It’s not the usual loud “weee-weet-tweet” that we hear during other times of the year. Could it be that we’re getting an early spring about four weeks ahead of schedule? The forecast for our part of Arizona calls for 80° temperatures by the weekend.

AS you can see from the video, holding the camera steady at 250mm zoom is difficult without a bi- or tripod. I made this video today with my Canon EOS Rebel SL3 and the EF 55-250mm lens. I am still experimenting with and getting used to making videos with the Canon camera.

February 19, 2025 by Arizona Climate Critters Home & Garden 0

Bird Feeders

This morning, I went up on the little hill behind the RV Drive to replenish the various birdseed feeders we have up there. The feeders attract birds and other wildlife to the small area of natural, unimproved desert. We enjoy seeing the varieties of critters that come around.

Whilst on the hill after the replenishments, I took photos of our feeders with the Camera Phone*. These are listed below along with the photos.

First up is the “Pagoda;” it hangs in the mesquite tree up on the hill:

Next, is the “Rotunda” which also hangs in the mesquite with an elongated “S” hook on one of the branches:

Our biggest bird feeder is the “Bird Church” hanging in the same tree from a short “S” hook:

The Nyjer Seed Feeders hang from a double crook toward the front (house side) of the hill:

Finally, the Seed Wheel, the Block and the Bell feeders are on another crook a bit further back from the house”

Click on any image to enlarge.

*The phone camera is a Samsung S23.

February 16, 2025 by Arizona Critters Photography Retirement 0

Antelope Squirrel

The complete name of this species is “White Tailed Antelope Ground Squirrel” (Ammospermophilus leucrus). I took this photo early today; the squirrel was going up the little hill on the west side of the property.

Several of the squirrels that hang around the yard have learned to approach us so they can get a reward — an almond (I carry several raw almonds in a pocket when outdoors). The squirrels will grab the nut and run off to their lair with it.

More squirrel stuff from NPS:

White tailed antelope ground squirrels Ammospermophilus leucrus are small in size and are sometimes confused with chipmunks. They are approximately 7.5 inches long from head to the tip of the tail and they weigh on average about 3.7 ounces. They also carry their food in pouches in the cheek. The female of this species has ten mammae, which is more than other antelope ground squirrel species, which have four to seven. Their range is the Great Basin to Baja California including parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Oregon.

Click on the image to view enlarged.

February 8, 2025 by Arizona Critters Photography 0

Avalon 1998

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