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Oh, it’s so good to be home!

Posted by Photonstopper on June 30, 2011
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Photo: Cat sleeping on bed. Photo by James Guilford.

Visiting can be good, but it is always great to be back home!

Tasha came home from Iodine 131 treatment today as expected. She is said to have been a fine little patient, eating and drinking (and pooping and peeing) well to keep up her strength and help eliminate the Iodine from her system. She did lose a slight amount of weight (now just under six pounds) but that’s due to the still-hyperactive thyroid. She surprised us by also not being shy towards her caretaker, showing no signs of withdrawal or aggression. The Iodine 131 treatment is a cure but her hyperthyroidism won’t be fully resolved for a while and we need to be careful about handling her for the next couple of weeks: she and her eliminations are mildly radioactive! So there will be no lap-sitting or snuggling for more than 15 minutes, hand washing is required after petting sessions, and no sleeping on the bed when people are in it! When she got home she went on an inspection tour of the place, sniffing here, rubbing there, sampling the food, and purring loudly all the while. Reassured, she began to relax and found her old sleeping spot at the foot of our bed. They treated her well at The Cat Company, but oh, it’s so good to be home!

Dragon-flight!

Posted by Photonstopper on June 27, 2011
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Photo: Dragonfly in Flight. Photo by James Guilford

A dragonfly captured in flight is not an easy catch!

After dropping our cat off for a brief hospital stay, I stopped by Hinckley Lake for a hike and another effort at dragonfly photography. I was quite disappointed with my efforts on Sunday, coming way from that session with only a couple of acceptable pictures. So I walked the entire circumference of the lake stopping now and again to shoot images as opportunities arose. It wasn’t until I’d nearly completed the walk –about three-quarters of the way around– that I began to see a few dragonflies. I photographed one that perched for a while on a leaf of grass. Others stayed out of reach — too small and too far away for me to image properly. I noticed a large, dark variety liked to fly in figure-eight patterns in set territories and it occurred to me to try and capture dragonflies in flight. What the heck, it’s digital so I’m not wasting film! So I tried and tried and deleted a good number of blank or blurred frames in the field. What I got back, however, was astonishing to me and of better quality than I managed shooting still-life insects Sunday!

Photo: Dragonfly in flight. Photo by James Guilford.

Dragonfly in flight over the waters of Hinckley Lake resembles an unusual aircraft over an ocean coastline.

Sunday at Schoepfle

Posted by Photonstopper on June 27, 2011
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Photo: Tiny Eastern Amberwing red dragonfly rests on a bright green leaf. Photo by James Guilford.

A tiny Eastern Amberwing dragonfly rests on a bright green leaf.

Don’t worry, I’m not sure how to pronounce it either! I believe it’s “Show-fel” but hesitate to say the name out loud. What I can say is that it’s one of the gems of Northeastern Ohio parks. Located in Lorain County and part of the parks system there, Schoepfle features large formal gardens, paved and earthen walking trails, ponds and a river, along with woodlands to explore. On a whim we took off Sunday morning and paid a return visit to the place spending an unusual and welcome time quietly watching and photographing the grounds and, in my case in particular, the dragonflies that flit around the ponds. I saw and photographed several varieties. We saw many thin and tiny blue-headed damselflies in the act of mating! Dragonfly copulation is an interesting hook-up (literally) and you can read about it elsewhere. At any rate I’m sorry to report that many of my photos did not live up to my expectations — and I wasn’t seeking dragonfly porn but beauty shots of the various gossamer-winged creatures. She Who Must Be Obeyed often bemoans her humble all-in-one pocketable digital camera but yesterday managed to out-do my digital SLR and its top-of-the-line close-focus telephoto. It’s a great little camera she’s got so I wasn’t too surprised. I’ll just have to learn from my mistakes and try again… maybe today!

Life and death, death and life

Posted by Photonstopper on June 21, 2011
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Photo: Great Blue Heron catches a fish. Photo by James Guilford.

A Great Blue Heron with a fish it has speared with its lower beak.

I’d taken the day off in order to deliver Tasha to animal hospital for iodine 131 treatment … a cure for hyperthyroidism. Yesterday I received a call from the hospital informing me of their need to postpone admission. It seems there is a shortage of iodine 131. Without the treatment, and because of her apparent sensitivity to methimazole, Tasha would remain untreated until the rescheduled date for the procedure; her thyroid levels might return to their formerly dangerous highs. So I decided to take advantage of my scheduled day off. I would pick up a prescription of methimazole gel for trans-dermal dosing (less trouble for Tasha) at the compounding pharmacy which has very limited mid-afternoon hours. My morning was open so I headed to Hinckley Lake for the first time this season or even this year. It was a comfortable but hazy morning with thin to moderate overcast as I began my little hike along the lake. On the walk “out” I saw no large wading birds at all –unusual, I think– but was content to look around at the quiet beauty of the area. Low rumbles of thunder began but seemed to be to the north and west of me. As the skies darkened I felt I’d better turn around and so began a somewhat faster walk back around the lake. As I approached one of my favorite spots for finding herons I did, indeed, spy one. It was wading slowly through the shallows, apparently looking to spook a fish and find a meal; that’s just what happened. The Great Blue Heron struck lightning-fast and hauled a writhing fish from the muddy waters. The big bird had speared the fish with its lower beak. It held its prey aloft for a bit, lowered it into the water briefly, and repositioned the fish so it was head-first in its mouth. Then it lifted its head high and in a few gulps swallowed the fish. In less than a minute it was all over. The fish was gone and the heron was again wading slowly through the muddy waters, seeking another meal. It’s the way of nature: life and death, death and life.

A very good day away

Posted by Photonstopper on June 19, 2011
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Photo: Halloween Pennant dragonfly. Photo by James Guilford.

Dragonfly Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)

We got around early today and set off for what we hoped would be a “day to ourselves” — a relaxing time away from work and worry for the two of us. The journey was a good one. We visited the Carlisle Reservation of Lorain Metroparks and had a fine (if warm) hike along a meadow trail. I also got my first look at the John Nielsen Observatory there; it’s a place built in cooperation with amateur astronomers to serve their needs and those of Parks’ star party guests and looks to be in an excellent location. I’m still gathering observatory design ideas for possible future developments. It was getting on towards lunch time when we left Carlisle so we headed to nearby Oberlin. We were surprised and pleased by stunning new business developments there including a fresh new building that features condominiums up and businesses down. Looking at the new development, right off the town square, made us feel as if we were in some trendy section of a much larger city. After good lunch at the newish Aladdin’s Eatery, we began a loop towards home with a planned stop at the Caley Reservation nature preserve of Lorain Metroparks. Almost exactly two years ago we visited Caley and were delighted by the presence of large numbers and a wide variety of dragonflies. This year we saw not so many of the little beasties but I noticed two that were unfamiliar: one had black wings with blue tips and the other was decorated in brown and red-brown colors. The former escaped un-photographed. The latter posed nicely and several times for a number of shots. The heat, humidity, and blood-loving insects were setting in so we stayed not long. A thunderstorm to the south added dark drama to the sky. It was a very good day away.

Just what I needed

Posted by Photonstopper on June 16, 2011
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Photo: A fern grows from shallow soil in a rocky river bank. Photo by James Guilford.

A fern, illuminated from above, sprouts from shallow soil held by rocks along Chippewa Creek.

It continues to be a stressful and tiring time. Our mothers are facing health issues. Our cat, Tasha, has reached a health crisis of her own — hyperthyroidism. There’s too much to do, and too little rest. Still, it’s possible to find a respite in nature. Wednesday morning, before heading off to work, I took a brief, solo photo hike along a portion of Chippewa Creek. Calm now after the spring’s torrents of rain, the stream flows gently over age-smoothed stone in a gorge carved deep into bedrock. The stream is canopied by the branches and leaves of old trees. Mosses and ferns grow in tiny trays of moist soil formed in the rockface. Despite the location, near a busy street and business center of town, the scene is calm and soothing to the soul. Just what I needed.

A pleasant time in nature’s realm

Posted by Photonstopper on June 1, 2011
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Photo: Iris blooming in a boggy wetland area. Photo by James Guilford.

Irises bloom in a boggy wetland area at Summit Metroparks' Nature Realm.

On the morning of Veteran’s Day we decided we could not stay indoors all day, effectively “wasting” a day off. The day promised to be steamy-hot and we were unprepared for that. So we took a little drive to Summit Metroparks’ Nature Realm preserve in Akron. One of our favorite places, the park features natural areas with marked earthen trails and formal gardens with paved walkways. Plants and animals are all around and offer many photo opportunities! This day I made 100 exposures and, though threw away some promising but ultimately disappointing shots, got some really good pictures. An iris blooming in a boggy wetland spot is my favorite of the bunch. After some time, and as the muggy air began to take its toll, we headed out to lunch and ultimately home. A pleasant time in nature’s realm.

One of many stories

Posted by Photonstopper on May 25, 2011
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Photo: Flooded parking lot maroons two cars. Photo by James Guilford.

Heavy rains and blocked storm drains maroon two cars: mine in the background! The photo makes it look brighter than it actually was! Exposure info: 1/40 sec., f/4.5, ISO 1600.

Heavy storms again swept (and are sweeping again right now) the area. I was at work when the first wave of the evening hit. The wind roared, the rain poured, hail rattled, and tree leaves were torn and scattered … and therein was the problem. In our parking lot the storm drains became blocked by fresh, green, shredded leaves and the torrential rains backed up. The parking lot I had chosen earlier in the day flooded for the first time ever. I was lucky for I’d chosen high ground. Had I parked in my first choice of spots, I might be telling a less fortunate story. Someone else parked in the spot I might have taken and water lapped to within about two inches of their car doors’ lower edges! Due to a staffer’s heroic effort the storm drain was cleared and the waters subsided. Still, flooding, not wind damage, was the story around the area. I’m sure there will be many stories around the office tomorrow!

Scary storm!

Posted by Photonstopper on May 23, 2011
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Photo: Severe weather approaches. Photo by James Guilford.

The view to the west as severe weather approached.

We received a scare tonight when the National Weather Service and local TV stations issued tornado warnings for our town! A little after 7:00 PM the skies grew very dark and the clouds turned bumpy and ragged and moved about in chaos. Wind and rain built, nickel-sized hail fell. She Who Must Be Obeyed grabbed her purse and the cat and headed for the basement. I stood by a partly-open window to monitor the weather’s sounds and actions, ready to flee myself if conditions warranted. Fortunately we escaped the worst weather though areas north of us did not. There were many reports of trees down, buildings and utility poles suffered wind damage, and there was local flooding. Local media misidentified several amateur images of cloud formations as tornado funnels though one possibly was the “real deal.” I am waiting to hear from Observatory neighbors to learn whether Hiram escaped serious damage — weather radar showed the worst of the storm passing directly over the village!  We expect no more excitement tonight but this was enough, thank you!

Photo: Dramatic storm clouds. Photo by James Guilford.

Deep dark clouds to the distance and lighter, whirling clouds closer in make a dramatic sight after the storm passed.

Respite at Magee Marsh

Posted by Photonstopper on May 22, 2011
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Photo: Perching Barn Swallow by James Guilford.

This Barn Swallow needed a rest from its constant work... not unlike us!

It’s been tiring and stressful lately, let’s leave it at that. Today was a fine day to take a few minutes and begin to explore the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area on Lake Erie, not far east of Oregon, Ohio. Visiting the Bird Center was delightful. We were surrounded by swooping and diving Barn Swallows, singing and chattering Purple Martins, and the sounds of many other birds singing all around us. We saw a Baltimore Oriole, a Great Egret, a Great Blue Heron, and other birds, all in the space of an hour or less. It would have been easy to put out a lawn chair and lounge for hours in the shade –it was a hot day, around 84F– just relaxing, taking in the scene; I hope we do that some day. We had, however, someplace to go and loved ones to see, so departed all too soon.