Yearling

I was up and on the road at dawn to meet up with two friends to go on a birding adventure,  The NJ Audubon Society sponsored a field trip at Sandy Hook National Gateway Area, a great winter place for birding.  We saw over 1,000 Northern Gannets, although too far in the distance for reasonable photos.  In fact, pretty much all the birds were too far for photos, but thanks to a lot of people with spotting scopes, it was possible to get excellent looks through big glass.  I enjoy these trips mostly because I learn things.  As a photographer, a birding trip is usually never a win for photos as birders are interesting in seeing the birds, whereas photographers want to ... well, photograph the birds.  But if one understands that, it still makes for a great day.  

On our way off the 'Hook, there was a yearling White-tailed deer standing by the side of the road, completely unfazed by people of cars.  I took this photo from the car, from a distance of about 6 feet.  She never ran and we speculated that people may be feeding her.  Which is really a terrible thing to do, as she now has no fear of cars or humans.  I think we all know how this will end, but for today, she has a spot on Blip.  The little tongue made the shot, in my opinion.  Some small exposure adjustments and a very slight crop and good to go.

I'm beat so after dinner, I plan to relax with a little TV and a glass of wine.  

Phoebe continues to show progress and we have let her downstairs, with the stairs gated off so she can try to run up them.  She's happily snoozing in one of her favorite spots.  

Cheers.
xo
Debbi