Thursday, Jan 29, 2026

[Don]

Good morning all. Having a bit of trouble sleeping - It's 0430 here and I have been awake since a little before 0300. Finally decided to get up and have a cup of coffee and see what is going on here. 

I finally bit the bullet last week and traded my 2013 Ford F150 for a new 2025 model. My, what a world of difference. I loved my 2013 but it was time to trade before it really started to give me trouble. So far I am happy with the new one. I got a spray in bed liner earlier this week, and I have a Tonneau cover to install as soon as it gets warm enough to fool with it. Looks like an easy install, and easy to remove if I need the full bed. 

I've posted a couple more shots from our camping trip. One is a currently abandoned Lodge near the National Wildlife Refuge where we were. They are in the process of refurbishing it into a venue for renting, as well as having offices and labs for research. We were fortunate enough to have been given a private tour of the inside. Should be very nice when completed. The other is a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron that I spotted lurking in the underbrush. Took a bit of work to get a half way decent photo.

[Rich]

Don, good thinking on the trade. Glad you got what you wanted.
That Lodge will be a neat place to rent when done! Good cloud action!
I was told one time back in the Camera Club and film days that if the eye(s) are in focus the rest will not matter too much! Looks good!

[Man From Ironbark]

The eyes matter.

With water birds, you have the difficulty of them having reeds to hide in and you needing waders to get any closer.

I've for years been trying to catch the brown bittern. It is extremely elusive.

[Dave]

Two very fine photos, Don.

I agree with Rich that you captured the clouds very skillfully.

Also agree that if the eyes are sharp and clear, the photo succeeds.

I was surprised to see that the plumage of the juvenile Yellow-capped Night Heron and that of the Black-capped Night Heron are almost identical. It looks like maybe the Yellow-capped adult could be taller and slimmer, while the Red-capped adult seems shorter and stockier.