Backyard Birdwatching

Today is Patriots' Day here in Massachusetts. For us public school students, it means a day off, for everyone else it means nothing (unless you're running in the Boston Marathon which takes place every year on Patriots' Day or you're a government worker). I had to go in to work in the morning to get some experiments done, but I came home a few hours early and decided finish up some work outside on my porch.

I've had some good luck photographing birds in my backyard in the past. I've seen woodpeckers, cardinals, black capped chickadees, and a few others, so I figured I'd bring my 70-300mm out back with me to see if I could snap any new bird shots. I mainly just saw a few robins (or the same two robins over and over) and one black capped chickadee, but sadly he was too far into the woods and too quick to get a good shot.

I also happened to catch a yellow jacket (or another yellow bee) pollinating the maple tree in our backyard. Thank God for incredible zoom lenses (I am not a bee person).

I had a great time relaxing in the back yard in 90º weather, keeping my eyes peeled for birds. My sinuses however are mad at me for being back there for so long and I've been suffering itchy eyes and stuffy nose since I came back inside. I guess it's time to take some allergy meds! :)

Hope your Patriots' Day was just as fabulous, even if you didn't know it was a holiday!