Photos by foxholes.lodge : on the map, in Google Earth (KML)

Andrew sure is a fav of mine.thanks steve

Thank you very much Joy - but he like the rest of the world.... he needs no advice from me!

Thank you Nick - they are a most endearing species as during this season the male and female hang out together, nest building and flying around (when she is NOT on the nest). Here they were pulling my hanging basket to peices for nesting materials.

Best wishes both from sunny and warm North Carolina - David

Looks mighty good............Dj.

Another amazing picture, L+F! Your photos are simply wonderful so I've added you in my favourite photographers list! Greetings from Italy.

Still seeing your missed visits from years ago Christos. Much obliged!

regards, Herb

Kevin...Howdy....I like to know these things too....
I took a look on Wiki and discovered that Wilmington is twinned with.......

China Dandong, China — 1986
**United Kingdom Doncaster,** United Kingdom — 1989
Barbados Bridgetown, Barbados — 2004...

So that partly explains things...Cheers from Dj.

That's a pleasant heartwarming story./.legend....'Javerburg'...thanks for the link....it's a pity that the practice had to be halted in the case of ... 'Ponte Vecchio'....but hopefully the legend may live on elsewhere.....Cheers from Dj...UK.

Thank you very much, Jeroen! I am very happy to finally get a decent shot of this fellow. But all is not perfect. Read on ...

Thank you, Dave, and els f-two! Maybe I'll find another one today. :)

Thank you, Mr. Verbiage! You're correct, this bird is definitely a highly-saturated red but I chose to stick with the color/saturation that I got from the camera. Jeroen mentions the light. I suppose it is the yellow/green hues from the light filtering through the leaves that gives the bird that subdued color. You reckon?

I almost didn't share this one. I shot this at a very sharp angle and the f/5.6 at 420mm is just barely giving me a DoF that I can share, at least at this resolution. The tail feathers and the bird's back are nice and sharp but the head is forward just far enough that it falls on the ragged edge of the focal plane.

Hello, Jeroen, Patty, Dave, Dasha, sixten, kenfowkes, Christos, els f-two, and Ijaz. I am thankful for all of the fantastic comments on this image - thanks to you all!

There are several comments about the background. That narrow focal plane is my favorite characteristic of this lens. With the teleconverter installed the max aperture is f/5.6 which at that focal length creates amazingly shallow DoF! In fact the bits of foliage directly behind the bird are already out of focus. I got very, very lucky that the bird gave me a 'flat' profile to photograph!

This one is in proportion - but only just. There is one near New York that is just crazy!

I liked the flowers. I was there Friday and never got my camera out. No flowers..... what have I become?

Cheers buddy - David