Behind the place I work is a little "eco center", consisting of an abandoned bank building and about 1/2 acre of grass and trees. The cabbies park in the old bank lot. For some reason, this city area has given me great joy in the bird showing up. The resident mockingbirds raise a new batch each spring and are at it now. They are working a nest in a bush about 60 feet from the back door. I got close enough to get one of them on a light pole..well, half a bird. Here tis... I hope to get the brood when it hatches and starts new life. Still, need a longer lens than the 120(180 digiatal with my cam) to get the action. We will see how it goes. Here is the mockingbird. For those not familiar with this bird, it apparently "mocks" other bird songs. These birds can sing for hours and not repeat the same song once. Wish me luck in getting the new brood. TomDart.

TX state bird! looking forward to seeing the brood... got a new nest right outside the front door... mudswallows, stuck it right on the rock siding :] good luck tom!

Cyn, this is also the TN state bird. remember the Alamo! Love your state...now you have our bird, too! Yikes! Yes, I will need good luck...at work, short lens..all that. We will see what happens. Tom.

Not in NZ....I always think of Gregory Peck when I see this Bird...a fine Shot!

Lets not forget that this popular bird is also the State Bird of Mississippi. Good capture, looking forward to seeing more.

Oh super shot Tom!! I love the POV and the clarity!!! Very cool capture! Didn't manage to catch a bird yet other than pigeons but they're pretty easy to shoot!

lovely shot, I know it is not easy to catch a bird.....well done

Great shot. We have mockingbirds around here and they sing all the time. Very neat to listen to. They can also mock other sounds, too; dog's barking, kids yelling. I also have a mudswallow's nest stuck to the wall outside my back door (we don't use it much). They can be quite aggressive. They swoop down on my cat and fly around our heads when we are outside. I have a pic of them. Maybe I'll put it up.

Very cool photo. The eco center sounds like a nice place...I have yet to get a decent bird shot other than a couple stationary Seagulls... -Jeff :-)

I am getting a few more ready. Today I did get some decent pics but the bird is only a small part of the total image..still need that longer lens! I believe today's shots will be ok to post and will get those on tonight or tomorrow. The birds seem wary of a camera...I can get closer without the camera to my eye! Who knows why..maybe a person with a huge "eyeball" is not something they are used to. I will see what is ok on today's shots and get them up. The thrill will be getting pics of the baby birds with the parents...to be so fortunate is yet to be seen! They are spending a lot of time taking food to the nest. I do love nature and see thought in all of it...contrary to what some folks believe, we have had enough animals and been around enough to see that they do think and are not simply rote followers of instinct and reaction. Sure, lots of instinct..but figuring stuff out too. Hummm...

This is one of the mockingbirds in a tree, waiting for me to get gone so it can get to the nest. The other bird flew over me and to the light pole, fussing at me. I guess the idea was to distract me...and it worked. While I took the light pole image, the one in the tree went to the nest. This image is at 100%...couldn't get closer.

Again, in the tree waiting for me to scoot...

The bird on the light pole was serious and concerned..so I snapped this one and got back. They went back to the business of feeding the chicks.

Oooooh! That last one is awesome Tom!!! My fav of them all, no doubt!!! Super capture!

i like the last shot the best shows off his beauty and charm...!

these are all fabulous pictures Tom!!! kemal and i are laughing over the tail on this last guy!!!! :)