Morning after the blizzard

Morning after the blizzard
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I took this the morning after our "blizzard." Though I'm glad I shovled my driveway once it didn't seem like I had by this time.

Telegrams - Herndon

Telegrams - Herndon
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I stopped by the Herndon Museum yesterday. They have an interesting collection of W&OD railroad and Town of Herndon artifacts. They have a nice collection of photos from as old as the late 1800s.

Strasburg Railroad

Strasburg Railroad
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

It has been quite a while since I posted anything. That is what happens with the new born. It isn't that I haven't been taking photos; its is just that most of them are of the kids and the ones that are not sit on my hard drive waiting to be processed.

This one is of the stairs and hitch between two of the dining cards at Strasburg Railroad. We saw Santa there too.

Commute

Commute
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I pulled off the road to take this picture just before sunrise on the way to work. I was able to get to work a bit early and with daylight savings time ending soon I will have to get up an hour earlier to get this shot again.

Agressive

Agressive
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

It has been a while since I've been able to post a new picture. New baby and all, time is short. No, this is not Ryen. This is a particularly aggressive goose who wouldn't mind eating out of your hands and getting a finger or two if you aren't careful. Interesting angle using the camera to keep him from getting too friendly.

A rose for Ryen, and mommy

A Rose for Ryen
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

One of the flowers that was sent to Mommy and Ryen.

Old Town Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

Had lunch and took a quick walk around Old Town Alexandria with a friend this weekend. I liked the Red door and the sailboat on an otherwise largely brick road.

Construction

Construction Equipment
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

After the sun sets, the construction equipment gets a bit spooky.

Great Falls at Dusk

Great Falls at Dusk
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

We stopped by great falls recently to see if we could catch some nice colors in the setting sun. Unfortunately the best clouds were to the left, but we ended up with something reasonably nice anyway.

Summer Moon

Summer Moon
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

While walking around the pond with the family the sun was getting low and really lighting up the moon. I liked the blue sky and clouds with moon shining brightly through it. Nothing like an unusually cool summer evening.

Pig at Colonial Farm

Pig at Colonial Farm
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

We went to a picnic at Turkey Run. We took a walk up to the Claude Moore Colonial Farm to show Brenden the animals. He enjoyed seeing turkeys, geese, and the pigs. This is one of the pigs who came over to say hello.

Another look at the zoo

Eyeing the Food
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This one was eye-balling the food on the other side of the gate. His trunk was just about long enough to get at it.

Wild Daisy

Wild Daisy
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I don't do a lot of macro work, but it was this or another shot of the great blue heron. This wild daisy had a beetle visitor on Saturday morning. It is kind of amazing what goes on around us that we are usually unaware of. Now only if the darn ants would be as inconspicuous....

I'm ready for my closeup

I'm ready for my closeup
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This Kori Bustard was more than happy to pose for me on our trip to the National Zoo.

Boat Billed Heron

Boat Billed Heron
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This was the first time I saw this type of heron. Quite unusual compared to the egrets and great blues I'm used to.

Aging

Aging
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I'm not looking forward to the day when my eyesight starts to go. I'm pretty sure it will as both my parents started with great vision and worked their way into a variety of types of glasses. No one and nothing, it seems, is immune to the aging process.

My Neighbor

Great Blue Heron local
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This great blue heron is my neighbor. He's lived here for quite a while. He was out fishing as I took Candy for a walk. He hung around long enough for me to get a nice shot even with the dog sitting next to me. Meanwhile a pair of great blue heron's were flying back and forth and another set of three flew overhead. I never would have figured that this is heron country.

Egret Chicks

Egret Chicks
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

More from the Alligator Farm. These two great egret chicks were enjoying the morning light waiting for their breakfast. They were very active and interesting to watch.

Where Babies Come From

Wood Stork Babies
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

Apparently these wood storks bring babies to Mommies and Daddies. Well.... Anyway here is a wood stork mommy and her babies. Happy Mother's Day

SR-71 Blackbird

SR-71 Blackbird
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I've always liked this plane. Apparently it can fly so fast that the heat from the friction of the air causes the engines to expand by 12 feet. Really a remarkable plane. We went to the Udvar-Hazy center with my parents, wife, and son. He liked watching the airplanes fly in.

Intensity

Intensity
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This portrait was taken at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. It is a private zoo that was referred to me by Scott Bourne. I like his blog PhotoFocus. The tip was much appreciated and I came away with a whole lot of keepers. This Snowy Egret was preening himself. You can see some of the down stuck on his bill.

Click to my Flickr stream for more.

Egrets Nesting

Egrets Nesting
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This is one of many shots taken at the St. Agustine Alligator farm. It really is amazing the number of birds and how close they are. Thanks to Scott Bourne for the tip.

Spring Tulips

Spring Tulips
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

Happy Easter.

The Old Cherry Tree

The Old Cherry Tree
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

Another perspective from my day out at the Cherry Blossom Festival. I liked this old tree. Seems like it has been through a lot.

Cherry Winds

Cherry Winds
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I went to the Tidal Basin in DC Saturday with Sue and Raj. It was a great day beautiful weather with a bit of wind and great cherry blossoms. This is one of the many pictures I'm sorting through. If you haven't been to DC during the peak it is worth getting there early and braving the crowds.

Osprey on the way to the Cherry Blossoms

Osprey with Fish in Tree
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

You may have guessed that I like bird photography. Well today I was out on my way to take some photos of the Cherry Blossoms and still managed to get a bird picture. We were walking from the car toward the tidal basin and saw this Osprey fly into the tree right in front of us holding a fish. I didn't have the bird lens to catch the flight but the light was good and he hung around.

Nice colors at sunset

Sunset
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I haven't had a lot of time to take pictures besides the boy. This is a shot of the neighborhood at sunset. I liked the sky's colors and the street lamp in the foreground.

My Neighbor

Red Tail Hawk
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This red tail hawk lives just down the street from me. Some days he's more patient with me. Some not.

Bald Eagle

Female Bald Eagle Fly By
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

For quite a while I've wanted to get a good picture of a bald eagle. I finally have a good start. I went down to Mason Neck State Park and saw a couple of eagles flying around. Unfortunately they were a bit too far away for a good picture. I then went up to the GW Parkway to check out the new eagles nest and was surprised by all the activity. The observers think they recently laid eggs. This is the female as she flew right by us maybe 20 feet in the air heading back to her nest.

Mason Neck Refuge

Mason Neck Refuge
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I spent the morning out at Mason Neck Refuge and State park. It is a nice park with quite a bit of wild life. I was able to see quite a few birds even though it is between seasons. This scene was taken overlooking the water this morning.

View of the Potomac River

Patomac River
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This view of the Potomac was taken on a short trip to a local park. It is on the Virginia Birding Trail. I was skeptical at first, but there were lots of wood peckers some blue jays and cardinals. There were a couple of hawks. One came screaming in above me. Unfortunately he was moving too fast to capture. On one trail there was one in a tree I didn't see until he flew off. Anyway, nice view of the river.

Janelia Farm on a Snowy Day

Janelia Farm on a Snowy Day
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I have driven by this place many times and never found the opportunity to take a picture. Today I had to run to the grocery store so I stretched my errands into a small photo trip.

Valentine's Rose

Valentine's Rose
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This was one of the roses I gave my wife for Valentine's day. They lasted quite some time. I helped make sure they outlasted the chocolates I gave her too.

Canadian Geese

Canadian Geese
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I was out walking the dog and we saw our local canadian geese out the pond. The owner of the house to the left shooed them away. I guess he is tired of the evidence of their presence.

So many toys

So many toys
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

It was Brenden's 1st Birthday on Thursday. He has so many toys now but loves them all. Even with all those toys books are still his favorite. He chose the pencils and books at his chut-dol. He had a great extended birthday celebration lasting almost two weeks. It's good to be the prince.

Brenden's Orchid

Brenden's Orchid
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This orchid was given to Brenden by his Grandma when he was born. It is blooming again and is now beating daddy's orchid in flowers.

Qi (Ch'i) & Traffic Abstract

Peace & Traffic Abstract
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I have a lot of bird pictures up so I've been trying to expand my subjects a bit. this is an ornament hanging from my rear view mirror on an abstracted background of traffic.

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

This is a resident red shouldered hawk. I've seen him as I drive by countless times. On the way out to do errands I had a very nice close view of him as I pulled up. As I was distracted for a second to address the radio I just missed him. His toes are in the edge of what is now a picture of a tree.

On the way home was in a good spot so I grabbed a few frames.

One of these days I'll get a closer one.

Barn at Little Seneca Lake

Barn at Little Seneca Lake
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

In between eagles and geese I took this shot on "assignment." It was on the other side of the lake. the small trees in the middle-ground are reforestation efforts. The bald eagle flew and sat in a tall tree just to left of the trees on the water.

Which one is not like the others?

Which one is not like the others?
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

Another goose picture from my trip out to Germantown. It is strange how I think a domestic goose is unique.

Bald Eagle in Flight

Bald Eagle in Flight
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I went to Little Seneca Lake with a friend this morning to take some pictures. After some photographing some geese and yellow finches we talked with a group of water foul enthusiasts who were doing a bird watch. Before they could finish telling us that there is a nesting pair in the area, my friend spotted this one flying in.

This is my first bald eagle in the wild. See the making of here.

Cardinal at the Feeder

Cardinal
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

Sitting at the kitchen table one morning a pair of cardinals came to my feeder. She was waiting her turn.

My new lens: Sigma 18-50 2.8

Sigma DC 18-50mm f2.8 EX MACRO HSM Test
Originally uploaded by Michael J. Mahoney

I just got my new Sigma DC 18-50mm f2.8 EX MACRO HSM yesterday and only had a couple minutes to play with it. So far, I love this lens.

Getting Started

Since getting into photography about a year ago I've enjoyed sharing pictures with friends and family. This blog is aimed at making it a bit easier for me to share some photos with those who are interested. As I figure out how to link over my flickr stuff I'll get started.