Red Tailed Hawk - III

Continuing with my "5" Star Red Tailed Hawk photos we have one taken sitting on a flowering Century Plant in the Galiuro Mountains of Southern Arizona:

Red Tailed Hawk

Red Tailed Hawk - II

Continuing with my series on "5" Star Photos in general and the Red Tailed Hawk in particular I have a photo taken many years ago while traveling the Oregon Coast. Red Tailed Hawks are the most widespread and numerous of the raptors in the United States. Their plumage varies quite a bit from light to dark. In fact, if you can't positively identify a hawk as something other than a Red Tailed Hawk, then it is probably a Red Tailed Hawk.

Red Tailed Hawk

Red Tailed Hawk Chic out of Nest

Today's "5" Star Photo is of a young Red Tailed Hawk that fell out of its nest.

Red Tailed Hawk Chic

Red Mountain Arizona

I have said this before, I am not a landscape photographer. Often I am in "awe" of landscapes without a clue of how to capture them in two dimensions. To me landscapes are "unphotographable." Yet, I see what professionals can do and I'm stunned. 

Occasionally though, I stumble across a beautiful landscape and give it my best shot. Nine times out of ten the result goes in the trash bin. However, one in ten turns out pretty good. Here then is one of my few "5" Star Landscape photos:

Red Mountain Arizona

Red Mountain is half way between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon. Most people speed by Red Mountain not even considering it is worth a stop. After all, you're only 40 minutes from one of the Seven Wonders of the World. How could Red Mountain top that???  

But, I must confess. I love Red Mountain. I would rather hike into the Red Mountain canyon, sit, meditate, contemplate life --------- than be one of 5 million people visiting Grand Canyon.

Red Dome Blanketflower

Many opportunities exist for the wildlife photographer -- not just animals, birds -- or butterflies. Here as I was hiking looking for bears I came across a field of Red Dome Blanketflowers. This photo jumped out at me -- and I liked the result.

Red Dome Blanketflower

Red Banded Pereute

As I continue with my alphabetical series on "5" Star Photos, I have a Red Banded Pereute that is striking in its simplicity. As I have mentioned, butterflies often provide for wonderful photos. It's not just their color and color patterns but often the flowers that they are feeding from. In this case it is just black, green, and red. Very simple and very peaceful:

Red Banded Pereute

Happy New Year and Thanks

It's January 1, 2014. Happy New Year to all.

Here are some numbers:

1) 1266 posts since September, 2009.
2) 121,298 visits to my blog over the years.
3) 119 Countries on 6 continents:
a) Europe: 42 countries
b) Asia: 34 countries
c) North America: 16 countries
d) Africa: 13 countries
e) South America: 11 countries
f) Australia and Oceania: 3 countries
4) Top ten countries: USA, Canada, Russia, UK, Germany, India, France, Australia, Netherlands, Latvia.

So a BIG THANK YOU to all, and a very happy new year to you.

Happy New Year