I have always been a nature lover.  There is one way to get my head right sometimes, and that's to get out into nature.  Since I found photography, it's been even more therapeutic.

I have recently become obsessed with birds - all birds, but Raptors in particular! It all started one day last February when my friend Bonnie and I went for a bike ride and saw a juvenile bald eagle flying over our heads. Then we saw a tree full of robins and a bunch of great blue herons and then the young bald eagle sitting in a tree with the adult!

It seemed like all of a sudden they were everywhere I looked.  I started to "hunt" them with my camera.

Since then we have had many such adventures, here are a couple of photos...


This is a Great Blue Heron. I would not even try to guess how many hours I've spent trying to get a good shot of one of these! They are very shy birds and, in my experience, as soon as you stop and try to get a look, they fly away. I got this picture on a very hot and muggy day. I went for a bike ride to Springbank Park here in London, and happened to see this guy across the river from me. I locked up my bike and climbed down the river bank, expecting him to take off with every step I took. But he didn't - too darned hot!

Another bike ride - this one was before a road trip that we were going to take that afternoon. All of a sudden as we were riding out of one of London's beautiful parks I saw this guy fly across the road and land in a tree.

He wasn't nearly as shy as the heron!

The again, on another bike ride I hear a call and look up

Then flying up from the side of the road!

This guy sat there eating his lunch and didn't seem concerned by me in the least.

And the vultures on the beach - hey, they're raptors too, and although their faces may be ugly, they are huge and beautiful as well!

I just know this is going to be an amazing adventure!