There’s a reason why I’m copping an attitude. You see, my little house that I set up with my mockingbird love is just near the kitchen door. Inside the nest are four little ones that need lots of food and protection.
Little did we know that when we picked our real estate spot, cats like Tuxedo and Sunshine wandered below. So here I am, setting up the alarm for hours while the cats lay in the shade.
I’m not too worried about the white cat. She likes to eat and sleep most of the time. But I’m still keeping a close eye on her.
But the black cat. That evil sneaky little devil. The known bird assassin. All of the birds around the neighborhood know about the black cat. In fact, there is a wanted poster in the bird’s clubhouse. He is known far and wide for climbing up trees and finding babies. I don’t care that he’s gotten older and has lost the taste for little baby birds. Once a killer, always a killer.
The human keeps popping out with that weird thing in her hands. Why doesn’t she just take those cats and put them back inside where they belong? Stupid cats. How dare they just lay around taunting me? Don’t they know I’m busy? I’ve got babies to feed. Oh wait….
Phew ! They’re finally going in. Now I can take off and rest a bit. All this alarm calling is exhausting.
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Background of this post: It took all day to capture this scene. The Mockingbird and his mate sit on the metal statue only in the mornings. Grabbing the Canon Mark III and the 500mm lens, I was able to get these uncropped closeups of the bird. However, the cats were much less cooperative as models.
In the middle of the day, we discovered where the nest was. So I grabbed a ladder and changed the lens to the 24-105mm. Climbing up with the mockingbird keeping a close eye on me, I captured the babies waiting to be fed. Again..the cats were not cooperative models.
Early evening now, the cats are finally lounging around like I hoped they would. Crawling on the ground I was able to capture them.
Edits in the new Lightroom version 5.0 have proved to be spectacular. I discovered the new Radial Filter video tutorial and quickly applied it to the cat portraits. I love this new feature and can’t wait to find out what else is new with the upgraded version of Lightroom.
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Birds, Nature
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
You take the most beautiful, fantastic photos! I really enjoy your posts! Thank you so much! 🙂
You are truly too kind and it makes my day that you like my posts. it is my pleasure to share my world with you. 🙂
A days job well done that kitty of mine is a Brut No chipmunks it I do not go out with the dog to tell her to STOP! As she grabs ones she heads towards me where I scream DROP it which she does then it is free but runs right at her I shall never have another pet when these two have lived out their lives I am TOO OLD lol
It’s good to know I’m not the only one that yells at my pets to “drop it.” It’s mother nature at work. I had chipmunks the first year I moved into my house. The cat I had then fixed that right away. 😦
Well she goes for them in the day and night time she grabs unsuspecting field mice no wonder I have so many SNAKES she is eating THEIR FOOD well she never finishes them she leaves them as gifts for ME under my chair outside where I sit in AM with coffee listen to birds and play Frisbee with JT She is a wonderful loving gorgeous cat but a Real Killer 😦
Oh how nice…she leaves you breakfast.
lol she is a cute brat though 🙂 I feel so bad but she was a rescue that was going to be drowned at 3 weeks old and had been born in a barn and she loves going outside when the coast is clear we had a red tail hawk slam our french door trying to grab her on the back stoop that put a fright into her not used to being HUNTED some owl got her twin sister you would think she would know better 🙂 Our Vet wants to take her home because she is so loving lol well till she got GIFTS 🙂 I told her 🙂
Absolutely stunning shots of the birds and their babies and those beautiful puss cats look so chilled out but there’s definitely a gleam in those eyes! 🙂
I’m thrilled with this series too. I’m loving the quality of images from the new camera. Yep, the cats love me…it’s all about the food. 🙂
I’m surprised that neither you or the cats have mockingbird claw marks to show for getting so close to the nest. They are very protective of their young, and think nothing of attacking cats or people.
I agree, super lucky that I wasn’t dive bombed. I think they know I’m their steward. They do dive bomb Tuxedo though.
Lightroom 5 is amazing and when you combine it with Photoshop 6 its a combo that will let you do almost anything.
Oh Oh…PS 6? I can’t even figure out elements. You may need to teach me. 🙂
I just figured out how to add the borders and watermarks to my images via actions in CS 6 and I use it for my resize as it does a cleaner job than Lightroom. Actions are the greatest because its all automated. Just hit the start button and let it rip once you have done it and recorded it. Here is how I learned it via “Uncle Spike” which is not his real name but he’s an amazing photographer. He’s a bit “salty” but he knows what he is talking about, http://www.pattayadays.com/2012/01/the-tweak/. He is why I got into photography to begin with because he made it easy to understand. Then it was down hill from there. He also lives in my favorite place, Thailand.
Thank you so much for the lead. I really do need to get PS6 skills under my belt. Would surely make a difference. Appreciate it!
I love the storytelling in this, it was great fun to read and so perfectly photographed! 🙂
Thank you so much Sheryl. It was pretty entertaining and just had to share.
Writing this from the perspective of the mockingbird made it fun to read. And what a beautiful job on the photos! I’m amazed the mockingbird didn’t give you a new hairstyle!
Somehow I think the mockingbirds know I’m out there to protect them. They tilt their heads and listen when I talk. Thank you so much fo ryour visit and your comment. Hope to see you back soon. Bella
The first bird just totally captures me, I love that expression. Great work!!!
Isn’t that the greatest? Thanks Ali.
May I borrow your camera? I have baby Chicadee birds right now on the patio. Me, Lucy and Maurice are off limits right now because the birds are busy in and out feeding the baby or babies? I can’t tell. Tuxedo looks so innocent though. One day, you have to take a picture of your camera to show your gadget, huh?
So funny you would say that as I’ve been thinking about doing a post on the three cameras before I sell one of them. I’d be happy to share!
Okay, I’ll wait. I know the bidding will start from you fans.
The mockingbird expressions really say a lot – beautifully captured!! The cats, well who could have imagined that they did not oblige like fashion models?! Love Love Love the post!!
LOL ! No…really? Cat’s not posting. No way! LOL ! So happy you liked this one so much. 🙂
Reblogged this on sguz21/TÜRKİYE/İstanbul.
Thank you so much for sharing this with your readers.
Great set of images Emily, love that second one. I loved the commentary as well, though I don’t understand why the bird is using Lightroom 5? Our cat is an indoor cat and we don’t let him outside, for the safety of the birds. Cats here are killing and making too many bird species extinct, so we don’t let him have a go.
That is so interesting that the cat population there is so ferocious that they’re wiping out bird species. That is hard to imagine. Funny on the mockingbird using lightroom. He is a very talented bird.
It is actually really devastating, we have to remember that once cats go feral, there are no indigenous animals that will hunt them, as most of the indigenous animals are not hunters, probably the only exception is the Dingo, so there is nothing to keep the numbers down. Really cats and rabbits have done way too much devastation and caused so much damage, introduced species weren’t given a lot of thought. So Tiddles has never killed a bird, and I don’t think ever will.
He is a very talented bird.
What a face on that bird and very cool kitties!
Isn’t that the greatest dirty look? Thanks Phil and hope the bugs aren’t biting you too much in the marsh.
oh the kittens are gorgeous 🙂 and those baby birds screaming for food, very well captured!
The babies were so cute but I made it a point to be up there only briefly. Thanks on the compliments on the fuzz balls. 🙂
Awesome photography Emily – the mother stance and expression fantastic, but her babies – these are priceless photographs!
Thank you so much Mary. I’m so happy that I captured this scene. It was truly priceless.
That first photo made me smile! Well, actually they all do – you are so adept at capturing birds and your cats are stunning too.
You are too sweet Joylene. It thrills me that you enjoyed these photos so much.
WONDERFUL!!! What a story… And that first image is PRICELESS! Wow. 🙂
Isn’t that a great face? This story is right up your alley. Great to see you and miss you!
Ha! – Great Post – that 1st photo is PRICELESS!!!
Thank you so much Renee ! You are too kind.
Yeah what a story and such amazing photos too… 🙂 😉
Thank you so very much Drake. So happy you liked this little vignette.
This blog earned a Bean’s Pat as blog pick of the day. Check it out at: http://patbean.wordpress.com
You are so kind Pat. Thank you so much for the mention to your readers. I appreciate it.
Thank you! Awesome photography and storytelling!
I appreciate you stopping by and commenting Txgg. Hope to see you back soon. Bella