Swede’s Photographs

Climber of the Quiet Tree

This image of a male red‑bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is from my backyard. I’m curious about the feathers on its throat—they’re so bright and white that they almost blend into the fence behind it. It’s probably just the lighting; the sky was overcast, and sometimes I really have to crank up the ISO. Still, I like the effect. It’s not perfect, but it’s visually striking.

Explore more chic woodpecker photos by visiting my photo gallery.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #woodpeckers #redbelliedwoodpecker

The Cardinal Leap

This is a female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). She’s actually flying downward toward an unseen bird feeder. I took the photo on an overcast day, so I slowed the shutter speed, which created a soft blur in her wings as they moved.

A Moment with Nature, The Carolina Chickadee

Red‑Bird at the Stone

I Believe I Can Fly

This is a chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), I took the photo yesterday or maybe the day before and happened to catch just as it was about lot leave this perch at just the right angle.

If you enjoy photos of birds and other wildlife, take a look at my photo gallery. Sparrows are never overlooked—they're a valued and important part of my collection. Feel free to explore!

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #sparrows #chippingsparrow

Young Woodpecker Rising

Gull on the Wind

I captured this image of a laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #shorebrids #laughinggull

Red‑Shouldered Glide

This Red‑shouldered Hawk flew over this morning, so I took a shot at it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t prepared and still had my ISO set high for photographing in my shaded backyard.

Blue Jay’s Triumph

It’s amazing how many whole peanuts these birds can carry off in a single visit. I think this one only has the one, but I’ve seen them stuff as many as three down their esophagus before flying away.

Sentinel of Spring

I think this image of a mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) perched among budding branches pairs beautifully with the spirit of the Easter season.

If you're a fan of stunning dove imagery, be sure to explore my photo gallery for a collection of beautiful snapshots that capture their elegance and charm.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #dove #mourningdove

Robins Rest

Here is a photo of an American Robin (Turdus migratorius). It occurred to me that I’d never photographed one on a sunny day. They’re year‑round residents here, but I mostly only see them around this time of year. I took this photo in the spring of 2023.

Step into a world where even the smallest moments—like the glint in a bird's eye—tell their own story.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #thrush #americanrobin

Glistening Greens and Fungi

Morning Visitor

Here’s an image of a northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) from years ago, visiting my bird bath. I dug through my cardinal directory to find it and realized I’ve photographed a surprising number of cardinals at this exact spot. This one ended up in my Pixels gallery, though I’m not entirely sure why anymore. It’s a good image—I just don’t think I’d choose it today. It’s a small reminder of how my photographer’s eye has shifted over the years, and how you can never quite predict what will resonate with other people.

If you’re captivated by northern cardinals and other members of the Cardinalidae family—better known as the cardinal family—step into my photo gallery for a visual feast. Come take a look:

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #northerncardinal

Heron Rising

Here is a scene that I captured at Gulfport, Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico. The large bird in the foreground is a great blue heron (scientific name). The smaller white bird is either a gull or a tern.

Good morning. 🌿🍂🍁

11 April 2026

I had an electrician come out and replace the light fixture in the small garage where I keep my motorcycle and mower. It cost a hefty sum to have a pro do it, but at least I know the job was done correctly. Sure, I could’ve done it myself for a lot cheaper, but I didn’t want to. Besides, it would’ve taken me hours to figure it all out and get‑’er‑done.

The electrician and his apprentice were in and out more‑ricky‑tic. They swapped my old fluorescent fixture for an LED unit that looks almost identical in size and shape, just a whole different technology under the hood.

You can’t always depend on the outside of something — or the name of something — to tell you what it really is or what it really does. My new light looks like a fluorescent, but it isn’t.

I sometimes think of the Roman dynasties the same way. Many emperors carried the name “Caesar,” starting with Julius Caesar, then Caesar Augustus, then Caesar Romero, and so on down the line.

Okay, you got me — Caesar Romero wasn’t next in line after Augustus. That was Caesar Tiberius. Romero was a Caesar, but only because it was his first name. He was a 20th‑century actor, famous for a lot of roles but especially the Joker on the old ’60s Batman series — not a 1st‑century Roman ruler. I know you knew that, especially if you were around in the ’60s. If not, and your Western Civ history is a little rusty, maybe he sounded like just another Caesar.

Let’s face it: there are folks out there who’d believe me if I said Caesar Romero was the first man to step out of the Orion spacecraft yesterday. We only know what we know — and we don’t know what we don’t know.

“All that glisters is not gold.” - Shakespeare

The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing. - Socrates

“Common sense is not so common.”
- Voltaire

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Wildlife Wonders

I stumbled on to these white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). My dogs, Ben and Charlie were busy investigating a small path that branched off the one that I was on, so it gave me a few seconds to snap some pictures before the deer took off. When I snapped this picture, I only saw the deer on the left, who I think is mother deer. When they started to run, I discovered that there were actually three deer.

Spring Awakening

This close‑up shows new tree leaves emerging from their buds, glowing in shades of amber and rose. They appear to be sweetgum leaves, and one has already opened into the beginnings of a five‑pointed star.

Slumber Party

These are two white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) that I saw at Roatan, Honduras one summer (2023).

Discover nature's fleeting moments through my lens—visit my photo gallery to see more.

https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com

#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #monkeys

Good morning. 🌦️🌧️☔

13 April 2026

I was going to take Charlie for a walk this morning and try to get back into the rhythm of things, but it’s raining. That’s all it takes to talk me out of going anywhere. Besides, I wouldn’t leave before spilling a few hundred words onto the page anyway.

Did you know I build my own computers? Because of that, my office often looks like a graveyard of machines from years gone by. The PC I’m using now is one I slapped together a couple of years ago. My wife once suggested I take up computer building as a hobby — and it would be fun — but it’s an expensive pastime, and then you’re left wondering what to do with the finished product.

Everybody wants laptops these days. I own several myself, mostly for travel. But for everyday work, I rely on my desktop. It does everything I need, and when it doesn’t, off it goes to the PC graveyard while I brush up on modern specs and build another one. I even bought the most expensive small laptop I could find for traveling — all the bells and whistles — and while it gets the job done, its performance still can’t touch my desktop.

The laptop’s other problem is its size. The 14.5-inch screen is great for portability, but my eyesight isn’t what it used to be. I’ve started thinking about getting a larger laptop someday. I even have a 17-inch one around here somewhere, but I doubt it would keep up.

And here we are — another ramble of roughly 300 words, produced on a morning when I was convinced my brain was an empty warehouse. Or was it? Nothing profound, of course — just enough nonsense to prove I can still type even when inspiration has called in sick.

“I write to find out what I’m thinking.” — Joan Didion

“I never know what I think about something until I read what I’ve written.” — Flannery O’Connor

“Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.” — Bob Marley

#wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdwatching #birdphotography #brownpelicans #morning #writing #rain