Pileated Woodpecker after flying into a plate glass window

Pileated Woodpecker after flying into a plate glass window from Richard Atkinson on Vimeo.

This pileated woodpecker flew into a plate glass window where I was staying while in Michigan taking photographs of a few of the lighthouses. When I walked outside, he was on his back not moving. I picked him up and could tell that he was still alive and just stunned. He started holding his head up so I knew that he had not broken his neck. I rubbed a finger over his head and down his back and talked to him in what I hoped was a soothing voice for a woodpecker. He started moving some on his on and I kept trying to perch him on my finger. After awhile he got the knack of it and stood on my finger but was very unbalanced. I kept talking with him and would bounce my hand a little trying to get him to take off. After about 10 minutes he final took to the air. He tried to land on a limb but wasn’t quite up to it so he flew around a little more until he looked like he was getting his bearings and then flew to the nearby woods. I think that he will make it just fine. …at least I really hope that he does.

Shipwreck at Grand Turk – Mega One Triton

Tags

Governor's Beach, Grand Turk, shipwreck, Travel

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There is a large grounded ship at Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk Island. Originally, the Mega One Triton was an oil rig service vessel.

Later, it was decommissioned as an oil rig service vessel and began a new life as a cargo ship. The Mega One Triton ran a cargo route between the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk.

The Mega One Triton was washed ashore during Hurricane Sandy in 2012. There have been several attempts to remove the vessel from the beach, but due to its size and lack of funding the efforts have continued to be unsuccessful.

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Mega One Triton grounded at Governor’s Beach

Happy Fourth of July – Happy Birthday, American

Tags

America, birthday, July 4, photography, video

Fourth of July – an American Celebration from Richard Atkinson on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday, America. Scenes from around America set to music by the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy Bands.

I wanted to put something together to help celebrate our country. We are truly a divided country so maybe for just one day we can lay aside our differences and celebrate our country for being exceptional. Hopefully, everyone reading this feels the same.

All photographs were taken and copyrighted by Richard ‘Dixie’ Atkinson. The photos are located in various galleries at: Photographs by Dixie.

This is a basic repeat of my last years July 4th blog post.

Horton Mill Covered Bridge

Tags

Alabama, Avanti, covered bridge, DJI, drone, FC40, Golden Hawk, Golden Hawks, GoPro, Hero3, Horton Mill, Horton Mill Covered Bridge, Oneonta, Phantom, Studebaker

It was a cloudy, overcast day, but I did have some luck. As I was using the DJI Phantom to do some video of Horton Mill Covered Bridge, three couples drove up in classic antique Studebakers. Two of them were Golden Hawks and one was an Avanti, the fastest production auto to ever drive off a showroom floor in America having been clocked at almost 170 miles an hour at Bonneville Salt Flats. So, all-in-all, it turned out to be a very fine day. I would like to thank the couples for allowing me to video their fine vehicles and post them on the Internet. I hope you enjoy both the bridge and the Studebakers.

The music is royalty free music purchased from Stock20 and is entitled Morning Mist.

Modern-Day Wagon Train

Tags

DJI Phantom, drone, GoPro, horse, mule, wagon train

Horse Drawn Wagons

I was out the other day testing out the new gimbal on the DJI Phantom and looked down the road and saw this modern-day wagon train coming at me. I got the Phantom in the air and was able to get these shots. I hope you enjoy them. I understand that they were more active in the past, but due to safety and traffic concerns they had to cut back on their activities. I did not know they would be out this particular day so I consider myself very lucky to see them and to get these shots as they were on their way to Mount Cheaha in northeast Alabama.

Deer Feeding Time in Texas

Tags

axis deer, deer, hill country, San Antonio, texas, white tail

Axis deer in the Hill Country of Texas being fed corn. There are also some White Tailed deer in the mix as well. I used my GoPro Hero3 planted right in the middle of the feed to capture this video of the deer eating.

Fourth of July – an American Celebration

Happy Birthday, America. Music by the US Army & US Navy Bands as we take a video tour from coast-to-coast.

Link to my photography web site:

• photographs by Dixie

Yellowstone National Park

Scenes from Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas including Virginia City, Montana.

Gallery Link: Yellowstone National Park

 

Great Smoky Mountains – A Short Photo Tour

I just added a short video of the Great Smoky Mountains to Youtube.

Links to my Great Smoky Mountains National Park galleries:

• Great Smoky Mountains in the Spring
• Great Smoky Mountains in the Summer
• Great Smoky Mountains in the Fall
• Great Smoky Mountains in the Winter
• Great Smoky Mountains in Black & White