Land Between the Lakes: Hummingbirds

This weekend I ventured to the Land Between the Lakes National Park on the Tennessee and Kentucky borders.  A narrow strip of land surrounded by two lakes, Land Between the Lakes contains hiking trails, deer, buffalo, and millions of hummingbirds.  I ventured to LBL for a Sunday drive, and at the visitor's centers encountered several of these delightful birds.  I have inherited the love of bird watching from my mother, and felt like an excited child as I watched the hummingbirds flit around the sugar feeders, chirping at each other, and occasionally attacking one another.  I only spotted one male, and unfortunately, didn't get a very clear picture of him.  I included three blurry images of him only so that you can see the difference between him and the females.  This was my first time photographing hummingbirds, and really the first time I've ever been able to watch them, so it was a great weekend experience.

Washington D.C.

It's been about four months since I've been back in the States, and I've done very little traveling.  So it was with great excitement that I went to Washington D.C. over the 4th of July weekend.  I had never been to my nation's capital, and it was really great finally seeing the monuments that I had read so much about.  The Washington Monument looked wider than I had imaged, but that was mostly due to scaffolding covering the structure.  I took in the fireworks show at the National Mall, spent hours studying photographs and national treasures in the various Smithsonians, and toasted my favorite president (Lincoln) with a mini chocolate cupcake bought at Sprinkles Cupcakery.  The trip was short, but I had a great time nonetheless.

Protester outside of the White House. His sign says, "Obama's Banana Republic."

Jefferson Memorial

View down the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial

Korean War Memorial