Monday, June 22, 2009

My World Tuesday - Noisy skies

We live a couple of miles from the Frederick airport; in the flight paths for both BWI and Washington Dulles airports; and Camp David is up towards the Pennsylvania border. So hearing planes and helicopters is not unusual. On a warm day with plenty of blue sky and gentle winds, the gliders are active. This was the first of a half-dozen gliders that were towed aloft and released today. But what got our attention was a low flying, noisy helicopter that I spotted heading north. Usually they keep on going and the noise abates. But not today! It sounded like it was circling just beyond the trees, but we could not spot it. After a couple of hours, I went to see what was happening.

At the other side of our neighborhood, this was circling over a cornfield of the farm across the road. It appeared to be spreading fertilizer (see below).

Dropping the bucket for a refill.

This one is cropped for a better look.

10 comments:

Sally in WA said...

Great shots, Lew. Especially of the helicopter and the fertilizer set up.

I grew up under one of the flight paths for BWI and I guess the noise is something you just get used to. I never seemed to mind it.

Sylvia K said...

Terrific, Lew! Really fascinating! See lots of those, but none with fertilizer! We have lots of planes, sea planes and helicopters flying over our house as we're not far from SeaTac and the seaplanes take tourists all over the Seattle area, landing and taking off from one of the harbors close to the city. I got a close up look when my son took me for one of their special tours, for my birthday last year. It was fabulous! Have a great week!

JennWasHere said...

Wow.. those are all great shots! Here in our country, it's all manual labor... I am hoping farmers here could do that, too!

My entry for My World Tuesday is posted here. Hope you can hop there as well. Happy Tuesday!

Wolynski said...

That's an expensive way to spread fertilizer... and noisy. The gliders are quite silent though. Lovely photos.

SandyCarlson said...

I love these, Lew. Capturing these birds in action is no small feat. I admire your work.

Arija said...

Great shots indeed, but I hate it when they aerial spray or fertillize.They never take heed of prevaining winds and other farms in the district. One year we lost all our frogs because our neighbour sprayed for cockchafers. The spray used is so fine it is almost atomised and has a huge drift area. Whether it kills little creatures or is absorbed by your lungs and skin it is harmful when delivered by air.

Erin said...

what great captures lew of the helicopter spreading fertilizer...who would have thought. my first thought was perhaps a fire and the heli was dumping water.
have a wonderful tuesday.

Louise said...

I don't think I've ever seen a helicopter doing that. Maybe it's easier with the trees around than a crop duster plane.

Marites said...

Never seen a place with a bucket of fertilizer before. Quick work for the farmers though and you took good shots:)

Unknown said...

I used to love watching the gliders up in the sky . Haven't seen one, though, since I moved over here..

Very cool shot of the helicopter..