Category: Birds
Black-billed Magpie With An Apparent Kill
Black-billed Magpies feed primarily on carrion, ground-dwelling arthropods and seeds. But yesterday morning I photographed a magpie with an apparent kill, a vole.
Short-eared Owl In Flight (with prey in silhouette)
Photographing Short-eared Owls in flight with naturally obtained (not baited) prey in a wild setting is near the pinnacle of my bird photography aspirations. Thankfully I’ve had that opportunity several times and I’ll be forever grateful.
Green-winged Teal (and one reason I err on the side of high shutter speeds)
The Green-winged Teal is our smallest duck and to my eye the male is strikingly handsome and colorful, especially when you can catch the light just right on the iridescent greens of the crescent above and behind the eye. It’s amazing how that crescent turns black in an instant at differing light angles.
An Accipiter Preying On Rodents Instead Of Small Birds
Yesterday morning was my first experience with an Accipiter preying on rodents instead of the small birds that they’re best known for eating.
Setups in Bird Photography
The Function of Ocelli (false eyes) In Raptors
Some falcons, hawks and owls have two ocelli (eye-like patches or “false eyes”) on the back of their head. Their function may not be as presumed.
Barn Owl Hunting Rodents
I typically go about 10 months of the year without seeing Barn Owls flying in daylight but when snow and extremely cold temperatures arrive they’re often forced to hunt during daytime in order to obtain enough food to survive.
An Aggressive Western Grebe (and a difference in water-running style among grebe species)
For such a large bird Western Grebes can really scoot over the water surface when the need arises.
Williamson’s Sapsuckers Attending To Domestic Duties
A whole host of cavity nesting bird species rely on dead and dying trees for their nest holes but when those “snags” are prematurely removed by man the resource disappears and birds suffer.
Ring-necked Pheasants – A Contrast In Seasons And In Demeanor
I was struck by the contrast in attitude and demeanor between these adult male Ring-necked Pheasants.
Rough-legged Hawk At Farmington Bay
I photographed my first Rough-legged Hawk of the season four days ago. The last time I’d photographed them prior to that had been on January 27, 2014 so it had been 285 days in-between opportunities with this species that spends much of the year in the high arctic. Hopefully that gives me an excuse to post images of roughies twice within just a few days.
Golden Eagle – Out, Damn’d Wires, Out!
I have a small list of personal nemesis species but if forced to choose the top contender it would have to be the shy and elusive Golden Eagle. I’d estimate that I get a reasonable chance with one of these birds about two times per year and every time something goes wrong that prevents me from getting the photos I covet so much. Two mornings ago it was those ever-pesky power lines.
Red-tailed Hawk At 40 MPH
My FOY Rough-legged Hawk And A Rookie Mistake In Setting Up A New Camera
I found my FOY (first of year) Rough-legged Hawk yesterday morning but largely blew the photographic opportunity because of a rookie mistake in setting up my new 7D Mark ll.
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Black-billed Magpie With An Apparent Kill
Black-billed Magpies feed primarily on carrion, ground-dwelling arthropods and seeds. But yesterday morning I photographed a magpie with an apparent kill, a vole.
Short-eared Owl In Flight (with prey in silhouette)
Photographing Short-eared Owls in flight with naturally obtained (not baited) prey in a wild setting is near the pinnacle of my bird photography aspirations. Thankfully I’ve had that opportunity several times and I’ll be forever grateful.
Green-winged Teal (and one reason I err on the side of high shutter speeds)
The Green-winged Teal is our smallest duck and to my eye the male is strikingly handsome and colorful, especially when you can catch the light just right on the iridescent greens of the crescent above and behind the eye. It’s amazing how that crescent turns black in an instant at differing light angles.
An Accipiter Preying On Rodents Instead Of Small Birds
Yesterday morning was my first experience with an Accipiter preying on rodents instead of the small birds that they’re best known for eating.
Setups in Bird Photography
The Function of Ocelli (false eyes) In Raptors
Some falcons, hawks and owls have two ocelli (eye-like patches or “false eyes”) on the back of their head. Their function may not be as presumed.
Barn Owl Hunting Rodents
I typically go about 10 months of the year without seeing Barn Owls flying in daylight but when snow and extremely cold temperatures arrive they’re often forced to hunt during daytime in order to obtain enough food to survive.
An Aggressive Western Grebe (and a difference in water-running style among grebe species)
For such a large bird Western Grebes can really scoot over the water surface when the need arises.
Williamson’s Sapsuckers Attending To Domestic Duties
A whole host of cavity nesting bird species rely on dead and dying trees for their nest holes but when those “snags” are prematurely removed by man the resource disappears and birds suffer.
Ring-necked Pheasants – A Contrast In Seasons And In Demeanor
I was struck by the contrast in attitude and demeanor between these adult male Ring-necked Pheasants.
Rough-legged Hawk At Farmington Bay
I photographed my first Rough-legged Hawk of the season four days ago. The last time I’d photographed them prior to that had been on January 27, 2014 so it had been 285 days in-between opportunities with this species that spends much of the year in the high arctic. Hopefully that gives me an excuse to post images of roughies twice within just a few days.
Golden Eagle – Out, Damn’d Wires, Out!
I have a small list of personal nemesis species but if forced to choose the top contender it would have to be the shy and elusive Golden Eagle. I’d estimate that I get a reasonable chance with one of these birds about two times per year and every time something goes wrong that prevents me from getting the photos I covet so much. Two mornings ago it was those ever-pesky power lines.
Red-tailed Hawk At 40 MPH
My FOY Rough-legged Hawk And A Rookie Mistake In Setting Up A New Camera
I found my FOY (first of year) Rough-legged Hawk yesterday morning but largely blew the photographic opportunity because of a rookie mistake in setting up my new 7D Mark ll.