Category: Birds
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.
A Couple Of Recent Juncos
Dark-eyed Juncos are a common winter feeder species but I prefer to photograph them in as natural a setting as possible.
Forster’s Tern With Prey And A Common Black-Hawk In Utah!
Today, readers get a “twofer”: a Forster’s Tern with prey and a rare Common Black-hawk.
Swainson’s Hawk Up Close And In Flight
This juvenile Swainson’s Hawk had no fear. I believe it thought of vehicles (and their contents) as no more threatening than the boulders or trees that are common in this area of the Centennial Valley.
Another Grebe Biting Off More Than It Can Chew
It isn’t unusual for some bird species to regularly attempt to swallow prey that is too large to go down the hatch. I see American White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons make such attempts fairly often but around here Pied-billed Grebes and Western Grebes seem to be the kings of Gluttony Hill.
The Source Of Male Western Tanager Head Colors
Male Western Tanagers are known for their red heads but there can be considerable variation in those reds and the cause is not fully understood.
Red-tailed Hawk Negotiating Obstacles At Take-off
I’m often surprised and impressed by the dexterity and athleticism of larger raptors as they take off through a maze of tree branches or other obstructions.
Red-winged Blackbird (with a look at exposure and depth of field)
Black birds of any species are generally a tough exposure. Throw in the bright red and yellow epaulets of the Red-winged Blackbird and the challenge can be even more daunting.
Bathing Vesper Sparrow – My Small (and accidental) Contribution To A Body Of Knowledge
This post is an update on an event and a process that began when I photographed this Vesper Sparrow as it bathed in a small Montana spring earlier this fall.
Downy Woodpecker (and a personal horror story for Halloween)
The Downy Woodpecker is North America’s smallest woodpecker and even though they’re widespread and common on this continent I’ve had very little luck catching them out in the open.
Close Encounter With A Long-tailed Weasel
I had a brief but interesting encounter with a Long-tailed Weasel yesterday morning at Farmington Bay. The little mustelid ran across the road in front of my pickup and buried itself in the brush and rocks but on the long shot that it would reappear I stopped anyway. And reappear it did, right under my nose.
Grebe Chicks Hitchin’ A Ride
There’s just something about back-brooding birds that appeals to the human eye and heart.
Red-tailed Hawk (and a new blog post, finally!)
I love the coloration of this bird and always appreciate getting wispy clouds mixed with blue sky in the background.
Male Western Kingbird In Flight
Until this past spring my cupboard was largely bare of flight shots of Western Kingbirds. But this male gave me plenty of opportunity to practice my skills as he encouraged his mate at nest-building.
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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.
A Couple Of Recent Juncos
Dark-eyed Juncos are a common winter feeder species but I prefer to photograph them in as natural a setting as possible.
Forster’s Tern With Prey And A Common Black-Hawk In Utah!
Today, readers get a “twofer”: a Forster’s Tern with prey and a rare Common Black-hawk.
Swainson’s Hawk Up Close And In Flight
This juvenile Swainson’s Hawk had no fear. I believe it thought of vehicles (and their contents) as no more threatening than the boulders or trees that are common in this area of the Centennial Valley.
Another Grebe Biting Off More Than It Can Chew
It isn’t unusual for some bird species to regularly attempt to swallow prey that is too large to go down the hatch. I see American White Pelicans and Great Blue Herons make such attempts fairly often but around here Pied-billed Grebes and Western Grebes seem to be the kings of Gluttony Hill.
The Source Of Male Western Tanager Head Colors
Male Western Tanagers are known for their red heads but there can be considerable variation in those reds and the cause is not fully understood.
Red-tailed Hawk Negotiating Obstacles At Take-off
I’m often surprised and impressed by the dexterity and athleticism of larger raptors as they take off through a maze of tree branches or other obstructions.
Red-winged Blackbird (with a look at exposure and depth of field)
Black birds of any species are generally a tough exposure. Throw in the bright red and yellow epaulets of the Red-winged Blackbird and the challenge can be even more daunting.
Bathing Vesper Sparrow – My Small (and accidental) Contribution To A Body Of Knowledge
This post is an update on an event and a process that began when I photographed this Vesper Sparrow as it bathed in a small Montana spring earlier this fall.
Downy Woodpecker (and a personal horror story for Halloween)
The Downy Woodpecker is North America’s smallest woodpecker and even though they’re widespread and common on this continent I’ve had very little luck catching them out in the open.
Close Encounter With A Long-tailed Weasel
I had a brief but interesting encounter with a Long-tailed Weasel yesterday morning at Farmington Bay. The little mustelid ran across the road in front of my pickup and buried itself in the brush and rocks but on the long shot that it would reappear I stopped anyway. And reappear it did, right under my nose.
Grebe Chicks Hitchin’ A Ride
There’s just something about back-brooding birds that appeals to the human eye and heart.
Red-tailed Hawk (and a new blog post, finally!)
I love the coloration of this bird and always appreciate getting wispy clouds mixed with blue sky in the background.
Male Western Kingbird In Flight
Until this past spring my cupboard was largely bare of flight shots of Western Kingbirds. But this male gave me plenty of opportunity to practice my skills as he encouraged his mate at nest-building.