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Bird and Nature PhotographyBritish Columbia, Canada |
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| Photo Blog 2009-03-31 The backyard feeders are still deadly quiet with the Sharp-shinned Hawk still visiting.
I am into week two shooting with just my shorter zoom and it is a reminder of the different technique required.
It is more difficult and additional patience is required to get close enough for usable shots.
But I do miss the longer lens when trying to get interaction like this between Northern Harriers.
And for the Short-eared Owls which are still around and active, but usually fairly distant.
Fortunately for me the American Kestrel continues to cooperate. I seem to have a good rapport with this bird.
The above shots were all taken out the window or sunroof of the car. For the following shot I was on foot and only about 15-20 feet away. I had been standing quietly watching it eat a vole and the shot was taken after it had finished and was perched content taking in the last of the sun.
Another subject and opportunity I always watch for is a Wood Duck in a tree. It’s fun trying to get interesting shots of them out of the water.
Around noon the other day I got a phone call from a fellow photographer and birder letting me know there was a Mountain Bluebird in Boundary Bay Regional Park in Tsawwassen. As this would be a new bird for me, I grabbed my camera and headed down to the park.
While common to other parts of British Columbia, in this area they are usually seen when migrating through the area.
In spite of being overcast, drizzling rain and cold I managed to get a few shots and a life list addition.
Thanks Tak! The Northern Shrike is another bird we will see when migrating back north at this time of year. A predatory songbird it will impale its prey on thorns, branches or barbed wire and earned itself the nickname “butcher bird”.
A couple of good birds to end the month of March with. | Home | 2009-03-20 The last few days I have been busy with other commitments, but still managed to get out for a few short walks.
Hitting the usual spots like Reifel, Boundary Bay and the Ladner area things have been fairly quiet birding wise.
The Barred Owl made an appearance again along the east dyke trail at Reifel.
The American Kestrel is still frequenting the same farm field. One morning the feeders in the backyard were unusually quiet. On taking a closer look there was a Sharp-shinned Hawk with a sparrow on the back fence.
I spent several minutes one day watching a Bald Eagle in the hopes of getting more of an action shot of it taking off rather than it just sitting in the tree. As luck would have it, it did not cooperate before I move on.
While I have seen and photographed female Ring-necked Ducks recently, this last week turned up the first male I have seen in a while along with a couple of the other usual suspects.
This week I also took my prime lens in for some minor repairs.
So a change of pace for now shooting hand held with a shorter zoom lens.
Not that its absence is going to keep me inside. | Home | 2009-03-15 While I have been getting some photos of the usual suspects in the regular spots, this month has provided one highlight so far.
Finally some success with an American Kestrel.
In January’s Blog I commented on how there are a few of these beautiful little falcons in the area, but how I always manage to find them perched on wire or utility pole.
Last week I finally found one in the Ladner area of Delta that was frequenting perches that were more pleasing and natural from a photographic perspective.
The Kestrel was bringing its prey on to the fence posts along the farm field to eat. It would also use the posts to perch on occasionally when not hunting.
In addition to the fence posts it would also perch in the tree tops along the field.
Sure beats the heck out of a wire or lamp standard and a great way to start the month. | Home | Previous Photo Blogs | 2010-01
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© Jim Martin |
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