Gray Ghost

by | 27 Oct 2018 | Avian/Animals

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) Male and female Northern Harriers are distinctly different in coloring. The male is a striking gray; females a reddish brown. Harriers ad sexually dimorphic — males differ not only in coloring, but also size; they are smaller than females. Juvenile males and females, and even adult females, can be difficult to distinguish. Some folks refer to the adult males as the “Gray Ghost.” They hunt by gliding low to the ground over fields for prey. In their environment, male Harriers can be difficult to see. You can sit and watch, wait, and not see them until the last minute, and then there they are right in front of you. This makes it more difficult to photograph. A challenge to photograph and always a pleasure to see and watch. Sometimes, I am so taken by their presence that I almost forget to raise the camera. One of my favorite birds to photograph.

A Happy Accident

by | 24 Oct 2018 | Avian/Animals, Blog

Sometimes, it is just better to be lucky than good. When photographing birds and wildlife, one can take all possible measures to maximize success. Regardless, there is a fair amount of luck involved with photographs. For instance, one can go to place well known for an abundance of wildlife and bird and still come away with little or nothing to show for the time invested. I have been tying to catch a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) in flight for some time. They are a constant around my house in winter and even cling to the side of the stucco in the corners of walls and sleep at night. Still, I have not been able to get one in flight. They are a fairly skittish bird as well, and that certainly doesn’t help. I was out this morning, and I am fortunate to live within about five minutes of a migratory bird refuge. The morning was slow and I was returning home with little of consequence to show for my time. Then, there, sitting on a fence post, on the side of the road (which is unusual) was a Flicker. I pulled to the side, shut off the car, and grabbed my camera. Fortunately, the Flicker stayed put and gave me a precious few moments in which to photograph it in different positions. Then as my finger pressed the shutter button for a profile shot — BAM! — the Flicker took to the air. If I had tried to time the take-off, I would have missed. A happy and fortuitous accident. Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good.

A Mythical Bird

by | 22 Oct 2018 | Avian/Animals, Blog

The legendary, and often mythical, bird of summer camps and camping trips and sleepovers with friends, cousins, and older siblings . The Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is anything but mythical. How many still thought the bird to be a myth, occupying imaginations and only visible at night by flashlight and special chants? It is secretive and solitary; it likes damp, muddy habitat where vegetation provides it cover. So, here it is and I managed to see one again this year without the necessary pillow case, burlap bag, or flashlight. Not sure why this one is posing in this manner, it certainly did not like a couple of Yellow-legs being too close. Perhaps there was a male Snipe around, but it is doubtful breeding season is still in full swing. Anyway, the pose is interesting and certainly more so than the bird just standing there. So, the next time you are instructing someone in Snipe hunting, at least you can describe what the bird looks like.