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Flag of Bolivia; 134th

Flag of Mauritius; 135 

     I would like to welcome viewers from Bolivia and Mauritius.  Bolivia and Mauritius are the 134^th and 135^th countries from which viewers have logged onto Bobby’s Photo Blog.  Thanks for checking out my blog and log on often.  Bobby

Pic of the Day

Long-billed Curlew, Numenius americanus:

Bear River Bird Migratory Bird Sanctuary; Brigham, Utah 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, 1/2000 sec. @ f8, hand-held panning with subject.

Pic of the Day

American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana:  Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Utah 

    This group of American avocets was loafing near the west side of the autoloop at the Bear River Bird Sanctuary, preening feathers and stretching.  The sun was low on the horizon bathing the birds in a beautiful warm light intensifying the avocet’s rusty colored head and neck.

     I shot numerous images of the birds, but they were constantly moving.  When seven of the birds had their heads up, one would have its head tucked under a wing.  Shot after shot, at least one of the bird’s head was hidden, or turned away from the camera.  Finally, after what seemed forever, the image came together as the birds formed a pleasing composition with a mixture of birds facing right and left.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500 f4,  1/640^th second @ f13

Pic of the Day

Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris: Ouray National Wildlife Refuge

   On my trip west this year I stopped at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Utah.  Ouray is quite out of the way, but well worth the effort to reach.  Ouray, like most wildlife refuges were created to host wintering and migrating waterfowl, but many species migrate through and nest on the refuge.

     I shot this marsh wren in early June.  Spring arrived a little late in Utah this year, and this fellow was just beginning to nest.  He proudly flew among his favorite perches singing his territorial song.  I parked my van near one of the marsh wren’s perches which allowed me to get these shots as he sang his heart out. 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500 f4

Top image:  1/1250th second @ f7.1

Bottom image:  1/1600th Second @ f7.1

Pic of the Day

Gila Woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis:  Gilbert Water Ranch; Gilbert, Arizona

     This Gila Woodpecker was nesting in a giant Saguaro cactus at the Gilbert Water Ranch in Arizona.  The nest was only ten feet off the ground and provided a great opportunity for photography.  I took photos of the male and female as they brought insects, grubs and Saguaro fruit to their young that were nestled inside the nest cavity.

     After taking shots of the birds at the cavity I tried to get some shots as the woodpecker flew to the nest.  I wanted a shot with wings out stretched, and feet reaching out toward the cactus; I wanted the bird in midair.  After a few test shots I upped the ISO to 800 in order to obtain a 1/3200th of a second shutter speed. I could not believe how fast woodpeckers flew as they zipped toward their nest. 

     Standing in the hot sun I shot exposure after exposure trying to catch the wings in just the right position.  No exposure looked right and I was constantly telling myself as the heat intensified, just one more shot to get the wings right.  Again the bird flew to the nest cavity.  I shot a burst of frames, looked at the images and would say to myself, just one more shot.  Soon the woodpecker returned to the cavity and I would get another shot, look at the image and tell myself, just one more shot.

     As the sun climbed, I became hotter and thirstier.  I had finished my bottle of water earlier in the morning and I was so dry I felt like a cowboy from a 1950’s western crossing a desert, dying of thirst.  Standing behind my camera the sun beat down on me with penetrating intensity.  I began to squirm where I was standing, feeling a bit dazed, thinking about the cold bottle of water awaiting me in my van.  But I wanted just one more chance to get the image of the Gila Woodpecker just right. I had come close in previous shots, but close was not what I wanted. 

     Out of the corner of my eye I saw the male Gila fly to the staging perch it had been using all morning.  After perching at the staging point for a few seconds it flew to the nest hole.  I shot a burst of images as the bird took flight, hoping that I had captured the image I wanted so that I would get out of the heat.  I took a quick look at the images and found the shot I sought.  Zooming in on the frame, it looked sharp.  What a relief, I picked-up my camera and tripod then headed to my van for that ice cold bottle of water.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/3,200 second @ f6.3, ISO 800

Pic of the Day

Pygmy Nuthatch 

Pygmy Nuthatch 

Pygmy Nuthatch  

Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea:  Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado:

     At only 4 ¼ inches long the pygmy nuthatch is the smallest of the nuthatch clan and a bird I was hoping to photograph while in Rocky Mountain National Park this spring.  One of the locations I had seen the bird in the past, was along the drive to the Moraine Valley campground.  This year I returned to Moraine Valley and spent some time looking for the nuthatches.  

     It only took about five minutes to find a nuthatch after scoping the surrounding ponderosa pines.  The bird I saw through my binoculars had a grub in its beak and flew to a dead ponderosa pine snag.  In a flash I was heading up the hill toward the nest tree.  When I arrived I found the nest only fifteen feet off the ground.  With camera at the ready I sat on a nearby rock and let the birds get accustomed to my presence.  Upset with my presence at first, both the male and female continued to bring grubs to their young.  After watching the birds for a while I was able to determine their favorite perches, this allowed me to approach the birds and get the images I wanted.

     Pygmy nuthatches are social birds and often a nesting pair has helpers; offspring from previous nesting seasons help raise the young.  At this nest I saw only the two adults.  If there were helpers, for the pair I was photographing, they did not show themselves that morning.   Pygmy nuthatches also roost in groups.  There are records of up to 100 nuthatches roosting in a single cavity.  No records exist of pygmy nuthatches roosting alone.

     Pygmy nuthatches eat insects and seeds.  The pair I saw was busily gleaning insects from the trunks of pines, and pine needle clusters at the end of the branches.  While foraging the birds seldom stood still.  The photos I took were of birds constantly on the move.  They were always hopping and climbing from limb to limb, and it was difficult to keep the nuthatches in my camera frame.  Photographing pygmy nuthatches was a real challenge, but one I enjoyed immensely!

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4