CBS Sunday Morning segment

CBS Sunday Morning, March 21, 2021

'The Return of "Extinct" Species'

Here are links to the (Ivory-billed Woodpecker) segment on CBS Sunday Morning. The piece features my good friend Tim Gallagher and myself. The piece was filmed in February 2020.

https://youtu.be/-17TIVjVuTY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-17TIVjVuTY

7:47The return of "extinct" speciesYouTube · CBS Sunday Morning1 week ago

Pic of the Day

Louisiana Waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla

Horse cove; Madison County, Alabama

    These beautiful warblers, a member oft family Parulidae, nest around my home in North Alabama.  I constantly see them along the creek bed, but some times they fly up the hill to the house and glean around my feeders.  With a dense population nesting along the creek, their beautiful song is a constant reminder of their presence.  I was so fortunate to get this shot, because they are usually hidden in the darkest parts of the forest.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/5
1/200 sec. @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Eastern Wood Pewee, Contopus Virens

Horse Cove; Madison County, Alabama

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/60 sec. @ f/7.1: ISO 1250

Pic of the Day

Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas

Marshall County, Alabama; USA

just North of Guntersville Dam

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/320 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Yellow-breasted Cha, Icteria virens

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

    The Yellow-breasted Chat is our largest warbler at 7.2 inches in length.  It is larger than other warblers, and has a repertoire of songs that sound more like the Mockingbird.  It also has anatomical differences from New World warblers.
     While traditionally  it has always been classed with the New World warblers, it is not a Parulidae.  In 2017 the American Ornithological Society move it to its own family, the Icteridae, of which it is the only member.  The question is.  Is the Yellow-breasted Chat a warbler?  The bottom line, ornithologist really don't know.
     For me, it goes on my trip list as a warbler.  The biggest of all the warblers!

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4
1/250 sec. @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

     While photographing a Prairie Warbler a week ago or so, this fellow alighted right beside me, allowing me to grab a couple of shots.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/640 sec. @ f/11

Pic of the Day

Indigo Bunting, Passerina Cyanea

Marshall County, AL

just north of Guntersville Dam

When the blue of the day, meets the gold of the evening light.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/320 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea

Marshall County, Alabama; USA

Just North of Guntersville Dam

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/250 sec. @ f/10, ISO1250

Pic of the Day

Prairie Warbler, Setophaga discolor

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

Another Prairie Warbler, and my favorite pose thus far from last weekends shoot.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm  f/4

1/200 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerine

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

     I was back in Marshall County, just north of Guntersville Dam chasing down a singing Chipping Sparrow yesterday.  I did not get a photo of this little fellow singing, but did a brief burst of images as it land on a branch in front of me.  I’m very happy to have gotten a few shots of this fellow.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/200 sec. @ f/13

Pic of the Day

Prairie Warbler, Setophaga discolor

Marshall Co., Alabama

Prairie Warbler singing his hear out in Marshall County, Alabama last weekend.  This image was taken just north of Guntersville Dam.  Prairie Warblers nest here in North Alabama, but it has been years since I have seen one.  This bird was not shy at all, and seemed to be responding to the songs of Indigo Buntings,  and Blue Grosbeaks that were singing nearby.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/320 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea; Marshall County, AL; USA, Near Guntersville Dam

    I found this Indigo Bunting  along the tree line at the edge of a field this afternoon.  Thought not in prime breeding plumage it gave me the opportunity to shoot lots of images.  this is my favorite of the day.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/t

1/250 sec @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Sanderling, Calidris alba

   I captured this sanderling, Calidris albaworking the ebbing waves for morsels to fuel its journey North. This was photographed at the causeway to Merritt Island on March 1, 2020.  That seems like an eternity ago.  I had plans to return to Merritt Island this week.  We all know that those plans are the only thing going South.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4,  1/4000 sec. @ f/10

Merritt Island, Florida; USA

Pic of the Day

Black-throated Blue Warbler, female; Setophaga caerulescens: Magee Marsh, Ohio

     This female Black-throated Blue Warbler was photographed from the boardwalk at Magee Marsh, Ohio last spring.  Magee is one of my favorite locations to photograph warblers and other neotropical migrant.  Though, it is not even Thanksgiving I am looking forward to spring and the wonderful birds that will once again wing north.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4
1/250 second @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea

Magee Marsh, Ohio; May 2019

Pic of the Day

Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerine; Magee Marsh Bird Center, Ohio

     I just finished watching a great DVD called, Watching Sparrows, by Michael Male and Judy Fieth.  Can't wait to get out and photograph some more sparrows.  They are spectacular birds.  Here is a Chipping Sparrow from Magee Marsh.  I photographed this bird from the parking lot at the Magee Marsh Bird Center.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/250 second @ f/7.1; using my van as a blind

Magee Marsh

 Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga Kirtlandii:  Magee Marsh, Estuary Trail

Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanet:  Magee Marsh, Estuary Trail

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila cerulean:  Magee Marsh, Magee Marsh Bird Center

      I spent ten days at Magee Marsh earlier this Month photographing spring migrants.  This was not the best year for Magee migrants, but I was able to get a few good images.  Northeasterly winds hindered migration, and most days were cold and rainy. While birds were less numerous I did see 114 different species, about ten less than last year, but I did get a Kirtland’s Warbler!

Kirtland's Warbler - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/320 second @ f/7.1

Bay-breasted Warbler - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/800 second @ f/7.1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/400 @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

Great Egret, Area alba

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm

Saint Augustine, FL

     The Chase is On!  This photo was captured after a Great Egret landed near another who was displeased by the approach.  A chase ensued leaving the interloper looking for a new perch.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4 lens, 1/3200 second @ f/10

Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia

Cape Coral, Florida, USA

     This image was taken earlier this week while visiting Cape Coral, Florida. Burrowing Owls are one of my favorite birds to photograph and Cape Coral has many different sites to shoot. This year I saw more active burrows than I have seen in many years. Cape Coral is growing rapidly, but hopefully these owls will continue maintain their population.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1600 second @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Green-backed Heron, Butorides virescens

      Over New Years I was at Merritt Island NWR.  I arrived on the refuge before sunrise and drove along Black Point Wildlife Drive looking for birds to photograph.  I found this Green-backed Heron perched on a shrub.  With the sun still below the horizon I increased the ISO on my camera to 3200.  This allowed me to increase my shutter speed to 1/250 of a second.  As I photographed the heron it turned its head, raised its crest, and stretched its neck into a perfect pose.  A wonderful start to the day.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/250 second @ f/8, ISO 3200