Pic of the Day

American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos:  Viera Wetlands; Viera, Florida

     The American White Pelican is a large bird.  It can reach a weight of 19.8 pounds, and reach 5 feet, 3inches in length with a wingspan of 9 ½ feet.  This bird was photographed landing in a water impoundment at the Viera Wetland, near Viera, Florida.  White pelicans are common birds during the winter and early spring at Viera, but come late March they begin winging toward the Northwest to nesting grounds in Utah, Wyoming, California and wetlands further north.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/2500 second @ f6.3

Pic of the Day

Snowy Egret, Egretta thula:  Saint Augustine Alligator Farm; 

Saint Augustine, Florida

     Aigrette, a plume of feathers, an ornamental tuft of upright plumes, brush; all apt descriptions of the graceful plume feathers of egrets and some herons in their breeding dress.  

     This photo shows a male Snowy Egret with it aigrette feathers raised in nuptial display.  The demand for these delicate aigrette plumes in the millinery trade was the reason that these beautiful birds were driven to near extinction at the turn of the last century. 

     The mass killing of egrets for the millinery trade was also the catalyst that initiated the formation of the Audubon Society.  Its members were instrumental in passing the Lacey Act (1900), which ended the use of birds and feathers in the millinery trade.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, 1/1250 @ f7.1

Pic of the Day

Gila Woodpecker, Melanerpes uropygialis:

Gilbert Water Ranch; Gilbert, Arizona

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/640 sec. @ f9

Pic of the Day

Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda:

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve; Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4 with 1.4 teleconverter, 1/200 second @ f6.3

Pic of the Day

Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris: Benton Lake NWR; Great Falls, Montana

     I took so many photos of this Marsh Wren I just had to post a few more.  In a previous post (see June 18, 2014), I had an image of the wren plucking the downy cattail fibers from the stalk.  Here, the wren alighted on the stalk and the wind blew some of the loose fibers off the stalk.  I love the feel of this image with the fibers blowing in the wind.

Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris

     One thing a male Marsh Wren loves to do is sing his territorial song; and in this shot the wren landed on the stalk and began to sing.  I was happy to get a shot as the wren turned his head to me as he sang.  On all the profile shots I have taken of singing birds, I have never been able to get the wrens tongue. With this shot I could have done a tonsillectomy!

Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris

     This last image shows a pose that I really love to see when I am photographing this noisy little bird.  I shot the image just after it had delivered a load of cattail down to its nest.  After every delivery it seemed to fly to a specific perch, sing, and then hop to this perch with one foot on one reed, and the other foot on another.  Most of the time the wren would move to this spot, sing a few notes, then quickly move on.  When I got this shot the little wren flew to the spot, got in this classic pose and sang for about five seconds, turning its head all the while, giving me a chance to get this image.

Top:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1250 sec. @ 7.1

Center:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1600 sec. @ 7.1

Bottom:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/800 sec. @ 7.1

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta Carolinensis:
Horsecove; Gurley, Alabama

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4,  1/60 second @ f8

Pic of the Day

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus:

Horsecove; Gurley, Alabama

     I had a good afternoon in the blind today, and finally got a male Red-bellied Woodpecker that I am happy with.  I also shot the female red-bellied, male and female downy, pine warbler, chickadee and white-breasted nuthatch.  As far as this image, I love the pose, as it show the bird's striped back and the red-tinged cheek feathers.  If you like this image, and others on the blog, please send a link to your friends.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/60 second @ f7.1, ISO 800, Natural Light

Pic of the Day

White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis:
Horsecove; Gurley, Alabama

     While I was photographing Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers over the past few days this White-breasted Nuthatch flew in numerous times.  Usually nuthatches spiral down from the top of a tree to bottom, pointing downward as they hitch down the tree.  That was the image I wanted, an upside down nuthatch.  But this nuthatch was totally uncooperative.  Perhaps in time I’ll get the image I want, but until then I hope you enjoy this shot.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/60 second @ f7.1