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

Recently Published Work

     It has been quite sometime since I posted my latest publications.  So here, in one post I am posting my autumn and winter articles and photographs.  If you are interested in subscribing to Living Bird, and, or Creation Illustrated go to the following websites: Living Bird http://www.allaboutbirds.org/page.aspx?pid=1085, Creation Illustrated http://www.creationillustrated.com

Living Bird Magazine, Winter 2014

Creation Illustrated, Winter 2014

Living Bird Magazine,  Autumn 2013

Living Bird Magazine, Autumn 2013; Backcover

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

Pic of the Day

Broad-billed Hummingbird shot at the Santa Rita Lodge; Madera Canyon, Arizona.

Pic of the Day

Cerulean Warbler, Dendrooca cerulean;  Magee Marsh, Ohio

     When this Cerulean Warbler arrived on the boardwalk at Magee Marsh he caused quite a stir.  Hundreds of birders crowded together to get a look at this fellow who had winged his way from northern South America. 

     Magee Marsh is near the northern end of its breeding range, while here in North Alabama we are at the southern end of the its breeding range.  During the summer I often see Cerulean Warblers at my bird feeders where they are most likely gleaning insects.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/250 Second @ f5.6, ISO 800

Pic of the Day

Roseate Spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja:  Celery Fields; Sarasota, Floirda

     I was at the Celery Fields in Sarasota, Florida, and just about to call it quits after taking a series of flight shots of a Great Egret (see post for March 9, 2013) when I saw a Roseate Spoonbill winging toward me.  Fortunately I had not yet removed my camera from the tripod and was able to swing the lens onto the spoonbill and shoot a few shots before it was out of range.  Though this ended up being my last shot at the Celery Fields, I kept my big lens mounted on the tripod until I got back to my van.  When out-and-about in nature, you never know what will happen next.   

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, Exposure 1/2,500 second @ f8

Pic of the Day

American Coot, Fulica americana – Viera Wetlands; Viera, Florida

     One of the most common water birds on the continent is the American Coot.  During winter coots congregate in large rafts of hundreds, and even thousands of birds.  On the last day of 2012 I was at the Viera Wetlands where the various water impoundments held numerous rafts of coots.  While I was photographing hooded mergansers, this coot swam away from a raft of a few hundred birds giving me the opportunity to shoot an individual portrait. 

     Coots are often overlooked by photographers because they are so common, and not the most handsome of our birds.  But, I enjoy photographing all birds as long as I have a willing subject and great light.  This coot was both willing and in good light, and with that dark red eye I think he’s a quite dapper fellow!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4,  1/640 @ f7.1, Tripod

     Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides – Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado:  Going through my files I found this mountain bluebird that I shot on Moraine Park road.  The Moraine Valley is one of my favorite spots in Rocky Mountain NP.  I can always count on seeing mountain bluebirds, swallows, nuthatches and magpies along the road to the campground.  Hiking through the adjacent woodlands and meadows I found this bluebird and its mate gleaning insects from recently dead pines.

     This is one of many images I shot as the birds foraged.  What drew me to the image was the clean background, simplistic line of the branch and the complementary colors of the out of focus yellow flowers at the bottom of the frame, and the blue bird.  I took lots of images that morning and this one is among my favorites.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm, 1/250 @ f6.3