Pic of the Day

Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolored:

Black Point Wildlife Drive; Merritt Island NWR near Titusville, Florida

     The Tricolored Heron is one of those birds whose name has changed many times over the last century or more.  When I started birding as a very young man, it was called the Louisiana Heron.  I like "Louisiana Heron" much better than Tricolored, but my favorite name was Audubon's Heron, and still like to use that name today.  I also think that this is one of most beautiful herons.  In its breeding plumage of blue, white, and purple it is a magnificent site to see, especially when displaying. 

     I shot this image at the same location that I shot the Snowy Egret that I posted on November 24.  The dark water made a perfect back ground for this fellow dressed in his finest winter plumes.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/2500 second @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Roseate Spoonbills, Platalea ajaja:

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge near Titusville, Florida

is a wonderful location to photograph birds.  It seems that over the last few years photography opportunities have become better and better with each trip.  Last week's excursion was quite exceptional with a plethora of birds.

      These Roseate Spoonbills photographed along Black Point Wildlife Drive, were shot as the sun was just above the horizon.  The golden light of the rising sun bathed the landscape with an intense warm light creating a scene of peace, and tranquility. This is life at its best!

Nikon D800, Nikkor 80-400mm f/3.5-5.6, 1/500 second @ f/11

Pic of the Day

Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus:  Bonaventure Island; Quebec, Canada

     Bonaventure Island lies just east of the Gaspe’ peninsula just a few miles off the coast of Perce’.  The island is one of the world’s largest gannet nesting colony, and one of my favorite photography destinations. 

     I photographed this pair of birds on their nest.  When the male returns to the nest the two birds point their beaks skyward and rub their beaks together as part of the bonding process.  More than 55,000 pairs of birds nest on Bonaventure, so this scene is fairly common to see.  A gannet colony is a remarkable thing to see and experience.  The noise is deafening, and the smell, well, not too pleasant, but the experience is extraordinary.

To see an earlier post on Bonaventure Islands and its gannets, click this link:  http://bobbyharrison.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html  ,and scroll down to the July 14, 2010 post

Pic of the Day

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus (female);Horsecove; Gurley, Alabama

     I caught this guy in my backyard this afternoon.  I have been shooting the female for a couple of days and finally got the male this afternoon.  I'll post those images as soon as I get them processed.  I have also got shots of male and female Downy Woodpeckers as well.  More to follow!

Just a note:  Notice the red tinged feathers on the belly between the birds feet.  This where the Red-bellied Woodpecker gets its name.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4,  Exposure 1/80 sec. @ f7.1

Pic of the Day

     Western Grebe, (Aechmophorus occidentalis) – Bear River Migratory Bird Sanctuary; Brigham, Utah:  The Clark's Grebe (previous post) and Western Grebe were once thought to be the same species.  It is easy to see why there was such confusion, as both birds do look very much alike, and they are often found together on western marshes.  The Clark’s was separated from the Western Grebe in the 1980’s.

     From the time they are hatched until they are almost full-grown, grebe chicks ride on the backs of their parents.  I found this chick hitching a ride on one parent as the other fished, and occasional fed the hitchhiker.  After shooting for a while, I was able to capture these intimate moments between the chick and its parent. 

Top Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,250 sec. @ f6.3

Bottom Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,600 sec. @ f7.1