Pic of the Day

     Kirtland’s Warbler -- Grayling, Michigan:  When I was at Magee Marsh in May I saw and photographed a Kirtland’s Warbler.  This was not the first time I had seen the bird; back in 1979 my wife and I drove to Grayling to see the Kirkland’s on its nesting grounds.  We saw many birds, especially males singing on their territory.  The birds were easy to see, but a little too far away for good photographs. 
     Over the years I have made a number of trips to Grayling and Mio to photograph the Kirkland’s; spending many mornings on the warbler tours trying to get good images.  With each trip I saw many birds, but was never happy with the images.  Birds were always too far away for good images.

     On June 3, I was on another tour.  There were three of us, plus the guide the morning started out great.  No sooner had we hit the trail into the jack pines a male Kirtland’s pop-up on a limb and began sing.  The day was young and the sun was still behind the clouds on the horizon.  The light was dull, but I shot a few images, I wanted more….what photographer doesn’t!

     As we walked along the path Kirtland’s were singing all around us, but they are all to distance photograph.  We walked half a mile, and the sun had broken through the clouds, but no luck with any birds close enough for photography.

     As we headed back our guide stopped where we had heard a male singing earlier.  She said, “we should wait here a while, this birds territory is on both sides of the tail.”  As we stood listening to the bird, we glimpsed a female moving through the lower level of the jack pines.  A moment later the male followed in her path, then climbed to the top of a small jack pine and began singing.  Within minutes the male flew past, almost hitting me, then it landed in a leafless willow a dozen feet in front of me.  Alighting in the willow the Kirtland’s climbed upward and began singing its territorial song.  In full sunlight the bird put on quite a show as I shot frame after frame.  The turn of events was very pleasing!

    As I continued my walk out of the jack pines two more males put on a show.  I posted those images soon after they were taken.  Click here to see the previous Kirtland’s post: http://bobbyharrison.blogspot.com/search?q=Kirtland%27s+Warbler

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/2,000sec. @ f5 

Pic of the Day

     Common Yellowthroat Warbler – Magee Marsh, Ohio:  Another one of the many warblers I saw along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh.  As mentioned in a previous post, the birds at Magee are fearless, often moving so close that I had to back-up to get a shot.  Although this image is cropped, the bird was within the minimum focus distance of my lens requiring the use of extension tubes to get this close-up. 

I love shooting the warblers, and I am already looking forward to next spring!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8VR - with extension tubes, 1/80sec. @ f5.6

Pic of the Day

     Angry Birds,  

now they haunt me in real life as well!

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

Pic of the Day

     Least Bittern – Viera Wetlands; Viera, Florida:  While at the alligator farm at Saint Augustine I made a quick trip to Viera to check for least bitterns.  I searched all afternoon with no success.  It was not until about thirty minutes before sunset that I saw a least bittern flying across the top of a patch of reeds.  Watching where the bittern disappeared I set out to search for the bird.  Within a few minutes this bittern came to the edge of the reed bed and presented itself to be photographed.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/100sec. @ f13

Pic of the Day

Before

After

     Least Bittern – Wakodahatchee Wetlands; Palm Beach, Florida:  If I had to make a list of  birds that are the most challenging to photograph, the least bittern would be near the top.  Bitterns are secretive birds and are most often seen in the breeding season when they are busy chasing each other through their weedy habitat.   I have spent hours looking for bitterns; slowly driving along drainage canals and pond edges looking for the slightest movement that might give up this master of disguise.  Their delicately streaked feathers provide the perfect camouflage among their golden marsh reed habitat.  On occasion I do find them; and when I do, I savor the opportunity to shoot.

     Finding bitterns is one thing; finding them in a good location for shooting is another.  I found this least bittern while walking the boardwalks of the Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Palm Beach. Florida.  The day was late and the sun was inching toward the horizon.  As the sun dropped this bittern came out of hiding to hunt among the lily pads that sheltered small fry.   I immediately took advantage of the situation and began shooting.  As the bittern slowly tread across the lily pads it would pluck a small fry from the water.  With each stab I shot a burst of frames.  These two images captures the essence of the hunt.  As the bird stalked it would stretch its head forward, slowly turning it left and then right to gauge the distance of the prey.  Then, with lighting speed the bitters thrust forward. Before the eye can realize what has happened, the head springs back to the body with a fish in its beak.  In less than a second the small fry is gone and the routine begins again as I continue to shoot beyond what the light will allow.  I savor each moment with each frame shot and  look forward to the next hunt for the least bittern.

Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4,  1/320 second @ f7.1, Arca Swiss Ball Head on Gitzo Tripod