Pic of the Day

Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammoramus savannarum

Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station 

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500 f/4, 1/1000 sec. @ f/9

House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus

Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station

Hazel Green, Alabama

     I was out at the A&M Farm this morning at 7:30 hoping to see some activity, but much to my surprise there was not a lot moving until about 9:00.  Once things got going the Grass Hopper Sparrows, and Dickcissels were pouring their hearts out in song.  While the sparrows and dickcissels were singing, the few House Finches I saw were busy eating grass seeds.  I photographed this finch along the fence line at the east end of the farm.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1000 second @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Dickcissel, Spiza Americana;

Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station:

Hazel Green, AL.  USA

     Yesterday morning I took a drive out to Alabama A&M’s Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station just south of Hazel Green, Alabama to see if I could find some birds to photograph.  Fortunately there were lots of birds.  Dickcissels, pictured here, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Grasshopper Sparrows, Eastern Meadowlarks, Blue birds, and Tree Swallows were everywhere.  This was only my third trip to the research station, and my first early morning trip.  I was quite happy with the photos and will make another jaunt to this avian paradise very soon.  Hope you enjoy the photo.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, Exposure 1/1000^th second @ f/7.1