“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I took this last Saturday while up north at the Sandhill Crane Festival.
The high winds didn’t seem to bother him while he hunted for food, but it did ruffle his feathers.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-400mm G| Hand-held
Lodi CA, Birding; In the Wild; Common Snipe
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I’ve been looking forward to this week-end for a month. It’s that time of year when the Sandhill Cranes return for the Winter Migration. A friend of mine (Judi) has been posting Sandhill Cranes from Merced Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Flyway this past week which really excited me. She reported that they were less skittish, and were a bit closer to the “Auto-Route” we take to see them. I’ve been wanting a really good close up of a Sandhill Crane for years. This report gave me hope that this might be my year.
Yesterday, my friend Rainey and I went over to the Refuge and had a wonderful time. We called Judi and met her at the Refuge. We were not disappointed. The weather was California perfect; sunny, warm, and with a slight breeze. The Cranes were closer than I’d ever seen them.
They are so beautiful with their Red Heart shaped face, and wonderful plumage.
We drove the “Auto-route” several times in the late morning and early afternoon.
We even saw a family group with a juvenile. It’s the little one in front without a red face.
Then we went to lunch at an” old-time” family drive-in Burger Joint called H&M in Merced. They say they’re famous for their seasoned fries which are delicious, but their Guacamole Burger is just as good. The Avocado Burger is my next favorite burger on the menu. After a diet busting lunch we went back to the Refuge for another drive around before heading home.
On this last trip around the refuge we saw groups of Sandhill Cranes flying in for the night.
Today, Rainey, Dali, and I went up north to Lodi to the Sandhill Crane Festival and found the weather completely different from yesterday. Overnight our warm Indian Summer changed to Fall; it was cold, and so windy the top soil was blowing so thick visibility was only 10-20 feet! We didn’t see too many Cranes and those we saw were pretty far back in the fields near the Levees or in the taller rows of mowed corn for protection.
We did see other birds of note: a Belted Kingfisher ( still my nemesis I’m afraid), Dali got the Kingfisher shot today. We also saw Lesser Sandpipers, and a Snipe shown below so, the day wasn’t a total loss.
It was a great birding week-end with friends. I’m looking forward to going back to both Wildlife Refuges this winter.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm G
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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
This chapel was just behind our Inn in Jackson, WY. On the last evening I was in Jackson, WY we turned onto the back street to our hotel, and the I saw the church had its lights on, and thought it was so pretty in the twilight that as soon as I got out of the bus I went to photograph it.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@ 25mm| 15 seconds| f3.5| ISO 200| Tripod| Matrix Metering| Manual Priority
Moulton Barn-Mormon Row Grand Tetons National Park, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
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Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
This place has been on my bucket list since I first passed through here back in the early 1980’s. We didn’t spend any time in the park on that trip and I’ve regretted it since. This barn has been photographed a million times I’m sure, but I had to have my turn.
This was one of the first places my group visited while in the Grand Tetons. We arrived just at sunrise and already there was quite a crowd of people here.
There wasn’t much color pre-sunrise, but once the sun crested the mountains behind me and lit up the Tetons, and the barn it made getting up early and traveling 45 minutes well worth it. I really hope I get another opportunity to return to this area.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 17-35@ 25mm| f10| 1/30s| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Tripod
Grand Tetons National Park, Mormon Row, Travel and tourism, Nikon Photographer
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
This is my first Bushtit capture. These little birds usually stay deep in the branches and are quite flitty. This morning while birding with Rainey and Dali we saw quite a few on two bushes so, I hung out hoping I’d be quick enough to capture a photo of one if it happened to venture out onto an exposed branch.
This was a great morning. Birds of note that we saw are a Merlin having breakfast, Thompson Warblers, Vireos, Hummingbirds, Ruddy Ducks, Acorn Woodpeckers, a few Cedar Waxwings, and the Mandarin Duck.
Note: This was shot at a very high ISO 1250 to stop action and blur so there is quite a bit of noise even after using a noise reduction tool. I’d rather have noise than a blurry photo. I delete the blurry ones.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f/4
Copyright © 2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Taken last week-end while looking for Cedar Waxwings. He was a delightful pause along the journey.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f4 @ f5.6| 1/1000s| ISO 800| Manual Priority|
Copyright ©2013 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
When I got married way back in the early 80’s my name changed to Zajac. It’s Polish and means White Rabbit, or Little Rabbit depending on which Eastern European you’re talking to. 🙂 I’ve named our house Rabbit Hollow. In Polish my last name is pronounced Zi-onsh.
I’ve never really felt the name is me, but He-Man, and my children are Zajac’s, and I’m honored to be bonded with them for the rest of my life. I’ve often wondered if other married women feel this way? You know, my daughter will always be a Zajac to me no matter what.
I took this photo last week-end while out birding looking for Cedar Waxwings. It’s thought this rabbit was a pet set free. People have been seen feeding it I’m told.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 300mm f/4
Circadianreflections Blog 
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