“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Killdeer-
The Killdeer is a year round resident in California, and gets its name from the shrill, wailing kill-deer call it makes. I love their big eyes.
Happy Earth Day!
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015|
More to come…
Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
When I was setting up my rig a few weeks ago in Santa Cruz to photograph Hummingbirds a California Quail jumped up on an old weathered post not too far from me surrounded by lovely flowers. I moved pretty quick to finish setting up my tripod w/Sidekick and mounting my camera hoping it would stick around!
“You lookin’ at me?”…
A little Morning Stretch…
Seeing and photographing this Quail first thing in the morning made my day. They’re so quick, and skittish that I’ve only been able to get a few good images of any. The rest of the images I made this day were icing on the cake.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015
Wishing you all a great week-end!
More to come…
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I went over to Santa Cruz on Saturday while we had a break between rain showers to photograph Allen’s, and Anna’s Hummingbirds. It was a lovely day in the Arboretum.
There were very few people there since the weather wasn’t ideal. While I was waiting for a male Allen’s Hummingbird to return to a favored perch I looked behind me and saw a lovely female Anna’s darting around the Ericaceae plants which is a succulent plant.
Here’s a series of 3 images that shows her approach to the plant, feeding, then resting on a perch.
I love the fresh Spring color palette in this series, and this pretty little Hummingbird.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Tripod w/ Wimberley SideKick| Lexar Professional Digial Film| PS CC 2015
More to come…
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I made this image with the rental Nikon 200-500mm VR lens the morning after I rented it.
I saw this Great Egret out in the pond within the range of the lens so I walked out to the edge of the pond to photograph it. I initially set up in landscape orientation then I zoomed out to 500mm, and only had its head and half its neck in the frame! “Oh no, that won’t do!” I thought. I switched to portrait orientation, which fit the whole Egret in the frame, but only half the reflection, and I wanted to get the reflection because it was very clear, and the blue sky and water were gorgeous on this morning. Next I started pulling my zoom in…400mm, nope, 300mm, nope, 200mm, not quite. I had to back up to get the whole reflection in, and stay at 200mm. This image isn’t cropped at all. So, began my learning curve with this lens.
After that week-end I liked the lens so well I bought one, and have been using it a lot. I’m on the down side of the learning curve now. 🙂
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR hired unit| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital film| PS CC 2015
More to come…
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
They’re mine! All mine!
It was a great morning for this American Robin, and for me too. It was a lot of fun
seeing him on this branch so full of berries.
American Robin-Male San Mateo County, CA
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015
More to come…
Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I don’t see these guys very often so I was thrilled when I spotted one singing a couple of weeks back.
I carefully and quietly walked closer to it trying to get a closer image, but I spooked it, and even though I waited and waited it didn’t come back.
This image is cropped in a bit.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Digital Film| Tripod| Wimberley SideKick| PS CC 2015
More to come…
Copyright © 2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This has been a fantastic birding season so far! The Vermilion Flycatcher, the Red-tailed Hawk with its prey, the elusive Loggerhead Shrike, the Bald Head Eagle I didn’t get a photo of, the pair of Ring necked Pheasants, and the sweet Hermit Thrush on my fence all were amazing, and exciting sightings, but in Winter is there anything better than a Harbinger of Spring?
I heard Cedar Waxwings were showing up, a sure sign that Spring is on the way! I’ve had Robins in the Ginko tree out in the front yard, and in back yard lately so, I’ve been looking for the Waxwings because, they usually arrive with the Robins, and last year there was a flock of Waxwings in the Ginko trees a few houses away from me. That was a first for me. You can read about that here
Last week-end my birding friend and I stayed local and found some!
Soon they were taking turns flying down to the bush with luscious, ripe red berries beneath this tree.
… and one was shy,
I spent some time photographing the Robins that also were there to feed on the same berries, but I’ll save those images for another post.
I’m off to Yosemite National Park today to photograph something other than birds, and my son and his girl-friend are arriving early Saturday morning for the week-end. It promises to be a stellar week-end!
I’ll catch up with all your posts when I return. I hope you all have a wonderful week-end!
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015
More to come…
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