Birds of North America – Page 11 – Circadianreflections Blog

Violet-Green Swallow Pen & Wash

March 17, 2016March 17, 2016Posted in Bird Art, Birds, Birds of North America, Pen & Wash Watercolor, Photography, Watercolor, Watercolor PaintingTagged Bird Art, Birds of North America, Green, Line and Wash, Pen & Wash, Photography, St Patrick's Day, Violet-green Swallow, Watercolor28 Comments

I don’t normally post twice in a day, but as it’s St. Patrick’s Day I thought I’d post something Green in honor of it.

Watercolor Line and Wash Violet-Green Swallow

I painted this with Turner Artists Watercolor paints, on Canson 140 lb Cold Press Fine

Grain paper. I used my 12 round Mimik Kolinsky, #8 round Robert Simmons Sapphire, and #6 rd Winson & Newton Kolinsky Sable brushes, and Pigma Micron 03, 05, and 01 pens.

My reference image is one of my own which I made in the Spring of 2014. You can see the reference image here.

I hope you all have a great St. Paddy’s Day!

Panasonic Lumix FZ200| Lexar Professional Digital Film| Hand-held in natural light| PS CC 2015

More to come…

Anna’s Hummingbird-Female

March 14, 2016March 14, 2016Posted in Anna's Hummingbird, Bird Photography, birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Hummingbirds, Nikon, Photography, Santa Cruz CaliforniaTagged Annas Hummingbird, Bird Photography, Birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Hummingbirds, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Santa Cruz California37 Comments

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.

Anna's Hummingbird Female Approaching flowers

Anna's Hummingbird Female Feeding

Anna's Hummingbird Female perched on a branch

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…

Great Egret Reflected

March 11, 2016March 11, 2016Posted in Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Coastal Birds, Great Egret, Nikon, Photography, Santa Clara County BirdingTagged Bird Photography, Birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Great Egret, Nikon, Santa Clara County38 Comments

Great Egret Reflected

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…

Oh joy, oh bliss…

March 7, 2016March 7, 2016Posted in American Robin, Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Photography, WinterTagged American Robin, American Robin Male, Berrries, Bird Photography, Birding, Birds Feeding, Birds of North America, California, San Mateo County21 Comments

They’re mine! All mine!

Mine, Mine, Mine! They're 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…

California Thrasher

March 6, 2016March 6, 2016Posted in Bird Photography, birding, Birds, Birds of North America, Photography, Santa Cruz CaliforniaTagged Bird Photography, Birding, Birds in the Wild, California Thrasher, Nature, Santa Cruz County, Toxostama redivivum12 Comments

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.

More to come…

Allen’s Hummingbird-Male

February 29, 2016February 29, 2016Posted in Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Hummingbirds, PhotographyTagged Allen's Hummingbirds, Bird Photography, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Boken, Hummingbirds, Nikon, Nikon 200-500mm, Photography32 Comments

A friend and I went over the hill yesterday to photograph Allen’s Hummingbirds.

“Over-the-Hill”, is how we long time locals say we’re going to Santa Cruz, CA. We have to go up and over the Santa Cruz mountains to get there. They are mountains not hills, but I learned this phrase as a girl and use it to this day. You know how that is I’m sure. 🙂

Anyway, Allen’s Hummingbirds. They’re residents of Southern California, and northwestern Mexico, and migrate into southern Mexico for winter, and in breeding season migrate north along the coastal areas. Luckily, they have found a lovely late Winter home in Santa Cruz where I’ve been able to view and photograph them for several years now.

Their colors are so different from the Anna’s Hummingbirds that I see year round.

Allen's Hummingbird Male

They’re also quite funny, and sometimes their expressions and posture make me laugh out loud. Like this move I call- On Guard!

On Guard!

It still makes me laugh!

They have the most beautiful Gorget that gleams a brilliant orange when the sun hits it just right.

Allen's Hummingbird Male

It’s always a joy to see them and spend a couple of hours in their company.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015

More to come…

Monochrome Madness 2 46/52 Red-tailed Hawk

February 26, 2016February 25, 2016Posted in Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Black and White Photography, Monochrome Madness2, PhotographyTagged Birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Black and White Photography, Monochrome Madness2, Red-tailed Hawk7 Comments

This is my entry for Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2 this week.

Another Red-tail from a birding expedition. We seem to have more Red-tails than any other Hawk. 🙂

Monochrome Madness 2 47 of 52 Red tailed Hawk

To see all the entries this week click here.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Digital Film

More to come…

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