Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Northern Pintail-pair
Nikon D300s| 80-200mm @200mm + Tamron 1.4x TC| SanDisk Digital Film| Image made in 2011| PS CC 2017
More to come…
Category: Birds of North America
National Bird Day 2017
Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
My photo friend Jan Timmons over on flickr pointed out that today is National Bird Day 2017. You know how much I like birds so, to honor them on their special day here are some of my favorite birds. I made these images all in California during 2016.
Snowy Egret-Juvenile; pretty close to fledgling.
Clark’s Grebe w/chick and Fish-dawn
The Elusive American Bittern- I’ve only seen these a handful of times.
and last but, not least our National Bird in the U.S.A. the Bald Eagle- Adult. I’m so happy this bird is making a comeback in California.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017
Happy National Bird Day 2017!
More to come…
Project 52: Wordless Wednesday 1/52
Copyright ©2017 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Snow Geese in Flight
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm @500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017
More to come…
Northern Mockingbird
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Look at that eye! Really not liking me and my camera clicking away. They are characters Northern Mockingbirds.
They mimic other birds. There’s one in my neighborhood that mimics a car alarm. Really!
They’re fiercely territorial. I’ve witnessed a Northern Mockingbird dive-bombing a cat trying to nap in the sun more times than I care to count. The cat just flinched and went back to its nap. REALLY? Why didn’t the cat strike out and eat that bird? Cats eat birds! The Northern Mockingbird must have more power than a cat!
When this one grew tired of my clicking it flew away. Leaving me nothing to photograph. Sigh. It’s a cunning bird for sure!
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017
More to come…
The Look
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I’m not sure if this is a Sharp-shinned Hawk, or a Cooper’s Hawk, or something else all together, but I’m leaning towards a Sharp-shinned because of its long legs, overall size, and notched tail feathers.
It wasn’t happy about getting its picture taken. He was on a post in an irrigation canal probably hoping for a fish dinner. 🙂
If you know what species it is I’d love to hear from you!
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film
More to come…
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVE
It was a busy week-end with little to no time spent on the computer. Of course Photography figured high on my list of things to do this past week-end.
The Super Moon was number 1 on my list and I made plans months ago to shoot it with friends in Central Valley Calif. We were a large group and while waiting for the group to assemble before heading to our chosen shooting location I was photographing little birds in a nearby bush.
A friend and I spied a little flighty bird hopping from one branch to the next all the while staying deep in the foliage. I thought it might be a Warbler of some sort, but couldn’t be sure until I got a better look. I watched and waited hoping it would come out just for one good look and image. A little patience paid off. It showed itself in the open less than a minute! I managed to get only 3 frames of it hoping with fingers crossed that just one of those frames would be good.
Imagine my delight at finding I liked all three well enough to keep and share!
Then late last night I was trying to catch up with blogs and emails and read Donna’s post about her latest birding adventure and there in her images was a bird that looked just like the little bird I photographed that very afternoon!
I pulled out my Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America to compare my bird, and Donna’s bird with the Field Guide to see if I had a match and positive identification. I believe so! If true then this bird is a new ” Lifer” for me! An exciting spotting indeed! Thank you Donna!
Without further ado I present a Ruby-crowned Kinglet with the 3 images I made:
If you think this is different bird please let me know!
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film|
More to come…
Plan B is for the Birds
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
My original Photography plans for last week-end fell apart mid-week when one of the friends I was going with fell ill. Rather than go anyway which didn’t sit well with me or my friend Theresa we two switched gears and decided to go birding in the Central Valley to see what birds if any had arrived early.
I had read a few reports of early migrants in the area; we hoped to find one or two, and spend some time catching up with each other.
I left for T’s house early (6:30am) so we’d get to the Refuge in the morning when the birds are more active.
We found the first pond completely sans water. Fish and Wildlife have just started filling the ponds we discovered. Many of the ponds we’re used to seeing full of water were bone dry, but it is early in the season!
Just as we were starting the auto-route we spied a Doe and her Fawn in the tall grass. I didn’t get an image of them together. Mom decided her male Fawn was too close to the road and moved to higher grass. Honestly, I think she looks young!
The Fawn has two little adorable antler nubs.
Early arrivals: There were quite a few White-fronted Geese on the little islands in the ponds that had water.
Northern Pintails, and Shovelers are showing up, but I didn’t make any images of the Shovelers they were too far out. You see a Northern Pintail in image above giving me a one wing salute. 🙂
Among the usual suspects here were thousands of Dragonflies,
Pied-billed Grebes
Night Herons; most were deep in the foliage, but one was on Sentry duty,
We saw a female Harrier flying low in the distance hunting, a few Red-tail Hawks, and as we approached the tree the Bald Eagles hang out in there we saw there was a Peregrine Falcon perched on a snag surveying the land.
Once the Eagles return I doubt we’ll be seeing this Falcon in this tree. 🙂
Plan B turned out to be a great day, and it was lovely hanging out with Theresa. You can find her images on flickr here.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2015.5
More to come…
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