Birds of Prey – Page 2 – Circadianreflections Blog

Wordless Wednesday 7/52

February 15, 2017February 14, 2017Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Hawks, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon, Photography, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Wordless WednesdayTagged Birding, Birds, Birds of North America, Hawks, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Project 52, Red-tailed Hawk, Wordless Wednesday29 Comments

Red-tailed Hawk

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017

More to come…

American Kestrel-Male

January 20, 2017January 20, 2017Posted in birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of Prey, Falcons, National Wildlife Refuges in California, Nikon, PhotographyTagged After the Storm, American Kestrel, Birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Foggy, January 2017 Storm, Male Birds, Morning, Nikon, Photography25 Comments

The American Kestrel is the littlest Falcon in North America and the most colorful. They’re quite fierce for the size. They often perch on wires, or poles to watch and wait for unsuspecting prey. ” Hunting for insects and other small prey in open territory, kestrels perch on wires or poles, or hover facing into the wind, flapping and adjusting their long tails to stay in place.”~AllAboutBirds.com

Gordon and I stopped at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday morning before joining a Meet-Up group we’re in at another National Wildlife Refuge and while on the auto route where the Tulle Elk are we spotted this Kestrel on a post. It was just after a heavy rain storm so there was Tulle Fog all over the valley hence the white sky. I love the rain drops or dew drops on his breast feathers.

American Kestrel Male

We didn’t see any Tulle Elk in the paddock. Not one! They must have been deep in the trees until it warmed up. Thankfully for us this Kestrel was out and about looking for breakfast!

Nikon D700|Nikkor 200-500mm @ 460mm| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2017

More to come…

National Bird Day 2017

January 5, 2017January 5, 2017Posted in Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, National Bird Day, Nikon, PhotographyTagged American Bittern, Bald Eagle, Birding, Birds in the Wild, Clark's Grebes, Clear Lake CA, National Bird Day, National Wildlife Refuge, Nikon, Photography, Snowy Egret32 Comments

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.

Snowy Egret- Juvenile

Clark’s Grebe w/chick and Fish-dawn

Clark's Grebe with Chick and Fish

The Elusive American Bittern- I’ve only seen these a handful of times.

American Bittern

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.

Bald Eagle-Adult

Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| PS CC 2017

Happy National Bird Day 2017!

More to come…

The Look

November 19, 2016November 19, 2016Posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Nikon, PhotographyTagged Bird Photography, Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, California, Hawks, Nikon, San Joaquin County33 Comments

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.

The Look

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…

Plan B is for the Birds

September 26, 2016September 26, 2016Posted in Birds, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Insects, National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuges in California, Nature, Nature Photography, Nikon, Photography, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose California Nature Photographer, WildlifeTagged Birds, Birds in the Wild, Deer, Doe, Dragonflies, Ducks, Fawn, Insects, Nature Photography, Night Heron, Nikon, Northern Pintails, Peregrine Falcon, Pied-billed Grebe21 Comments

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!

Doe Deer Female

The Fawn has two little adorable antler nubs. Fawn Male

Early arrivals: There were quite a few White-fronted Geese on the little islands in the ponds that had water.

White-fronted Goose

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,

Dragon Fly

Pied-billed Grebes

Pied-billed Grebe

Night Herons; most were deep in the foliage, but one was on Sentry duty,

Night Heron

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…

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…

Red-tailed Hawk 2

February 16, 2016February 15, 2016Posted in Bird Photography, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Hawks, National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuges in California, PhotographyTagged Birding, Birds in the Wild, Birds of North America, Birds of Prey, Macro photography, Photography, Red-tailed Hawk, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge16 Comments

This Red-tail is from a couple of weeks back. My friend and I were birding in San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and nearing the end of one of the auto-routes when we spotted it high in the tree. I was driving and didn’t think I’d get a decent photograph of it because it was on the passenger side of the car/road, and climbing over the console and gear box wasn’t something I wanted to do.

Red-tail Hawk

We had the route nearly to ourselves so I thought I’d pull the car caddy-whompus across the road and shoot leaning into the passenger seat. I was able to get several images of it before another car came up and I had to move.

It is striking isn’t it with its white cap and that gaze?

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2015

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