“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
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
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.
They’re also quite funny, and sometimes their expressions and posture make me laugh out loud. Like this move I call- 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.
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…
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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. 🙂
To see all the entries this week click here.
Nikon D700| Nikkor 200-500mm| Lexar Digital Film
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…
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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.
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
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I have only seen this bird a handful of times, and managed to get an image even less.
This Loggerhead Shrike was on the fence bordering the Tule Elk Paddock as you enter the Refuge. This one was pretty accommodating and let me take its photo for a couple of minutes.
Coming around to the end of the auto-route in the Refuge was this Loggerhead Shrike perched on a dried plant in the Tule Elk paddock. It was pretty far away and behind a wire fence. This is cropped in a bit. I wondered if it wasn’t the same Shrike I’d seen when I first entered the Refuge? I’ll never know but am thrilled to have seen it!
This was an exciting start to my day of birding.
Nikon D300s| Nikon 200-500mm VR| Lexar Digital Film| PS CC 2016
More to come…
Copyright ©2016 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
My friend Dali and I went out to Merced National Wildlife Refuge last week-end and found oh, so many Snow Geese, and some Lesser Sandhill Cranes along with the usual suspects. We were photographing some of the Snow Geese and other birds in the nearest marsh when all of the sudden the noise level escalated and the birds took to the air!
The squawking, screeching, quacking, and honking was so loud you couldn’t hear yourself speak! It was pretty neat to see and hear. We’re not sure but, we think a Hawk, or Coyote spooked them.
This is my entry to Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2. To check out all the entries this week click here.
Nikon D300s| Nikkor 200-500mm VR| Delkin Devices Digital Film| PS CC 2015 & On1 Photo 10
More to come…
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