Nature – Page 21 – Circadianreflections Blog

Early evening on the Marsh

January 23, 2012January 23, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Landscapes, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged Landscapes, Nature, Nikon; Nikkor;, Photography, Wildlife6 Comments

Golden hour on this section of the Marsh was absolutely gorgeous the Sat. I spent here photographing birds. There were some low clouds, and a fine mist of fog was moving in just as the sky was getting a hint of pink. It acted as a diffuser making the golds and yellows POP! I moved to a couple of locations around this area looking for a composition I liked so when I finally saw this one I was in such a rush to compose it before missing this light I made the decision to shoot it with my telephoto lens on. I remember thinking as I looked through the viewfinder to compose it, “Oh! this is nice I can zero in on this part of the marsh rather than getting all in.” By doing so the ducks have a little more body, and the reeds and willows are nearer, so we can see more texture and detail. The whole scene is compressed so we feel a closer connection to the pond.

I haven’t used my telephoto to shoot a landscape in many months, and if the light wasn’t changing fast I probably would have switched to my favorite 17-35mm wide angle lens. In retrospect I’m happy that I didn’t take the few seconds to change lenses as it was a good reminder for me that not all landscapes need to be a sweeping vista, or shot with a wide-angle lens.

Juvenile Bald Eagle

January 22, 2012January 22, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged Bald Eagles, Nature, Photography, Sacramento National Wildlife RefugeLeave a comment

If you click the photo and then once redirected click it once more you can view it larger to see him better.

I believe this is a 3rd year Bald Eagle. He was in the shadow of the upper branch and didn’t change his gaze for the longest time. He was also at the end of my lens range.
My friend Dali and I stayed watching and photographing him for about 5 minutes then we moved on to meet some other friends. When we circled back around he was gone. We didn’t see him again. I’ve only seen 4 Eagles in the wild in my whole life! As you can imagine this was a very exciting sighting for me.

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, California

Nikon D700| Nikkor 70-300@ 300mm| f5.6| 1/2500 sec| ISO 500| Manual mode| Hand-held

Prendre la fuite!

January 19, 2012January 19, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Birds of Prey, D700, Impressionism, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Red-tailed Hawk, WildlifeLeave a comment

On the way home from Monday’s birding and photography day this Red-tail landed in a small field by the highway to catch a ground rat or something. Theresa quickly pulled over, but before the car had stopped I started shooting, and the hawk hearing the car and tires crunching the gravel took flight!

In play back I thought the motion blur made a cool impressionist piece.

Prendre la fuite — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 70-300mm VR @300mm| f8| 1/80 sec| ISO 640| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Oh, I see what you’re doing there.

January 18, 2012January 18, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Travel, WildlifeTagged Long-eared Owls, Nature, Nikkor, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeLeave a comment

Oh, I see what you’re doing there., originally uploaded by dmzajac2004-.

Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

On Monday a holiday in the States myself and two girlfriends set out for the country to do some bird photography. This young Long-eared Owl was high in a conifer tree along with many other owls. My friend Theresa said she stopped counting after 18!
There looked like there might be another breed of owls in there too, but I couldn’t get a good look at any of them.

Exposing for this guy was a bit tricky. He was tucked into the tree behind these pine needles with occasional sun filtering through to highlight him. I took a lot of photographs of him hoping I hit the light just right. After 30 minutes I decided to move on. The best light was going to be in early afternoon. If I was still there I’d try it then. I wasn’t.

My book of North American Birds by National Geographic says this is an Uncommonly seen breed. Making this another fantastic find for me and my girlfriends!

I think Theresa, Rainey and I are probably Uncommon girlfriends too. How many do you know that get together for a day of birding rather than shopping? “)

Golden Eagle

January 17, 2012January 17, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Birds of Prey, Golden Eagle, Nature, Nikon D700, Photography, Winter MigrationLeave a comment

Myself and two girlfriends spent the day out in the country looking for birds to photograph. Late in the afternoon I spied this big guy on the side of a hill. My friend Theresa was driving and I said, “What is that? Is that a turkey?” As she slowed down and we drew closer I was thrilled to see it was a Golden Eagle as big as a Turkey hen!

He spooked easily. The sound of our cameras clicking had him airborne in a flash!

Shooting from the passenger side of the car and through the open driver’s side window I was able to get off 3 shots before he was out of my line of sight.

This was the first time I’ve ever seen one in the wild and this close. It was so exciting. While this isn’t an award-winning photo I’m still floating and elated that I got this shot.

Nikon D700| Nikkor 70-300 @ 300mm| f7.1| 1/1000 sec | ISO 1000| Manual Mode| Hand-held

Feisty Falcated Asian Duck

January 15, 2012January 15, 2012Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, Travel, WildlifeTagged D700, Nature, Photography, Travel, Waterfowl, Wildlife1 Comment

1a Falcated Duck in Flight — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

This little guy is a celebrity who is drawing large crowds of birders and photographers from around the continent to the Colusa National Wildlife Refuge in California’s Pacific Fly-way belt.

His native home is China where I’ve read they’re hunted extensively. The burning question is did he migrate, is he a stow-away, or an escapee from a private zoo? No one knows how he came to be here, but they have been spotted in California further north of here in Lassen County back in 1969, 2002, and 2003.

His name Falcated refers to his sickle-shaped wing feathers.

2 Falcated Duck — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I called him feisty because he was not shy about telling off the American Wigeons he was swimming peacefully with only seconds before.

4 Falcated Duck Male with American Wigeon Pair — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

I think he’s taken a fancy to the female Wigeon and is showing off his lovely iridescent colors, and fine plumage.

Below he’s swimming with White-fronted Geese and a male American Wigeon.

Facalated Duck with Geese and Wigeons — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Fiesty Falcated Duck — Copyright © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved

This celebrity doesn’t sign autographs or grant interviews, but don’t let that stop you from going to see him. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again, “This is no ugly duckling!”

Nikon D700| Nikkor 70-300mm VR

fact resource http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/06/4166680/falcated-duck-attracts-bird-watchers.html

Red-tailed Hawk

December 28, 2011December 28, 2011Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Nikon, Photography, WildlifeTagged Birds in Flight, Birds of Prey, Nature, Nikkor, Nikon, Photography, Red-tailed Hawk, WildlifeLeave a comment

While out looking for Sandhill Cranes to photograph this Red-tailed Hawk got startled and flew out of a nearby Willow tree.

Flapping

Red-Tailed Hawk in flight — Copyright Â© 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

Gliding

Downbeat

Nikon D700| Nikkor 80-200mm + Tamron 1.4x extender| f5| 1/800 sec| ISO 500| Manual Mode| Hand-held

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