San Jose California Nature Photographer – Page 8

P52 19/52 Anna’s Hummingbird in her Nest

May 4, 2014May 4, 2014Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Photography, TravelTagged Annas Hummingbird, Birding, Birds, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society2 Comments

This morning I met my friend Dali at a nearby coffee shop then we went up to Los Altos Hills, CA to meet with other birders, and photographers to learn about Bird calls and sounds. Garth Harwood from the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society was the Guide for our group.

We arrived early so, with time on our hands we looked around for birds on our own.

I spied a Hummingbird flying around a nearby tree so I went to investigate. I was watching her through my lens flit around this bushy tree then just like that I lost her. I kept looking and looking around the tree then I found her in her nest! What treat this was.

If I hadn’t been looking so intently I don’t think I would have spotted her at all. Look how well she blends in. In fact when I first spotted her she had her head pulled in a bit more under the branch. I’m glad she peeked out a little bit allowing me to get this image.

Dali and I stayed only an hour. The group was large keeping the birds in the foliage, and foliage was abundant. I suggested we go to the park where I’d seen the Lazuli Bunting on Thursday. Dali hadn’t seen one yet, and I won’t tire of seeing them anytime soon.

More to come!

Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills, CA, USA

Violet-green Swallow-Female

May 2, 2014May 2, 2014Posted in Birds, California, Nature, PhotographyTagged Birding, Birds, Birds in the Wild, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Violet-green Swallow Female4 Comments

While I was waiting for the Lazuli Bunting to return to its perch one last time several Violet-green Swallows were flying around. I hoped since it was early in the morning they’d be less active and land on a snag. They’re so fast I doubted I’d be able to get one in flight. Then just like that one landed! I had to move quickly to capture this image. I love the look she’s giving me here. I think she’s saying, “This is my best side.” 🙂

I like the painterly look this has. I don’t know why it came out this way…perhaps because I was shooting wide open? Who knows, but I like it.

A male Violet-green Swallow landed on another nearby snag a few minutes later. Her mate perhaps.

It was a great morning for birding.

More to come!

Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4| Induro Tripod w/ Wimberley Sidekick mounted on a Markus Q20 ball-head

P52 18/52 Lazuli Bunting-1st yr male

May 1, 2014May 1, 2014Posted in Birds, California, Nature, Photography, Project 52-2014Tagged Birding, Lazuli Bunting Male, Nature, Project 52-2014, San Jose California Nature Photographer4 Comments

This is my 1st sighting of this bird! He’s a beauty. He was sitting on a snag singing his heart out until a House Wren flew over and chased him off the snag. Then the Wren started singing.

It was a delightful morning. The lizards came out to be serenaded by the Wren and this Lazuli Bunting.

Happy May Day everyone!

Santa Clara County, CA, USA

3 Things that make me Smile in Spring

May 1, 2014May 1, 2014Posted in Birds, California, Nature, PhotographyTagged Bewick's Wren, Pigeon Point Lightstation, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Spring 2014, Waterfalls4 Comments

1) Waterfalls

We had a little rain a week ago which we really need here in the Western U.S. These little waterfalls flow best after rain.

There wasn’t as much water as in past wetter years, but it was still peaceful and beautiful.

2) The Ice Plant in bloom on the coast

This is Pigeon Point in Pescadero, CA.

3) Fledglings

This Bewick’s Wren was making quite a fuss yesterday afternoon in my backyard. I opened the patio door and saw him and another little chick near the fence yelling for their Mother. She was in the Flowering Plum tree hissing at me.

The nest is in the Oleander Bush in my yard. I had no idea she had babies! They must have just Fledged yesterday. They flew off soon after I took this image. I hope they come out again today.

Images 1, and 2 taken with a Nikon D700, Image 3 taken with a Nikon D300s

Breakfast by the side of the road…

April 24, 2014April 24, 2014Posted in Nature, Photography, Travel, US National ParksTagged American Buffalo, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Travel and Tourism, Yellowstone National ParkLeave a comment

Here’s one from my archives; from a trip to Yellowstone National Park in September 2013. I woke up to snow on this morning. On the way to Lamar Valley we spotted a herd of Buffalo grazing near the road so we pulled over to take photos. It was just one of many delightful sights on this day.

P52 17/52 Spring Morning Sun

April 23, 2014Posted in Astrophotograhpy, PhotographyTagged Afternoon Sun, Astro Photography, Astro-imaging, San Jose California Nature Photographer, Solar Imaging1 Comment

It’s been sometime since I last made an image of the Sun so, I thought I’d dig out my Solar Filter and capture the Sun while it was still fairly low in the morning sky for this week’s Project 52 image.

There are two nice Sun Spots showing up in this image; one in each hemisphere. I’ll have to look at NOAA’s image and see how many they see with their bigger lens and better filter.

I had a nice surprise when I opened the Solar Filter’s box. I discovered the B+W ND Filter I’ve been looking for. I couldn’t remember where I put it, but knew I put it somewhere safe when I was boxing up the house to have new carpeting and flooring put in last October. I have been looking for this ND filter for months. I’m happy to have found it. I will use it next month when I return to Yosemite for my birthday hike.
Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f4@ f20| 1/30s| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Tripod| Orion Solar Filter

Tunnel View Cafe

April 22, 2014April 22, 2014Posted in California, Landscapes, Nature, Photography, Travel, US National ParksTagged San Jose California Nature Photographer, Sunsets, USA National Parks, Yosemite National Park2 Comments

This is the “cool” version of Sunset that I took while at Tunnel View in Yosemite a couple of weeks ago. I used a Singh-Ray LB ColorCombo Filter to enhance the colors and reflecting light.

The haze in the image is moisture from the low clouds, and smoke from camp fires down in the valley. I hoped to get Alpine Glow on both Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan, but it didn’t happen while I had my Singh-Ray filter on. You just never know what it’s going to be like. It’s never the same twice.

Yosemite National Park, California, USA- sunset

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