A very common bird in Central America, the Acorn Woodpecker is great fun to photograph. As with most contrasty, colourful birds, the best light is overcast… with the right background. We find that most image taken of these birds have cluttered, busy environments, and difficult exposures. The bright red cap, and dark wing and back […]
Birding in Brazil – second of four days photographing in Serra da Canastra National Park
Our second day in the Canastra Mountains region was inside the Serra da Canastra National Park. The first of two days there. The road is not that good, so we had to contract one guy that would take us there. Ronam would be our driver. A nice guy, patient and very dedicated. Helped us in […]
Iceland abandons Fin whale hunt – For now
IFAW welcomes end to Fin whaling in Iceland May 2012. TheInternational Fund for Animal Welfare(IFAW) has welcomed the news that Iceland has called an end to the cruel practice of harpooning endangered Fin whales. Kristjan Loftsson, the lone Icelandic whaler responsible for killing 280 Fin whales over the last six years (Seven Fin whales were […]
Costa Rica Trip Report – Green Honeycreeper
Part 1/6 of my month down in Costa Rica leading a few photography workshops. We had some really nice opportunities throughout the tours and many wonderful images were made. Costa Rica is one of those countries that is just so pleasant to visit. I could go back over and over again and never get tired. […]
Female Dusky Grouse
I photographed this female Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) while up in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Dusky Grouse were once considered “Blue Grouse” and some folks still call them that. This hen was traveling in a small flock of four to five birds as I recall and they were feeding right at the edge of […]
Violet-green Swallows Are House Hunting
About a week ago I began seeing Violet-green Swallows (Tachycineta thalassina) flying overhead. The year before last, I was fortunate to have Violet-green Swallows nesting in one of my birdhouses but they also nested in this same oak tree last year. The photographs taken below were snapped a couple of hours before sunset when I […]
Spring is Finally Here!
We started the morning at Petrie Island. It was beautiful sunshine with a crisp spring wind coming from north-west. Song Sparrows were singing everywhere and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were drumming from several places. The short trail around the island revealed Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Winter Wren. After our obligatory stop at Timmy’s we went […]
Black-necked Stilts
Black-necked Stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) have returned from their wintering grounds to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and other locations in Utah. Black-necked Stilts are black and white shorebirds with long pink to reddish legs, thin black bills and lovely red eyes. I photographed this male Stilt as he fed in front of me on April […]