"What a thousand acres of Silphiums looked like when they tickled the bellies of the buffalo is a question never again to be answered, and perhaps not even asked." -Aldo Leopold
This past Saturday I headed up north on Highway 79. Knowing that the frigid temps and predicted winds of 30 mph + would not afford many great opportunities, the chance of snow in these areas made me think that something interesting could happen. Here are a few I thought worthy to share.
Hello again. Although I promised myself I would get this post out on time this year, here we are on Valentine’s Day. Of course, I still have not processed everything I intend to from 2014, but I think I’ve finished the major images by now. Like last year, this is not necessarily my “best” images of the year, but a list comprised of images that captured something special to me, while being at least a competent photograph. Once again, I was nearly frozen by the list of images to choose from. I had one fewer landscape and one more wildlife image this year compared to last, for whatever that is worth. Follow the links to the posts that each image was featured in.
#10) “Acadian Flycatchers – Feeding Time”
Although it lacked a happy ending (see original post), Steve and I were absolutely thrilled in getting an opportunity to view and photograph a sought after nesting species. The nest location was poorly lit, being well concealed in the foliage at Hawn S.P. However, with a tripod and shutter release cable, it is something to see how slow you can take the shutter speed in these situations.
This one was from our last stay in the cabins at Big Spring S.P. for a number of years (due to closing during renovation work). It turned out to be a pretty interesting sunset, with just a couple minutes of fire.
#8) “Male Pine Warbler, Big Spring State Park, April 2014”
From our vernal Big Spring trip. I was quite happy with this image, although I was hoping the white dogwood blossoms behind the bird would be a little more distinct. Oh well, always room for improvement.
From our literally unforgettable day in the canoe in the waters of Mingo. This image was taken later in the day and showcases what a sun-star pattern from a nine-bladed aperture diaphragm can look like. Kudos to Canon for putting this feature in all of their new f4 zoom “L” lenses in the past several years.
I had to place at least one image from my time in Brazil from this year. I was able to make images of quite a few species, but this patient Jacamar might be the most memorable. We came across this guy in Serra do Mar State Park in Brazil’s Atlantic Rain-forest while on a birding/nature hike. It sat while we got great views and some photographs.
Although I questioned why I would want to bring up the memory of not having an appropriate lens to shoot snakes on “Snake Road”, I still love this image and the memories it contains of shooting this Timer Rattlesnake with a 500mm “bird lens”. Shoot, I bet most of you are thinking I did have the most appropriate lens for the job. 😉
#4) “Twin Cottonwoods on Tetons”
Taken on Sarah and My trip out west this past September. This image was taken inside the National Elk Refuge. In the waning light, Sarah and I came across these two cottonwood with nicely shadowed foothills lying before the Tetons.
It’s a usable photograph of one of the rarest nesting birds in Missouri. What else is there to say? What a memory. My only regret is always forgetting that my dSLR cameras are capable of taking great video. Video of this guys singing would have been the icing on the cake.
Steve and I had two great experiences with River Otters in 2014. This one was taken on the Eleven Point this autumn and shows mom and all four of the kids in one tight shot.
#1) Bald Eagle Nest Week Three – Mom Brings a Fish
I could have picked a dozen from the weeks spent at the nest to put into my top ten. I’m not sure why I chose this one, other than it is among my favorites of hundreds of keepers from the nest. Although mom never stayed to feed the young while we were watching, she did often bring prey to the nest as is seen in this image.
Well, that summarizes a good bit of what I was fortunate enough to capture in 2014. Thanks so much to Sarah and Steve and everyone who was part of these experiences. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2015!
Ozark Bill Duncan – February 14th, 2015
In case you have not heard, Missouri had it’s first documented visit by an Ivory Gull this past month. This species is typically found north – way north. We’re talking fighting with Polar Bears for scraps north. Once in a while a species like this gets way off track and can be found far from home. This bird was found in the marina and lock and dam areas at Quincy Illinois and Missouri.
Folks flocked from as far as Texas and Florida, to the Carolinas and New England. This was a potential once in a lifetime bird, unless you took a trip to their normal range.
Although we were not fortunate enough to get super close looks in great light, Steve and I were thrilled with watching the bird for several hours over the course of an extremely cold and windy Sunday.
At least one photographer paid a local to motor him past the gull to get a closer shot. A truly surreal experience.
This past Thanksgiving break Steve and I found ourselves back at Jasper-Pulaski to see the tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes that stop there during their autumn and vernal migrations. Although the spectacle of that many three-foot birds in one place is always worth the drive, of course we wind up with heavy overcast skies, which makes getting interesting photos quite a challenge. The numbers of birds during this visit did not disappoint.
During the night, the majority of birds roost in one or two places on the reserve or nearby. During the day they spend their time picking up fallen grain in the surrounding agricultural fields. After lunch one day, we were driving around watching the different groups move across the landscape. With light as poor as it was, my attention went to staying awake, while Steve lost the fight and started to dose off and on. After a time, I was startled back to full alertness by Steve’s exclamation of “White!” I found a place to pull over at the nearest opportunity. And, after wrenching our necks, we confirmed what we were both anticipating the bird to be…
This was a life bird for the both of us, and with about 500 birds left on the entire planet, we were sure going to watch this guy as much as we could. At five feet tall, with nearly an eight foot wingspan, this mostly white bird could be seen for well more than a mile away. This made him easy to follow, but we made sure we gave him his space. He was definitely attached to the Sandhill Cranes, and seemingly was uncomfortable without being near at least a few of his cousins.
How do we know that Nougat is a male? See his colored leg bands in the 2nd and 3rd photos of this post? These are used to identify and keep track of the banded birds.
Click on Nougat to read more about this fantastic bird.
A few random shots of Trumpeter Swans taken at RMBS this winter…
Finally, my first successful photos of a Glaucous Gull. This 1st winter bird was photographed yesterday as I tried to make some eagle fishing photos at Lock and Dam #24 at Clarksville MO. In an interesting coincidence, I ran into Brenda Hente, from Great-Horned Owls Will and Kate fame, and Danny Brown, from MDC Photography fame.
Earlier in the day I joined Josh Uffman, from uber birder fame, and the hoard of birders from across the country at Lock and Dam #21 at Quincy, looking for what is likely the most famous bird in the nation – the Ivory Gull. Unfortunately, this was to turn out to be the first day the bird was not successfully found since its discovery on or about 2-January. I am so glad Steve and I headed there last weekend to get a look and a few pics (yet to be posted).
Hello, and thanks for paying a visit. This final post from our September 2014 trip to the west will focus on a few highlights from a couple of spots in central Kansas, Quivera NWR and Cheyenne Bottoms, or what I like to call the birding Mecca of the central plains. I apologize for the grey shots, but during the far too few hours we spent here, we were given mostly heavy overcast skies.
These two locations and their combined 60,00+ acres are incredibly important for nearly 400 species of birds. The vast wetlands of Cheyenne Bottoms and the salt marsh and sand prairie habitats of Quivera NWR provide habitat for breading birds such as the endangered interior populations of the Least Tern, pictured above. Other nesting birds, which utilize these habitats, include Swainson’s Hawks, Mississippi Kites, Snowy Plover, American Avocet and White-faced Ibis.
With most of my birding experiences restricted to the southern half of the Show-me State, some of what I observed simply shocked me. Observing hundreds of the American Avocet was something I could not have imagined previously.
Also found in the hundreds, White-faced Ibis were as common as gulls!
Referred to by someone as an inverse sunflower, I found the YHBB to be stunning, even if they were in their off-season plumage.
Numerous Franklin’s Gulls were a nice surprise. Oh, how a trip in every season is critical at these locations!
Just to show we were interested in more than just birds… I am sure the coyotes make quite a living on these habitats.
What an unexpected treat. My first non-winter Merlin.
Wilson’s Phaleropes were found in the dozens among the big and little marshes of Quivera NWR.
As cute as any terrier that ever was, a lone Willet patiently posed for me. And finally, a Ring-neck Pheasant hen showed me her backside during the our evening visit to Cheyenne Bottoms. Until next time…
Greetings
I have a goodly number of images backing up to share, so here are a few chosen at random, more or less.
The first image was from a month or so back, when Steve and I traveled up to Clarence Cannon NWR. The highlight was the extraordinary number of Mallards we found. Not too much in the way of diversity of waterfowl during this visit, but the mallards were using the refuge in the peak of the hunting season. We tried our best to keep them in peace, as they were obviously trepidatious to anything with two legs.
The next pair showcase a couple of birds that exemplify the great winter season we have been having in this region so far. The first is a Horned-Grebe that we were able to get quite nice views of during a very cold morning at Creve Coeur Lake in November.
The next photo is of a Western Grebe and is the first photo of this species I was able to acquire. I found this guy near the Clark Bridge near RMBS, where he may still be found.
The final pair of images are of a couple Northern Harriers, a species I have been finally able to achieve some success with lately. The first, taken at CBCA, was fortunately timed while the bird was back-dropped by a flock of Blackbirds.
I have provided this last photo, also a Harrier taken at CBCA, in a larger size so you can see the cockle-bur that is stuck on the underside of this poor creature. I know these things can be a nuisance for me in this habitat, and I guess it is for the birds as well.
Green greetings everyone.
I have had quite a productive vacation day (trying to burn some vacation days before the end of the year) so far: exercise, running errands, a bit of Christmas shopping/preparations, a Trader Joe’s run, as well as picking up another round of trashcans worth of leaves. To have the time and gumption to put together another spotty blog post is another plus. So hear we go, five of my favorite wildlife image examples from our Yellowstone trip in September 2014.
1) Hayden Valley Bison
Sarah and I feel we mostly struck out in the wildlife department during our trip. We did see some great animals of the west, but we struck out a few times on our quest to view and photograph moose, missed being in the right place at the right time for bears, and wouldn’t even allow myself to say the word “wolf” aloud. Watching and photographing wild, free-roaming bison, REAL Bison (notice how I didn’t say Buffalo?), was a great pleasure. The fact that our Lake Yellowstone hotel room was set to a constant broil, forcing us to sleep with the window open in sub-freezing temperatures, afforded an unexpected pleasure during our final night. A mature bison cow decided to spend the night right under our open window, constantly ripping and munching the turf as we dozed. Anyway, this image was taken on the northern end of the Hayden valley.
2) There Are No Fences Facin’
I loved watching the pronghorn. There are so many fascinating tidbits about their biology, such as the fact that they are the only animals with horns that shed them, or that they are considered the fastest land animal in the western hemisphere. This one was photographed at the National Elk Refuge, as it seemed to take in the sites.
3) The Gray Jay
Even though I added a number of bird species to the life list, it seemed circumstances rarely allowed the opportunity to attempt photographs. This rare exception shows one of a number of Gray Jays that were found foraging along the road in an out of the way stretch of the north-east entrance road, just north of the Lamar Valley.
4) Bull!
We found this guy near the road on the same north-east stretch. Such a massive, healthy animal! Looking at him it comes as no surprise how they manage to survive a Yellowstone winter.
5) Huginn and Muninn
Ravens! This was a target species for me. Soon after finding my first Yellow-headed Blackbird of the trip (a lifer as well), we came upon this pair, who were content to let me photograph as they picked up some morning sun. Photographing black birds is always a challenge. I think I handled the situation as well as possible.
A Thousand Acres of Silphiums 