New Years Day: Northern Harrier

I began the year with a drive over to the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA).  Karen planned on some hiking, but I planned on shooting something while I walked, so I brought my big gun with me!

For the most part, the walk was void of any photographable wildlife.  We walked the Redbud trail, hoping to catch a look at some hawks hunting in the open field area, but all we saw were some vultures flying high and far away from us.  So, we diverted over to the Cicada trail which is more wooded.

On the Cicada trail, there were plenty of birds, mostly Cardinals, but they were very flighty and just were not sitting still long enough for me to focus on them.  By the time I spotted them, they were flying into the woods.  At one point we heard a woodpecker but it remained hidden from our view.  But from the sounds of the hammering, I’m betting it was the last of the Ivory-billed Woodpeckers!  At least that’s my story until I actually see it.  That $10,000 reward will buy some nice new photo equipment someday!  Smile

After shooting a few sparrows and a robin, we continued hiking and finished the trail.  We were considering aborting the rest of the day and heading home.  I was beginning to regret bringing the heavy lens when we we saw what appeared to be a raptor making lazy circles over the grass of the Lewisville Lake dam.  As we waited in the parking lot, it got closer, and I exit the vehicle and the 600mm lens comes back out as this beautiful Northern Harrier  begins hunting in the grass right in front of us.

As we watch, this beautiful creature goes up and down the dam getting close and going far.  I take the opportunity to practice using the big lens, firing away trying to hone in on the proper technique for capturing birds in flight.  Normally it doesn’t seem that hard, but when you are shooting with a lens then big, and the bird is actually this close to you, following the action is harder than it looks.  Finally, when all was said and done, I did end up with a few keepers.

So, never think the day is over until the day is over.  Had we just gotten in the vehicle and drove off, we would have missed this beautiful sight.  You just never know what God is going to place right in front of your eyes.  Don’t blink and miss it.

All photographs taken with the Canon 7D and Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS USM, and Canon Extender 1.4X II, mounted on a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod and Jobu BWG-HD gimbal head with Really Right Stuff long-lens support package.

Backyard Morning

Today I took the day off work to attend a conference, but since it doesn’t start until noonish, I decided to take the chance to spend the morning in my backyard and discover what critters frequent the feeders in the AM.

I’ve noticed the squirrel a few times now.  He seems to live in the neighbor’s yard, but occasionally comes over to sneak some of the peanuts and such that I leave out for the blue jay.  Here, he is on the neighbors fence and seems to be cursing the dove that is standing watch on my fence, baring his way to my yard.  Truth is, when he comes over, the doves scatter, so they really aren’t much of a defence.

The blue jay showed up for a brief second.  I’m getting closer to getting a very good shot of him, but in this one, I just cut to tip of his tail off.  And yes, there are two peanuts in his mouth.  How long before he realizes that there is no threat to him here and takes him time.  Then I’ll be able to aim and shoot much better shots of him.  I look forward to that t day.

Next, the male cardinal showed up but spent most of the time up in the tree above the feeder.  I don’t know, maybe I have the only birds around here that just aren’t hungry in the morning.  In any case, I got a shot of the bird in its natural habitat: a tree.

And finally, seems that I can get all the shots of doves that I want, and then some.  They guys just hang around all the time.  They were even hanging around my yard long before I ever put up the feeders.  In any case, I realized that normally shoot them from the side, but when this one looked at me straight on, he seemed to be saying to me, “What are you looking at?”  To which I replied, “Snap!”

That was it for the morning shoot.  It was very windy and cloudy, so maybe that kept the birds away.  I’ll have to try again.

Shots taken with Canon 7D, EF600Lf/4IS

Red-shouldered Hawk

So, if you can’t catch the hawk as if flies through your yard, go to his yard.

This evening, Karen and I spent some time at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) to do a little practicing with our cameras before heading to Yellowstone in two weeks.  This is only the second time I’ve been our there, and as I said the first time, I’ve got to get out there more often.  There is wildlife all over the place.  Too many times we yearn for the exotic wildlife we see on television while ignoring the exotic wildlife in our own back yards.

Today, along with meeting a couple of new friends, I got a few good shots of a Red-shouldered Hawk as it sat on an old tree looking for dinner.  A very magnificent bird.  I don’t know if this is the same fellow that flies through my yard scaring the little birds or not, but if I were a little bird, I would run too.  Check out the talons on this guy!

Another new bird to add to my list now is the American Coot!  Can’t say I have ever noticed these guys before, but they are pretty cool looking water fowl.  Black and shiny with the red eyes, white bill, and the black ring on the bill.  They were diving for dinner and didn’t seem to mind the hawk watching over their territory.

It was a good day for wildlife, photos, and making new friends.  I look forward to returning again in the near future and possibly maybe even helping out in the area.