Category: Birds

New Camera, New Life, New Post

by Michael

The past year and a half has been a crazy roller-coaster of a ride. It all started with deciding to sell our house in Flower Mound, TX just because someone knocked on the door wanting to buy it. Then trying to decide where we wanted to live, only to find a place where we least expected, near the east Texas town of Overton. During all of this, there has been little time for photography as moving, job searches, relocation, and settling in has been the main focus of our time. But now, as things are finally starting to get into a somewhat normal routine, Canon released the long awaited update to the EOS 7D, the EOS 7D Mark II. To say that I have been anxiously waiting for this update for more than just a couple of years is an understatement. While I liked the old 7D, the new version really benefits from the latest auto-focus technologies and is a real winner in the wildlife arena.

So, with all that behind me, maybe now I can start getting serious about my photography “hobby” once again and begin posting more often. Let’s start with this visitor to my yard from yesterday. This red-shouldered hawk was gracious enough to sit and pose for me long enough to get outside with the big lens and take its portrait.

Enjoy, and hope to be back soon!

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Canon 7D mark II, Canon 600mm F/4 IS
1/1600 @f/4, ISO 800

On the Hunt

by Michael

Recently I was asked, or rather challenged, by a friend at a local wildlife refuge to try and get a photo of a new critter that they suspect has been hanging out there.  So I agree and take a day off my “real job” to sit in the weeds and stare at dirt.  It’s not as bad as it sounds.  A day out in nature will almost always beat a day stuck in a cube.

I headed out early on Friday morning, parked my vehicle, and began the mile hike to my spot.  It is early November, but did I get a nice cool day?  No!  As with the rest of the weather the past couple of years, we are pushing a record high for this day in November in North Texas.  I believe it got up to 89 degrees, and the sun was in my face all day.  On the other hand, I got a nice tan on my face as I was seated facing south from sun up to sun down.  I headed back out for a second try on Saturday and was able to stay until after sundown in hopes that the critter would come out then, but again no luck.  But does that mean I shot no pictures?  Of course not.

I caught this Great Egret on Friday morning while sitting there enjoying the early morning sun.  It flew past me over the marsh with the sun highlighting the wings and illuminating the feathers from behind.  A beautiful sight to see.

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Several time that day I could hear and see a kingfisher flying over the marsh looking for a meal.  It was great watching it hover over the water and then diving down to catch a small fish.  Hard to catch it doing that with a big lens though.  That little thing is fast!  I was finally able to catch a shot of this Belted Kingfisher when it landed and tossed the fish into the air to swallow it whole!

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And as I was leaving the area, I shared the trail with an armadillo.  It was walking right towards me.  Of course, they are mostly blind and rely on their sense of smell to warn them of other creatures.  I guess I didn’t have much of an odor because it walked almost right up to me.  I was able to lower myself to get a decent shot as it raised up on its hind legs as if to scare me away.  I remained calm and it went on its way without incident.

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So, even if I wasn’t able to get a shot of the new critter, there will be other days.  New trails are being built now and I can’t wait to get out there and see what kind of critters I can spot!

Trying Out the CR-V Photo Edition

by Michael

Okay, it’s not an official Honda model specification, but after several years of driving my ‘94 Corvette, and having a growing stable of camera equipment that was crowding the old two-seater, I finally decided it was time to get something bigger.  So, for the sake of economy and other options, I opted for a 2012 Honda CR-V EX-L AWD w/NAV.

And while I’m on the subject, a quick shout out to Curtis Kidwell at Jim McNatt Honda in Denton Texas.  He went far above and beyond the call of duty.  When I told him exactly what I wanted, he said he would do whatever  it took to get it for me.  When the model I wanted in the specific color I wanted (opal sage metallic) showed up in the inventory of a dealer in Lubbock, Curtis drove out there (over 600 miles round trip) and brought the vehicle back for me on a trailer so as not to run up the mileage on my very first new car!  This guy deserves every single penny of his commission on this sale and then some.  If you are in the market for a new car, go see Curtis!  He’ll make it happen for you.  And here’s my new Photomobile in the wild!!

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So Finally, on my way home tonight from work, I got the chance to take her out to some of the local spots.  I stopped at a new park here in Flower Mound called “Twin Coves”.  It officially opens in July, but its gates are open now so the people can check it out for free.  One of the first things I saw was something I have never seen around these parts before; a Greater Roadrunner!  I couldn’t believe it!  It ran into some brush before I could get a really good shot of it, and then flew away when I tried to get closer, but now I know where it hangs out!  I will be back!

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Next I saw a heron down at the shoreline and it actually let me get pretty close to it before it flew away.  I thought I had packed my 100-400 but I actually only had my 70-200 so I was surprised I was able to get as close as I did.  It did fly away before I could get a totally clear show away from the bushes.

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Other than these two birds, I saw a squirrel that ran into the woods, but that was about it for the wildlife, unless you count the boatload of youngsters that were offloading at the dock.  Winking smile

After that, I drove around some more but didn’t really see anything else.  So today didn’t really reward me with a lot of great shots, but it was fun to get out and stalk/shoot none the less. It’s been a couple of weeks and it was time. And now that I have my photomobile, I expect to be taking more after work excursions!

This weekend I have a photo shoot with a friend and her son at “Teddy-bear Park”!  I can’t wait!

All shots made with the Canon 5dmII and the Canon 70-200isL