December 25, 2023
It was getting on for 9:30 in the morning. I knew Rick wouldn’t be up until the afternoon (as is his normal sleep habits) and the sun was attempting to peek out between some medium-heavy clouds. Hey! It’s Christmas Day, and I have an opportunity to get out and around. Traffic should be low, right? Heh heh, in my little town at 9:30 in the morning on Christmas Day it’s more like “deserted”.
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I have a sort of route that I follow that takes me on a round trip of about five miles, with many little spots along the way for bird photo opportunities. Of course, the ops begin as soon as I’m down my stairs; you never know what you might see.
I was along nearly a mile before I got my first good bird sighting, but it was just one of the many and ubiquitous Steller’s Jay that heavily populate this area. But what the heck, it’s a bird so I stopped and took a couple of photos. It was silhouetted against the sky so I had to open my exposure and then do some post-processing to get anything presentable, but it turned out to be rather interesting. Does this bird’s bill seem deformed to you? Looks to me like the upper mandible has been damaged or maybe just grew strange?
Regardless, I’d say the bird is still healthy, so onward.
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As I make my way out toward our little airport, there’s an old wind-direction sock that a Red-tailed Hawk has been using as a hunting perch; I’ve spotted it here and photographed it previously. Here’s from the day:
And one of my former shots:
October 19, 2023
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At any rate, I pedaled on out the frontage road that takes me to a spot I can access the airport taxiway. As I got there, I spotted an American Kestrel in a tree. At the instant I got stopped and began to pull my camera, off it flew. Ah, well, it’s not like I’ve never photographed this species before. And just then, I spied another. Right in an adjacent tree. And danged if it didn’t imitate its immediate neighbor; bye-bye!
Sigh.
Time to get out to my turnaround, and take a look over by the wastewater treatment plant to check for Bald Eagle. Nope, none.
But wait! What’s that nearly indistinguishable white spot in the top of a distant tree that doesn’t look like it’s a tree top? Binoculars, man.
Ah ha! Go for the camera, even though it’s so far off it can’t possibly be a good shot. From about 150 yards:
I maneuvered around just a bit to a spot slightly closer and a bit of a different angle, and managed this:
So, I’ve got the “proof” of a Kestrel shot for the day, but can I do even better? I think I can bicycle over to a much better vantage spot, but will the bird stay put? Only one way to find out.
And, success!
Although some of the focus leaves much to be desired, I did get several not-just-a-portrait shots.
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I forgot to mention, before the Kestrel I spotted some Pine Siskin. Group and individual:
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Back on the 17th, during my day with my friends on our local Audubon Christmas Bird Count, my friend Darrell pointed out to me a new (to me) access road over to a spot by Spanish Creek that I’ve never before been able to get to easily. So, after getting the Kestrel shots, I continued my bicycle journey for the day, about three miles from the airport. It’s a great location, with a mile or so of the river that I can get along, and has great possibilities for the future. This day? Well, one very elusive and shy Belted Kingfisher that would not allow me to take its photo (I’ll get ya later, just you wait), and some Lesser Goldfinch. The Goldfinch obliged.
And I’ve got to say, I’m amazed I was able to get the bird in focus in the tangle of branches. A great topper to the day.
All told, about nine miles on the bicycle. Good exercise.
Over to you.
What’s up in your world, nature-wise or other?