Spring Break Birding. Mar 2014 Mostly Sunny
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| A Gyfalcon (Falco rusticolus) with a pigeon tucked away under its wings flies away after a successful hunting expedition. I have a number of shots of the bird flying against a blue sky and several with the bird hunting but this is the first with prey. The white background is the Viterra Granary. The Gyrfalcons and the pigeons natural colours makes for a pleasing monochromatic image. |
Richmond Nature Park Hummingbird Feeder Station
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| Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna) There are two hummingbird feeders at Richmond Nature Park. There are also many photographers, too many at times, so after a few shots I went off to a nearby bird feeder area where there were some beautiful House Finches, some with orange tones. |
Richmond Nature Park
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| House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) Before pressing the shutter I chose area where there would be a clean backdrop. Soon enough a finch landed near the feeder and with the sky as a background created this pleasant colour co-ordinated image. The branches create a frame within frame, another compositional tool the keep the viewer interested. |
Mar 21 Green Heron shots with the SX50 HS at Brydon Pond.
I try to go for a quick walk everyday so I usually pack a point and shoot. I'm glad I did.
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| Adult Green Heron (Butorsides virescens) |
Gorgeous shot of the Heron.
ReplyDeleteCan't stand the photographers at the nature park glad they put up a fence. Hope you were able to see the male and female Rufous there though. If not there are tons at the Reifel feeder.
John, lovely images! I'll have to try Brydon this afternoon, and see if it's still there!
ReplyDeleteThe bird is on the north-west corner but go slowly or it gets spooked easily.
DeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteGreat Gyr picture. I don't think this guy has to work too hard for a meal -- nice grain fed pigeon, mmm!
I saw the GRHE today at Brydon but it was on the north shore and distant when viewed from any angle. Hence I didn't get a close look at it. When I looked at your closeup here, it seems to me the bird may have a bill deformity. The mandibles look crossed. What do you think? Do you have any other photos to check if this might be the case?
Cheers,
George
The Green Heron does indeed have what seems a bill deformity. Another birder suggested it might have occurred when the bird was younger. The deformity isn't apparent in my other photos. George, I'll have another look and send you some another angles.
DeleteThanks everyone for your comments. The Green Heron does indeed have what seems a bill deformity. Another birder suggested it might have occurred when the bird was younger. The deformity isn't apparent in my other photos. George, I'll have another look and send you some another angles.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Gyrfalcon, it hasn't been seen for two days so it may have left as has the Ladner Prairie Falcon.
Yesterday I tried to get some flight shots of the Pigeon Guillimots at Lonsdsale Quay. I'm not too sure if they are worth publishing but the birds are pairing up and very vocal. They nest in cavities under the pier. It is the first time I have seen them since visiting Mitlenatch Island many years ago.
Nothing much at Ambleside either, a slow day overall but great to be outdoors.
These herons are so intelligent and even literally bait fish.
ReplyDelete