cute – Page 13

April 2, 2011January 14, 2013

Snowy Plover and friends

A snowy plover just coming into breeding plumage rests in the sand. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/1250 sec. at f/8

When I was in Moss Landing recently, I knew it would be a good opportunity to photograph snowy plovers in the sand, because they nest along the beach at the mouth of the harbor. Snowy plovers nest right in the open sand, which is why their nesting grounds are frequently protected along the California coast. It was still a little too early to see established nest sites, but they should be scoping some out.

After some searching, I found a few of them sitting down in the sand. They were just starting to come into breeding plumage. Not wanting to disturb them, I spend a good ten minutes creeping slowly closer, until I could create frame-filling shots like the one above. My tripod legs were fully splayed out in order to get the lens closer to the ground. I was pretty happy with my position and the fact that I had gotten as close as I needed to without disrupting the birds.

After making some shots, I looked up and saw a surfer emerge from the water a little ways up the beach. I thought he would continue walking toward the road, but then he saw me and starting walking in my direction. Unbelievably, he walked directly toward me fully in my lens’s line of sight. And he didn’t stop until he was standing next to me looking down at my prone form! Needless to see, the birds scattered as he tromped through their would-be nesting area. I was just staring at him (probably with a dropped jaw), incredulous that he would have so little common sense or self awareness.

“Getting some good photographs?” he asked.

“Well, I was,” I relied wryly. As the acclaimed bird photographer Art Morris is fond of saying, you gotta love it!

The scattered plovers were not to be refound, and I had to settle for the photos I already had. However, I spent some more time creeping up on some sanderlings and western sandpipers who were busy poking through shells and seaweed that had been washed up on the beach. These photos can be seen below.

I quick word to the non-photographers out there. If you are in a remote area and see someone concentrating on something with their camera, please please please don’t just walk up to them and interrupt without understanding what they’re photographing. This is especially important with wildlife that you can spook. The photographers of the world thank you.

A sanderling calls out as it walks along the sand. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/2000 sec. at f/8

March 27, 2011January 14, 2013

Moss Landing Harbor

A sea otter floats through the water, taking a break. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/500 sec. at f/8

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Recently I spent a morning photographing the sea life in Moss Landing, California. The harbor at Moss Landing boasts a great variety of sea birds and mammals, and is favorite spot for many sea otters. I woke early and arrived at the harbor at dawn, hoping to catch some of the wildlife in early morning light. Most of the usual suspects were there, including the common loon.

A common loon swims alone through deep water. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/1600 sec. at f/7.1

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Also seen cruising around the harbor, occasionally diving for food were several surf scoters. A male, resplendent with his colorful beak came close, probably to see if I was one of those fishermen who might have some bait to spare.

A male surf scoter swims through open water. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering 0 EV: 1/1000 sec. at f/7.1

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And then of course, there were the sea otters, probably the most popular attraction at the harbor. I saw about twenty to thirty of them all floating together, either diving and eating, playfully wresting each other in the water, or just floating on their backs, taking a bit of a nap. One otter in particular had an entertaining way of grooming himself. First, he would lick one paw while rubbing the back of his head with his other paw. Then he’d switch paws, slowly cleaning the back and sides of his head.

First licking one paw, and then the other, a sea otter takes turns massaging his head with each paw. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/800 sec. at f/8

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After repeating this behavior for several minutes, it was time for the face massage. Opening his mouth, he’d lightly rub his cheeks in small circles. After a while, he really got into what he was doing, opening and closing his mouth and sticking out his tongue occasionally. Abruptly he stopped, and went back to licking his paws and cleaning his head.

A sea otter rubs its face on each side of its mouth, giving itself a gentle massage. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering 0 EV: 1/1600 sec. at f/8

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Sea lions and harbor seals were also in attendance at the harbor. Most of the sea lions were crowded on a pier waiting for fishing boats to return and share their left-overs. Unfortunately, the time of day did not cooperate with the only angle of approach I had, and all of my photos were severely back lit. The harbor seals however were busy traveling to and fro, so I had better opportunities with them.

A harbor seal swims just under the surface of the water, head just peeking out. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering -1/3: 1/800 sec. at f/8

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As the morning stretched on, more tourists arrived and the harbor started to get crowded. I was happy to have woken early and arrived at dawn, giving me plenty of time in relative solitude with the animals. Pretty soon it was time to leave. The sun was high overhead, most of the wildlife had scattered, and the otters had settled in for a nice long lazy day in the waves.

With arms folded behind its head a floating sea otter lets out a huge yawn. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 400. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/1000 sec. at f/8

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March 15, 2011January 14, 2013

Pied-billed Grebe (Photo of the week)

A pied-billed grebe swims through still water. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 800. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6

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My photo pick this week is of a pied-billed grebe that I found swimming alone in a narrow channel in a neighborhood near my house. The afternoon light reflected off of the rocks in front of me, which acted as a diffuser, giving me night even light across the scene. Houses along the opposite shore cast the water in a reddish hue.

As always, I tried to get as close to eye level with the bird as possible. However, it was difficult to do so in this spot, requiring me to pick my way over sharp rocks to get close to the water. True eye level was impossible here, as the channel was only about fifteen feet wide, and the immediate shore was too steep to set up my tripod. I made the best of the given situation, unfolding two of the legs so that they were close to flat, with the third tripod leg longer and pointing downhill, almost touching the water. Then I sat down underneath and behind the camera – giving me a comfortable position from which to shoot, while still allowing good hand support for my lens. It also lowered my profile and allowed me to be absolutely still, which will usually allow the target bird to approach closer instead of swimming away (which they often do!)

A pied-billed grebe swims through still water calling out with its beak open. Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS lens with the EOS-7D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering +2/3: 1/250 sec. at f/8

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By remaining perfectly still, I was able to photograph this grebe for a while as it swam back and forth in front of me. The narrow channel kept the wind off the water, creating great reflections.

When I’m out specifically photographing birds, I look for two things – either an uncommon species that I haven’t photographed before, or a great shooting situation with good light and the right aesthetics to create a good photograph. I’ve photographed pied-billed grebes before, but this was a situation I couldn’t pass up because of the nice light, great reflections, and close proximity to the bird.

January 29, 2011January 14, 2013

California ground squirrels poisoned

A California ground squirrel peeks up out of its burrow. Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS lens with the EOS-40D. ISO 640. Evaluative metering -2/3 stop: 1/400 sec. at f/8

This morning I was alerted to a sad recent development at a local park by Peter J. Metropulos, a fellow participant in a local wild bird discussion email list. Based on a recent article in the Almanac (a local newspaper), last August, the city of Menlo Park contracted with an exterminator to kill off the ground squirrels at Bedwell Bayfront Park, which is situated along the San Francisco Bay. The worry was that a growing squirrel population would eventually dig though the cap that covered the landfill on which the park was built, and drag garbage to the surface. Upon being notified of this issue, the city counsel conducted their own investigation, and determined that the squirrel population needed to be reduced.

Metropulos raised the following concerns in his email. “The tiny bit of undeveloped bay land habitat that remains in San Mateo County is under a constant threat of destruction. One of the precious few bits left is Bayfront Park. This was perhaps our last opportunity to provide a place for Burrowing Owls to re-colonize (they rely on ground squirrel burrows for nesting). Now with the squirrels gone that hope is gone as well.

“The California Ground Squirrel is a native mammal, not an introduced vermin like the roof rat, and it is an important component of our local ecosystem. In addition, having our own local ‘prairie dog’ colony has provided an easily-observable wildlife experience for the general public. People like watching the busy little critters running around. Local residents have been robbed of a part of their natural history.”

Now I’m not arguing that this type of action is never appropriate (although I do know which side of the argument my bias would land me on). But at the very least, before a decision like this is made, we must have careful, thorough scientific study, and input from local citizens. Before mid-level politicians decide to “play God” by poisoning a population of local wildlife, we need to consider the effects. How will this impact the food chain within which the ground squirrels are an integral part? What about all the birds of prey that feed on them? What about the dwindling burrowing owl population that relies on the ground squirrels to excavate their homes?

As a wildlife photographer, I can’t help but have a respect and care for the creatures that grace me with their presence. It saddens me any time I see people meddling in nature, especially when it looks like was done with little thought about the wider implications. I really hope that is not the case here.

I think the worst part of this entire situation is the fact that the public was not notified of the burrow poisoning before it was conducted. I hope that the Menlo Park city counsel releases details of their “own investigation” to the public. I also pray that the probable impacts on other species was taken into account before they concluded that poisoning a native species was the best course of action.

Unfortunately, it appears that this event was not treated with the care that it deserves. The article concludes, “[Deputy City Manager Kent Steffens] said he didn’t know how many burrows were baited with poison, or how many squirrels died as a result. Neither did a representative from [the extermination contractor] Animal Damage Management, who said the technician who carried out the contract was on vacation.”