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September 25, 2018March 10, 2019

Hopin’ For Hoopoes

As I rounded the bend in a trail in Parc de l’Oreneta in Barcelona, I drew an audible gasp, my eyes widening in surprise. There on the ground about 30 yards in front of me was a hoopoe, digging through dead leaves and tree litter looking for his morning meal. I had been looking for this bird for the last five years, and finally, here it was quite unexpectedly in front of me! Having decorated the cover of a “birds of the world” guide on my bookshelf, the hoopoe’s beautiful feather characteristics caught my eye. Ever since, I have been hoping to photograph one in the wild. I searched for one in both Africa and India, but to no avail. For some reason, it didn’t even make my radar for target birds on this trip to Spain, yet here it was on a quiet Saturday morning in a city park.

A Eurasian hoopoe hunts through the grass for a morning snack, Parc de l’Oreneta, Barcelona, Spain.

Unfortunately, my stalking skills could not overcome this bird’s awareness, and it flew off before I could get better than distant identifying shots. No matter – I was thrilled to know this species was here, and I planned to be back in the park bright and early the next morning.

The next morning, I spent some time in an open clearing, hoping to get a hoopoe perched in the rising sun. After about an hour of searching and waiting (meanwhile photographing the many monk parakeets that dotted the trees), I decided to move into the forested part of the park. Knowing the hoopoe is a ground feeder, I picked a primitive trail, hoping to stay away from morning joggers along the larger gravel and dirt roads. The ground sloped uphill to the left of the trail, and that is where I focused my search. Soon, the rustling of leaves alerted me to a hoopoe poking through forest detritus scattered along the hillside.

A Eurasian hoopoe perches on a stout branch, Parc de l’Oreneta, Barcelona, Spain.

As I moved closer, it flushed to a nearby tree branch. I was able to get some safety shots of the hoopoe, but it was still skittish and constantly scanning its surroundings. I knew I should not get closer, and had to try a completely different approach. I moved further down the trail, then straight up the hill through the forest, lugging my 13 pound camera rig over my shoulder. Now I was able to move down the hill toward the hoopoe from a different direction. It had moved from the first branch, but looked much more relaxed in its second perch.

A Eurasian hoopoe perches on a stout branch, Parc de l’Oreneta, Barcelona, Spain.

I was able to create some wonderful portraits with a relaxed hoopoe in full view. However, I didn’t yet have the iconic hoopoe shot that I was after. With my heart beating in my chest, I slowed my breath and waited. After several minutes, the bird finally stretched out its wing as it prepared for a nap on the branch.

Stretching a wing, a Eurasian hoopoe displays its beautiful crest plumage, Parc de l’Oreneta, Barcelona, Spain.

With the stretch came that amazing crest of feathers along the top of its head. My shutter fired and I knew I had the shot I had spend 5 years hoping for.

Gear I used to create the photos in this post:

February 12, 2018March 10, 2019

An Afternoon In Redwood Shores

A green heron perches next to still water, reflecting fall colors, Redwood Shores, CA.

I came across the following birds on a recent afternoon in Redwood Shores, California. Located right along San Francisco Bay with lots of calm water channels and sloughs, there are usually good opportunities to get close to these wetland species.

A greater yellowlegs stalks in shallow water, Redwood Shores, CA.

First to show his face was a greater yellowlegs stalking along the edge of a slough. The still water provided a faint reflection.

A gadwall swims through shallow, calm water, Redwood Shores, CA.

I came across quite a few gadwall, a winter specialist in the bay area. During the summer, they disappear to the north, so it is always nice to see these understated drakes bobbing along the surface. Look closely and you will see the beautiful interplay of buff, gray and black.

A tiny bushtit perches briefly on an ornamental bush, Redwood Shores, CA.

Bushtits are year round residents, but notoriously difficult to find and photograph. They travel in flocks, often spending less than 30 seconds on a set of bushes before flying off to the next. The best way to find them is listen for their signature peeping and then scramble to find the source of the sound. Here I managed to capture a brief look from a striking female before she moved on to find more food.

A green heron perches next to still water, reflecting fall colors, Redwood Shores, CA.

I always feel lucky to find green herons considering how much they can blend in. This one I followed down a water channel until I could get a nice backdrop of reflected fall colors. Whenever I can, I seek out simple, clean backgrounds as it greatly accentuates the main subject.

A double-crested cormorant perches on a small rock, reflected in still water, Redwood Shores, CA.

Just before sunset, I found this double-crested cormorant perched on a tiny rock out in the calm water. Although the light was fading, I found the posture of this bird interesting. After a few moments, he spread his wings and flew off somewhere to roost.

Gear I used to create the photos in this post:

December 5, 2017March 10, 2019

Roosevelt Elk At Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

A male Roosevelt elk ruts in the grass, pulling straw onto his antlers, Elk Meadow, Orick, CA.

Earlier this fall, my wife Kerry and I took a trip up to Redwood National and State Parks in northern California. As we got up to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, we stopped at Elk Meadow, a popular spot to see one of the few herds of Roosevelt Elk that survive in and around the Redwood parks.

A male Roosevelt elk ruts in the grass, pulling straw onto his antlers, Elk Meadow, Orick, CA.

As it was fall, we were treated to witnessing rutting season, the time of year where bull elks assert their dominance in the quest for female attention. It was readily apparent who the big, dominant bull was, decoratively adorned with straw hanging from his antlers. The regularity of his bugles told us that he had a high opinion of himself!

A male Roosevelt elk ruts in the grass, pulling straw onto his antlers, Elk Meadow, Orick, CA.

After a while he realized his vocalizations were having no effect on his fellow elk. Obviously, he needed more straw! He quickly set about redecorating himself.

A male Roosevelt elk sits in a pile to hay, Elk Meadow, Orick, CA.

Exhausted from his efforts of showing off, he took a bit of a snooze in the grass.

Roosevelt elk is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk in North America. Today Roosevelt elk in California persist only in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, and western Siskiyou County. Seven elk herds call Redwood National and State Parks home, although at times these herds become loose aggregations of smaller groups. Although this is a pretty easy large mammal to see in North America, I always delight at their antics, whether it is during the fall rut or the spring calving season.

Gear I used to create the photos in this post:

September 7, 2017March 10, 2019

Bird On A Wire – Birds Of Ontario

On a trip to Ontario Canada a while back, I was able to spend some time photographing some of the area’s local birds, knowing that many of what I found there would be new species to me. I quickly found a few local residents, but as my time was short, I wasn’t able to get all of them without man-made elements in the frame.

An eastern kingbird perches on a wire fence, Wolf Island, Ontario, Canada.

The first such local was an eastern kingbird. He was perched right next to a country road, at perfect eye level with my lens, which was resting on a bean bag sitting in an open window. Often bean bags are the best supports from which to shoot from a vehicle, especially if you want the opportunity to shoot out both sides of the car. Often Kerry is kind enough to drive slowly (and as quietly as possible) down country roads while I keep the back seat to myself and move back and forth between the rear windows as required.

I usually try to capture birds in more natural environments, but there were no trees nearby, there was a perfect distant background, and I had no time to wait for a better perch.

A female bobolink perches on a wire fence, Wolf Island, Ontario, Canada.

The second bird I photographed in the same area (and yes, perched on a similar wire fence to the first bird) was a female bobolink. I saw several males in the area as well, but they stayed farther from the road and I didn’t get any worthwhile photos of them. It is always difficult identifying female species as the coloring can be quite different than the males. Since males typically have more differentiating colors, species are usually described using the males’ attributes instead of the females. To identify female birds, I often troll through hundreds of photos after guessing at the species, or at least narrowing down the family of bird.

A mute swan swims through calm water in a wetland, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

I also got some decent photos of a mute swan, and finally without distracting “hand of man” elements! Mute swans are native to Europe and Asia, but have established sizable populations in the coastal areas of the Great Lakes. I felt lucky to see one in the wild, as I’d never find one on the west coast of the US.

An osprey flies with wings stretched, Wolf Island, Ontario, Canada.

My last bird for the day was not a new species for me, but who can’t marvel at a beautiful osprey in flight? The local area had erected several nesting towers to encourage the birds to raise their young here. This osprey had chicks in the nest, and gave me lots of great flight shots as it flew to and from the nest.

An osprey perches on the edge of a man-made nest tower, Wolf Island, Ontario, Canada.

Here the osprey is perched at the edge of its nesting tower, looking majestic.

It is always fun to travel to new areas for nature photography. While landscape photography dictates that you continually visit new areas, bird and wildlife photography can often be done closer to home. Closer to home, you often have much more time with an animal, but with traveling, nothing beats the thrill of seeing what’s around the next corner.

Gear I used to create the photos in this post: