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May 22, 2010January 14, 2013

American Avocet Portrait (Photo of the week)

A nesting american avocet peeks above the pickle weed

This american avocet was sitting on her nest, hidden in pickle weed along the bank of a shallow slough. Avocet nests are fairly unimpressive – they are usually just a small scrape along the ground, sometimes lined with grass. Sometime avocet females will lay their eggs in other avocet nests – or even the nests of other species. Likewise, other species (usually black-necked stilts) have been known to lay their eggs in active avocet nests. The avocet female that tends the nest will raise the stilt chicks as if they were her own.

February 1, 2010January 14, 2013

The Great Egret (Photo of the week)

A great egret calls out with an open beak

One of the largest, most majestic and ubiquitous birds around my house year round is the Great Egret. A short walk along the bay will usually yield at least one sighting, no matter the time of year. As captivating as this bird is because of its sheer size, it becomes even more interesting when observing its behavior. Whether fishing, preening, flying, or just poking around in the mud with its smaller Snowy Egret cousins, the Great Egret seems intent on whatever it is doing.

Both photos presented here are of the same egret on the same day. The shot below was taken just after a stiff wind had ruffled the bird’s feathers. To settle its feathers back in place, it began to shake its entire body back and forth like a wet dog. Captured mid-shake, it looks more like an overgrown chick than its usual stately self.

A great egret shakes its body, fluffing its feathers as it prepares to preen

October 19, 2009January 14, 2013

Ring-billed Gull Portrait (Photo of the week)

Ring-billed Gull portrait in soft evening light at sunset

We see these birds all the time, throughout most of North America. They invade our parking lots and strip malls, and their calls are ubiquitous. However, when I happened upon this ring-billed gull standing alone at the end of a pier overlooking the San Francisco Bay, I saw an opportunity to turn the commonplace into an interesting shot. The sun was setting behind me, illuminating the bird with a soft glow. That, combined with the fact that this particular bird was clean and quite nice looking, gave me the ingredients needed to create a pleasing portrait.