High Water

I went to check a camera trap and discovered the road was flooded.  I had to choose between turning around or looking for something to photograph.  I drove to the next convenience turn around point and saw reflections along the road and then I noticed the songbirds. We have had about six inches of rain this week and it will take a couple weeks for the the water to recede so I can get the camera that fortunately it is on high ground.

Technical: Natural sound recorded with a Rode Stereomic. The overhead jet is just part of the world. 

Where are they now?

These robins were filmed in December but have not been seen or heard for the last month.  Birds can't store up fat for energy or insulation so must eat daily to survive. Migration also has the risk of finding food along the way. This is a good winter to be a hibernator. 

Birds of May

What a month!  After a long winter the birds came back strong.  I spent almost the entire month  doing still photography using the 100-400 mm lens, handheld.  It was a refreshing break from being locked to a tripod and less frustrating than waiting for video action.
Birds of May can be seen at: May 2013 Birds

American Redstart

Another first image, what a spring!  Redstarts have been everywhere and highly visible because of their orange wing bars and constant flashing of their tail as they flutter from branch to branch.  According to the Cornell Bird website this behavior is used to flush insect prey off branches and leaves so it can be eaten, seems like a lot of work.

Bay Breasted Warbler

Another in the series of warblers from last week.  Spring woodlands have been more brown than green so the colorful birds have been very welcome subjects. Another image shot hand held with the 100-400 lens, image stabilizer on. Since starting shooting Canon video it has become my favorite lens for both wildlife stills and video.  With the 7D crop factor it is a 640 mm lens, remember when a 600 mm lens was financially out of reach.

Black Throated Green Warbler

What's in a name? In this case it is very descriptive but that's not always the case as in the Magnolia Warbler which acquired its name from the tree it was first seen in.  Photographed in the backyard.

Black and White Survivor

This warbler hit the window yesterday afternoon and after recovering in the grass a couple hours was good to go.

Magnolia Warbler

I don't know if it is the weather or just the coincidence of me being outdoors when the warblers pass through but I have never seen the woods alive with warblers like this year. Technical: Captured with center point autofocus, cropped for subject placement, in this case vertical.

Hungry Veery

More snow on the way is not going to make it easy for these little guys.  I have seen more of verrys than ever; more birds or looking more?  Birds are nice but I prefer pasque flowers in April, maybe next week.