Category Archives: Birds
Kingfisher Day
Friends, this kingfisher female is either molting or is a young one just getting feathers, she was a pretty good fisherwoman so maybe an adult molting. I wish i knew more about the various birds, but there is time for only time for so many passions in one’s life, and photography rates higher than birding, oh well, below is another kingfisher in flight, still practicing my flying shots, til Tomorrow MJ
Blue Heron Takeoff
Friends, this big blue heron takes off from a hiding spot in the marsh, we surprised him and he left the scene immediately. Had to dull down the background a little to make him more of the subject of the image, Hope you forgive a little photoshoping. I am practicing for the cranes in Crex and the Hawk Ridge in Duluth, both events are coming shortly. Probably all flying shots. til Tomorrow MJ
Snipe Hunt
Friends, I didn’t start the day looking for Snipe, we were chasing the wildflowers, asters, goldenrods and other late summer bloomers, when our leader flushed some snipe off the mudflats. I went back later and these tiny birds were back on their muddy bottom again searching for food. I spent an hour watching them tilling the soil with those long bills and peering at their reflections in the water, and sometimes sleeping with their heads tucked backwards. They are tiny birds, one easily fitting in the hand but such a bright eye. Had to use all my telephoto length and plus a 1.4x extender to get a decent image. til Tomorrow MJ
Another Bittern
Friends, this is how i most often see the American bittern, stalking thru the ponds hunting for food, the black stripe from the corner of his mouth and extending down his neck is a distinguishing characteristic of this stocky heron. He looks stocky in this image, but when alarmed or when hunting, he stretches his neck vertically and with the striping on his neck, he thinks that he blends in with the vertical sedges and cattails in the marsh. In the image below you can see the striping on his neck. til Tomorrow MJ
Green Grass Curtain
Friends, this American bittern is hunting from the cover of a curtain of grasses, he/she waggles the white on his chin over the water, we think he uses his waggle like a fishing lure, when something is attracted to the wiggle waggle, he stabs his bill in and comes back with a small fish other small swamp critter. til Tomorrow MJ
Blue Wings
Friends, this handsome fellow is a male blue winged teal, these ducks are dabblers and get their food from the vegetation around the ponds and marshes of Crex. They are particularly fond of wild rice that is a common grain in Crex Meadows. The Blue wings are one of the first birds to leave for South America so I expect that they won’t be around much longer. Fall is on the way! Crane time soon, sorry anna, til Tomorrow MJ
Alarmed Green Heron
Friends, this green heron was alarmed by my presence, and i was alarmed when i got a closer look at this image, long after the bird had flown away, it was then that i noticed the feathers on the top of his head standing straight up on end. Usually when i see this green heron, his head feathers are slicked back (like Elvis) and he is peacefully hunting the shoreline for aquatic food. But when he discovered me, his feathers pointed the way and up he went. Live and learn til Tomorrow MJ
Bittern on the wing
Friends, I was practicing my flight shooting on some Great egrets that are migrating thru Crex, when this American Bittern flew down the path that i had been shooting, actually a pair of bitterns flew over, what a thrill, i have photographed these birds fishing for food and generally stalking the marshes, but never saw them fly, what awaits me tomorrow in the marshes of Crex? til Tomorrow MJ
Sandhills Everywhere?
Friends, this Sandhill Crane has either just molted into his formal gray or has arrived from Northern clearer waters. He is a clean gray and not stained red from the iron-rich waters of Crex. I found lots of molted feathers around the feeding fields of Crex which suggests that the Cranes are molting and shedding those red worn feathers. Some of the feathers are gray at the base and red on the outer tips. The Cranes are flying about getting ready for the Great Fall gathering on the marshes of Crex. I am practicing my flying shots so I will be ready for the fall migration that is the highlight of my year at Crex. Thousands of cranes concentrated on a few marshes flying into a roost in the evening and out of the roost at sunrise is a sight that should not be missed by any bird/nature lover. They will soon be everywhere in Crex Meadows of NW Wisconsin. til Tomorrow MJ
Yellowlegs
Friends, these wading birds have invaded Crex in the last day or two, I think they are yellowlegs, a type of Sandpiper. I love the feather patterns and have waited for them to creep within range of my telephoto, could use more telephoto length for these guys, but attached the 1.4x extender and practiced focusing manually. What a workout, even tho it was a cooler day, i was soaked from the exertion. The sun peeked out briefly for this shot but most of the day was bathed in misty sunshine. I like his reflection. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 