Category Archives: photography
Weekly Photo Challenge:Foreign
Friends, These birds are sometimes foreign to Wisconsin having migrated from the far North. We are Florida to these rough-legged Hawks. I am putting together a book of the hawks that i have photographed from Hawk Ridge this fall during the migration. One specie is being difficult to get a photo, although a few have gone over the ridge, I have not been there when a Rough-Legged Hawk has been in hand. This Roughie was photographed by me in Crex during a recent irruption year, maybe it will be my only photograph. They get their name from the beautiful feathering on their legs that protects them from ice, snow and other hazards of the very far northland. I have three days left to photo this bird, maybe I will get lucky. til Tomorrow MJ
Young Eagle
Friends, this Bald Eagle is a youngster, but not sure if it is a hatch year bird or older, they don’t reach maturity until they are five years old and the plumage changes every year. This immature was perched in a birch tree on a cloudy day, hence the white background. Several Eagles of all ages were gathered above a deer that was probably a wolf kill. They were enjoying their breakfast til i came along and disturbed their Thanksgiving dinner (early), the wild have to eat when the opportunity arises, til Tomorrow MJ
Growing up- Swan Style
Friends, these late-fall cygnets are Trumpeter Swan hatch year birds. In October they are getting some adult plumage and turning from gray to white. Their bills are also turning from pink to black. In the image below, the white flight feathers are present in the outstretched wing. Their heads and neck are still very dark gray. The plant stubs sticking out of the water are what is left of the wild rice on Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows. til Tomorrow MJ
Handsome Fella
Friends,this pheasant was not afraid of the rain and came out to visit with me, he ran parallel to my car for awhile and i shot his portrait, then he disappeared into the marsh. I love the red webbing around his eye, I have never observed that up close before, so it is a first for me, had to share with you, til Tomorrow MJ 
The Chase
Friends, this is Trumpeter Swan 47E and i think he/she woke up cranky. As these swans were settling into their nightly roost, there was lots of chasing and jostling to vie for space. After about ten minutes of this activity all were quietly preening and tolerating the presence of others. Not your typical swan image but tells of behavior not often shown, I love the feathering on the underside of the wing, til Tomorrow MJ
Mother and Child -Trumpeter Swans
Friends, this is not a mating pair of Trumpeter Swans, but an adult (in front) leading a youngster from this years hatch. The young swan is gray with a pink bill, while the adult is white with a black bill. There are many Trumpeters on Crex Meadows right now, gathering for their migration. This family of five didn’t like all the noise that the Sandhill Cranes were making, so they departed. til Tomorrow MJ
Snow?? No Just Snow Buntings
Friends, this beautiful bird is visiting this winter having migrated from somewhere up near the Arctic circle. This snow bunting is in non-breeding plumage and note the feathers around the top part of the legs that protect them from ice and snow. He is walking along the edge of Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows on a beautiful sunny Sunday. til Tomorrow MJ
Sharpie Tail
Friends, this sharp-shinned Hawk is spreading her wings and tail to fly away. I think this image is a “pleasing blur” as described by Arthur Morris and Denise Ippolito in their book by the same name. You can check it out at: https://store.birdsasart.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=298.
I have been practicing my flying shots and found that using the manual mode, setting the aperture to f8 and the shutter speed to 1/1000, while putting the iso selection on auto, works well on these flight shots. Using a central focus point and panning with the image stabilization on setting 2 is also part of my digital data for this image. Larger birds are best for practicing the panning technique so go out and find a bird. Practice, practice, practice. My goal is to be able to pan the smaller birds of winter, juncos, chickadees and pine grosbeaks. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Silhouette
Friends, I know I cheated a little by leaving some details in my silhouettes, but when totally dark against a light background they lose that flying delicate feathery look. These are Greater Sandhill Cranes that are gathered by the thousands on the marshes and corn fields around Crex Meadows. They are feeding and resting for a while before another push to southern climes, the snow will eventually drive them from Wisconsin. They keep me outside, hiking, photographing and waiting for the snow, BAH Humbug, til Tomorrow MJ
On the Meadows
Friends, this morning we are back at Crex Meadows in Northwestern Wisconsin, where the Trumpeter Swans are passing through on the migration. This beautiful bird is preening her feathers and admiring her fine figure in the lake water. A ballerina balanced on one foot, all she needs is a tutu, this week has been a bit gray in the meadow and we are out walking the young dog and mourning the passing of our old dog. The Meadow colors make life a bit more bearable. Below is an image of the grass colors and the pond where thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Mallard ducks are also gathering to help with the harvest of wild rice. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 