Blog Archives
Morning Dove Call
Friends, this morning dove is calling to its mate with an inflated neck and a yellow sheen on the side of the neck. I had never seen this behavior before this photo, nature never seems to disappoint or cease to be amazing in the discoveries to be made. til Tomorrow MJ
Young Cormorant
Friends, while shooting the tall ship parade, we were entertained by some cormorants that were feeding nearby. This juvenile has a beautiful turquoise eye, never noticed their eye color before. til Tomorrow MJ
His Kingdom
Friends, this male goldfinch is announcing to the world his joys and surveying his kingdom. He studied me for about ten minutes and let me shoot his portrait. The goldfinch are late nesters, so his female has probably laid the eggs or hatched some young ones, either way he was out shopping for groceries. til Tomorrow MJ
Sandhill Crane Young
Friends, this is a young Sandhill Crane colt who is about half grown. Those of you who have followed my blog know that one of my favorite birds is the Sandhill Cranes of Crex Meadows here in Northwestern Wisconsin. By fall this chick will have a brown head and as an adult bird will appear as in the bottom image. They love the cornfields and pluck the bugs from the leaves. til Tomorrow MJ
Begging for Food
Friends, this pied billed grebe is very small and photographers often miss her and her chicks when they are hidden among the lily pads. This particular bird had six chicks that were fast approaching her size, and even thou they were diving for their own food, she was still feeding an occasional morsel and so the younger bird is begging for food. I like the two heads telling the story. Would you edit out the spent lily bloom in front of the adult bird? til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:The Golden Hour
Friends, the sharptail grouse dance during the golden hour before dawn until after dawn, then they fly off with a female and do what grouse do. Til then they dance, jump and talk about it and often have an attitude. This image is from Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area and was taken early in the spring. I always freeze my fingers onto the shutter button, talk about cold, brrrrr something to think about now that the temperatures are in the 80-90 range. til Tomorrow MJ
Rising to Meet the Morning
Friends, I know that this loon pose is very commonly seen here in the northland, but I never fail to be amazed by them. I grew up in dry country so seeing a very large bird rise from the water and stretch his wings is a novelty to me. This particular loon and her mate lost their eggs this year due to fluctuating water levels, so they are busy fishing, napping, grooming and yes stretching, this summer season, instead of fishing frantically to feed their young. In this particular place in Crex Meadows, a pair of loons (maybe the same pair) raised a pair of young, so they have done their diligence. til Tomorrow MJ
Yellow Head
Friends, this is a yellow-headed blackbird shopping for dragonflies that fly too slow and make a delicious lunch for birds. The day that I took this image, the dragon flies had just hatched and several of these birds were frantic in their pursuit of lunch. This one even sat still for a minute or so to allow me to snap his portrait. til Tomorrow MJ
Lunch time
Friends, I imagine that this adult loon is admonishing her chick to “not play with your food”, but the look on his face is priceless. Technically this image has way too many highlights, but I liked the joy and celebratory feel to lunch time, In the early morning I was shooting into the light, enjoy, til Tomorrow MJ
Portrait or Blur
Friends, these images are two renditions of a western kingbird, which do you like, the sharp portrait or the pleasing blur,?, i personally like the blur because it is a challenge to capture and it is a bit different. These birds are often perched on top of the prairie dog mounds and constantly shopping for insects . til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 