Blog Archives
Tamron 150-600 mm- More Testing
Friends, this is another test of Tamron 150-600 mm sharpness so those who are not interested can tune out now, this white-throated sparrow was on a bird feeder at Hawk Ridge, I was about ten feet away and the day was beautiful. This would simulate conditions that i usually shoot little birdies, handheld and sitting on a rock. No sharpening on this image just straight out of the camera, the bottom image is an extreme crop to show the head details
This image is pretty sharp and the one below has some minimal sharpness added in photoshop, so til Tomorrow MJ
The Harrier Ballet
Friends, this hatch year Northern Harrier is leaping from his perch in response to an attack by a hatch year Bald Eagle. I showed the fray in an earlier post. Yesterday I went to Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota in preparation for the upcoming fall migration of raptors and passerines. Not much to report yet, but found some cedar waxwings and white throated sparrows on the hill top so til Tomorrow MJ
Badlands Harrier
Friends, had to take some time away from this blog to visit the North Dakota badlands. Twice in one year is an unusual event, but also attended my 50th high school reunion then it is only another 150 miles to the badlands. This is a Northern Harrier gliding over a hilltop and i was able to grab four focused images, i combined them for this composite image. I would never been able to identify this bird without my experiences on Hawk Ridge last fall. His brownish feathers say he is an immature bird and f you look closely you can see his owl face. til Tomorrow MJ
A Full Moon to Remember
Friends, night of the full moon, Jan 15 2013, yes this is a composite image, but couldn’t resist showing it on this blog, the eagle was at Hawk Ridge, and the full moon from above our house last January. Sometimes Photoshop is an artist’s best friend, do you mind??, til Tomorrow MJ
Kestrel 2013
Friends, this pretty bird of prey was photoed at Hawk Ridge this fall as the migration proceeded down south. Her wing color says she is female and is an American Kestrel, the smallest of the falcons. She was captured, banded, held in hand for educating the public and turned back into the wild. so til Tomorrow MJ
Kestrel
Friends, this pretty bird of prey was photoed at Hawk Ridge this fall as the migration proceeded down south. Her wing color says she is female and is an American Kestrel, the smallest of the falcons. She was captured, banded, held in hand for educating the public and turned back into the wild. so til Tomorrow MJ
Over the River….
Friends, on this Thanksgiving eve i am thinking of the old song, Over the river and through the woods to Grandmas house we go. This is not a river but Amity Creek that runs off Hawk Ridge into Lake Superior. We traveled over the plains and thru the hills to get to my grandmas house in the badlands of North Dakota. This time of year I remember being a child and being loved by parents and grandparents but kind of missing the Thankful part, now I am an adult and I realize how Thankful i am for the blessings of family and friends, so Happy Thanksgiving everyone, til Tomorrow MJ
Noisy Visitor
Friends, this noisy goshawk is leaving the area in a hurry, Goshawks are notorious for the squawking that they do when in hand at Hawk Ridge. This is a first year bird and is used to hollering for food in the nest. His feathers are a bit ruffled as he gathers himself to continue his migration south. Being a woodland bird, these are rarely seen except in the fall migration over Hawk Ridge. The Goshawk count over the ridge is the highest anywhere in the US. So the goshawk has become an icon of Hawk Ridge, til Tomorrow MJ
On the Way Home
Friends, this scene was on the way home from Hawk Ridge, the tamarack trees are conifers that turn golden in the fall and lose their needles for winter. This old shed was a dramatic contrast to the bright trees and i had to turn around and photograph. Photographers are an endangered specie cause every one thinks they can take an image just as good, but photography is in the creative eye not in the camera. Comment if you agree, til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 