Blog Archives
Layered Flight
Friends, back to our winter weather now, and while visiting Crex this week, I photographed this rough-legged hawk in flight. I panned him as he flew by and combined the images (6) into one image to show the various wing positions. These images were over-exposed to white-out the background of each then layered on top of a white background and the blending mode of each image layer was set to darken so only the dark pixels are added from each image. Then each bird is moved to a suitable location. The dark wing patch present on the underwing is diagnostic of the roughie and the gray sky is diagnostic of our weather. Hope you enjoy. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Reflections
Friends, another entry to this weeks theme: reflections, i needed a warmer image this morning to stimulate my morning, coffee is not doing the trick this morning, still really groggy, blame it on the weather. This image was taken this summer, but the background as is was too busy, so i put the swans on their own layer and blurred the background and gave it a slightly foggy feel. These trumpeter swans are now floating in a non-distracting background with a lovely foggy reflection. Sometimes the differences between sharpness can also be used to make the subject more prominent. til Tomorrow MJ
Another Sparrow
Friends, this chipping sparrow ( i think) also comes to you from Hawk Ridge. The migration of the passerines is also monitored from Hawk Ridge The smaller birds are counted and some are banded as they pass through and get some seed at the feeders. This bird was busy munching on sunflower seeds as I crept close enough for a portrait. I love their tiny feathers around the face. til Tomorrow MJ
Red Pine Sunset
Friends, the end of a perfect winter day, this red pine grove is halfway home from Crex Meadows and I often see it at sunset. Spending the day at Crex is a passion even when the summer birds have gone south. The only birds remaining are natives and those that migrate from the far northern regions. Currently there are Rough-legged hawks, bald eagles, a harrier, osprey and an occasional red-tailed hawk, I am chasing otters, timber wolves, white tail deer and other illusive ghosts thru the 30,000 acres of marsh and woodlands that is Crex. Finding tracks but nothing else so now i have to resort to some sunset images to be able to show you the wonders of Crex. til Tomorrow MJ
Sparrow Ridge?
Friends, this tiny bird is a white-throated sparrow visiting Hawk Ridge sometime in October. I love the little yellow spot in front of his eye, the image below is a close-up of his head. You can see the new bracelet that the banders have given him . Some of these little birds are captured more than once cause they tend to hang around the bird feeders. Lots of birds follow Hawk Ridge on their migration routes, so maybe Hawk Ridge should be called Bird Ridge. Just kidding of course, the more spectacular birds always bring the crowds. til Tomorrow MJ
COLD !!
Friends, i saw this at Crex when the full moon rose in the late afternoon, but it took two layers to show it to you. The Bald Eagle was the bottom layer with the moon added on top. This is a photograph of the feelings that at times inspire a artful approach. The moon and the eagle are in a very cold light against the pure blue sky and the temperature outside was also cold.So this morning a cold start to your day. til Tomorrow MJ
Hardy Snipe
Friends, this hardy Snipe is still hanging around on the icy edges of a pond that has not closed up yet, but the temperature this morning was only 9 degrees above zero Fahrenheit, so the water will soon close. Hope he gets his breakfast and hurries on his way south, it is not healthy to stay too long. Below is another image of him enjoying the bitter cold sunshine, he was holding up his foot trying to warm it under his body. Enjoy the sun while you can, til Tomorrow MJ
Notched tail- Redtail
Friends, this is a red tail from a large female Redtailed Hawk. While examining her in hand, she had two missing feathers on the left side of her tail, and two new feathers are growing back. These new feathers are a little fresher looking than the other older feathers. A weathered veteran of the wilderness wars, this image demonstrates that hawks are also in peril and often are the hunted ones as well as being the hunter. Below is an image of her release back, the shorter feathers were not slowing her flight back to the wildness. An account of two eagles pursuing a redtail is included in this link: redtail pursued by golden eagles
Red tail Details
Friends, this redtailed hawk is leaving with his new bracelet on his leg. Those talons are pretty fierce hunting weapons and the image below shows a closeup of these sharp tools that keep him supplied with food. You can see the dark patch on the wing rib and his dark belly band that mark him as a redtail hawk. til Tomorrow MJ
In the Corn Field
Friends, Daylight finds the Sandhills on cornfields adjacent to Crex Meadows. This immature Sandhill Crane is gleaning corn from the field after the picker has gone through. The cranes alternate from the corn fields in the daytime to the marsh in the evening hours, think i am running out of images for this blog. Need to go to Crex today and see what is up, til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 