bird photography

Big, beautiful American White Pelicans

By Mia McPherson, on May 24th, 2013%

Adult American White Pelican

Yesterday at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge there were two American White Pelicans that were close enough to photograph as they floated on the Bear River, it was a cloudless morning so the river was a gorgeous blue which always sets off the whites of these big, beautiful birds.

American White Pelican on the Bear River

This pelican was sporting a long, shaggy “do” that would stand straight up as the wind blew. Photographing these large white birds can present exposure challenges, I tossed a few over exposed images into my delete bin but for the most part the series I took came out very well.

American White Pelicans breed here in Utah and many nest on isolated islands in the Great Salt Lake, they often fly long distances to freshwater locations such as Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge to capture fish for their young as the Great Salt Lake near those islands is too hyper saline to have fish.

Happy Friday,

Mia

Willet on Antelope Island State Park

By Mia McPherson, on May 23rd, 2013%

Willet on Antelope Island

Just a simple Willet image today that I took on Antelope Island State Park earlier this month. Things were a bit crazy yesterday and I didn’t have time to do much on my blog.

Have a great day.

Mia

Western Meadowlark in flight

By Mia McPherson, on May 22nd, 2013%

Western Meadowlark in flight – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light

Yesterday was my first time out shooting since returning from Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, bad weather had kept me from being in the field. It was wonderful to be back on Antelope Island State Park, seeing the birds, animals and how things had changed in just a bit over a week.

It was also wonderful to have beautiful light.

This Western Meadowlark lifted off from a Sagebrush and I was able to track it and capture this image as soon as it was airborne. I’ve found it difficult to get images of Western Meadowlarks in flight because they move so quickly.

Mia

A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in really bad light

By Mia McPherson, on May 21st, 2013%

Red-tailed Hawk in really bad light - Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/8000, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

Sometimes I take the shot despite knowing that I am not shooting in optimal conditions, most of the time the results are awful but once in awhile I actually enjoy the final image.

This image was taken at Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area in northeastern Utah, there were dark, heavy clouds hanging in the sky and the sun was trying to break through the gloom as this juvenile Red-tailed Hawk flew over my head. I stuck my lens out the window, pointed it skyward and fired a few shots.

This image was the result. I like it because it is kind of spooky. Weird. Different for me.

Adult and juvenile White Ibis

By Mia McPherson, on May 20th, 2013%

Adult White Ibis – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light

White Ibis can be strange looking birds to people who have never seen them before, they have soft, sky blue eyes, skinny legs, long necks and a bill that could be compared to Jimmy Durante’s nose. The adults have white feathers, hence the name White Ibis.

There are three other Ibis species found in North America, the White-faced, Glossy and Scarlet Ibis. In the wild I have seen all but the Scarlet Ibis.

I photographed this adult White Ibis at Fort De Soto County Park’s north beach in a tidal lagoon one evening in June of 2009, the sun was starting to set and the tide was going out rapidly.

Juvenile White Ibis - Nikon D200, handheld, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 330mm, natural light

Juvenile White Ibis have the same shaped body, legs, neck and bill and their eyes are also a sky blue but their feather colors are different. Immature White Ibis have browns and tans in their plumage and as they age those feathers are replaced with white, they can look piebald until that change occurs.

This juvenile white Ibis was photographed in December of 2008 about 200 feet from where the adult above was photographed in the same lagoon but earlier in the afternoon so I didn’t have that soft golden light that shows in the image with the adult.

Have a great day,

Mia