hen

High key Ring-necked Pheasant hen

By Mia McPherson, on February 23rd, 2013%

Ring-necked Pheasant hen – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, not baited

Just a simple high key image of a hen Ring-necked Pheasant this morning that was taken in January at Farmington Bay WMA in Davis County, Utah. The heavy layer of snow had made it difficult for the pheasants to forage and due to that they were out in the open more than normal.

Because of the amount of snow we have had here this winter in the Salt Lake Valley I have been able to take lots of high key images of birds and animals but I am looking forward to seeing some green now!

Mia

Ring-necked Pheasant hen in snow

By Mia McPherson, on January 15th, 2013%

Ring-necked Pheasant hen in snow – Nikon D300, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I have been noticing more Ring-necked Pheasants than usual of late but that it mostly because the birds don’t blend well into the snow and we have had plenty of the white stuff fall the past few weeks. Yesterday I spotted this hen Ring-necked Pheasant very close to where I photographed a Great Blue Heron a few days ago but this hen was on top of the creek bank.

Female Ring-necked Pheasant – Nikon D300, f8, 1/2500, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

The pheasant hens aren’t as colorful as the males but I find them every bit as appealing because of the intricate and cryptic feather patterns that they have. In this image the furrow in the snow behind the hen was created when another pheasant moved through the drift.

Ring-necked Pheasant hen lifting off – Nikon D300, f8, 1/2000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

In the frame above the female Ring-necked was lifting off, I love how I can see her right wingtip in the snow, how I can see the pattern her wingtip made in it, the fanned out tail and the wonderful pose.

I took loads of photos of this hen and I suspect I will post more of her in the future.

Mia

More Ring-necked Pheasant images

Female Duck ID Quiz

By Mia McPherson, on January 8th, 2013%

The answer can be found here

Female Duck

I photographed this female duck yesterday morning at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (also known as Farmington Bay Bird Refuge) in northern Utah, she was on ice that was covered by frost flowers and was moving towards a group of males that were in open water. I love those frost flowers.

Usually I can ID male ducks but female ducks give me trouble at times and I am working at strengthening those skills. I know which species this one is and thought I’d give you the chance to figure out what species this female is. The quiz is open for until midnight January 9th and I will provide the answer on the morning of January 10th.

Can you figure it out?

[cardoza_wp_poll id=1]

Mia

Female Dusky Grouse

By Mia McPherson, on April 19th, 2012%

Female Dusky Grouse – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 242mm, natural light, not baited

I photographed this female Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) while up in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Dusky Grouse were once considered “Blue Grouse” and some folks still call them that. This hen was traveling in a small flock of four to five birds as I recall and they were feeding right at the edge of a two lane road. They didn’t appear to be the least bit timid and I was able to take a series of images of them before moving down the curvy mountain road. I hope to photograph them again sometime in the future.

Mia