rabbitbrush

Fledgling Burrowing Owl

By Mia McPherson, on December 19th, 2012%

Fledgling Burrowing Owl – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 320, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

This is an image I created a few years ago of a fledgling Burrowing Owl on the way to Antelope Island State Park. The burrow was just off of the shoulder of the road so getting images while staying in the truck and using it as a mobile blind was easy.

This juvenile Burrowing Owl was just learning to fly at the time and wasn’t always great at landing. When I took this image it had made a soft crash landing into the Rabbitbrush and it was trying to get its balance back. I could not resist laughing as I watched the young owl flutters its wings but my laughing did make it hard to keep my focus locked on.

These Burrowing Owls are amazing and funny subjects that are tremendous fun to photograph.

There is finally some clearing in the clouds here so I’m heading out to find some birds to photograph, hope I remember how to use my camera!

Mia

More Burrowing Owl images

Sand Dunes – Two Scenic Images

By Mia McPherson, on May 11th, 2012%

While looking through my archives a few days ago I came across two images, one of sand dunes at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida and the other of sand dunes on Antelope Island State Park in Utah. I remember that I took both images because I loved the sky, the vegetation on the dunes and how they both make me feel so connected to these two locations that I am deeply attached to.

Sand Dune at Fort De Soto in early morning light – Nikon D70, handheld, f6.3, 1/160, ISO 200, Nikkor 70-300mm VR at 70mm

I created the image above while walking Fort De Soto’s north beach early in the morning of July 20, 2007, the sun had crested the horizon and had just begun to light up the dunes. Although Fort De Soto has many dunes covered with beautiful Sea Oats, in this image I liked how the Sea Purslane hugged the dune and how the tips of the plants seemed to glow with the early morning light. The sunlight had not yet lit up the surface of the Gulf of Mexico but had started to light up the tops of the storm clouds hanging in a bank off of the coast.

When I look at this image I can smell the salty air, the sand under my feet, the breeze ruffling my hair and the warmth of the sun’s rays warming my back.

Fort De Soto County Park is one of my favorite locations to photograph birds, scenery and clouds. More of my thoughts about Fort De Soto can be read here ”My Love Affair with Fort De Soto“.

Sand Dunes on Antelope Island State Park, Utah – Nikon D200, handheld, f11, 1/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 18-200mm VR at 18mm

I was camping on Antelope Island State Park when I photographed the image above the evening of March 30, 2011. I thought the sky was captivating with the swirly, layered clouds against the warm tones of the sand and the yet to green up Sagebrush and Rabbitbrush that grow on the oolitic sand dunes there. So very different from the dunes at Fort De Soto but they are equally appealing to me.

Antelope Island State Park is another of my favorite locations to go to photograph, it seems I always find something to catch my eye and tug at my heart there. I recently did a three-part series of articles I titled “Wild and Wonderful – Antelope Island State Park” on the scenery, the wildlife and the birds. I could not fit it all into one article.

Just two simple images from two different locations that whisper “home” to me.

Mia

A preening American Kestrel ~ Friday Photos

By Mia McPherson, on January 6th, 2012%

American Kestrels hold a special interest for me, they are North America’s smallest falcon but what they lack in size they make up for in attitude. These falcons can be fiesty.

Perched American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) male ~ Davis County, Utah
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

Here in Utah they are difficult to approach except for during the winter, they get “stickier” in the cold. We have a stable population of American Kestrels in Utah but in other parts of the United States their populations are declining.

Even American Kestrels can look goofy
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I spotted this male American Kestrel resting on the top of a Rabbitbrush that was fairly close to the road I was on and after a few minutes the kestrel began to preen. As handsome as they are most of the time they can look quite goofy while preening.

American Kestrel preening its tail feathers
D300, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I’m always pleased when I can get close enough to an American Kestrel to get images but I was even happier to get these while the small falcon was preening and paid little attention to me. In the photo above the bird was pulling its tail feather through its bill to clean it.

American Kestrel with tail fanned
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x Tc at 400mm, natural light, not baited

As the falcon preened I was able to anticipate the movements it made and that gave me some interesting shots.

What a cute pose!
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited

I really liked the pose above, the Kestrel was just rubbing its head against its shoulder while it preened and quite often the eyes are closed when this occurs so I was glad that I had eye contact in this frame plus the lifted wing.

American Kestrel cleaning his feet
Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited