snowy day

I love Chukars in snow!

By Mia McPherson, on January 21st, 2013%

Fluffed up Chukar in snow

These Chukar images were taken last Friday and this bird is the same one in my post titled “Some fun with birds from yesterday“, I wanted to share more photos of it. Snow was still falling lightly when I started taking these pictures and a few flakes of it still show on the Chukar’s plumage.

Alert Chukar in snow

I’m not sure why the Chukar went on alert but it seemed to be trying to stop itself from calling out. There were probably more Chukars in the area but I couldn’t spot them.

Chukar running down a snow-covered rock

Shortly after the Chukar went on alert it moved to another spot on the snow-covered rock.

Chukar and flying snow

I like how this image shows snow flying near the Chukar’s foot as it hurried down the r0ck.

Chukar slowly walking in snow

Then the Chukar slowed down, whatever danger it sensed was obviously gone. And there are still snow flakes on the bird.

Chukar with one foot raised

The Chukar stopped and appeared calm enough to raise one foot and look around, mostly at the two big lenses pointed at it. I really love the smooth background these pictures have because the bird stands out so well from it.

Chukar scratching

I think those tiny snow flakes caused the bird to scratch vigorously for a few seconds but it could have been something else too. I do wish the Chukar’s eye had been open when I took this image.

Chukar in the snow

The Chukar went back to a relaxed pose for a few minutes then took off flying very quickly. I don’t know if a predator flew over or if the Chukar might have spotted a Coyote and decided to leave but I am glad that it gave us ample time to photograph it before it left.

Mia

*All images taken with a Nikon D300 at f6.3, shutter speeds of 1/1600 to 1/2000, +0.7 EV with a Nikkor 200-400mm VR lens plus a 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited.

More Chukar images

Small in the Frame – Bald Eagle

By Mia McPherson, on January 20th, 2013%

Bald Eagle – Small in the frame – Golden Spike National Historic Site, Utah

Yesterday Ron, Brian Gatlin and I went to Bear River National Wildlife Refuge and the Golden Spike National Historic Site area in bad light, falling snow and lake fog looking for birds to photograph and we came up pretty much empty-handed but we did find this adult Bald Eagle perched on some snow-covered rocks going towards the Golden Spike National Historic Site Visitor Center as the snow fell. The eagle was quite a distance away but I loved the rugged habitat so I decided to have the raptor small in the frame rather than over-crop and reduce the image quality. For me the habitat in this frame is as important as the Bald Eagle.

It was about 5 degrees Fahrenheit which was cold for us even photographing from inside a warm vehicle so I imagine the Bald Eagle was cold too.

We didn’t come away with the images that we hoped for but the company was terrific and we all had a great time while surrounded by the beauty of nature.

Mia

More Bald Eagle images

Coyote on a snowy morning

By Mia McPherson, on January 2nd, 2013%

Coyote standing on a rock looking down a hillside – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 200mm, natural light, not baited or called in

The weather forecast for yesterday was “mostly sunny” and once again the weather forecasters were wrong, at least for the period of time I was out photographing on Antelope Island State Park. The light was low, snow was falling lightly a great deal of the time and while it was frustrating I took images anyway.

This Coyote had its front legs on top of a snow-covered rock looking down a hillside, I do wish that I had more eye contact than I do but I do like the mood this images conveys. The image is full frame because the Coyote was so close.

Coyote running through the snow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 200mm, natural light, not baited or called in

The Coyotes I saw were all actively hunting in the snow. This Coyote was probably startled because there were about 5 cars full of birders doing the Christmas Bird Count that had come up behind us. One car doesn’t bother a Coyote much but six does. I should have bumped up my ISO to get a faster shutter speed than 1/800.

Coyote deep in the snow – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/500, ISO 400, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in

This Coyote was hunting on the edge of a marshy area and I really like the setting with the snow-topped vegetation and the out of focus bare twigs.

It did get sunny eventually… right about the time we left the park entrance I looked back and the island was positively beautiful. Yeah, don’t count on the weather forecasters for an accurate prediction.

Mia

More Coyote images