White-winged Dove

 1/1000 | f/5.6 | ISO 320 | Fill Flash

1/1000 | f/5.6 | ISO 400 | Fill Flash

It has been a while since my last post, my apologies to any readers that I might have left! I have not done nearly as much photography as I would have liked over the last couple of months, there just hasn't been the time with so much work and other stuff going on. I am really hoping that I can change that soon, I seriously miss going out to photograph birds! Today I was able to make a quick setup in my backyard for the White-winged Doves that are always present in my yard. I was hoping for some flight shots, but the doves did not cooperate, so I settled for some perched images. Both of these images were shot from the comfort of my bedroom window under overcast skies this afternoon. Enjoy.

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American Goldfinch III

1/125 | f/8 | ISO 800 | Fill Flash

Just a quick post of another Goldfinch. This one was photographed earlier this week on a cool and rainy morning when the Goldfinches were out in numbers at my feeders. I am hoping to do some more backyard setups this weekend, so be sure to check back for updates!

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American Goldfinch II

1/250 | f/8 | ISO 800 | Fill Flash

Here is another Goldfinch from the backyard taken on the same day as the last post. I had to clone out one of heads of the stalk since it was coming straight through the birds head. 

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American Goldfinch

1/500 | f/8 | ISO 160

I am sorry that I have not posted here at all this month, I have not been out doing photography as much as I would like to. But, I have been working on some backyard setups over the last few days trying to get some new images of the American Goldfinches in my yard. This morning was my best try so far. I found this dead Sunflower stalk at the neighborhood park yesterday, so I snipped it and brought it home, attached it to an old plastic tripod with zip ties, and placed some thistle seed on the heads of the stalk. I placed the perch next to a low hanging sock feeder knowing that the finches would perch on it on their way to the feeder and I sprinkled the seeds on top to encourage them to stay perched on it for a few seconds so that I could get some shots off. It worked fairly well and this image is the best one that I got from the morning, though the light was a tad  strong. I am going to try again tomorrow and will also use some other perches as well, so be sure to check back!

Thanks for having a look.

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Favorites Images From 2012

1/800 | f/8 | ISO 200 | Fill Flash

1/500 | f/8 | ISO 200 | Fill Flash

1/400 | f/8 | ISO 800 | Fill Flash

 1/800 | f/8 | ISO 640 | Fill Flash

1/400 | f/8 | ISO 640 | Fill Flash

The year 2012 is coming to an end and 2013 is getting ready to move in; since I will be out of town for the week between Christmas and New Years, I figured I would put together a collection of my favorite images from 2012 before things get crazy here with last minute Christmas tasks and packing. So here we go! The first image of the Burrowing Owl was without a doubt my favorite encounter with a bird this year. This BO made it's home along a country road outside of Dallas for about 1 month back in January and was very cooperative toward photographers. This was my first time to ever see this owl and while I only was able to photograph it on two occasions, none in ideal light, it was still the highlight of my year and I am so thrilled that I was able to see and photograph it! The second image of the Green-winged Teal is hardly an outstanding image, but my duck portfolio was something that I tried to work on this year and this image was one of my first and simply for that reason it made it to my list of favorite images of the year. Going into 2012 I made it a goal to get good images of the male Painted Bunting, a bird that had alluded me for a couple of years, and I was excited when a photographer told me of a spot where you could get images of them at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge and it was there that I took these two images. The last image is my favorite photo that I have taken of an American Goldfinch to date. I photographed it in my backyard not long before the finches started their migration back up north. I always enjoy it when these little birds descend upon my backyard for some food every year, but sadly this year I have seen fewer than 5 at my feeders. So anyway, there they are, my 5 favorite images of 2012. I hope you all enjoy them. I already have some plans and goals set for 2013 and I cannot wait to get started on them. Thanks to all of the people out there who have been reading my blog this year and to the ones who take the time to comment, I really appreciate it! 

Merry Christmas!

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Great Blue Heron

 1/500 | f/8 | ISO 100

1/640 | f/8 | ISO 100

I photographed this GBH at the same suburban park as the ducks in my previous post. It was a very cooperative individual and allowed for a close approach. It was very late afternoon and the light was really nice! I am hoping to go back there again this week and try for some of the other duck species. 

Thanks for looking!

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Some Ducks

1/640 | f/8 | ISO 200

1/500 | f/8 | ISO 200

I was at a large city park yesterday afternoon that had a good size pond with a few ducks like Gadwall, Wigeons and Pied-billed Grebes spending the winter there. What I like about city parks is that the ducks are usually highly approachable (except the grebes) and while it's hard to find some of the more interesting species at such places, you are able to get great images of what's present and it makes for some fun photography and is a great way to beef up the portfolio! I didn't get to spend a lot of time there, so I am hoping to go back next week and try for the wigeons and grebes. I will post an image or two of the highly cooperative Great Blue Heron in the next few days, so stay tuned!

click images to view larger size.