Chickadee Wings

A chickadee at the feeder.

 January 2011.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Mountain Bluebird - Rhyolite, NV

Sialia currucoides

A beautiful Mountain Bluebird (male) at Rhyolite Ghost Town, Nevada.

February 2016.

Nikon D7100 | Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.8 Di VC USD

Macaws - Jardin Botanique

Blue and Gold Macaws at the Jardin Botanique. 

 Deshaies, Guadeloupe. May 2014.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Brown Pelican - Guadeloupe

A Brown Pelican near Capesterre-Belle-Eau. May 2014.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

American Goldfinch

An American Goldfinch (male) conducting a pre-flight inspection?

June 2013.

Nikon D300 |  Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Western Scrub-Jay

A Western Scrub-Jay at Colorado National Monument.

Grand Junction, Colorado. August 2013.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

White-Crowned Sparrow

A White-crowned Sparrow near the back-yard feeders.

February 2013

Nikon D300 |  Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Cedar Waxwing

A Cedar Waxwing I spotted on a morning walk.

November 2013.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

American Kestrel - Snow

This American Kestrel (male) crashed into my sun-room window and landed safely, though head first, in a snow covered bush. Note the snow packed between his lore and his nostril. Having landed just inches from the window, I was able to get several nice shots while he gathered his composure. After several minutes recuperating, he was able to fly away. I thought surely he had learned his lesson about hunting smaller birds at the feeders, but no, he returned the next day. December 2013.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Pileated Woodpecker

A male Pileated Woodpecker, backyard.

January 2014.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Wood Duck Pair

One of the eight pairs of wood ducks that stopped in for a visit on their journey north last week. These guys pass through during spring and fall migration for brief resting periods. They're such a joy to watch, but are very timid and difficult to observe without a hunting blind.

 Nikon D7100  |  Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Northern Cardinal

A female Northern Cardinal waits her turn near the backyard feeder.

March 2013.

Nikon D300  |  Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Pileated Woodpeckers

Two male Pileated Woodpeckers at my feeder a couple hours ago.

December 30, 2013.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Red-bellied Woodpecker - Wings

A Red-bellied Woodpecker coming in for a landing on a backyard bird feeder.

February 2011.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Carolina Wren - Snowy Branch

A little Carolina Wren sitting outside my sun-room window.

April 2013.

Nikon D300  |  Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Coopers Hawk

A Coopers Hawk lurks in the shrubs near the backyard bird feeders.

Nikon D300 | Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 APO DG OS

Yesterday afternoon, I heard a loud thump against my sun-room window. I knew it had to be a bird, so I ran to the window to see if it needed help or if it was going to be okay. I looked high, I looked low. I looked in the bush, I looked in the tree. All searches came up empty. As I was about to give up, a fluttering of feathers caught my eye. I quickly opened the window and stuck my head out to see beyond the bush. There in the snow, on her side, struggling to right herself, was a wounded Mourning Dove. Being the bleeding heart I am for all critters, especially birds, I really thought she looked like she needed help. At that moment, a Coopers Hawk flew into a nearby tree. Feeling certain that was bad news for the wounded dove, I jumped into my sneakers and rushed out the door to save her. Just as I was bending down to scoop her up in my hands, the dove righted herself, fluttered to life and flew right past me. Hearing the fluttering of its wings, the hawk flew to the wounded dove and whisked her away in its claws. I personally think the  little dove would have been better off in my hands... but then again, who's to say the hawk didn't rush her right over to the veterinarian.

Snowy Egret

A Snowy Egret, Utah Park, Aurora Colorado.

September 2013.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Clark's Nutcracker - Rocky Mountain National Park

A Clark's Nutcracker - Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado.

July 2013.

Nikon D300 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

The American Robin

An American Robin eating berries one early morning in the woods.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED

Golden-Crowned Kinglet

I set out on a morning hike Wednesday to photograph this particular bird. I saw the golden-crowned kinglet for the first time last February when one flitted through my back yard and sent me scampering for my bird books. I was pleased to have captured three or four somewhat blurred shots of him back then just to be able to get a positive identification. I have looked for him without luck since then. To my pleasant surprise, I stumbled across the kinglet again one morning this week and vowed to return with my camera the following day. This bird flits around so fast it is difficult to get a good focus on him. I may have gotten a couple of quasi-decent photos, but I will definitely need to return for a better photo-op in the near future. Until then, here's the best shot I got. Enjoy!

Hendricks County, Indiana. November 2013.

Nikon D7100 | Nikon AF-S VR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IF-ED