Book: Compilation of Blog Entries V2

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Just finished. A pdf version can be seen using the link below.

BlogCompilation_V3 Pages - white-compressed.pdf

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Photos of Pied-billed Grebes, some taken recently in North Dakota

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"Part bird, part submarine, the Pied-billed Grebe is common across much of North America." This is the first sentence in the CornellLab All About Birds overview of Pied-billed Grebe. In this blog post, I show photos that illustrate a few other statements selected from All About Birds description of the bird and its behavior.

“Like other grebes, the Pied-billed Grebe creates an open bowl nest on a platform of floating vegetation. “

Olympus E-M1X camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC + 1.4x tc (263mm)
1/2500 sec at f/8, ISO 1600
July 2, 2021, North Dakota

“Like other grebes, the Pied-billed Grebe creates an open bowl nest on a platform of floating vegetation. “

Olympus OM-1 camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens (375mm)
1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400
June 15, 2024, North Dakota

“The Latin genus name for grebe, "podylimbus," means “feet at the buttocks”—an apt descriptor for these birds, whose feet are indeed located near their rear ends.”

Olympus OM-1 camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens (500mm)
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 2000
November 23, 2022, St. Marks NWR, FL

“They use their chunky bills to kill and eat large crustaceans along with a great variety of fish, amphibians, insects, and other invertebrates.”

Olympus E-M1X camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC (406mm)
1250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1000
November 06, 2021, Anahuac NWR, TX

“Juveniles have striped faces.”

Nikon D4 camera with 500mm f/4 lens + 2x teleconverter (1000mm)
1/1600 sec at f/9, ISO 1000
October 01, 2014, Anahuac NWR, TX

“Juveniles accompany adults for several weeks.”

Olympus OM-1 camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens (459mm)
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
June 15, 2024, North Dakota

“Juveniles accompany adults for several weeks.”

Olympus OM-1 camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens (459mm)
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
June 15, 2024, North Dakota

“Juveniles accompany adults for several weeks.”

Olympus OM-1 camera with M.150-400mm F4.5 TC lens (406mm)
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
June 15, 2024, North Dakota

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Photos from a tour of Glacier National Park in Montana - July, 2024

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The tour was led by led by Chuck Haney (https://portfolios.chuckhaney.com/). Chuck lives in Montana and has been hiking, biking, and photographing Glacier for more than 30 years. I enjoyed the interactions with him and the seven other photographers on the tour.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Aerial feeding of a Young Black Tern near Chase Lake NWR in North Dakota - June, 2024

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This photo sequence was taken with an OM-1 camera with a 150-400mm f4.5 tc lens @ 207mm; Settings were 1/2500 sec at f/4.5, ISO 500.

Click on each image to see a larger version.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Photos of Reddish Egrets - Bolivar Peninsula, TX - April 26, 2024 - Capturing, Part 1

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This is another addition to the blog featuring photos of Reddish Egrets taken during a recent visit to the Bolivar Peninsula. I sorted the photos of the birds feeding activity into three categories: chasing, capturing, and consuming. This entry is Capturing - Part 1.

The photos are of a Reddish Egret feeding on the Bolivar Flats Beach on a very windy and cloudy day. All photos were taken with an Olympus OM-1 camera with Olympus 150-400mm lens with built in 1.25x teleconverter set at 500 mm. Other settings were 1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 500.

A slightly larger version of each photo can be seen by clicking on the image.

Reddish Egret - Bolivar Peninsula - Capturing, Part 1-1.jpg

Reddish Egret - Bolivar Peninsula - Capturing, Part 1-2.jpg

Reddish Egret - Bolivar Peninsula - Capturing, Part 1-3.jpg

Reddish Egret - Bolivar Peninsula - Capturing, Part 1-4.jpg

Reddish Egret - Bolivar Peninsula - Capturing, Part 1-5.jpg

Reddish Egret - Bolivar Peninsula - Capturing, Part 1-6.jpg

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Photos of Reddish Egrets - Bolivar Peninsula, TX - April 18 - May 4, 2024 - Chasing, Part 2

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This is second addition to the blog featuring photos of Reddish Egrets taken during a recent visit to the Bolivar Peninsula. I sorted the photos of the birds feeding activity into three categories: chasing, capturing, and consuming. This entry is Chasing - Part 2.

The photos are of a Reddish Egret feeding on the Bolivar Flats Beach on a very windy and cloudy day. All photos were taken with an Olympus OM-1 camera with Olympus 150-400mm lens with built in 1.25x teleconverter set at 500 mm. Other settings were 1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 500.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Photos of Reddish Egrets - Bolivar Peninsula, TX - April 18 - May 4, 2024 - Chasing, Part 1

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This is the first of a few additions to my blog with photos of Reddish Egrets taken during my recent visit to the Bolivar Peninsula. I have sorted the photos of the birds feeding activity into three categories: chasing, capturing, and consuming. This entry is Chasing - Part 1.

The photos are of a Reddish Egret feeding in the Bolivar Flats Audubon Sanctuary adjacent to Rettilion (no litter spelled backwards) Road in Port Bolivar, TX. All photos were taken with an Olympus OM-1 camera with Olympus 150-400mm lens. Settings were f4.5 @ 400mm 1/4000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 500.

Click on an image to see a slightly larger view.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

The North Jetty on Bolivar Peninsula, TX

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The North Jetty, on the southern end of the Bolivar Peninsula, is one of the two jetties which guard the entrance to Galveston Bay and the ship channel. The jetty was built of huge granite blocks in the 1890's by the Army Corp of Engineers and extends over five miles into the Gulf of Mexico.

This photo of American Avocets was taken while I was standing on the jetty and illustrates that is an excellent place for birding when the tide is low.

Many people use it for fishing.

It is also a good place to view the variety of ships and boats that use the protected channel to the Port of Galveston, Port of Texas City and The Port of Houston.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Orcas

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Orcas (Orcinus area) are toothed whales of the suborder Odontoceti which includes dolphins and porpoises and other species of whales with a single blowhole on the top of the head and, in adults, teeth. The orca, also known as a killer whale, is the largest member of the dolphin family. Orcas have a large black body, large dorsal fins, a white underside, and a white patch above and behind the eye.

Adult orcas are about 27-33 feet long and weigh 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. The male orca is larger than the female. Orcas, highly social animals, travel in groups (pods) usually consisting of 5 - 30 individuals led by females. They hunt together using echolocation (reflection of sound to find the location of fish).

Several innovative, cooperative hunting techniques have been described including attacks on even very large prey.

On August 12,201O a pod of orcas killed and ate a minke whale near Witless Bay, Newfoundland. This was a rare event and articles about the sighting appeared in several local papers. I was partici­pating in a photography workshop hosted by Ray Barlow with two other photographers. We had arranged to rent one of Eco-tours 22' Zodiacs (with captain) to visit an island with Atlantic Puffins and other seabirds. Instead we photographed action associated with the orca/minke interaction.

Quotes from August 19, 201 newspaper (Globe and Mail)

"Orcas are being sighted in increasing numbers off the coast of Newfoundland this month, and experienced whale watchers have been shocked on three occasions to see the carnivorous predators killing the local minke whales."

"Bob Bartlett, of Trinity Eco-Tours in Trinity Bay, has been observing the local waters for more than two decades as a recreational and commercial diver and tour operator. On Tuesday, he and a boatful of whale watchers filmed a pod of six orcas surrounding and devouring a minke, a much more common species. It's rare for them to be here, its rare to catch an attack on film or even see one ... everything is just so rare, it's unbelievable, Mr. Bartlett said. In 25 years, he's never seen orcas before."

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010. Male orcas are larger than females and have a tall dorsal fin - up to six feet in height.

Orca and minke (center) whales near Witless Bay (Newfoundland, August 2010). The minke is out of focus. I did not know the minke was in the frame until viewing the photos later. I was trying to focus on the male on the right.

Orcas passing between our Zodiac and fishermen leaving Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010.

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010

Orca, near Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010

Eight to twelve thousand pound Orca swimming toward the boat Molly Bawn. Witless Bay, Newfoundland - August 2010. Does the captain look concerned?

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Northern Gannets

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In 2010 I spent August 10-17 in Newfoundland on a photo tour organized by Raymond Barlow. A few photos taken on that trip have appeared in Facebook but during a recent review of the topics covered in my blog, I was surprised to discover that there are no entries devoted to the trip. This entry is the first part of an effort to correct this omission by presenting several photos of Northern Gannets taken at the Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve. I found notes indicating Cape St. Mary's has 11,000+ nesting pairs of Northern Gannets, 10,000+ nesting pairs of Common Murre, 10,000+ nesting pairs of Black-legged Kittiwakes, 150+ nesting pairs of Razorbills, 60+ nesting pairs of Black Guillemot, and 1,000+ nesting pairs of Thick-billed Murre.

Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens
1/3200 sec at f/4, ISO 250

The Northern Gannet, the largest member of the gannet family, usually spots prey when they are 20-30 meters above sea level. The wings are used as rudders during their high speed dive to control dive direction. The wings are closed just before they hit the water and their velocity carries them deep into the water and they can then swim even deeper to catch fish at depths not accessible to most other birds.

Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens
1/3200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200

Northern Gannets are mostly white, but have a yellow head, a long, pointed bill, and brown or black wingtips,

Juvenile Northern Gannet

Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens and 1.7x teleconverter
1/2000 sec at f/5, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 300mm f/4 lens and 1.4 x teleconverter
1/1000 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 300mm f/4 lens and 1.4 x teleconverter
1/1000 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 300mm f/4 lens
1/1250 sec at f/5.0, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens
1/5000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens
1/500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 200

The white specs are birds. Use this photo to interpret the next two.
Nikon D300 with 300mm f/4 lens
1/400 sec at f/11, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 18mm
1/160 sec at f/11, ISO 200

Nikon D300 with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 65 mm
1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 200

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Two more photos of Sandhill Cranes - Monte Vista NWR, CO - March 11-12, 2024

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Click on each image to see a slightly larger view.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Sandhill Cranes - Monte Vista NWR, CO - March 11-12, 2024

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Click on each image to see a slightly larger version.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Jumping Sandhill Cranes: Monte Vista NWR, CO - March 2024

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Ten photos of courting Sandhill Cranes. Click on the link below to learn more about the courtship dance and to listen to the calls of the cranes.

https://www.birdnote.org/.../shows/leaping-sandhill-cranes

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

March 24, 2024 - A Good Day

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One of my daughter-in-laws and I had an early lunch in downtown Denver before attending a lecture about Mozart's Requiem and the concert featuring the Requiem.

Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Photo taken during the lecture (click on the image for a larger view). Mozart's Requiem was performed by the Colorado Symphony with Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian, the Colorado Symphony Chorus directed by Duain Wolfe, and featured artists Yulia Van Doren (soprano), Diana Moore (alto), Isaiah Bell (tenor), and Andrew Garland (baritone).

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks - Flying Right

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Recently, I have been culling and reworking some of the many photos I have taken of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. This is the second batch of photos I have posted. I may generate a third post with photos of these ducks before moving on to another topic.
Click on the photo to see a slightly larger version.

Photo taken at Audubon Park in New Orleans in March of 2012
Nikon D300S with 300mm f/2.8 & 1.4x tc
1/1250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1000

Photo taken at Audubon Park in New Orleans in March of 2012
Nikon D300S with 300mm f/2.8 & 1.4x tc
1/1250 sec at f/7.1, ISO 320

Photo taken at Audubon Park in New Orleans in November of 2012
Nikon D700 with 300mm f/2.8 & 1.7x tc
1/640 sec at f/5.0, ISO 1600

Photo taken at Lacassine NWR in Lousiana in November of 2021
Olympus E-M1X with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
500mm 1/3200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 3200

Photo taken at Lacassine NWR in Lousiana in November of 2021
Olympus E-M1X with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
500mm 1/3200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

Photo taken at Lacassine NWR in Lousiana in November of 2021
Olympus E-M1X with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
500mm 1/3200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

Photo taken at Lacassine NWR in Lousiana in November of 2021
Olympus E-M1X with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
500mm 1/3200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1600

Photo taken at Lacassine NWR in Lousiana in November of 2021
Olympus E-M1X with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
500mm 1/5000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1250

Photo taken at Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
340mm 1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Photo taken at Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 150-400mm f/4.5 TC
340mm 1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - Flying left

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Recently, I have been culling and reworking some of the many photos I have taken of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. This post contains a batch of photos resulting from that work. Two more blog posts may contain photos of these birds.
Click on the photo to see a larger version.

Photo taken at Audubon Park in New Orleans in November of 2011
Nikon D300 with 300mm f/2.8 lens and 1.7x teleconverter
1/1000 sec at f/8, ISO 400

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 473mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

Photo taken at the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas in April of 2023
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 500 mm
1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800

Photo taken at the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas in April of 2023
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 500mm
1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 500mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 500mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 360mm
1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 445mm
1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 500mm
1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Photo taken at the Orlando Wetlands in Florida in December of 2022
Olympus OM-1 camera with 150-400mm f/4.5 tc lens @ 500mm
1/2500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Specialty birds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX - Part 9 - Audubon's, Altamira, & Altamira-Audubon's hybrid Orioles

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This is another report on my efforts to capture images of birds that, in the United States, are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The Audubon’s, Altamira, & Altamiri-Audubons’s hybrid Orioles are featured in this post.

The combination of the Olympus OM-1 camera and the 150-400 mm f/4.5 TC lens was used to capture the images of the orioles.

Audubon’s Oriole, NABA International Butterfly Park, Texas
Focal length: 360 mm, 1/500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1250

Audubon's Orioles are bright yellow and black birds. The head and breast (hood) are entirely black. The remainder of the body is bright yellow except for the black tail, dark legs, and black and white feathers of the wings.

Audubon’s Orioles are not migratory. They are permanent residents of the areas they inhabit which, in the U.S., includes only part of the southern tip of Texas

Altamira Oriole, NABA International Butterfly Park, Texas
Focal length: 241 mm, 1/800 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600

The Altamira Oriole, the largest oriole in North America, has a yellow-orange head, a black throat, yellow belly, black wings with white wing bars, a dark tail and orange shoulder patches.

Altamira Orioles are common in Mexico and Central America, but found only in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the U.S.

Altamira-Audubons’s hybrid Oriole, NABA International Butterfly Park, Texas
Focal length: 360 mm, 1/640 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 640

Hybrids exhibiting characteristics of both Altamira and Audubon's Orioles have been observed in several locations in south Texas. Three features of the hybrids are "smudged face", "streaked mantle", and bill shape and color.  1) In hybrids the black area between the eye and the base of the bill is extended (smudged) and not nearly as restricted as it is in the Altamira. The black on the throat and breast is more extensive than that of the Altamira as well. 2) In hybrids the yellow and black feathers of the mantle (the area of the back closest to the neck) form streaks. This is not observed in either Audubon's or Altamira Orioles. 3) The bill of the hybrids is more like Audubon's than Altamira in terms of width, curvature and color.

The map is taken from eBird. The purple areas indicate places in the U.S. where the hybrids have been reported.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Specialty birds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX - Part 8 - Green Parakeet & Green Kingfisher

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This blog entry continues the reports on my efforts to capture images of birds that, in the United States, are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The Green Parakeet & Green Kingfisher are featured in this post.

The combination of the Olympus OM-1 camera and the 150-400 mm f/4.5 TC lens was used to capture the images of the parakeets and the last photo of the kingfisher. The first two photos of the kingfisher were taken on my first visit to the Rio Grande Valley in 2017 with a Nikon D500 and a 500mm f/4 lens with 1.4x teleconverter attached.

Green Parakeets, McAllen, Texas
Focal length: 500 mm, 1/1000 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800

The Green Parakeet has a long pointed tail, a yellow beak, and an orange-red iris. The green of the upper parts is darker than the green of the underparts.

Green Parakeets, McAllen, Texas
Focal length: 500 mm, 1/1250 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 800

Green Parakeets, McAllen, Texas
Focal length: 500 mm, 1/640 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600

The natural range of the Green Parakeet is in Mexico and northern Central America, an area that extends almost to the Texas border. The species is established in the United States in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas (see the small purple dot). It is not known if that sub-population was derived from introduced individuals or by natural dispersion.

Green Kingfisher at Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 700 mm, 1/1000 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 4000

The Green Kingfisher has a large beak, a short tail, and a white collar. The upperparts are green with white spots. Two green chest bands interrupt the white underparts of the female whereas the breast of the male is covered by a broad, rusty-colored band.

Green Kingfisher at Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 700 mm, 1/1000 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 4000

Green Kingfisher at Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 500 mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 4000

The range of the Green Kingfisher extends from south Texas and Arizona through central America and much of South America.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Specialty birds in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX - Part 7 - Curve-billed and Long-Billed Thrashers

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This blog entry contains more photos resulting from my efforts to capture images of birds that, in the United States, are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The Curve-billed and Long-billed Thrashers are featured in this post.

The combination of the Olympus OM-1 camera and the 150-400 mm f/4.5 TC lens was used to capture all the images in this post.

Curve-billed Thrasher, Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 500 mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 2500, Handheld

The curve-billed thrasher is grayish brown overall. It has a long tail, a curved bill, spots on the whitish upper chest, and a orange/yellow iris.

Curve-billed Thrashers, NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 250 mm, /1600 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400, Handheld

The range of the Curve-billed Thrasher in the U.S. includes the western two thirds of Texas, Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, the southern half of New Mexico, northwest Oklahoma, southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas. The range extends southward to southern Mexico.

Long-billed Thrasher, NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 272 mm, 1/640 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 4000, Handheld

The Long-billed Thrasher has a long tail, curved beak, reddish-brown upperparts, heavy black streaking on the white underparts, and an orange iris.

Long-billed Thrasher, NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 335 mm, 1/2000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 6400 , Handheld

Long-billed Thrashers are residents of southeast Texas and northeast Mexico.

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit. 

Forster's Tern successful dive

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Photos taken at the Bolivar Peninsula, TX in January, 2024

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David Sparks

I retired in 2005 after 40 years of research and teaching at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (24 years), the University of Pennsylvania (8 years) and the Baylor College of Medicine (8 years). Photography is my retirement hobby.

Nature photography, especially bird photography, combines a number of things that I really enjoy: bird-watching, being outdoors, photography, travel, messing about with computers, and learning new skills and concepts.  I now spend much of my time engaged in these activities.

David Sibley in the preface to The Sibley Guide to Birds wrote "Birds are beautiful, in spectacular as well as subtle ways; their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature."  My goal is to acquire images that capture the beauty and uniqueness of selected species as well as images that highlight the engaging behaviors the birds exhibit.