Recent photos of Roxborough State Park - Colorado

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A little early for fall colors. Click on the image to see a slightly larger version.

Looking south from the Fountain Valley overlook - September 15, 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 12-100mm f/4 @ 23mm
1/320 sec at f/9, ISO 200

Looking south from the Fountain Valley overlook - September 15, 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 12-100mm f/4 @ 31mm
1/250 sec at f/7.1, ISO 200

Looking north from the Fountain Valley overlook - September 15, 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 12-100mm f/4 @ 57mm
1/320 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200

Looking north from the Fountain Valley overlook - September 15, 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 12-100mm f/4 @ 41mm
1/400 sec at f/7.1, ISO 200

Looking north from the Fountain Valley overlook - September 19, 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 12-100mm f/4 @ 38mm
1/800 sec at f/7.1, ISO 200

Looking north from a more northern point on the trail - September 19, 2022
Olympus OM-1 with 12-100mm f/4 @ 23mm
1/640 sec at f/7.1, ISO 250

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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. 

Yellow-crowned-Night-Heron capturing and consuming a crab

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Nineteen of 39 shots acquired of this behavior are shown. Images have been cropped to show the head, beak, and crab in more detail.

Action observed on the Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, in August 2022.
Camera: Olympus OM-1. Lens: Olympus 150-400mm f/4.5 TC @ 150mm,
Settings: 1/2000 sec at f/4.5, ISO 250.
Click on the first image in the gallery to see a larger version, and then use the right arrow to view subsequent images at the higher resolution.

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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. 

Not A Bird #1

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These are landscape images I selected for printing yesterday.

Crested Butte, CO - September 2015
Nikon D610 with 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 48mm
1/60 sec at f/14, ISO 500

Crested Butte, CO - September 2018
Olympus E-M1 MII with 12-100mm f/4 @ 17mm
1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Maroon Bells, CO - September 2018
Olympus E-M1 MII with 12-100mm f/4 @ 21mm
1/8 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Maroon Bells, CO - September 2018
Olympus E-M1 MII with 12-100mm f/4 @ 18mm
1/15 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Maroon Bells, CO- September 2018
Olympus E-M1 MII with 12-100mm f/4 @ 20mm
1/125 sec at f/11, ISO 200

Roxborough State Park, CO - July 2016
Nikon D7100 with 24-70mmm f/2.8 @ 28mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800

Castle Geyser, Yellowstone National Park - February 2016
Nikon D7100 with 24-70mmm f/2.8 @ 36mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100

Castle Geyser, Yellowstone National Park - February 2016
Nikon D7100 with 24-70mmm f/2.8 @ 42mm
1/640 sec at f/10, ISO 160

Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park - February 2016
Nikon D7100 with 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 140mm
1/640 sec at f/10, ISO 100

Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park - February 2016
Nikon D7100 with 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/500 sec at f/10, ISO 100

Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park - February 2016
Nikon D7100 with 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm
1/400 sec at f/10, ISO 320

Bryce Canyon National Park - September 2015
Nikon D610 with 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62mm
1/160 sec at f/11, ISO 100

Bryce Canyon National Park - September 2015
Nikon D610 with 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm
1/1000 sec at f/11, ISO 400

Highway 287, CO - May 2015
Nikon D610 with 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 50mm
1/640 sec at f/7.1, ISO 200

I-10 swampy area, FL - December 2007
Nikon D80 with 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 170 mm
1/1000 sec at f/13, ISO 320

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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. 

Long-billed Curlew capturing and consuming a mud crab

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19 images selected from a total of 82 taken in six bursts of 3 to 25 shots in each burst. Selection was based on the size, position, and clarity of the mud crab being consumed. Olympus OM-1 with 150-400mm F4.5 TC lens at 340 mm (680mm 35mm equivalent), handheld, 1/2000 sec at F5.6, ISO 200. Silent + Sequential Drive, Tracking Subject: Birds. Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary, TX, August 11, 2022.

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

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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. 

Forgotten fotos found - Black Skimmer chase

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I discovered these photos of a Black Skimmer chase while in the process of compiling favorite photos taken at birding spots near my former residence in Pensacola, Florida. The chase was observed on August 28, 2009 at Fort Pickens, Florida. Fort Pickens is one component of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. If my memory is correct, the skimmer with the minnow managed to evade the chaser and consume the catch.

Black Skimmers, Fort Pickens, Florida, August 28, 2009
Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens
1/1250 sec. at f/9, ISO 800

Black Skimmers, Fort Pickens, Florida, August 28, 2009
Nikon D300 with 500mm f/4 lens
1/1250 sec. at f/9, ISO 800

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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. 

Theona Checkerspot, Doris Longwing, Emerald Swallowtail, & Green Jay Butterflies

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This is a continuation of my effort to identify the subjects found in a neglected Lightroom folder labelled Butterflies, and to share the “keepers” here.

Theona Checkerspot Butterfly
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2009
Nikon D300 with Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro lens
1/320 sec at f/10, ISO 200

Doris Longwing Butterfly
Butterfly Pavilion, Westminister CO - August 2015
Nikon D610 with Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro lens
1/50 sec at f/16, ISO 640

Emerald Swallowtail Butterfly
Butterfly Pavilion, Westminister CO - August 2015
Nikon D610 with Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro lens
1/30 sec at f/11, ISO 1000

Green Jay Butterfly
Butterfly Pavilion, Westminister CO - August 2015
Nikon D610 with Sigma 180mm f/3.5 macro lens
1/230 sec at f/14, 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. 

The Queen Butterfly

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The predominant color of the upperside and underside of the Queen butterfly is orange-brown. The black borders of the forewings have two rows of white spots. The underside of the hindwing has prominent black veins. The black borders of the underside hindwing also have two rows of small white spots. These butterflies are found throughout tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia; in the US, the Queen can be found around the Gulf Coast, California, Arizona, Texas, and southern New Mexico.

Queen Butterfly
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2009
Nikon D300, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens
1/320 sec at f/7.1, ISO 800

Queen Butterfly
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2009
Nikon D300, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens
1/1000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 640

Queen Butterfly
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2009
Nikon D300, 300mm f/4 lens + 1.7x teleconverter
1/250 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Queen Butterfly
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2010
Nikon D700, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens + 2x teleconverter
1/320 sec at f/14, ISO 2000

Queen Butterflies
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2008
Nikon D80, 300mm f/4 lens
1/125 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400

Queen Butterflies
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2017
Nikon D500, 300mm f/4 lens
1/400 sec at f/13, ISO 280

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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. 

Large Orange Sulphur

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This is a continuation of my effort to identify the subjects found in a neglected Lightroom folder labelled Butterflies, and to share the “keepers” here.

Large Orange Sulphur
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2009
Nikon D300, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens
1/2000 sec at f/5, ISO 400

Large Orange Sulphur
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX - November 2009
Nikon D300, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens
1/1000 sec at f/10, 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. 

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies

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I have a folder full of butterfly photos that I have not processed, in part because, except for a few of the more common ones, identification is difficult for the butterfly novice (me). New year's resolution - I am working on it.

Gulf Fritillary
St. Marks NWR, FL - September 2008
Nikon D80, 300mm f/4 lens + 1.7x tc

The Gulf fritillary is a brightly colored butterfly that can be found in South American, the West Indies, Central America, Mexico and throughout southern regions of the United States. It is a medium-sized butterfly with elongated forewings. The wingspan of adults ranges from 65 to 95 mm. The upperside is bright orange with black markings and the forewing has 3 black-encircled white dots. The brown undersides of the wings have elongated silvery-white spots and a rose patch at the bases of the forewing. The brown and red areas have pigmented scales, but the color of the silver spots is created when light is reflected through prisms in the wing scales. The caterpillar is bright orange with four rows of black, branched spines.

Gulf Fritillary
Betty's garden, Pensacola, FL - September 2008
Nikon D80, 300mm f/4 lens
1/1000 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200

Gulf Fritillary
Betty's garden, Pensacola, FL - September 2008
Nikon D80, 300mm f/4 lens + 1.7x tc
1/640 sec at f/9, ISO 400

Gulf Fritillary
Betty's garden, Pensacola, FL - November 2007
Nikon D80, 300mm f/4 lens
1/80 sec at f/8, ISO 400

Gulf Fritillary - Edinburgh Scenic Wetlands
Rio Grande area, TX - November 2010
Nikon D700, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 + 2x tc
1/1600 sec at f/14, ISO 1600

Gulf Fritillary, NABA International Butterfly Park
Rio Grande area, TX - November 2010
Nikon D700, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens + 2x tc
1/1600 sec at f/14, ISO 2000

Gulf Fritillary
Fort Pickens Gulf Islands National Seashore, FL - September 2011
Nikon D300S, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.7x tc
1/1500 sec at f/5.6, ISO 200

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar
Betty's garden, Pensacola, FL - September 2011
Nikon D300S, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens
1/200 sec at f/11, ISO 250

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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. 

Common Buckeye Butterflies

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Named for its conspicuous target-shaped eyespots, the common buckeye, Junonia coenia Hübner, is found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and in Mexico. "The common buckeye is a medium-sized butterfly with several large, conspicuous round eyespots. Adults have a wingspan range of 45 to 70 mm. Females are generally larger than males and have more rounded forewings. The upper surface of the forewing has a broad white postmedian band that touches and often encircles a single large eyespot. The forewing cell has two prominent orange bars. The upper surface of the hindwing has two large eyespots and a broad orange submarginal band." LINK

Common Buckeye, Fort Pickens FL - September 2009
Nikon D300, 300mm f/4 lens
1/320 sec at f/8, ISO 200

Common Buckeye
NABA International Butterfly Park, Rio Grande area, TX, November 2010
Nikon D700, Sigma 180mm f/3.5 lens and 2x tc
1/200 sec at f/14, ISO 2500

Common Buckeye
Fort McRae FL - November 2008
Nikon D80, 300mm f/4 lens and 1.4x tc
1/320 sec at f/11, ISO 400

Return to Top

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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. 

More about the Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico

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Close inspection of photos of the flocks of snow geese at Bosque presented in the previous posts may reveal a few geese with a dark gray body. The Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) may appear as a white or a dark morph. The more common white morph has a snowy white plumage except the primary wing feathers are black. The dark morph has a dark gray body and white head. Both morphs have orange legs and black tomia (serrated edges along the sides of the reddish/pink bill).

Ross’ Goose may also be a member of the flock, but they are seen less frequently. The distinction between Snow and Ross’ geese is illustrated and described below.

Cllick on the image to see a slightly larger version.

This is a photo of a dark morph snow goose showing the dark gray body and white head.

White and dark morph snow geese in flight.

Two dark morph snow geese descending to join a large number of white morph geese.

Click on the first image in the gallery and use the right arrow to view larger versions of each image. Hover over the image to see associated text.

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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. 

Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico (continued)

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I continue to cull and sort the photos I have taken on my 18 visits to Bosque del Apache NWR. The previous post illustrated the early morning blast-off of snow geese. During the day, their main activities seem to be feeding and resting. After the early morning blast-off, the birds move to their feeding grounds splitting into smaller, but still sizable, gaggles. The photographer still has an opportunity to capture a snow geese blast-off. As illustrated in the first two images, at, for me, unpredictable times, the feeding birds will suddenly all take flight. As illustrated by the third image, when the birds return to the pool of water where they spend the night, there is another opportunity to photograph the skein. The remainder of the images in this post are my favorite shots of a single snow goose in flight.

Click on the first image in the gallery and use the right arrow to view larger versions of each image. Hover over the image to see information about the camera, lens, and settings used.

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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. 

Early Morning Blast-off of Snow Geese at Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico

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I am putting together a collections of photos that could be called Dave’s Best of Bosque. These are candidates for inclusion. They represent the large gatherings of Snow Geese that can be seen there, and are examples of the view during the early morning blast-offs.

Images were taken with a Nikon D500 and 50mm f/1.8 lens. Except for #2 (a composite of several frames), shutter speed was 1/2500 sec and ISO ranged from 100 (#1 and #8) to 2200 (#3 and #4).

Click on any image in the gallery to see a larger version or click on the first image and use the right arrow to view larger versions of each image in the sequence in order. Hover over the image to see more details about the shot.

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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 Crane Takeoff Sequence - Bosque del Apache NWR

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While culling the photos I added to my Lightroom catalog after an outing to the Bosque del Apache NWR in December 2021, I found many unprocessed photos taken at Bosque in January 2018. I think they were ignored and forgotten because of the chaos associated with becoming full time residents of Colorado in December 2017 after selling our house in Florida.

Sandhill Crane - Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico - January 12, 2018

The 12 shots in the gallery shown below are part of one takeoff sequence. The interval between the first and last shot was 7 seconds.

Nikon D500, 300mm f//4 + 1.4x teleconverter
1/3200 sec at f/7.1, ISO 360-500

Click on any image in the gallery to see a larger version or click on the first image and use the right arrow to view larger versions of each image in the sequence in order.

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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. 

Texas Sunrise - October 31, 2021

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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 Silhouettes Some Shall Savor

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Nineteen images of sandhill cranes coming in after sunset to land in an overnight crane pool at the Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico on the evenings of December 9 and 10 2021.

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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. 

American Kestrel - Bosque del Apache NWR - 12/11/2021

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As I drove the north and south loop roads at Bosque last week, I was remembering the locations where I had taken some of my favorite shots on previous trips to the refuge. At one point I remember that I had obtained a few close-up shots of an American Kestrel on a post around the next turn. As I made the turn, I saw a kestrel on the same post. I stopped my car in a location with a good light angle and was able to get the images shown below. Click on each image to see a slightly larger version.

American Kestrel - Bosque del Apache NWR - December 11, 2021

Olympus E-M1X camera, 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens
Settings: 395mm focal length, 1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 320

American Kestrel - Bosque del Apache NWR - December 11, 2021

Olympus E-M1X camera, 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens
Settings: 395mm, 1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 320

American Kestrel - Bosque del Apache NWR - December 11, 2021

Olympus E-M1X camera, 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens
Settings: 395mm, 1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

American Kestrel with catch - Bosque del Apache NWR - December 11, 2021

Olympus E-M1X camera, 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens
Settings: 395mm, 1/2000 at f/5.6, ISO 250

American Kestrel with catch - Bosque del Apache NWR - December 11, 2021

Olympus E-M1X camera, 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens
Settings: 395mm, 1/2000 at f/5.6, ISO 320

American Kestrel with catch - Bosque del Apache NWR - December 11, 2021

Olympus E-M1X camera, 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens
Settings: 395mm, 1/2000 at f/5.6, ISO 320

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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 Pintail Ducks in Flight

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The photos were taken at the Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico on December 9, 2021. Compared to several previous years when I visited Bosque, drought conditions had dramatically changed the locations where photographers grouped to capture the early morning departure of the Sandhill Cranes from their roosting areas and the late afternoon arrival at those locations. Click on the image to see a slightly larger version.

Northern Pintails - Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico - December 9, 2021
All photos were taken handheld with an Olympus E-M1X camera and a 150-400mm f/4.5 TC lens. Settings for the first three images were 500mm focal length, 1/3200 sec at f/5.6 and ISO 500.

The pintails were feeding in the short grassy areas at the edge of the pool of water the sandhilll cranes were using as a roosting area.

Ample opportunity to try to capture images of the birds in flight existed because small numbers of the pintails were frequently entering or exiting this part of the refuge and/or changing locations within the area.

Settings for this image were 445mm focal length, 1/3200 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. 

White Morph Reddish Egret Catching, but not releasing

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Late in the afternoon on November 10 2021 at the beach on Bolivar Flats in Texas, the combination of the rising tide and the configuration of the underlying sand created a temporary pool of water that was being actively fished by a single White Morph Reddish Egret, a Black-bellied Plover, and a couple of Willets. Later, two Marbled Godwits joined the crowd. I was able to get to the west of the pool without disturbing the birds and acquire many images of the ongoing activity.

White Morph Reddish Egret - Bolivar Flats, TX - November 10 2021
Photos were taken with an Olympus E-M1X camera and a 150-400mm f4.5 TC lens. Shots were taken handheld @ 400 or 500mm, 1/3200 sec, f/4.5 or 5.6 , and ISOs between 320 and 800. I was surprised by the number of shots in which the fish being chased was out of the water and in the frame. Both the bird and the fish are out of the water in several of the shots.

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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.