The Bay Mudflats on South Pedro Island - Part 2 - Roseate Spoonbill & Great Egret

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The first part of this series presented photos of a Roseate Spoonbill and a Tricolored Heron feeding in close proximity at low tide in a small pool of water on the mudflats on the bay side of South Padre Island. Part 2, this entry, continues with two photos having only a single bird feeding in the frame (the same spoonbill featured in part 1) and 10 additional photos of the bird feeding next to a Great Egret.

Roseate Spoonbill - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024
All of the photos in this series were taken with an Olympus OM-1 camera and a 150 - 400 F/4.5 tc lens.
Focal length varied from 340 - 500 mm, shutter speed from 1/800 sec to 1/1600 sec, and ISO was set to either 800 or 1600.

Roseate Spoonbill (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024
Small minnow, large bird.

Juxtaposition of Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Merriam-Webster defines juxtaposition as the act or an instance of placing two or more things side by side often to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect. Juxtaposition is often used in photography by placing two or more objects close together to contrast them in an interesting or thought-provoking manner. Photos contrasting new vs old, young vs elderly, straight vs curved, or a bright, sunny landscape with a dark, stormy background are examples.

At low tide a variety of species are often seen feeding in the same small residual pools of water on the mudflats at South Pedro Island. Because of the proximity of the birds in the small pools, I was sometimes able to capture, in the same photo, images of birds of different species, sizes, shapes, and colors. Some photos also illustrate differences in methods of searching for, capturing, and consuming prey. Photos in which the physical features and instances of the behaviors of the Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret are juxtaposed are shown below.

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 2024

Roseate Spoonbill and Great Egret (with minnow) - South Padre Island, TX - January 13, 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. 

The Bay Mudflats on South Pedro Island - Part 1 - Roseate Spoonbill & Tricolored Heron

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During the two months I spent avoiding the snow and ice in Colorado by birding in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas, I especially enjoyed birding the mudflats on the bay side of South Pedro Island. Padre Island extends along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas from Corpus Christi south to Port Isabel, a distance of about 130 miles. The Laguna Madre separates the barrier island from the mainland. South Padre Island became separate from North Padre Island (Padre Island National Seashore) when a navigable waterway into the Gulf of Mexico (the Port Mansfield Channel) was built in the 1950s.

The bay mudflats on South Padre Island are a short distance north of the South Padre Island Convention Center. A sand trail (marked Drivable Trail) can be used to reach areas (represented by the camera) suitable for photographing the areas (symbolized by the rectangle) where the pelicans, gulls, terns, skimmers, raptors, and shorebirds may have gathered at the edge of the changing tide. The upward directing arrow points to images of birds photographed at such a location. Also, at low tide, a vehicle can be driven on the mudflats and used as a moveable blind to photograph birds feeding in the smaller residual pools of water in the area.

A panorama illustrating one such gathering observed on December 15, 2023.

The out-of-focus pelicans and other birds at the top of the image are at the edge of the tide. The Great Blue Heron is strolling behind several pools of water where wading birds, shorebirds, raptors, gulls, and terns are often found actively feeding.

A variety of species are often seen feeding in the same small pool of water. In this photo taken on January 13, 2024, a Snowy Egret, white morph Reddish Egret, Yellowlegs, and Common Merganser are sharing the same small pool.

Because of the proximity of the birds in the small pools, I was sometimes able to capture, in the same image, dramatic differences in the physical features of the birds, as well as the methods used to search for, capture, and consume prey.

Click on the arrows to view 8 images of a Roseate Spoonbill and a Tricolored Heron feeding in one of the pools on January 13, 2024. This series focuses on the differences in methods of feeding and the unusual positions of the birds relative to each other. Subsequent blog entries will highlight other differences that were observed in this type of setting.

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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 5 - White-tipped Dove & White-winged Dove

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INTRODUCTION

A continuation of a visual checklist of my efforts to capture images of birds that in the United States are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The descriptions of the birds are terse.

The White-tipped Dove and White-winged Dove 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 displayed in this series.

White-tipped Dove, Bentsen Rio Grande State Park
Focal length: 445mm
1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 4000
Handheld

Note the pale grey forehead and whitish throat of the White-tipped Dove. The tip of the tail is white, but this may not be visible unless the bird is in flight. The bill is black, the legs are red and the iris is yellow. Click on either of the two photos of the bird to see a larger view and the color of the iris in more detail.

White-tipped Dove, Bentsen Rio Grande State Park
Focal length: 400mm
1/320 sec at f/5.6, ISO 4000
Handheld

The White-tipped Dove is a permanent resident throughout its range which includes southernmost Texas in the United States and extends through Mexico and Central America south to western Peru and central Argentina as well as the offshore islands of northern South America.

White-winged Dove, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal length: 500mm
1/225 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
Handheld

White-winged Dove has a black mark on the neck and a prominent white stripe in the wing. Click on the image of the bird to see a larger view that will make the blue eye ring and red eyes more visible.

White-winged Dove, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal length: 500mm
1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1250
Handheld

The early range of the White-winged Dove overlapped the range of the saguaro, their favorite food, and extended from the Southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The North America range has been greatly expanded as agriculture in North America began providing alternative reliable sources of food for this species.

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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 6 - Inca Dove and Golden-fronted Woodpecker

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INTRODUCTION

A continuation of a visual checklist of my efforts to capture images of birds that in the United States are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The descriptions of the birds are terse.

The Inca Dove and Golden-fronted Woodpecker 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 displayed in this series.

Inca Dove - Quinta Mazatlan, TX
Focal length: 150 mm
1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 2500
Handheld

Small, gray pigeon-like birds with long tails, Inca doves have a distinctive fish scale pattern on their breast, head and back feathers.

Inca Dove - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 400 mm
1/1600 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800
Handheld

Inca Dove - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 158 mm
1/1600 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800
Handheld

The chestnut wing patches become visible when they fly.

Inca doves are found from south-central Texas, Arizona and New Mexico south to Mexico and Costa Rica.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 500 mm
1/1250 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1600
Handheld

The Golden-fronted Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, plain buffy-brown overall with black-and-white barring on the back. It is a close relative of Red-bellied Woodpecker. Golden-fronted are distinguished in appearance by the golden color on their nape and above the bill.

Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Quinta Mazatlan, TX
Focal length: 500 mm
1/2500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 2500
Handheld

Golden-fronted Woodpecker - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 406 mm
1/5000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 3200
Handheld

Golden-fronted Woodpecker - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 395 mm
1/6400 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 3200
Handheld

The Golden-fronted Woodpecker occurs from southwestern Oklahoma through Texas and Mexico as far south as northern Nicaragua.

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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 4 - Common Pauraque & Plain Chachalaca

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INTRODUCTION

A continuation of a visual checklist of my efforts to capture images of birds that in the United States are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The descriptions of the birds are terse.

The Common Pauraque & Plain Chachalaca 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 displayed in this series.

Common Pauraque - Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 150 mm
1/320 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 2500
Handheld

Common Pauraque - A pictorial definition of camouflage.

Common Pauraque - Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 234 mm
1/500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 2500
Handheld

Common Pauraque - Estero Llano Grande State Park, TX
Focal length: 150 mm
1/500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 2500
Handheld

Resident, not migratory. Resident in South Texas, Mexico (both coasts), Central and South America.

Plain Chachalaca - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 150 mm
1/12800, 320 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 3200
(Accidental setting)
Handheld

Large brown chicken-like bird with a long tail and neck.

Plain Chachalaca - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 183 mm
1/800 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 2000
Handheld

Plain Chachalaca - NABA International Butterfly Park, TX
Focal length: 183 mm
1/1600 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 2000
Handheld

In the U.S. the range of the Plain Chachalaca is restricted to the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas. They are year round residents in their range.

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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 3 - Clay-colored Thrush and Black-crested Titmouse

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INTRODUCTION

This is a continuation of a visual checklist of my efforts to capture images of birds that in the United States are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The series is merely a visual checklist. The descriptions of the birds are terse.

The Clay-colored Thrush and the Black-crested Titmouse 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 displayed in this series.

Clay-colored Thrush, Quinta Mazatlan, TX
Focal length: 500 mm
1/1000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 8000
Handheld

The Clay-colored Thrush is brownish overall. The belly is lighter. The throat has dark streaks.

The range of the Clay-colored Thrush includes eastern Mexico and extends to northern Colombia. A northern extension that includes the most southern regions of Texas has occurred in recent years.

Black-crested Titmouse, South LLano River State Park, TX
Focal length: 320 mm
1/2500 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 6400
Handheld

The Black-crested Titmice is gray above, whitish below, has peach-colored flanks, a white forehead and a black crest.

Black-crested Titmouse, Valley Nature Center in Weslaco, TX
Focal length: 400 mm
1/400 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 6400
Handheld

The range of Black-crested Titmice includes northeast Mexico, Texas and extreme southwest Oklahoma.

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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 2 - Tropical Kingbird and Great Kiskadee

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INTRODUCTION

This is a continuation of the visual checklist of my efforts to capture images of birds that in the United States are seen primarily in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The series is merely a visual checklist. The descriptions of the birds are terse.

The Tropical Kingbird and Great Kiskadee 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 displayed in this series.

Tropical Kingbird, Santa Ana NWR
Focal length: 500 mm
1/2000 sec at f/6.3, ISO 2500
Handheld

The tropical kingbird is a large yellow-bellied flycatcher. It has a gray head, whitish throat and dark gray-brown wings and tail.

Tropical Kingbird, Santa Ana NWR
Focal length: 500 mm
1/1250 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400
Handheld

Tropical Kingbird, Santa Ana NWR
Focal length: 500 mm
1/800 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400
Handheld

Tropical Kingbird, Santa Ana NWR
Focal length: 500 mm
1/1250 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400
Handheld

In the U.S., the tropical kingbird breeds in southern Arizona and is a resident in some parts of the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Great Kiskadee, NABA International Butterfly Park
Focal Length: 500 mm
1/1000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 3200
Handheld

The black-and-white head and bright yellow belly are conspicuous on the Great Kiskadee. The bright rufous wings and tail are apparent in the following flight shots.

Great Kiskadee, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal Length: 473 mm
1/3200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 8000
Handheld

Great Kiskadee, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal Length: 473 mm
1/3200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 8000
Handheld

Great Kiskadee, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal Length: 473 mm
1/3200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 8000
Handheld

Great Kiskadee, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal Length: 473 mm
1/2000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 2500
Handheld

The range of the Great Kiskadee covers most of South and Central America except for Chile, parts of Mexico and the Lower Rio Grande Valley in southern Texas.

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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 1 - Least Grebe and Green Jay

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INTRODUCTION

The next few posts will provide updates 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 series is merely a visual checklist. The descriptions of the birds are terse.

The Least Grebe and Green Jay are featured in this post. The photos shown were captured during my current visit to the area.

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 displayed in this series.

Least Grebe, Santa Ana NWR
Focal length: 438 mm
1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 1250
Handheld

The Least Grebe is a small bird with conspicuous golden yellow eyes. The body is mostly gray. But, as The Cornell Lab, All About Birds states, it has a “tuft of white at the stern”.

Least Grebe, Santa Ana NWR
500 mm focal length
1/1250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 800
Handheld

The Least Grebes in the Lower Ro Grande Valley are year-round residents.

Green Jay, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal length: 500 mm
1/250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 2000
Handheld

The striking green, yellow and blue colors of the Green Jay make it easy to identify.

Green Jay, Bentsen Rio Grande State Park
Focal length: 188 mm
1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 6400
Handheld

Green Jay, Bentsen Rio Grande State Park
Focal length: 244 mm
1/2000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 6400
Handheld

Green Jay, Estero Llano Grande State Park
Focal length: 438 mm
1/250 sec at f/5.6, ISO 2000
Handheld

In the Lower Rio Grande Valley area the Green Jay is listed as "All Seasons - common".

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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. 

Pictorial Antonyms of Solitary

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(an·to·nym /an(t)nim/ noun - a word opposite in meaning to another (e.g. bad and good).
(sɑː.lə.ter.i) - adjective - being the only one; single and isolated from others

American Avocets, North Jetty Bolivar Peninsula, TX - November, 2016
Nikon D500 with 50mm f1.8 lens, 1/1000 sec at f/13, ISO 1600

Panorama of Snow Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM - January, 2018
A composite of several shots
Nikon D500 with 50mm f/1.8 lens, 1/800 sec, ISO 1250

Snow Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM - January, 2018
Nikon D500 with 50mm f/1.8 lens, 1/1250 sec, ISO 2200

Snow Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM - January, 2018
Nikon D500 with 50mm f/1.8 lens, 1/1250 sec, ISO 2200

Snow Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM - January, 2018
Nikon D500 with 50mm f/1.8 lens, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1600

Snow Geese, Bosque del Apache NWR, NM - January, 2018
Nikon D500 with 50mm f/1.8 lens, 1/2500 sec, ISO 100

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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. 

Cattle Egrets - Jefferson Island, LA

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This is a subset of the photos in my Cattle Egret Lightroom folder that survived my recent culling and reworking efforts. The Nikon D500 camera was used to capture this group of images.

Nikon D500 with 500mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/2000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 320
All the photos in this post were taken at Rip’s Rookery at Jefferson Island in Iberia Parish, Louisiana in May 2016.

Nikon D500 with 500mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/2000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 720

Nikon D500 with 300mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/3200 sec at f/6.3, ISO 1250

Nikon D500 with 300mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/4000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 400

Nikon D500 with 300mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/4000 sec at f/7.1, ISO 400

Nikon D500 with 300mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/2500 sec at f/6.3, ISO 320

Nikon D500 with 300mm f/4 lens & 1.4x tc, 1/2500 sec at f/6.3, ISO 720
The bird is gathering nesting material by sitting on a branch and waiting for suitable material to float past the perch.

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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. 

Great-tailed Grackles

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Adult males have an iridescent bluish purple body, distinctive yellow eyes, a flat-headed profile and a broad bill. The long tapered tail can be folded into what some call a keel shape. Females are much smaller than the males. They are dark brown above but paler below. The stripe above the eye is buff-colored as is the throat.

Great-tailed Grackle, NABA International Butterfly Park, TX - November, 2009
Nikon D300, 300mm f/4 lens with 1.4x tc, 1/160 sec at f/6.3, ISO 800

Great-tailed Grackle, NABA International Butterfly Park, TX - November, 2009
Nikon D300, 300mm f/4 lens with 1.4x tc, 1/200 sec at f/6.3, ISO 800

Female Great-tailed Grackle - Bolivar Peninsula, TX - September 2013
Nikon D7100, 300mm f/4 lens with 1.7x tc, 1/1600 sec at f/9, ISO 800

Female Great-tailed Grackle - TX
Nikon D4, 500mm f/4 with 1.4x tc, 1/800 sec at f/8, ISO 1100

Great-tailed Grackle, North Jetty Bolivar Peninsula, TX - November, 2016
Nikon D500, 500mm f/4 lens with 1.4x tc, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 720

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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. 

Ring-necked Pheasants

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Ring-necked Pheasant - Burwell, Nebraska - April 2014
Nikon D7100, 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, 1/1600 @ f/4.5, ISO 640

Ring-necked Pheasant - Somewhere in Kansas - May 2021
Olympus E-M1X, 150-400mm F4.5 TC @ 500mm, 1/1000 @ f/5.6, ISO 200

Ring-necked Pheasant - Somewhere in Kansas - May 2021
Olympus E-M1X, 150-400mm F4.5 TC @ 293mm, 1/1000 @ 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. 

Wood Storks in Flight

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I compulsively add the files from photo outings to my Lightroom catalog and religiously back them up on hard drives and in the cloud. Afterwards, the images are usually shamefully neglected. Three photos from a recent visit to the catalog. Click on the photo to see a slightly larger version.

Wood Stork, Merritt Island NWR, FL, January 2016

Nikon D4, 500mm f/4 lens, 1/3200 sec at f/4, ISO 400

Wood Stork, Wakodahatchee Wetlands, FL, March 2015

Nikon D4, 500mm f/4 lens + 1.4x teleconverter, 1/2500 sec at f/9, ISO 2000

Wood Stork, Merritt Island NWR, FL, January 2016

Nikon D4, 500mm f/4 lens, 1/3200 sec at f/5, ISO 1000

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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. 

2023 Colorado Fall Colors - Part 6

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More photos taken during the four days chasing the light in the San Juan Mountains in the Ouray/Telluride area as a participant in a workshop led by Joe Garza and Nick Selway
(Click on the image to see a larger version)

Three shots merged. Olympus OM-1 camera and 12-100mm f/4 lens at 13 mm
1/15 sec at f/14, ISO 400

San Juan Mountains near Telluride, Colorado

Olympus OM-1 camera and 12-100mm f/4 lens at 24 mm
1/10 sec at f/16, ISO 400

San Juan Mountains near Telluride, Colorado

Olympus OM-1 camera and 12-100mm f/4 lens at 47 mm
1/30 sec at f/16, ISO 800

San Juan Mountains near Telluride, Colorado

Olympus OM-1 camera and 150-400 mm f/4.5 lens at 150 mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

San Juan Mountains near Telluride, Colorado

Olympus OM-1 camera and 12-100mm f/4 lens at 21 mm
1/125 sec at f/11, ISO 640

San Juan Mountains near Telluride, Colorado

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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. 

2023 Colorado Fall Colors - Part 5

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Assorted

Olympus OM-1 camera with 12-100 f/4 lens at 100mm
1/15 sec at f/14, ISO 400

Aspens, a bit of snow, and a touch of yellow

Olympus OM-1 camera with 12-100 f/4 lens at 12 mm
1/500 sec at f/16, ISO 640

The moon, a rainbow, and clouds viewed on a winding mountain road

Olympus OM-1 camera with 12-100 f/4 lens at 21 mm
1/10 sec at f/4.5, ISO 400

Molas Pass area in early morning light

Olympus OM-1 camera with 12-100 f/4 lens at 20mm
1/160 sec at f/8, ISO 400

A wider view of the Molas Pass area an hour later

Olympus OM-1 camera with 12-100 f/4 lens at 24 mm
1/1600 sec at f/14, ISO 1250

Panoramic view of Mount Wilson, the highest summit (14,252-ft) of the San Miguel Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains.

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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. 

2023 Colorado Fall Colors - Part 4

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More photos taken during the four days chasing the light in the San Juan Mountains in the Ouray/Telluride area as a participant in a workshop led by Joe Garza and Nick Selway

Olympus OM-1 camera with a 12-100mm f/4 lens at 23 mm
1/25 sec at f/13, ISO 400

Photos of a small patch of bent and curved Aspen trees in the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is speculated that an avalanche early in their growth cycle caused the trees to grow in a curve in order to find the sunlight necessary for survival.

Olympus OM-1 camera with a 12-100mm f/4 lens at 25 mm
1/25 sec at f/13, ISO 400

Olympus OM-1 camera with a 12-100mm f/4 lens at 29 mm
1/25 sec at f/13, ISO 400

Olympus OM-1 camera with a 12-100mm f/4 lens at 41 mm
1/125 sec at f/8, ISO 1250

Photo taken while standing a few feet from the entrance to my room on the second floor of the motel where I was staying in Ouray, CO.

Olympus OM-1 camera with a 12-100mm f/4 lens at 25 mm
1/1600 sec at f/4.5, ISO 1250

Somewhere in the vicinity of Red Mountain Pass, south of Ouray.

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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. 

Colorado Fall Colors - October 2023, part 3

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Images from the back roads near Ouray and Telluride.

Olympus OM-1 camera with the 12-100mm f/4 lens at 23mm
1/8 sec at f/16, ISO 200

Homestead cabins near Telluride. Dallas Divide and Mount Wilson are hidden behind the dense clouds.

Olympus OM-1 camera with the 150-400mm f/4.5 lens at 256mm
1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

My finger activated the mirrorless when I saw this scene in the viewfinder.

Olympus OM-1 camera with the 150-400mm f/4.5 lens at 150 mm
1/1600 sec at f/5.6, ISO 400

Another telephoto capture.

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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. 

Durango to Silverton train photos

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Photos of one of the steam locomotives and some of the cars taken close to Silverton on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. A scenic trip starting at the Durango Depot takes you up into the Rocky Mountains with views of the San Juan National Forest as you travel alongside the Animas River on your way to the historic mining town of Silverton.

Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 66mm
1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 70mm
1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

The railway is a federally-designated National Historic Landmark.

Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 15mm
1/640 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

The 3 ft. narrow-gauge heritage railroad operates on 45.2 miles of track on the route originally opened in 1882 to transport silver and gold ore mined from the San Juan Mountains.

Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 17mm
1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

The line from Durango to Silverton has run continuously since 1881. Now it is a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers, and is one of the few places in the U.S. which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives.

Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 17mm
1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

 The information presented below the photos was obtained from Wikipedia.

Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 57mm
1/1000 sec at f/5.6, ISO 640

For those desiring privacy

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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. 

Colorado Fall Colors - October 2023, part 2

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The first image is of Mount Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains. The remainder were taken in the Red Mountain Pass area, south of Ouray, CO.
Click on the image to see a larger view.

Mount Sneffels in the San Juan Mountains
Panorama formed by combining 3 files
Olympus OM-1 camera, Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens at 18mm, 1/15 sec at f/14, ISO 250

Red Mountain Pass area, south of Ouray, CO
Olympus OM-1 camera, Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 lens at 82mm, 1/200 sec at f/4, ISO 400

Red Mountain Pass area, south of Ouray, CO
Olympus OM-1 camera, 40-150mm f/2.8 lens at 150mm, 1/320 sec at f/4, ISO 400

Red Mountain Pass area, south of Ouray, CO
Olympus OM-1 camera, 40-150mm f/2.8 lens at 150mm, 1/40 sec at f/3.5, 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. 

Colorado Fall Colors - October 2023

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I was a participant in a Fall Colors Photography Workshop led by Joe Garza and Nick Selway last week. We spent four days chasing the light in the San Juan Mountains in the Ouray/Telluride area. My next few blog posts will illustrate some of the scenes we encountered.
Click on the image to see a larger version.

Mount Wilson (14,252 feet) is the highest summit of the San Miguel Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains. This image is a panoramic composite of four exposures obtained with an Olympus OM-1 camera and the 12-100mm f/4 lens at 21 mm. Settings: 1/100 sec at f/14, ISO 400

Another view of Mount Wilson from a different location and in different light conditions. Olympus OM-1 camera, 12-100mm f/4 lens at 29 mm. A single exposure - 1/250 sec at f/11, 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.