Nov. 20, 2013 – Ridgefield NWR – 17 Images

Home » Nov. 20, 2013 – Ridgefield NWR – 17 Images

Nov. 20, 2013 – Ridgefield NWR – 17 Images

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Hello again!  It’s been over 3 weeks since I posted my last blog entry.  Sorry about that–it’s been a busy December at our house.   Today I’m working on images I made at Ridgefield NWR on Nov. 20, 2013.   Let’s get to the pictures on this bright, sunny, and cool day.

This is the day that I witnessed some amazing behavioral action between an immature Bald Eagle and a Red-tailed Hawk.  I posted this series of shots to the Blog on Nov. 23rd.  You may have already seen it, but if not, here is a quick link to that posting called The Eagle and the Hawk —33 photos of the action that occurred around noon.  If you click away to the eagle/hawk series, be sure to come back here and check out other images shown below.

Early in the day, I noticed a Belted Kingfisher hovering over the slough between markers #3 & 4 and perching in some shrubbery further out in the field.  I had the bare 500mm on and decided to take the shot even though the bird was way too far out to result in a quality shot.  It wasn’t until I got home and processed the shot that I noticed the bird had caught a snack.  The light was nice but other than that we’re looking at a documentary shot.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 800, 500mm.   (8:26 a.m.)

[Click on the thumbnails to reveal larger more detailed images].

 

_X5A7028-Edit20131120RNWR  Belted Kingfisher

 

Next up is a few shots of what I think is an American Goldfinch.   The day was getting brighter fast so I put on my 2x extender.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800, 1000mm.    (8:37)

Notice the dirt on its face.

_X5A7120-Edit20131120RNWR  american goldfinch

 

Here, the bird appears to be taking a nap but it’s really trying to scrape the material from its face.

_X5A7122-Edit20131120RNWR  american goldfinch

 

Just prior to lift off.

_X5A7167-Edit20131120RNWR   american goldfinch

 

A close up of a Red-tailed Hawk.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800, 1000mm.   (8:46 a.m.)

_X5A7182-Edit20131120RNWR  red-tailed hawk

 

This is the same bird as above.  I loved the look I’m getting here!    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800, 1000mm.   (8:46 a.m.)

_X5A7185-Edit20131120RNWR   red-tailed hawk

 

The last couple of weeks I’ve noticed a pair of Double-crested Cormorants around marker #10.  I wish I could get a killer shot of one of these but the location has lots of brush in the way and these birds seemed very skittish.  Here’s a frame that came out okay.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (9:04 a.m.)

_X5A7217-Edit20131120RNWR  double-crested cormorant

 

I’m back at the beginning of the loop parked at marker #3.  Off to my left (against the sun) I see a Northern Harrier on the ground a couple hundred feet out.  It didn’t take long and the bird took flight heading right for me.  So I took some shots of it hovering and turning in flight as it hunted the area.  It turned away from me before getting too close though.  Here are a couple of the shots of this hunting harrier.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (9:45 a.m.)

The familiar hover pose.

_X5A7267-Edit20131120RNWR   Northern Harrier flight

 

Here the bird shows off how it can manipulate its wings in a twisted orientation, turning on a dime in mid-flight.  Amazing fliers they are!

_X5A7280-Edit20131120RNWR  northern harrier flight

 

A couple hundred feet up the road is a lone Hooded Merganser in the slough to my right (the same location where the kingfisher was hunting).   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1250mm.   (9:50 a.m.)

_X5A7289-Edit20131120RNWR  hooded merganser

 

 

_X5A7295-Edit20131120RNWR  hooded merganser

 

Another Red-tailed Hawk.  I’m seeing many of these birds all around!   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (10:09 a.m.)

_X5A7357-Edit20131120RNWR  red-tailed hawk

 

This is a Pied-billed Grebe wondering if he should dive or not!    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (10:53 a.m.)

_X5A7361-Edit20131120RNWR  pied-billed grebe

 

A long distance shot of an American Kestrel in hover mode.  I’m eagerly awaiting the day I can get this pose of a bird that is within about 70 feet.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000mm.   (12:14 p.m.)

_X5A7609-Edit20131120RNWR   American Kestrel flight

 

I’m wondering if this is a young male Norther Harrier based on the light markings on the face.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000mm.   (12:17 p.m.)

_X5A7674-Edit20131120RNWR   northern harrier

 

After the bird took flight.

_X5A7691-Edit-Edit20131120RNWR   northern harrier flight

 

This is a full frame shot of a Great Egret maybe 20 feet off the road.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000mm.   (12:57 p.m.)

_X5A7713-Edit20131120RNWR  great egret

 

And that’s about it for the 20th of November!  Thanks for stopping by and take care as we move into a new year.

 

Posted in

Hello again!  It’s been over 3 weeks since I posted my last blog entry.  Sorry about that–it’s been a busy December at our house.   Today I’m working on images I made at Ridgefield NWR on Nov. 20, 2013.   Let’s get to the pictures on this bright, sunny, and cool day.

This is the day that I witnessed some amazing behavioral action between an immature Bald Eagle and a Red-tailed Hawk.  I posted this series of shots to the Blog on Nov. 23rd.  You may have already seen it, but if not, here is a quick link to that posting called The Eagle and the Hawk —33 photos of the action that occurred around noon.  If you click away to the eagle/hawk series, be sure to come back here and check out other images shown below.

Early in the day, I noticed a Belted Kingfisher hovering over the slough between markers #3 & 4 and perching in some shrubbery further out in the field.  I had the bare 500mm on and decided to take the shot even though the bird was way too far out to result in a quality shot.  It wasn’t until I got home and processed the shot that I noticed the bird had caught a snack.  The light was nice but other than that we’re looking at a documentary shot.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 800, 500mm.   (8:26 a.m.)

[Click on the thumbnails to reveal larger more detailed images].

 

_X5A7028-Edit20131120RNWR  Belted Kingfisher

 

Next up is a few shots of what I think is an American Goldfinch.   The day was getting brighter fast so I put on my 2x extender.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800, 1000mm.    (8:37)

Notice the dirt on its face.

_X5A7120-Edit20131120RNWR  american goldfinch

 

Here, the bird appears to be taking a nap but it’s really trying to scrape the material from its face.

_X5A7122-Edit20131120RNWR  american goldfinch

 

Just prior to lift off.

_X5A7167-Edit20131120RNWR   american goldfinch

 

A close up of a Red-tailed Hawk.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800, 1000mm.   (8:46 a.m.)

_X5A7182-Edit20131120RNWR  red-tailed hawk

 

This is the same bird as above.  I loved the look I’m getting here!    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 800, 1000mm.   (8:46 a.m.)

_X5A7185-Edit20131120RNWR   red-tailed hawk

 

The last couple of weeks I’ve noticed a pair of Double-crested Cormorants around marker #10.  I wish I could get a killer shot of one of these but the location has lots of brush in the way and these birds seemed very skittish.  Here’s a frame that came out okay.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (9:04 a.m.)

_X5A7217-Edit20131120RNWR  double-crested cormorant

 

I’m back at the beginning of the loop parked at marker #3.  Off to my left (against the sun) I see a Northern Harrier on the ground a couple hundred feet out.  It didn’t take long and the bird took flight heading right for me.  So I took some shots of it hovering and turning in flight as it hunted the area.  It turned away from me before getting too close though.  Here are a couple of the shots of this hunting harrier.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (9:45 a.m.)

The familiar hover pose.

_X5A7267-Edit20131120RNWR   Northern Harrier flight

 

Here the bird shows off how it can manipulate its wings in a twisted orientation, turning on a dime in mid-flight.  Amazing fliers they are!

_X5A7280-Edit20131120RNWR  northern harrier flight

 

A couple hundred feet up the road is a lone Hooded Merganser in the slough to my right (the same location where the kingfisher was hunting).   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1250mm.   (9:50 a.m.)

_X5A7289-Edit20131120RNWR  hooded merganser

 

 

_X5A7295-Edit20131120RNWR  hooded merganser

 

Another Red-tailed Hawk.  I’m seeing many of these birds all around!   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (10:09 a.m.)

_X5A7357-Edit20131120RNWR  red-tailed hawk

 

This is a Pied-billed Grebe wondering if he should dive or not!    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1600, 1000mm.   (10:53 a.m.)

_X5A7361-Edit20131120RNWR  pied-billed grebe

 

A long distance shot of an American Kestrel in hover mode.  I’m eagerly awaiting the day I can get this pose of a bird that is within about 70 feet.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000mm.   (12:14 p.m.)

_X5A7609-Edit20131120RNWR   American Kestrel flight

 

I’m wondering if this is a young male Norther Harrier based on the light markings on the face.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000mm.   (12:17 p.m.)

_X5A7674-Edit20131120RNWR   northern harrier

 

After the bird took flight.

_X5A7691-Edit-Edit20131120RNWR   northern harrier flight

 

This is a full frame shot of a Great Egret maybe 20 feet off the road.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000mm.   (12:57 p.m.)

_X5A7713-Edit20131120RNWR  great egret

 

And that’s about it for the 20th of November!  Thanks for stopping by and take care as we move into a new year.

 

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My Gear:

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV & Grip
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II
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