India! Ashy Drongo
Ashy Drongo: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — On our last morning in Keoladeo, we took a longish hike back trough the heavy thickets between the road and the marsh in hopes of a roosting owl. No owl, or at least not the one we were looking for, but we did encounter a number of other interesting birds, including this Ashy Drongo, our first and only one for the trip. Though some of us tried to turn it into the more common and more likely White-bellied Drongo in hindsight…I am pretty sure, from both the photo and the habitat, that it is an Ashy. 🙂 Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 800 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1EV.
Maine! Bobolink
Bobolink: Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2023 — Carol came back from her walk on the beach a few mornings ago with a mystery bird. From her description it took me two tries to identify the bird and show her a photo for confirmation, but I we got it. Bobolink. It is that time of year, when the males are up and singing. Even doing a bit of competitive singing and flight acrobatics (aerobatics?) Such a striking and handsome bird! OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f8 @ 1/1250th.
Biggest Week in American Birding! Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2023 — Not my best ever shot of a Bay-breasted Warbler, but they were scarce while I was on the Erie Shore this year. I think they may have come through in numbers after I left. Still, a good bird to encounter anytime. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f7.1 @ 1/1000th, -.3EV (in full noon-day sun).
India! Indian Thick-knee
Indian Thick-knee: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — I posted a photo of one of these Indian Thick-knees while I was still in India in March. We spent, realively speaking, more time looking for this specific bird than for any other on our trip, as we hiked back into the brushy area to the side of the road between the first and second entrance gates many times before we found them. If they are hunkered down, like the bird on the right, it is very easy not to see them. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 160 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Biggest Week in American Birding: Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, May 2023 — The Black-throated Blue Warbler is a skulker, and as such, is one the warblers that it is actually easier to see and photograph at Magee after the big blown down cleared out the canopy. Not that it does not do its best to stay behind whatever cover there is. I caught this one relatively out in the open for a moment. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 400 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th. -.3EV.
India! Brahminy Starling
Brahminy Starling: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — I always say, of all the Starlings in the world that might have been introduced into North America, our common Starling is least attractive. Starlings would get more respect if they looked like this Brahminy Starling, especially when having a bad feather day as this one was. Pesky wind and bit of breeding territory excitement. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1.3 EV.
Maine! Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker: backyard, Kennebunk, Maine, USA, May 2023 — So we will stay close to home for the holiday today. This is one of our backyard Downy Woodpeckers, taken from my photo-blind out by the big pine on our property line. Looking just a bit disheveled. OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom @ 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving bird modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 4000 @ f6.3 @ 1/640th.
India! Grey Heron
Grey Heron: Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — I have to admit that I do not get too excited about Grey Herons when I am traveling. They are so much like our Great-blue Herons, which are pretty much every where in the US…and the Grey is pretty much every where, well, ever where else. It ranges from Great Britain across Europe, most of Asia, and Africa south of the Sahara. In Australia they have the White-faced Heron, also a very similar bird. So, while I photograph every one I see…I don’t get overly excited. 🙂 Not that it is not a great bird. It is. The grayish herons are one of the birds I like to show to other’s, especially children, as it never fails to impress. And it has a great a range of feather textures as any bird alive…and they are very visible because the bird is so big. These birds were out on one of the side roads at the end of the access road in Keoladeo. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 640 and 800 @ f4 @ 1/500th.
Biggest Week in American Birding! Captain of the Marsh
Bald Eagle: Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio, USA, May 2023 — Appropriate for Memorial Day Weekend. There are actually two active Bald Eagle nests at Magee this year. The one by the parking lot that has been there for years and one by the junction of the two loops in the center of the boardwalk. The ones in the center…perhaps not having the open expanse of the car park as a front yard, spent more time sitting out and sitting high where they could see (and be seen). The more you know about Bald Eagles the less likely you are to admire them, but they are still magnificent birds. Many of the tourists that are attracted by the crowds of birders at the Marsh in May are happy to go home having seen the eagles…while the hordes of warblers make little impression. That is what it means to be big and beautiful and famous…you know the whole national bird thing! OM Systems OM-1 with 100-400mm zoom at 800mm equivalent. Program mode with my evolving birds modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro. ISO 200 @ f6.3 @ 1/800th. -.3EV.
India! Flying Foxes
Indian Flying Fox (Fruit Bats): Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India, March 2023 — Not birds for today, but still flying creatures. These large fruit bats were roosting in a tree by the canteen at the end of the Keoladeo access road, right over the road. These are really big bats, among the largest bats in the world…weighing up to 3.5 pounds, with a body 8-9 inches long and a wingspan that can reach to 5 feet. Big bats! They do carry several diseases we can catch, and they feed on ripe fruit so fruit farmers tend to dislike them…but they may well offset any fruit destroyed by doing service as pollinators. That is still a hard sell if your income depends on your orchard. There must have been 20 in this roost. Sony Rx10iv at 600mm equivalent. Program mode with my custom birds and wildlife modifications. Processed in Pixelmator Pro and Apple Photos. ISO 100 @ f4 @ 1/500th. +1EV.