Butterflies!

Red Admiral Butterfly

I kind of think that the butterflies are out early this year.  I have heard that the Red Admiral sometimes overwinters in the adult stage, shown above.  I am glad we also have flowers blooming upon which they can feed.  Some of the other butterflies observed so far this year are:  Silver-spotted Skipper, Question Mark, Pearl Crescent, and Spring Azure.  

Carol and I also observed a Common Green Darner Dragonfly the other afternoon.  I have read that they migrate.

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Red-bellied Woodpeckers

Red-bellied Woodpecker

One of the adults is almost always on the nest.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers

Periodically, they have a changing of the guard.  

Red-bellied Woodpeckers

One leaves and the other takes over what I imagine, not being able to see inside the nest, incubation.  

I noticed that the female is banded the other day.  In case you aren't aware, when a bird is banded, a record is kept of the date, time and location at which it was done.  An ornithologist can have a sense of the age of the bird, and where it has been the next time it is examined.  

They have light nets spread.  The bird flies into the net and is captured so that it can be banded and observed.  Don't try this at home.  You must have a permit as a researcher to do this.

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Cottonwood Tree

Cottonwood Tree

As I watched for woodpeckers, I thought this cottonwood with new leaves quite beautiful.  It was backed by the blue sky with wispy clouds and lit by the morning sun.  

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Woodpecker Side Benefits

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I have been photographing woodpeckers lately.  I sit on my milk carton and wait and watch.  While doing so, I have been fortunate to capture images of the American Robin among others.  The Robin is so common.  My thought has been that I would like a good shot of one but it has not been high on my priority list.  They hop around my backyard and should be easy to photograph, right?.  I have not found that to be true as they seem highly aware and illusive.  

American Robin

Sitting and waiting seems to be a good technique for photographing many animals including the robin.  They seem to become comfortable with me as I sit quietly. 

American Robin

This one landed on a snag in front of me and very near.  It was patient while I re-aimed my camera and focused.  I made several sharp images of it.  Now I feel glad to have its image in my collection.

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David Fitzsimmons, Curious Critters at Gorman Nature Center

David FitzSimmons at Gorman

What a great day!  David talked about his book and its lead up.  I am sure that he matured as a photographer throughout that whole experience.  The book has won three awards, now and a Curious Critters II is in the works.  I was excited to learn about the playing cards.  They have the wonderful shots of the book and you can play at least four different games with them.

David FitzSimmons

David read several pages from his book to show the "personalities" of the animals.  

As a previous workshop attendee, David allowed me to photograph during his presentation.  He also helped me to learn the technique afterwards.  I have redone my American Toad shot using his procedure.  It is much easier than the "knock out" I previously used and provides a natural shadow that I like much better than the drop shadow I tried to insert with Photoshop.  I particularly liked his emphasis on capturing the "essence" of the animal.  I plan to start carrying my light box in the field.  Much of his shots are captured in the field.  None of the wildlife pictured, was drugged or sacrificed and anyway.

American Toad

I showed him my shot of the toad.  We talked about the toad's right rear big toe.  If I were presenting this in an editorial way, I would need to shot so that it did not appear to detract from the image.  As art, I would probably clone it out so that it would not distract. 

Thanks, David for a wonderful presentation yesterday.  I look forward to the puppet show today at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary at 2:00 PM.  I am bringing my grandchildren.

The shot that of David's that I liked the most yesterday was one of him reading Curious Critters to his daughters Sarah and Phoebe (not shown).

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Mallard Ducks

Mallard Male

They come in pairs this time of year.  I did not see the female until they flew.  The mallard seems to me to be the most common duck in our area.

Mallard Male

This shot was what I consider lucky, because auto focus does not always lock on when the background is cluttered.  It tends to work better once the duck gets to the blue sky background.

Mallard Pair

I am learning to judge what light I need for these shots.  Low light does not make it.  I have learned from the camera by using auto ISO.  I am able to set my EOS 20D which does not have auto ISO using what I have learned from the 7D.  This shot was taken using the 7D and a Sigma 50-500 f/4-f/6.3 lens.  When possible, I rest this rig on a monopod (first two shots).  I was able to pick up the whole thing and shoot this one hand holding all including the monopod. 

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