This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
This site is dedicated to wildlife and landscape photography.
I like and enjoy seeing all wild birds. Okay, I’ll admit that I like some more than others. Take today’s photo for example. It’s not a bald eagle. It’s not a peregrine falcon. It’s not a great gray owl. It’s a red-winged blackbird. Still, I was happy to have the opportunity it gave me to photograph it and to try to create an attractive image.
This male northern harrier looks like he’s getting fed up with something — maybe me. Birds seem to look that way sometimes. It reminds me of the mad duck image I posted here. Maybe it’s more like: “Oh no, not you again.” It’s funny, herbivores often look like they are smiling. See my post on the bison calf below. Also, the cow elk here. Carnivores seem to have more of a poker face, but even with them I’ve seen what looked like a smile. I’m thinking of this one wolf that seemed to be smiling. See this link. Of course, I should mention the always-smiling porpoises and dolphins. And then there are the chimpanzees who not only smile, but laugh. Maybe I need to spend more time doing landscape photography.
There are three things in the photo above that say it’s spring to me. The first thing is the flowers. The second is the change occurring in the elk’s coat from a warmer (longer), lighter-colored, winter coat to a cooler (shorter), darker, summer coat. The third thing is the early-stage growth of antlers.
During the winter season the Point Reyes tule elk shed their antlers. Almost immediately after shedding them they began growing new antlers. Under that velvet skin the antlers are engorged with blood. At this early stage you can easily see evidence of blood-rich tissue. Below is a cropped version of the above photo showing the blood-rich tissue.
One thing I like about photographing during the winter at Point Reyes is the lush greens in the ranching areas. The rainy season is just about over and it will be just be a matter of time before the greens turn to browns. I was fortunate to see and photograph this male bobcat several times this winter. He was almost always on lush, green grass. I’d like to tell him I’m grateful for that. I haven’t seen him lately. I hope he’s OK. If you’d like a print of this image click here.
A while back I decided to do a series of posters featuring birds of Western North America. They are carried by the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Novato. Recently, I decided to do one featuring the wildlife of Marin County which is the county I live in just north of San Francisco. I started off with the idea of just doing mammals, but that has grown to include birds of Marin. The posters are for sale now at the Viewpoints Gallery in Point Reyes Station. That little town is located near the entrance to Point Reyes National Seashore. They are also available at Fabulous Framers in Novato and will soon be available at Wild Birds Unlimited in Novato. As it has turned out, most of the subjects were photographed in Point Reyes National Seashore. Here is a sample of what the posters look like. My favorite bobcat is my poster boy for this sample.
This coyote was photographed hunting gophers on ranch land in Point Reyes National Seashore. The ranch lands provide good habitat for gophers. A healthy population of gophers (and other rodents) means a good food supply for predators that feed on gophers, such as coyotes, bobcats and badgers. When I drive through these lands, most other drivers are intent on getting by me and getting to their destinations as quickly as possible. They seem oblivious to the wildlife they pass by. If you would like to purchase a print of this image click here.
I saw this bobcat about a month ago. He was sitting in a field enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun. He looks like he may have been daydreaming. Do bobcats daydream? If you would like to purchase a print of this image click here.
I took this photo about a month ago at Point Reyes. I can’t remember the exact location, but it was shot around sunset. I usually miss sunrise at Point Reyes, but I try to always be there for sunset. It’s the best of times — for light and wildlife. When the sun starts getting low my senses heighten. It’s a feeling of anticipation. Something is going to happen. Something better happen. I need a good photo. I also know that many of the animals I like to photograph, such as coyotes and bobcats, are up and beginning to hunt. It’s time to crank up the ISO. Time to be steady. 1/30th of a second time. It’s make or break time. If I get a good photo of an animal at that time the day is a success. If I don’t, the day is usually a failure. I try not to let it get to me. But it does. Some. To purchase a print of this image click here.
