Red-tailed Hawk – before and after

October 6, 2013 by Bob Zeller

I love going back through my image files and find one that have I ignored for awhile, for some reason or another. This photo of a juvenile Red-tailed Hawk is one of those. When I took the original photo, the bird had just took off from atop a telephone pole. It is impossible to get a perfect composition at that time, and in this case, not only was the pole and wires in the image, I also clipped the wing of the bird.

Red-tailed Hawk – taking off from utility pole.

For a long time the photo languished in my files, ignored because I was hesitant to publish the image. This photo was taken back in May of 2011 so it has been around a long time. Recently I decided that I could make a good presentation of it if I ignored the clipped wing and did a decent crop. Even then, ordinarily I would not have published it with the clipped wing, but after looking at it as an artist should, I felt it was just too good not to show. Here is the final result.

Juvenile Red-tailed Hawk in flight.

Photographing raptors, whether it be Ospreys, Hawks, or Owls; I love the challenge of shooting them in flight. They are such glorious images when in the air. Click on either of them to see an enlargement.

By the way, it was photographed using a very old Canon EOS 40D and 100-400mm lens. It doesn’t matter about the equipment as long as you know it’s limitations and how to use it.

By Request – Northern Bobwhite

December 28, 2011 by Bob Zeller

On one previous post I invited anyone to submit requests if they happened to want to see photos of one particular bird. So in yesterday’s post, Carolyn Rutherford asked if I had some images of some Northern Bobwhites. So without further adieu, here is a selection of images of the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginanus) that I captured over the past three years. All were photographed at San Angelo State Park, San Angelo, Texas. Carolyn, enjoy.

1. Northern Bobwhite in tree

2. Northern Bobwhite in a tree

3. Northern Bobwhite

4. Northern Bobwhite - female

5. Northern Bobwhite

6. Northern Bobwhite

Exposure information:

Image 1. Canon 7D, 100-400mm lens, 1/200 sec. @f13 -0.3EV, ISO 400. Partial metering with aperture priority.

Image 2. Canon 7D, 500mm lens with 1.4 tele-converter, 1/500 sec. @ f13 +0.3EV, ISO 800. Spot metering with aperture priority.

Image 3. Canon 40D, 100-400mm lens, 1/400 sec. @ f5.6, ISO 640. Center-weighted average with aperture priority.

Image 4. Canon 7D, 500mm lens with 1.4 tele-converter, 1/2500 sec. @ f6.3, ISO 800. Partial metering with shutter priority.

Image 5. Canon 7D, 500mm lens with 1.4 tele-converter, 1/2500 @ f5.6, -0.3EV, ISO 2500. Partial metering with shutter priority.

Image 6. Canon 7D, 100-400mm lens, 1/500 sec. @ f11, -0.3EV, ISO 2000. Partial metering with aperture priority.

Yellow Warbler at San Angelo SP

December 13, 2011 by Bob Zeller

The Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia), is not a permanent resident of west Texas. They only make occasional appearances here during migration. For that reason, I felt lucky to get to see this one at San Angelo State Park, back in September of 2009. I was sitting in the blind there when it flew in and entertained me and Ann for a few minutes.

Yellow Warbler

Back then I still owned my Canon EOS 40D. I used my Canon 100-400mm zoom lens, hand-held. Exposure was 1/500 sec. @ f6.3 with ISO 400, aperture priority.

Sage Thrasher – Accidental Lifer

December 8, 2011 by Bob Zeller

I was going through my Curved-billed Thrasher images this morning, thinking about doing a post. As I was perusing the thumb-nails, five of them caught my eye. I realized that those images were different from all the others. Upon further review, and consulting my bird guides, I discovered it was a Sage Thrasher, (Oreoscoptes montanus).

The Sage Thrasher is quite a bit smaller than the curved-billed, and has a much shorter bill. I should have taken a closer look at them at the time, but as I always do, I download into my folders then nearly forget about them, until I accidentally come across them again, as I did this time, looking for better images of the Curved-billed. As it turns out, it is a lifer for me, as I had never seen and identified one before. We, in this area, are right on the eastern edge of their wintering zone.

Sage Thrasher

This image was captured in January of 2009, at San Angelo State Park. My camera at that time was the Canon EOS 40D. Canon 100-400 zoom lens, 1/800 sec. @ f5.6, ISO 400. Center-weighted metering at aperture priority.

The female Northern Cardinal

November 14, 2011 by Bob Zeller

First an update: It has been confirmed that the mystery bird in yesterday’s post was a winter Myrtle Yellow-rumped Warbler. At first, I considered a Pine Warbler, but after contacting my friend Eric Carpenter in Austin, Texas, he indeed confirmed the yellow-rumped.

That was so much fun getting different opinions on the ID of that bird, I am thinking of maybe having a weekly contest. Let me think about that. 🙂

So now, to answer Katie (her blog), who commented to my Northern Cardinal post, by asking if I had photos of a female. Well, certainly, dear Katie, anything to satisfy my readers. Here are three of my best.

female Northern Cardinal

Image number 1, photographed July 7, 2007. Canon EOS 20D with Canon 100-400mm lens. 1/250 sec. @ f7.1, ISO 400. Partial metering and aperture priority.

female Northern Cardinal

Image number 2, photographed June 27, 2009, Canon EOS 40D with 500mm lens and 1.4 tele-converter. 1/200 sec. @ f7.1, ISO 800, minus 1/3 EV. Partial metering with aperture priority.

female Northern Cardinal

Image number 3, photographed April 29, 2008, Canon EOS 40D with Canon 500mm lens and 1.4 tele-converter. 1/200 sec. @ f7.1, ISO 800. Center-weighted metering and aperture priority.

I hope Katie and the rest of you enjoyed these photos. Anytime that you wish to request certain species photos, if I can accomodate, I certainly will, if I have some presentable photos.

Click on any of the photos to see an enlargement.

Another Northern Cardinal image

November 12, 2011 by Bob Zeller

I keep going back through my old archives when I have spare time. Today when I was adding photos to my flickr page, I came across this Northern Cardinal ( Cardinalis cardinalis) image that I had taken with my old Canon 40D back in 2008.

Northern Cardinal

We were sitting in the bird blind at San Angelo State Park, when it flew in and perched atop a desert sumac. I had my Canon 500mm with a 1/4 tele-converter attached, mounted on a tripod with a Wimberley II gimbal head. Exposure was 1/500 sec. @ f5.6, ISO 500. Center weighted metering with aperture priority.

I love the flashy color of the cardinals. They are one of my favorite birds to photograph because they are naturally photogenic. Click on the image to see an enlargement. Also, click on the Flickr logo on the right side of this page and have a look at some other work of mine.

Dark-eyed Juncos

November 10, 2011 by Bob Zeller

First, before I get into the subject of this post, I’d like to mention that two of my favorite bloggers are down in south Texas for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. One is David Skinner’s (blog) from Canada. He reports that during a three-hour hunt yesterday he and his group saw 57, yes, folks that is 57 species. He said that 11 of those were “lifers” for him.

If you remember, in an earlier post I had mentioned that Ann and I had seen 27 species on a recent outing. David’s total of 57 makes ours look like childs-play. I need to get to south Texas one of these days.

Another individual, Linda Rockwell of Photo Feathers (blog) is down there, but in a different tour group. Check out her photos of a couple of Crested Caracaras. She said that she will be reporting back later on her results.

Now, about the Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis). These photos were taken at two different times with different equipment.

Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon Group)

This Oregon Junco was photographed at the Cedar GapFarm bird viewing center in February 2009. If you have never been there, click the above link to my post describing it. I was using my Canon EOS 40D at the time. I had my Canon 100-400 lens attached and hand-held it for this shot. 1/500 sec. @f5.6, ISO 400. Center-weighted metering at aperture priority.

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)

The Slate-colored Junco was photographed at the X-Bar Ranch in November of 2010. Another great place to bird. They have a little patio area next to a copse of trees with a little bubbling fountain. Many species of birds, and all you have to do is sit back in one of the chairs, sip a refreshment of your choice, and enjoy the different species. Of course, I passed on the refreshment as I was quite busy taking photographs.

It was getting quite dark when I took this particular photo, as you can see by the ISO of 3200. I had my Canon 7D on a tripod with my Canon 500mm lens. Other exposure info: 1/400 sec @ f4, partial metering at shutter priority.

Carolina Wrens

October 22, 2011 by Bob Zeller

First, this will probably be my last post until I return from my travels to the Big Bend. We are leaving Monday morning and will return Friday. Hopefully, I will post something next Saturday.

Digging back through my archives, I again found a few gems that you might enjoy looking at. These are the Carolina Wrens (Catherpes mexicanus). I again, photographed these birds at the Hummer House in Christoval, Texas. I think I will do a post about the Hummer House in the future, since I have been talking about it so much. Some you that reside here in Texas would probably be interested in visiting. Carolina Wrens reside here the year around.

1. Carolina Wren

2. Carolina Wren

3. Carolina Wren

These were all photographed in the spring of 2008. I had not yet purchased my 7D so I was using my older Canon EOS 40D. I had it attached to my Canon 500mm lens with a 1.4 tele-converter. I mounted it on my Manfrotto tripod with a Wimberley gimbal head, and was sitting inside the viewing center. The images were all captured through the plate glass window.The basic exposures were all identical, aperture priority, center weighted metering, ISO 800, f7.1. Only the shutter speed varied from 1/125 to 1/250 sec.

In the third photo, you can see the advantage of using only one focus point. There was considerable grass growth, but I was able to put that lone focus point on the bird with no problem, as you can see.

In the second photo you might notice a metal band on the leg. Dan and Cathy Brown, the owners of Hummer House, regularly invite the Concho Valley Bird Banders to come and do their work for research.

Well, again, I hope you enjoy these images of another cute bird. Click on any of them to see enlargements.

Rock Pigeon (Dove): Hunting Season

September 9, 2011 by Bob Zeller

Fifth and final in the series about the dove species of west Texas. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia). Formerly was named the Rock Dove. Many people still refer them to as doves. Stokes Field Guide to North American Birds describes them as heavy-bodied, broad-shouldered, short-tailed pigeons with relatively short necks and short stubby bills. Dark gray head, irridescent necks, pale gray back. Two dark wingbars show on lower back.

National Audubon Society‘s Sibley’s guide to Birds still refer to it as the Rock Dove or (Feral Pigeon). The third or bottom photo below shows the rare Brown adult.

Rock Pigeon

Photographed November 5, 2007
Canon EOS 20D
Canon 500mm IS lens with 1.4 tele-converter
1/250 sec. @ f6.3 – ISO 400
Lens focal distance – 700mm
Metering – average
Aperture priority

Rock Pigeon

Photographed July 5, 2008
Canon EOS 40D
Canon 100-400mm zoom lens
1/400 sec. @ f7.1 – ISO 400
Lens focal distance – 390mm
Metering – center weighted average
Aperture priority

Rock Pigeon (rare brown adult)

Photographed July 3, 2010
Canon EOS 7D
Canon 500mm IS lens
1.640 sec. @ f13 – ISO 800
Lens focal distance – 500mm
Metering – spot
Aperture priority

Inca Dove: Hunting Season

September 7, 2011 by Bob Zeller

Third in a series about the dove species that can be found in west Texas. Inca Dove. Colombina inca). Smallest of the doves found locally. Very secretive little bird. Small, deep-bellied, long-tailed dove with a short neck, small head, and short bill. Pale gray to sandy colored overall. All feathers brown-tipped to give a scaled look. To me, this bird is the cutest of the species.