Monthly Archives: December 2011

Blue Jays, Whooping Cranes and more…

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Since my last newsletter, the whooping crane instructional photo tour has filled and we need two or three more photographers for a second tour on Thursday and Friday, January 12-13.  If you can go, give me a call or email.

Young Whooping Crane feeding in marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Young Whooping Crane feeding in marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
As you can see by the photo above, we get pretty close to these extremely rare birds during most of our tours.
Adult whooping crane landing in marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Adult whooping crane landing in marsh at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
There will be other bird and landscape photography opportunities during the whooping crane photo tours. Great blue herons, various warblers, brown pelicans, long-billed curlews, American oystercatchers, osprey and other birds are some of our more common photo subjects when we aren’t photographing whoopers.
Great blue heron at Port Aransas, Texas.
Great blue heron at Port Aransas, Texas.
Pair of whooping cranes at take off, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Pair of whooping cranes at take off, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas.
Last week, I spent a few days in Wichita Falls with relatives.  That gave me some time to work on backyard birds like blue jays, cardinals and sparrows.  I simply had to prepare a natural looking set that included a nice stump, a vine, and some oak leaves with autumn color thrown in for good measure.  Within 10 minutes, the birds were arriving and I spent much of two afternoons shooting.
Low, heavy clouds and rain hampered my efforts a little, but the fill flash helped boost the colors and give the birds some “eye shine”.  Here are several samples of what I got.
Blue jay perched on a stump.
Blue jay perched on a stump.
I tried shooting with a blooming rose bush in the background, but the red flower was a bit much, so it was removed for most of the shooting.
Blue Jay scolding sparrows.
Blue Jay scolding sparrows.
Blue Jay eating acorn.
Blue Jay eating acorn.
Two blue jays share a feeding stump.
Two blue jays share a feeding stump.
Blue Jay landing on stump.
Blue Jay landing on stump.
Blue jay landing on a rotting stump.
Blue jay landing on a rotting stump.
Adult white-crowned sparrow landing at feeding stump.
Adult white-crowned sparrow landing at feeding stump.
When I’m hanging around home, I visit some of the area photography ranches.  As most you know, one never gets all the shots one needs, no matter how common the subject.  I continue trying to get great shot of birds like verdin, Harris’s hawk and yellow-rumped warbler.  I got these shots about three weeks ago.
Yellow-rumped warbler bathing at a ranch pond.
Yellow-rumped warbler bathing at a ranch pond.
Verdin perched in a bougainvilla bush.
Verdin perched in a bougainvilla bush.
Landing Harris's Hawk on south Texas ranch.
Landing Harris's Hawk on south Texas ranch.
So, this is what I’ve been up to.  Join me for whooping cranes or south Texas birds after the holidays (lditto@larryditto.com or 956-682-3251).
Merry Christmas,
Larry

Bosque Was A Blast!

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Sandhill Crane leaving the corn field.
Sandhill Crane leaving the corn field.

Last week, I traveled with four other photographers to Socorro, New Mexico and the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge for the annual Bosque Instructional Photo Tour.  With the exception of  the final afternoon when a strong wind kicked up ahead of a cold front, we enjoyed beautiful weather and had a blast photographing a variety of birds, mammals and landscapes. 

The Bosque corn crop for wintering birds was far below normal production, so we anticipated problems getting snow goose photos.  Fortunately,  that was not the case.  The refuge staff opened a few extra miles of farm road for the visiting public and that got us in an area where the geese were feeding.  We were able to photograph many thousands of geese and sandhill cranes on each of our three days.

Next year, I anticipate hosting the usual three days at Bosque plus an additional two days photographing sand dunes and native American petroglyphs.  So mark your calendar for next November.  Meanwhile, here are some of this year’s captures. 

Sandhill Crane leaving the roost.
Sandhill Crane leaving the roost.
Many of the flight photos I took were done at slow shutter speeds in the range of 1/60 to 1/100 second.  By panning with the bird, I was able to blur the wings and background while getting a reasonably sharp focus on the head.
The sandhill cranes to be calling constantly.
The sandhill cranes seemed to be calling constantly.
Shots of landing sandhill cranes can be dramatic.
Shots of landing sandhill cranes can be dramatic.
One of the most difficult tasks in photographing cranes and geese is capturing a moment when a single bird is separated from the flock.  Getting that bird in a pleasing location with dramatic wing action is significantly more difficult, but at Bosque all things are possible to those who shoot, shoot, shoot.
Silhouettes of cranes hang-gliding into the roost are tons of fun.
Silhouettes of cranes hang-gliding into the roost are tons of fun.
Knowing “where to go and when to be there” is the great challenge at Bosque del Apache NWR, especially for first time photographers.  I always try to position my shooters to get sunset action like this sandhill crane landing at the roost.
Spectacular New Mexico sunrise and snow goose blast-off.
Spectacular New Mexico sunrise and snow goose blast-off.
Snow goose with shadow on wing.
Snow goose with shadow on wing.
Wing position is of utmost importance for a pleasing flight shot.  At Bosque, one always hopes for a southerly breeze when the birds are feeding.  We weren’t so lucky with wind direction this year, but by carefully positioning ourselves, we still captured some nice snow goose poses.
Wings outstretched for a landing
Wings outstretched for a landing
Snow goose with the flaps down for a landing.
Snow goose with the flaps down for a landing.
As usual, bald eagles were perched about the larger ponds, ever vigilant for a crippled or dead bird.  Getting a really good photo of these guys requires phenominal luck or a really BIG lens.  The following shot was done with a 500 mm lens and 1.4X telecoverter.  It looks ok in format, but I could have use more glass.
Juvenile bald eagle hovering over an adult. They tangled momentarily in mid-air.
Juvenile bald eagle hovering over an adult. They tangled momentarily in mid-air.
American Wigeon landing on a pond in Socorro, New Mexico.
American Wigeon landing on a pond in Socorro, New Mexico.
Well camouflaged Common Snipe feeding in the Bosque del Apache Refuge marsh.
Well camouflaged Common Snipe feeding in the Bosque del Apache Refuge marsh.
Photographers at the crane pools have many cranes to photograph against the Chupader Wilderness in the western part of the refuge.
Photographers at the crane pools use the Chupadera Wilderness as a backdrop for flight shots.
We spent a fourth day photographing petroglyphs east of Bosque del Apache Refuge.  Inspite of a spitting snow, we got some nice shots as darkness fell.  Join me next year for a petroglyph excursion after the refuge photo trip.
Light painting on bighorn sheep etched in basalt.
Light painting on bighorn sheep etched in basalt.
Bosque del Apache NWR is my favorite photo trip and it always offers something new.  I hope you enjoyed this little sample from the 7,000 images I made during five days in New Mexico.
Merry Christmas,
Larry