NATURE CLICKS #512 - YELLOW - RUMPED WARBLER

December 31, 2021

Last “NATURE CLICKS” post for 2021. It was overdue while we watched several Yellow-rumped Warblers at our bird baths since over a months. At least three different birds enjoy the service of a drink and free bath every day. Although our area is considered “migration territory” for this bird, it is not a real surprise that this species breeds here or is still present despite temperatures have plumped a couple days ago. Afraid of scaring the birds away I made the shot through the glass of our balcony door. When you have 4+ inches of snow on the ground the term of “neotropical bird” seems to get a different meaning…😉

Nikon Z6II, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, FTZ adapter, @ 600mm, 1/250s, f/6.3, ISO800

NATURE CLICKS #491 - BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD

April 26, 2021

The neotropical migrating birds are not even here yet but the cowbirds are already in position. The Brown-headed Cowbird is North America’s best known brood parasite. They do not built their own nests but instead lay the eggs in the nest of many other bird species. This is not always in favor of the host birds, because cowbirds hatch and develop faster and sometimes toss out other nestlings or eggs. This male cowbird posed nicely in the early morning sun today.

Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, @ 600 mm, 1/800 s, f/6.3, ISO200, cropped

RETROSPECTS 2020 - #5

December 21, 2020

American Redstart, Bankston County Park, Iowa

We are in the month of May for my ‘Retrospects 2020’ here in the blog, the place where I pull up some memorable moments that enlightened the year photographically. As every year all the neotropical birds arrive from their journey by the end of April or during the first days in May. There is no lack of interesting colorful species.

This year I spent more time in Bankston County Park, a small river valley with a rocky bottom and a pond, and only twenty minutes away from home. Two of my five ‘first sightings’ of birds in 2020 happened in this little nature paradise and I have already plans for more exploration in this area for next year.

Probably the most common warbler we can find there is the American Redstart. The best chances to make a good click is at their time of courtship. During the rest of the summer they stay higher up in the trees and it is more difficult to aim the glass at them.

NATURE CLICKS #456 - AMERICAN REDSTART

May 23, 2020

American Redstart ♂️, Bankston County Park, Eastern iowa

After several hours shooting from the porch today, sipping on a coffee, watching some rain fall, and enjoying the birds I had already made up my mind what to post tonight here in the blog. The rain stopped in the late afternoon and we decided to drive back again to Bankston County Park and see what nature would hold for us after the rain.

No surprises today but we found the most common warbler in this area, the American Redstart, catching insects at the banks of the river. While this male redstart perched several times on small branches and waited for his chance, I had my chance to get finally the image I had in mind since a long time.

NATURE CLICKS #454 - SCARLET TANAGER

May 18, 2020

Male and female Scarlet Tanagers are some of the prettiest visitors we have here at this time of the year. The tanagers like this oak in front of the house as a landing place before they approach the suet feeder. The frost at night a few days ago has damaged some of the fresh leaves on this young oak but the tree recovers quickly. With the cold weather we had lately these neotropical migrants come in very frequently. Later during the summer they spend most of their time in the canopy of the forest and forage for insects. That’s when we hardly see them anymore.

EARLY MORNING VISITOR

April 14, 2020

It turned out that I didn’t have to go anywhere to find a warbler today. Great light again early this morning and while having a look at numerous woodpeckers, this male Yellow-rumped Warbler suddenly showed up. I mount the camera already the night before onto the tripod, so it is ready to be used immediately if I see something outside our windows in the morning. This habit paid off again once more…

NATURE CLICKS #443 - YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER

April 11, 2020

I was very excited when we found the first neo-tropical migrating birds yesterday . Several Yellow-rumped Warblers used the warm sun and caught little insects in the bushes and small trees at the Deere Marsh by the Mississippi River. I didn’t take the tripod with me but got some sharp pictures by handholding the heavy NIKON D750 / SIGMA 150-600 S combo.

Today I tried my luck again, went out with the tripod this time, but didn’t find a single bird. The access trail to the dyke and marsh is flooded at the moment but this photo was made right next to the small parking lot. For tomorrow the forecast shows rain again…

To all readers and followers of my blog, Happy Passover / Happy Easter, stay safe!

A MORNING WITH THE SMALLEST

September 15, 2019

Sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee and behind the camera after a busy week on a Sunday morning is hard to beat. We still have a number of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds around and as far I have seen it, they are all juvenile males. These young rowdies have the endless battle about the best feeders and bully each other whenever they can. Their ruby throat is not fully developed yet but the first feathers that look almost like scales start to peek out.

This summer the tiny hummingbirds have nested relatively early here and have probably already left towards the tropics some time ago. What we see are immature birds that have only recently hatched further north and that are now on their first journey to the south.

It had rained overnight again and an overcast still covered the sky this morning. I like this kind of soft light for my hummingbird photography. The MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender was used to throw some extra light at the birds and use the reflection of the feathers to bring out some colors.

There were many keepers on the memory card today but I always look for the special pose or gesture that makes the difference between a good picture and a photo that tells a story.

All images: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM S, Induro GIT 404XL tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender

WARBLER DAY

May 13, 2018

I have 3 photos of warblers for you today. All have the word “yellow” in the name but each is of course from a different species. As always, you can click on each photo for a larger image on your screen. It was a gray Sunday but the temperature started rising again. Early in the morning I saw a couple warblers here near the house and with warmer temperatures insects started flying again. I figured out it would be a good day looking for migrating or mating warblers around the Deere Marsh at the Mississippi River in Dubuque and at the end of the day I was not disappointed with my encounters.

Taking pictures of birds against a gray sky or with water in the background that reflects the sky is usually a no-no, but rules are there to be broken sometimes…😉 To bring out the colors of these little neotropical birds requires to send a hint of flash in their direction. The light will be reflected and this takes care of the dull appearance under an overcast. I used the trusted MAGMOD MagBeam flash extender (click the link if you like to see it http://www.exnerimages.net/gear ).

Some of the pictures were made from the tripod and a flash arm was used. Others were made out of my car and in this case I mount the flash directly to the hot shoe of the camera. This is a little awkward at times because of the limited height of the car window but I haven’t found a better way yet. Don’t take me wrong, I still think a gray background does not lead to a real good photo but going out shooting beats the alternative, staying home… 😊