Antelope Island - Following my goals

Storm clouds
Nikon D200, Sigma 10-20 mm f/4.0-5.6, 18 mm (27 mm FX), 1/250s, f/8, -1 EV, ISO 100

 

Yesterday I talked about some goals I set for myself for the next visit to Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The storm moving through the area was definitely helpful to get better landscape images. But how about  wildlife photography? Antelope Island State Park bears great opportunities to shoot birds, bisons, or pronghorns. Not all my dreams came true. I was hoping to put my glass on some Chukars. I saw this colorful bird last year for the first time and felt in love with it immediately. Please have a look in my post from last year HERE if you want. I saw two of them but direction of light and circumstances were not in my favor.

Western Meadowlark
Nikon D200, Sigma 50-500 mm f/4.0-6.3, 500 mm (750 mm FX), 1/1000s, f/6.3, -1 EV, ISO 100

 

Another goal I had was to get a better image of the Western Meadowlark. They are not difficult to find on the island at this time of the year because of their distinctive song performance. I used my little rental car as a blind for this image.

Horned Lark
Nikon D200, Sigma 50-500 mm f/4.0-6.3, 500 mm (750 mm FX), 1/1500s, f/6.3, -1 EV, ISO 200

 

A day later the weather was not quite as interesting as the evening before. While looking out for some Chukars I discovered this Horned Lark, sitting on a rock, instead. Direction of light wasn't as good as for the Meadowlark, but nevertheless, I got some images of this wonderful bird.

Thank you for stopping by! Please stay tuned for more…

 

 

Nature click #18 - Swans, Meadowlark, and moon...

Trumpeter Swans are back

There were three things in nature today that put a smile in my face and made me happy. First of all, the Trumpeter Swans are back! I went to the little lake where I watched a couple of them last year several times. (Click on the tag "Trumpeter Swan" below and it will display all my older posts about them.) When I arrived they seemed to great me with their loud call, that sounds like a car horn. What a moment!

 

Trumpeter Swans are back 2

I had the 50-500 with me, but no tripod. Despite a grey overcast I ripped through one 8 GB memory card in no time. I used manual focus only. That seems to work better in low light situations as it was today.

 

Eastern Meadowlark

On my way back home I saw an Eastern Meadowlark. For some not a big deal, but it was my first one that I saw here in the area. Another bird that will make it into my Iowa wildlife gallery soon. This gallery is one of my photography projects I pursue and that I try to expand and improve.

 

A day before full moon

The last big thing today was the very bright and big moon. It has not been so close to earth since 18 years. I made the click, even if full moon is actually tomorrow. Who knows if we will see it then?! ;-)