the rest from Springbrook

 Canon XTi  300mm  f/4  1/1600  ISO: 200  

  

  

Canon XTi  300mm  f/4  1/4000  ISO: 200  

  

  

Canon 20D  400mm+1.4x  f/8  1/250  ISO: 200  

  

  

Canon 20D  400mm+1.4x  f/8  1/250  ISO: 200    

  

  

Canon 20D  400mm+1.4x  f/8  1/160  ISO: 100 

Green Herons at Springbrook

Canon 20D  400mm + 1.4x  f/8  1/400  ISO: 400 

  

  

  

Canon 20D  400mm + 1.4x  f/8  1/320  ISO: 400 

  

   

Canon XTi  300mm  f/8  1/320  ISO: 200

  

  

  

Canon 20D  400mm + 1.4x  f/8  1/20  ISO: 200 

Springbrook visit

Canon XTi 300mm f/4 1/200 ISO: 200

I arrived after an overnight rain. Rain drops everywhere!

Canon XTi 300mm f/4 1/60 ISO: 200

Canon 20D 400mm+1.4x f/8 1/30 ISO: 400

Canon XTi 300mm f/4 1/1000 ISO: 200

Canon 20D 400+1.4x f/8 1/320 ISO: 400

Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley, MN

During the last two weeks I visited the Springbrook Nature Center several times. I hadn't been there since spring and it was encouraging to see a number of improvements under construction, the most obvious being a boardwalk along the north boundary of the Center. Below are some iPhone photos showing the environment. Bird & flower photos to follow.

f/2.8 1/24 ISO: 70

f/2.8 1/15 ISO: 87

f/2.8 1/30 ISO: 72

this one may be more useful for impromptu birding

20x Wide-angle Zoom Lens (28-560mm). We'll have to wait for tests to see what the quality is like. More specifics here.

new Canon PowerShot G11

Not so much for birding, but could be a good carry-around camera for scenics, close-ups, RAW. For more info, click here.

Whooping Cranes

I registered today for another trip with Stan Tekiela. This time to a facility in central Wisconsin where young Whooping Cranes are being trained to fly behind ultra-light aircraft for their migration south to Florida. For details go to p.42 at this link. We depart for the overnight trip on September 12 -- the cost is nominal considering all that is provided.

last morning at Blue Cloud Abbey

On my last morning at the Abbey, having spent a week there, I took a short walk around one of the ponds and came upon this Red-tailed Hawk.

A few moments later it took off. I didn't know why, but should have guessed from the small song bird coming toward us -- see the out-of-focus spot near the center of the photo.

I'm sure most of you have observed this same scene -- a small bird going after a much larger raptor.

Sure enough, a few seconds later it was joined by a second, small attack-bird.

The Red-tail managed to elude and out-distance them. There must be a moral somewhere in this short scenario -- I'll leave it to you to come up with it.

more birds on Blue Cloud Abbey grounds

  

  

  

  

  

  

Da Cat

formal portrait

"Yes, I have teeth!"

For another photo click here.

Blue Cloud Abbey's new cat.

Blue Cloud Abbey evening

  

  

  

  

Lake Superior at dusk

vacation

I'm off to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a few days with the grandkids. I'll be posting on Twitter & maybe some iPhone shots on this blog -- back by the weekend.

Western Kingbirds

  

  

  

  

  

  

These photos were taken last month near Blue Cloud Abbey.

iPhone photography

See what you can do with an iPhone camera.

South Dakota prairie soprano

? sparrows

I often have trouble identifying sparrows with certainty. These are no exception. The photos were taken last month in the vicinity of Blue Cloud Abbey. My best guess is White-throated, but I'm not very comfortable with that.

Springbrook Nature Center, Fridley, MN

iPhone photo

I spent the morning getting a mental health break at Springbrook Nature Center. Many summer birds have left -- fall is coming. Photos to follow.

wordless wednesday

juv. Barn Swallows near Blue Cloud Abbey

bird photography

excellent summary

near Blue Cloud Abbey

  

  

Chipping Sparrows

I concluded that the baby bird in yesterday's post must be a Chipping Sparrow since it was surrounded by these adult Chippers. They may not be the most flamboyant birds, but to me they are beautiful.