Category: Uncategorized
+ about me, Birds, gear, Geese, heron, mirrorless, Uncategorized
Silky Water — Handheld!
by Susan
What is this, some sort of magic? No, it’s not magic at all. In fact, it’s something that’s been around for a while. The Big Three camera makers, though, are just beginning to catch on to it and are now putting it in their newer cameras — you can buy these if you like, but it will cost you big time — be … Read More Silky Water — Handheld!
An Unusual Find
by Susan
A black crowned night heron. Well, call it a “black crown” if you wish, but I never saw one that extends all the way down your back, and I don’t know how active these herons are at night. So, “black crowned night heron” might be a little misleading. “Hunched-over flat-headed blue-and-white heron” might be more accurate albeit less flattering. All I know is that … Read More An Unusual Find
+ about me, Birds, covid, Geese, heron, mirrorless, Uncategorized
LeRoy Island
by Susan
There is not much about Leroy Island that would make it stand out among the several small islands and peninsulas dotting Sodus Bay. It’s accessible by a pretty-much-one-lane bridge, where there are no signs blaming your GPS for misdirecting you; in fact, there is a sign welcoming you– as long as you are a fisherman who promises to take your trash with you when … Read More LeRoy Island
+ Birds, eagles, Fish, Uncategorized
Bye-bye Mom!
by Susan
“I’m a big boy now!” says Son #1. Meanwhile, back at the nest, Son #2 gets some wise advice from Mom. He will likely join his brother in the brand-new world of fledglings in a few days or maybe a week or two. Eagles take about 10-12 weeks to grow from nestling to fledgling, but it will take a lot longer (5 years!) … Read More Bye-bye Mom!
McNature
by Susan
Having an affinity for nature photography, Diet Coke, and a bargain, I am a frequent visitor at McDonald’s golden arches. I can’t help but notice what surrounds most of their restaurants, it’s pretty nice. So, I make it a habit to bring a camera with me while I wait at the drive-thru for a large Diet Coke/light ice — a real bargain at $1.00 … Read More McNature
+ Birds, eagles, Fish, gear, heron, mirrorless, Uncategorized
Friends in High Places
by Susan
Garth Brooks may prefer his low-placed pals, especially since singing about them has pulled in a ton of money, but he is really missing out. I have soooo many friends in high places! Most numerous of these are probably the osprey. Last year I counted 19 osprey nests on and around the stretch of Rt. 89 that brings me to the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, … Read More Friends in High Places
A Different Kind of Nature
by Susan
Human nature. I ran into some of it yesterday. Weird. Nobody likes being told what to do or when to do it, especially me. But these are hard times. CoVid-19 is a thing unknown. Extremis malis extrema remedia, no? When I left work yesterday around noon, horns were honking and cars were gathering in the shopping center parking lot across the street. “Oh,” I … Read More A Different Kind of Nature
Requiem for the 1100d
by Susan
Was happily clicking the shutter button when the dreaded error appeared: Easy enough, with a Q-Tip and some 90% alcohol. But the error message remained, even with the camera turned off. Removing and then reinserting the battery got rid of the message, but now I had a black screen. The problem wasn’t the lens; it worked fine on the 77d. So, there I was … Read More Requiem for the 1100d
Love ’em or Loathe ’em?
by Susan
I didn’t even know what a bridge camera was until maybe a year-and-a-half or so ago, when I decided to concentrate on nature photography. That’s when I yearned for a 400mm lens to replace my very-good-but-now-hardly-used 300. It wasn’t long before I wanted a 600 to replace the 400 — and that’s where I was stuck until I discovered bridge cameras. Sure, I could … Read More Love ’em or Loathe ’em?
+ corona, covid, society, Uncategorized
Innocence Lost
by Susan
Not that society in 2020 was ever very innocent — not as innocent as, say, in 1820, when James Monroe was president, America was involved in no wars, and toasts were raised to “my country, right or wrong.” Certainly the sectionalism that would soon raise its ugly political head would put all that Era of Good Feeling stuff severely to task, and the several … Read More Innocence Lost
+ Birds, Caspian Tern, Coots, Ducks, eagles, egret, Fish, Geese, grebes, heron, muskrat, Uncategorized
West Shore Trail
by Susan
West Shore Trail is in the northern part of the Montezuma Wetland Complex. It’s rather isolated; nobody seems to go there much except me. That’s too bad because now that the simulated drought is over, the water levels at West Shore have risen even higher than those at the main pool in Seneca Falls, and the resident wildlife is even more varied here than … Read More West Shore Trail
Frenzied Fishing
by Susan
But that’s how the Caspian terns do it — a nonchalant flyover that begets a frenetic flying frenzy! They circle and hover for several minutes in crazy cycles before suddenly and spectacularly dive-bombing for the prize. The prize could be a crayfish but more likely is an unlucky fin fish, which the tern will immediately make short work of. And as soon as it … Read More Frenzied Fishing
