Tag: Birds
The Gulls at Dufferin Islands
by Susan
Just past the glitz of Niagara Falls (on the Canadian side) are the Dufferin Islands. These islands were created early in the 20th century during the construction of a generating station by Ontario Power Generating (OPG). The area has been a government-administered nature area since 1999, when power was no longer produced there. The islands are rather small and easily traversable. Paid parking is … Read More The Gulls at Dufferin Islands
Wild Wings Day 6: The (Final) Star
by Susan
If Saturday was SuperSaturday, then I would have to say that Sunday was StupendousSunday. I thought I was in photography heaven. When Andy said he was taking us to a rookery, I immediately thought of this: Which is a fairly typical example of a great blue heron rookery up where I live. You know, a stand of dead trees in the middle of a … Read More Wild Wings Day 6: The (Final) Star
+ about me, Andy Nguyen, Birds, Crane, Ducks, Fish, heron, mirrorless, Montezuma, osprey, Uncategorized, Wild Wings Photography
Wild Wings Day 5: The Star
by Susan
Today was SuperSaturday, so by definition The Star of the Day would be a SuperStar. And it was! No doubt about it, it was babies! Babies clearly were the Number One SuperStar of the Day! Our morning outing was delayed by thunderstorms, severe enough to prompt lightning warnings. But once they cleared we were off, looking for SuperStar candidates. It didn’t take long to … Read More Wild Wings Day 5: The Star
Wild Wings Day 4: The Star
by Susan
The Star of the Day today could have been the pelicans, which were quite photoworthy. Or it could have been any of the number of small waders that ran along the shore and entertained us by pestering each other. But The Star of the Day was none of these. It was definitely the wood stork. And not just *any* wood stork. It was THIS … Read More Wild Wings Day 4: The Star
Wild Wings Day 3: The Star
by Susan
We went out twice on Day 3, once in the morning and once in the evening during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. The choice of Star of the Day was actually quite difficult, as several lovely and not-so-lovely candidates had to be considered. The first candidate would have to be the purple gallinule. The morning light glistened off its iridescent feathers — … Read More Wild Wings Day 3: The Star
Wild Wings Day 2: The Star
by Susan
No problem choosing The Star of the Day for Day 2, the uncontested winner was the reddish egret. “In the stately and dignified world of herons,” according to AllAboutBirds (Cornell University), “Reddish Egrets are the swashbuckling cousins.” And right they are! Anyone who has watched great blue herons or great or snowy egrets patiently stalking their prey will be quite surprised at the tactics … Read More Wild Wings Day 2: The Star
+ Birds, bridge camera, Crane, Ducks, eagles, egret, gear, Geese, heron, mirrorless, Red-tail hawk, swans, Uncategorized
Sony a7ii
by Susan
I really love my Olympus gear, but I can’t ignore the full-frame fuss any longer. So, I took the plunge and bought a (used) Sony — not the latest model and certainly not the most expensive — but one that Digital Camera World recommended as a very capable and affordable full-frame, as long as you don’t do video (https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/buying-guides/best-full-frame-mirrorless-camera). Although still a relative newbie … Read More Sony a7ii
+ Andrea van Beausichem, Andrea van Beusichem, Birds, Ducks, eagles, egret, Fish, Geese, grebes, heron, Migration, Montezuma, muskrat, osprey, swans, Uncategorized
Spring, Montezuma Style
by Susan
Winter is slowly losing its grip on western New York. Eaglets are hatching, osprey and herons are nesting, and ducks, geese, and swans have found their mates. Although spring arrived meterologically on March 21, it wasn’t really spring for us nature photofolks until April 1st, when the gate to Wildlife Drive swung open. Today was sunny (and warm!), so I packed a lunch and … Read More Spring, Montezuma Style
Feeding the Waterfowl, An Update
by Susan
Well, this blog has definitely been seen, because Ms. van Beusichem has now issued a brochure, Draining the Main Pool, Feeding the Waterfowl, which is available without charge at the MNWR Visitor’s Center. Nice try, but in my opinion it warrants no cigar. She merely repeats the glib arguments that we have already heard, albeit with a bit more cheerfulness. “The Montezuma National Wildlife … Read More Feeding the Waterfowl, An Update
+ Birds, bridge camera, Caspian Tern, Fish, gear, heron, mirrorless, osprey, Uncategorized
Losing My Fear of ISO
by Susan
What newbie wouldn’t be scared of ISO? On one hand, it promises you brighter, better photos. . . . . .but the other hand takes them away with great big blobs of grain. Up to now, I simply ignored this third leg of the exposure triangle. I figured that by keeping the ISO low (200 or below), I wouldn’t have to worry about grain. … Read More Losing My Fear of ISO
+ Birds, eagles, gear, Uncategorized
A Not-So-Quiet Day at the Marsh
by Susan
I thought it was going to be one of those quiet summer days with wildlife languishing in the sun, too hot to forage or preen, thus limiting my photo ops to flowers and sparkly water. But it was not meant to be, not if the blackbirds had anything to say. Turns out they had a lot to say, and do! Today there were a … Read More A Not-So-Quiet Day at the Marsh
+ Birds, eagles, gear, mirrorless, muskrat, Uncategorized
Just Too Hot
by Susan
Summer is like that. Sometimes it’s just too hot and too dry. . .even for an eagle! The water levels are still very low at the National Wildlife Refuge, but it’s breezy and cool out in the marsh, much more so than on the hot and dusty Wildlife Drive that encircles it. So, it was no surprise to find an eagle resting … Read More Just Too Hot
Seen by Susan: Fun with Flora and Fauna 
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