Tag: wildlife
+ 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, Butler, NY, eagles, Fish, Geese, heron, insects, osprey, Uncategorized
Do the Dew
by Susan
Which means you will have to get up early, before dawn even! Because you can’t do the dew if the sun dries it up before you get there. But it’s worth the extra effort of getting up and out of the house. The dew lets you see things you might have overlooked in the middle of the day. . . . . .or … Read More Do the Dew
Seven Swans a-Swimming
by Susan
Well, maybe not seven. There were only two. But they put on quite a show for anyone passing by the Sodus Bay inlet. I’ve written elsewhere about how mute swans are not native to the U.S. Even though they’ve been here for more than 150 years, they still nurse a grudge — not sure exactly why, but they do. They can be really … Read More Seven Swans a-Swimming
+ 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
+ Birds, natural, osprey, Uncategorized
The Streak
by Susan
. . . with apologies to Ray Stevens 😉 Sometimes you just need lots of fps, a bright, sunny day, and a subject with no shame.
+ 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!
+ 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!
+ 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
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
So Weird.
by Susan
Grebes, they’re so weird. We have the (ubiquitous) pie-billed type here. They’ve come back stronger, I think, this year. . .or maybe I just didn’t notice them as much last year as I do now. They’re cute little things, like tiny ducks with a fancy-looking bill. But they’re definitely weird. They like to hide in the vegetation that grows in marshy water, but they … Read More So Weird.
