Tag: wildlife

Spring, Montezuma Style

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

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

Wildlife Dried

Writing on Joseph Karpinksi’s Facebook Page, Birds of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, MNWR spokesperson Andrea van Beusichem advised visitors that Wildlife Drive will be “challenging” this year. I’m not sure if that is the best way to describe it. . .pathetic is more like it. There just isn’t much to see on the grasslands situated where the marshes used to be. But hey, at … Read More Wildlife Dried

Losing My Fear of ISO

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

A Good Day of Fishing

 

Do the Dew

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 which … Read More Do the Dew

Seven Swans a-Swimming

  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

Just Too Hot

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

The Streak

. . . with apologies to Ray Stevens 😉 Sometimes you just need lots of fps, a bright, sunny day, and a subject with no shame.

Silky Water — Handheld!

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 prepared … Read More Silky Water — Handheld!

LeRoy Island

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

Bye-bye Mom!

“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!