A morning stroll at Corkscrew Swamp

Canon_Bob · 11-27-2007, 07:33 PM

I decided to take today off from work and celebrate my birthday by doing what else...shooting wildlife. No major excursions, just a jaunt down to one of my favorite local wildlife areas. I was the first one there, so it was really a great morning to just be alone with nature. Didn't see another human the entire 2.5 mile walk!

Here's a Red Shouldered hawk that was catching the first rays of morning light. He gave me TONS of shots, but I kinda like these ones. The last one is out of the norm for me. I normally don't like straight on face shots of birds, but I felt like this one worked better than the turned head in this pose. He gave me plenty with the head turned in either direction, but I kept coming back to the straight on view. Would like your opinions on it. Note that in both the first and third I was fighting backlighting from the early morning sun. I used a subtle fill flash to compensate, but didn't want to lose the effect. I think it worked fine.

Here is a Purple Gallinule. I finally got one to come into the open long enough for a decent shot! I'd have liked a better POV on this, but the shooting conditions didn't permit it.

Last but no least, a gool ol' Little Blue Heron:

Again, nothing spectacular, but a very peaceful morning of shooting.

mn shutterbug · 11-27-2007, 07:59 PM

Nothing spectacular? BS. I think they're all spectacular. I can't think of a better way to spend a birthday.

BTW, how do you tame so many birds? You must be quite the bird tamer. Are they all pets?