Backlit Birds and Silhouettes

Affection
A mating pair of Razorbills displaying affectionate behavior, Grimsey Island, Iceland.
razorbill Alca torda bird silhouette grimsey iceland
Backlit Beauty
Sunset portrait on the western cliffs of Grimsey Island, Iceland.
atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica bird alcid grimsey iceland
From Atlantic Puffin
American Avocet
An American Avocet takes to flight at sunrise on Lake Bowdoin, Montana.
american avocet Recurvirostra americana bird lake bowdoin montana wildlife
White Faced Ibis
A White - faced Ibis at sunrise, Lake Bowdoin, Montana.
whitefaced ibis Plegadis chihi bird lake bowdoin montana wildlife
From BIRDS
Silhouette Dancer
At sunrise, a Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) dances across the water in anticipation to fly. Although large and heavy, Cranes are surprisingly elegant and nimble.
sandhill crane grus canadensis bosque del apache new mexico bird wildlife silhouette
From BIRDS
Puffin Express
In July I was fortunate to visit Grímsey Island, Iceland, and experience 10 days of total immersion in the life of the Atlantic Puffin. On the last evening of the trip, severe wind and dark skies nearly drove me inside. But I decided to remain on the cliffs and was rewarded with an unexpected break in the clouds and an unobstructed view of a backlit, sand-eel-toting puffin hurrying to its burrow.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2019/the-2019-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica bird alcid grimsey iceland
From Atlantic Puffin
American Avocet
An American Avocet probing the water at sunrise on Lake Bowdoin, Montana.
american avocet Recurvirostra americana bird bowdoin montana
Eared Grebe
A Black-necked or Eared Grebe, Lake Bowdoin, Montana 2018.
eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis bird lake bowdoin montana
From BIRDS
Yellow Headed Blackbird
Each spring I visit my favorite wetland areas to photograph Yellow-headed Blackbirds and listen to their raucous calls. On a particularly cold May morning at sunrise, the birds and cattails were backlit and glowing like miniature lanterns. One landed very close to me, and through my lens I could see a burst of breath rolling in the cold wind with each call. I returned every day for more than a week trying to create a similar image, but the same conditions didn’t occur again.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2019/the-2019-audubon-photography-awards-top-100
yellow headed blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus bird montana
Marbled Godwit
At sunset a Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) probes the surf for unsuspecting prey.
marbled godwit limosa fedoa morro bay california bird wildlife silhouette
From BIRDS
Atlantic Puffin
Sunset Puffins graced by the day's last rays of light, on the west cliffs of Grimsey Island, Iceland, July 2018.
atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica bird alcid grimsey iceland
From Atlantic Puffin
Marbled Godwit
At sunset a Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) at Morro Bay, California.
marbled godwit limosa fedoa morro bay california bird wildlife silhouette
From BIRDS
Pintail Ducks
A breeding pair of Pintail Ducks (Anas acuta) at sunrise on Lake Bowdoin, Montana May 2018 . Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS II, ISO 800, 1/5000 second @ f/5.6, image size 6616 x 4411 pixels.
pintail duck Anas acuta bird avian lake bowdoin montana
Curlew
A Curlew (Numenius americanus), Morro Bay, California.
curlew numenius americanus morro bay california bird wildlife silhouette