Birds
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Atlantic Puffin
Portrait of a Puffin returning to the burrow with sand eel prey to nourish it's pufflings. Grimsey Iceland, July 2018. "Sand eel" is a generic name for a number of species of fish that superficially resemble an eel. These fish represent a primary food source for puffins and many other sea birds. As sea temperatures rise, subsistence prey such as sand eels move to colder water forcing puffins to fly greater distances from their nesting sites. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II, ISO 640, 1/640 second @ f/8, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
atlantic puffinFratercula arcticabirdalcidgrimseyiceland
From Atlantic Puffin
Gray Ghost
A Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
The genus name "Strix" is Greek and means owl and the species name "nebulosa" has it's origin in Latin and translates to misty or obscure. The Great Gray Owl is like a phantom and most people including myself have brief dawn and dusk fleeting opportunities to view these magnificent raptors. I captured this portrait when he flew across the meadow and literally landed right beside me.great gray owlstrix nebulosabirdwildlifeyellowstone national parkwyoming
Peace and Harmony
Winner 2016 Audubon Photography Contest; my award winning image "Eared Grebes" is presently on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. Additionally, it is published in both Audubon (May/June 2016) and Nature's Best Photography Magazine (Fall 2016). The image will be on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History until November 2017. Eared Grebes" was photographed on Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/may-june-2016/the-2016-audubon-photography-awards-winnerseared grebespodiceps nigricollisyellowstone national parklakebirdwildlifeaudubon
Mountain Blue Bird
Male Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5033 x 3355 pixels.
Serenity
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), La Jolla, California January 2016. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these delicate beauties were nearly hunted to extinction; their elegant snow white feathers were highly prized for fashionable hat decorations. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act provided them protection and by the mid 20th century, snowy egret populations were beginning to recover. Today, they inhabit the majority of their original range and snowy egret populations are stable.
Double Crested Cormorant
Double Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), La Jolla, California February, 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/320 second @ F/8, image size 6720 x 4480 pixels.
double crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusbirdla jollacalifornia
Brandt's Cormorant and Newly Hatched Chick
Newly hatched Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) on the cliffs at La Jolla, California, February 2018 Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/250 second @ F/8, image size 5331 x 3554 pixels.
double crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritusbirdla jollacalifornia
American Avocet
An American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) shakes the snow from it's wings during a spring squall in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 640, 1/500 second @ f/5.6, image size 5919 x 3946 pixels.
american avocetRecurvirostra americanabirdwildlifeyellowstone national parkwyoming
Patience
Standing motionless, a Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) studies the tide for unsuspecting prey, La Jolla, California.
Gray Ghost
Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) hunting in a forest meadow, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, September 2016.
The genus name "Strix" is Greek and means owl and the species name "nebulosa" has it's origin in Latin and translates to misty or obscure. The Great Gray Owl is like a phantom and most people including myself have brief dawn and dusk fleeting opportunities to view these magnificent raptors. It was a dream come true for me to spend an entire day photographing a wild Great Gray Owl. Canon 5D III, 500mm f/4 IS, ISO 3200, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5760 x 3840 pixels.great gray owlstrix nebulosayellowstone national parkraptorbirdwildlife
Face Off
A pair of Greater Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) in a dominance struggle, Bernardo Wildlife Management Area, New Mexico, January 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS, RRS TVC 33 tripod, ISO 640, 1/6400 second @ f/5.6, image size 5485 x 3697 pixels.
Harlequin Habitat
Harlequin Ducks are beautiful and dignified and may appear unassuming in their relaxed demeanor. Observe these ducks in action and it becomes apparent that Harlequins are powerful and fearless swimmers. These diminutive beauties are able to negotiate the most violent rapids as they swim, dive, and even walk along the bottom of the river in search of insects and other sources of sustenance. It is a marvel that these birds live, feed, and spend their lives amongst the turbulence and turmoil of raging rivers. Yellowstone River in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, May 2016. Canon 5D III, 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x III, ISO 800, 1/800 second @ f/11, image size 4912 x 3336 pixels.
harlequin duckhistrionicus histrionicusyellowstone national parkduckbirdwildlifewyoming
Brandt's Cormorant
Bright blue gular pouch skin that matches eyes and lore enhance the magnificent countenance of this animal. Brandt's Cormorant (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) La Jolla, California, February, 2018. Canon 5D IV, 100-400mm IS Mark II, ISO 800, 1/100second @ F/8.
Phalacrocorax penicillatusbirdbrandt'scaliforniacormorantla jollaoceanpacificsea
Sunrise Statuette
An American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) camouflaged amongst reeds and cattails at Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana.
Botaurus lentiginosusamerican bitternavianbirdbowdoin national wildlife refugecamouflagemontana
Mallard Drake
A Mallard Drake (Anas platyrhynchos) in flight, Yellowstone County, Montana.
Anas platyrhynchosFlightImagePhotographReally Right StuffWildlifebirddrakeduckmallardmontana
American Avocet
Beautiful and elegant seasonal residents, American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) nest in the wetlands of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana.
american avocetrecurvirostra americanabirdmatingbowdoin national wildlife refugemontana
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias).
A Great Blue Heron stares intently as it patiently stalks prey, Shiloh Conservation Area, Billings, Montana, May 2017. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x Mark III, ISO 640, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 6088 x 4059 pixels.
Ardea herodiasJF18Wildlifeavianbillingsbirdgreat blue heronmontanashiloh conservation area
Female Yellow Headed Blackbird
A female Yellow Headed Blackbird musters all of her strength for a call from a cattail perch. Shiloh Conservation Area, Billings, Montana May 2018.
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus headed blackbirdavianwildlifemontana
From BIRDS
Male Yellow Headed Blackbird
A male Yellow Headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) and Cattails at Shiloh Conservation Area, Billings, Montana May 2018. Xanthocephalus is derived from the Greek words "xanthos" and "cephalus" that translate to yellow and head respectively.
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus headed blackbirdavianwildlifemontana
From BIRDS
Short-Eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
The striking countenance of a short-eared owl. Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana, May 2017.
Asio flammeuswildlifeavianbirdbowdoin national wildlife refugemontanashorteared owl
From BIRDS
Male Yellow Headed Blackbird
A male Yellow Headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) perched and calling from a cattail, Lake Bowdoin, Montana May 2018. Xanthocephalus is derived from the Greek words "xanthos" and "cephalus" that translate to yellow and head respectively.
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus headed blackbirdavianwildlifemontana
