Birds
Stalwart Sentinel
A bald eagle sits majestically on a tree branch at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, near Mound City, Missouri. This regal looking bird stands out against the clear blue sky background.
I like the way the details of the bird’s feathering is enhanced by the bright sunlight. The intricate tangle of branches also provide a natural frame for the eagle.
You can get a better view of the details in this image by clicking on the photo.
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Fowl Weather
A large flock of snow geese soars through a clear blue sky above Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City, Missouri. The birds’ white feathers contrast sharply against the vibrant backdrop.
I took this image on a visit to the refuge. I went there hoping to photograph the record number of eagles reported there. I got some eagle photos (watch for future posts) but I think I enjoyed photographing the snow geese in flight more. The contrasting black and white against a blue sky was very appealing to my eye.
You can view a larger, full-screen image of this shot by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Touch of Teal
A darling wood duck stands gracefully on a moss-covered perch at the edge of a rippling pond. In my mind, the highlight of this image is that little patch of teal on the wings. Such an appealing color.
I grabbed this shot while walking through the zoo in Topeka, KS. This was at one of their small ponds outside; not in any kind of enclosure.
You can get a better look at this duck’s feathering and colors by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Death Warmed Over
A turkey vulture is perched and poised, with outstretched wings, to dry in the sun after a dip in a nearby creek at Stockstill Park in Branson, Missouri.
I had just seen a dozen or so of these vultures in and around the rocky creek bed. My efforts to photograph them near the water didn’t go well due to the distance and the bright sunlight, making them seem more like dark silhouettes. And, of course, as soon as they spotted me, they flew off.
A little further on our hike I tried to approach the creek from a different direction, where the light might be better. As I made my way through the woods I came upon this and another vulture, holding their wings wide with their backs to the sun, to dry off from being in the water. If you look closely, you can see this one is still quite wet.
They held their pose and position long enough for me to get close enough to get a good shot.
You can get a better view of this big bird by clicking on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Bluebird Babe on a Branch
This is a fledgling bluebird perched on a tree branch, bathed in the warm glow of early morning sunlight filtering through the leaves. At this age, the bluebird isn’t very blue, with muted brown and white plumage.
This is an image I captured in the yard of our rural Wisconsin home in the spring of 2023.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Duck Duck
Here are a couple of colorful, male mallard ducks. They were two of the hundreds of ducks that congregate at the lagoon at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay, Wisconsin. There are always a variety of ducks and geese and assorted other birds and wildlife.
You can get a better view by clicking the photo. When you do, a larger version of this image will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Yellow-legged Honeycreeper
The vibrant Yellow-legged Honeycreeper is a delight to the eyes with it’s striking plumage. This one is a resident of the Butterfly Palace in Branson, Missouri.
I’d been to the Butterfly Palace several times in the past but never noticed the birds. As you can imagine, I’m always looking into the viewfinder at butterflies and rarely would look up. In the butterfly room their lighting is relatively dim (making good photography a challenge). The birds are small and quiet and there’s plenty of foliage for them to be hidden by.
The birds at the Butterfly Palace are tropical species that won’t eat butterflies but are more inclined to eat fruit. In fact, I first saw one at a feeding station with fruit.
The Yellow-legged Honeycreeper, also known as the Cyanerpes Caeruleus, is found in various parts of South America as well as southern Mexico.
To get a better view of this blue beauty, click on the photo and a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Phoebe and Fly
This small and feisty Phoebe seems proud to show off its next meal. This is a photo taken in Missouri during the busy month of July; while they are raising their young.
You can get a better look at this cutie by clicking the photo. When you do, a larger version of this image will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
The Wild Bunch
These guineafowl remind me of gang of miscreants looking for trouble. While out on a drive in our area of rural, northeast Wisconsin we turned around in a small farm yard at the end of a road and these birds were quick to check us out.
The guinea is a bird that emanated from Africa. I hear they make a good pheasant-like meal, but I’ve never attempted to eat one. We used to have a number of them on our small rural homestead in Missouri. We enjoyed them for the variety they added to our flock of fowl (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, etc.) and ease of care, because they pretty much take care of themselves. They are prized for eating ticks and other insects. They also make good “watch dogs” because of their tendency to make an annoyingly, loud racket when something or someone new is entering the yard.
You can get a better view of the beautiful polka dot plumage below the ugly heads by clicking on the photo. When you do, a larger version will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Phoebe Feast
This little bird was planning on a big lunch. This is an Eastern Phoebe that had captured a large flying bug and seemed intent on showing it off before taking it home to the family.
I’d been watching this little bird fly around the yard. It would often land on the chain-linked fence post not far from me. I decided to position myself as close as thought I could be without scaring the bird from landing again. Then I simply stood and waited with my camera focused on the top of that post. It took a little while, but it finally landed and, to my delight, had a huge bug in its beak. (In the near future, I’ll share a profile photo of this bird; where you can see the bug a bit better.)
On the website All About Songbirds, they share about the Eastern Phoebe – “The Eastern Phoebe is a plump songbird with a medium-length tail. It appears large-headed for a bird of its size. The head often appears flat on top, but phoebes sometimes raise the feathers up into a peak. Like most small flycatchers, they have short, thin bills used for catching insects. The Eastern Phoebe generally perches low in trees or on fencelines. Phoebes are very active, making short flights to capture insects and very often returning to the same perch. They make sharp “peep” calls in addition to their familiar “phoebe” vocalizations. When perched, Eastern Phoebes wag their tails down and up frequently.”
I snapped this in a shaded area and I was still far enough away it required quite a bit of cropping to get this view.
This is one image you’ll really want to view full-screen. To do so, simply click on the photo.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me ([email protected]) for digital purchase and licensing options.