birds – Page 10 – melinda anderson photography

Owl Baby

Several times over the last few years, we’ve seen owl babies in a huge nest waaaaay up high in a tree by the Visitor’s Center at Mammoth in Yellowstone. When I’ve photographed them, the images were never sharp, because they were too far away. We came later this year, after the owl babies had already fledged, so I didn’t think we’d be able to see any. However, the babies were still in the area, and one evening, I managed to get photos of this guy on the roof of one of the residences near our daughter’s. Despite being a juvenile, he still has the fierce, don’t mess with me look of his mother!

July 2, 2015July 1, 2015

Melinda1 Comment

Adventures in Autofocus

My college roommate and photo buddy, Carol, came for the weekend, and, as always, we had great fun taking photos and sharing photography know-how. Although we started photography at the same time, Carol and I have gone in somewhat different directions in photography; she has a pro quality camera and lenses and all the gear to go with them and has been on numerous photography trips with professional photographers to exotic places, which she photographs beautifully. I have a great “enthusiast” quality camera and tend to gravitate more to still-life, flower, macro, and LENSBABY photos. Coincidentally, when we came together last weekend, we both had questions about autofocus modes- me, because I had been setting up my new camera, and she, because she had just returned from a bird photography trip to Texas, where she felt her birds-in-flight photos weren’t as good as she would have liked (they are FABULOUS!).

On Sunday we went on an excursion to Lynx Lake to experiment with different autofocus settings while photographing birds. Although I didn’t manage to capture particularly good photographs of birds in flight, I was very pleased with my new camera’s focusing capabilities. I learned a few things, and, most importantly, had fun outdoors!

Double crested cormorant:

Grebe:

Which way shall we go?

March 23, 2015March 22, 2015

Melinda1 Comment

A Wintry Mix

We don’t have snow all winter long in Prescott- at least not since we’ve lived here- so each snowy day is like a gift. Of course, people who have lived here for awhile tell me to be careful what I wish for and then relate tales of the winter of _____ (supply your own year). I have no desire to experience winter like most of North America has had this year; I just would like a bit more of the pretty white stuff.

Yesterday, a snowstorm was predicted above 5500 feet (our house is at 5470), and we were predicted to get a “wintry mix”- rain and snow. It had rained steadily during the night, and about 8:00am, it turned to snow. LOTS of it!

I was without my Nikon for yesterday’s snowstorm, so I had to make do with my iPhone and my husband’s Canon Powershot SX50. The photos below were taken with the Canon. I’m trying to learn this nifty little camera and managed to take the still shots with aperture priority and the birds with shutter priority (at least I THINK so. . .).

It was a whiteout for most of the morning.

The birds didn’t seem to mind.

The sun came out in the middle of the afternoon, and by sunset, half of the snow was gone. 😦

March 3, 2015March 2, 2015

Melinda3 Comments

Predator

Almost as soon as we started our walk at Willow Lake on Saturday, we noticed this hawk (perhaps a Cooper’s Hawk) at the top of a far tree. Fortunately, my husband had his Canon Powershot sx50 along- as well as some binoculars- so we shared the camera and were able to get some decent closeup shots. I know that the photo that is not all the way zoomed in is mine, but it is very possible that Lonnie took the second shot. Next time, I will take a photo to mark when we switch from one shooter to the other. Eventually, the hawk spotted some prey and swooped off into the grasses, and we continued on our way.

I can’t close without mentioning how appreciative I am of all the positive comments and support I received for Friday’s post about my father- here on the blog and on Facebook, as well as e-mails and texts. Thank you all so much.

January 19, 2015January 18, 2015

Melinda1 Comment

Snapshots of Snow

Maybe when we have lived here a while and have experienced a winter with many days of heavy snow, I will lose my excitement about snow. But for now, I just can’t get over looking out the window and seeing WHITE!

We still have snow on the ground- and it’s very COLD, but over the next few days it will disappear. All the photos below were taken December 31- with the Lensbaby, except for the hawk one and the view of houses from our driveway, which were taken with my husband’s Canon Powershot.

We enjoyed seeing this classic taxi (above)picking up someone who didn’t want to drive in the snow.

Below is a view out the window while I waited in the car for my husband, who had run into the grocery store.

It was snowing hard as I watched this young man scraping the ice off his windows as I watched through the window of my warm car.

January 2, 2015January 1, 2015

Melinda2 Comments

Flyway

I never really thought about it much- not being a bird person- but I have spent most of my life living in or near the California Flyway. During childhood, I was fascinated by the formations of migrating geese and other birds flying overhead. When we lived in the Bay Area, I rediscovered the flyway, when we would drive over to the delta area under skies thick with birds heading south for the winter. I was surprised last year, to see huge flocks of water fowl at the lakes in Prescott in late fall- so I guess we’re on the route for migrating birds as well.

Last week I spotted the three pelicans above on two separate visits to Willow Lake- and was thrilled. I was used to seeing brown pelicans on the California coast- even a couple times in Benicia- but had never seen white ones except on Lewis Lake at Yellowstone. After reading the paper yesterday, I discovered that there is a story here. It seems that a migrating pelican became entangled in fishing line in Tucson a few weeks ago and was rehabilitated by a rescue group. Unfortunately, his friends had moved on to warmer climes by the time he was ready to fly, so the group sought out other flocks for the pelican to join. It turned out that a pair of pelicans had just been spotted at Willow Lake, so the recovering pelican was driven up here and released. Evidently, the Tucson pelican is one of the three in this photo- and the group has now moved on. In the shot below (in which one bird is out of the frame), I think the injured one might be the one on the right.

And in other bird news . . .

This was edited in the new Impression software by Topaz- I think this is one of the Van Gogh presets. I downloaded a free 30 day trial of the software- it is so much fun!!! I’m not sure if I’ll buy it- it is pretty expensive! But I’m really enjoying playing with it.

November 13, 2014November 12, 2014

Melinda2 Comments

By the Lake

My friend, Verle, and I had a lovely walk at Willow Lake this week. We spent most of our time walking by the water, watching the birds and water fowl.

I always enjoy the reflections in the water itself.

But, I have to say that the highlight of our day was spotting two bald eagles at the top of this bare tree. As we climbed the boulders, trying to get close enough to get good photos, I noticed to my dismay that I had AGAIN lost my prescription sunglasses. However, they were quickly spotted by friendly hikers, so all is well!

November 6, 2014November 5, 2014

Melinda2 Comments

Hummmmmm!

This summer the Prescott hummingbirds have finally discovered us! In fact I’ve seen as many as five flitting around at a time, buzzing each other in a seeming fight for territory. Our feeder is right outside the window by the kitchen sink, so I’m constantly watching them. I took my camera outside a couple days ago and had fun taking photos as the little hummers flew around me. They got closer and closer to me, trying to scare me off- but I held my ground!

Hummingbirds can be a challenge to keep in focus- but this out of focus one ended up being one of my favorites of the session. BTW the bokeh is from the morning light shining on the plum tree in the background.

I like this darker, textured version as well.

Yes, I did take some shots that were actually IN focus!

I love this one- he was staring me down! What a bully!

August 7, 2014August 6, 2014

Melinda10 Comments

The rain- and after . . .

We had our first HUGE monsoon storm yesterday- thunder, lightning, heavy rain, flooding (not at our house) and power outage!

After hours and hours of rain and sky drama, the rain subsided in the early evening. The hummingbirds dashed to the feeder, and all was back to normal in the high desert.

And then the storm resumed . . .

July 26, 2014July 25, 2014

Melinda2 Comments

Owls!

Before we came, my son-in-law texted me a fantastic iPhone shot of a great horned owl that he took from the front porch here at Yellowstone. I knew from my experience a couple years ago that there was probably a nest in the very high tree by the Visitors’ Center. I photographed mama and babies very unsuccessfully back then, and I really hoped to get a better shot this time. This morning I saw the other photographers lined up with their uber long lenses and tripods, and I joined them with my 18-200mm zoom and no tripod (I do have it with me, but it’s not going to help me get any closer). I did get a couple photos that are better than last time, and they are super cropped. I’m hoping to get a better shot when they are on a lower branch or a roof.

May 22, 2014

Melinda3 Comments

We’re off to see the lizard . . .

Our walk at Willow Lake was for exercise, but of course I brought along my camera. I always like watching the ducks and other birds that hang out at the lake, but I had not thought about photographing the lizards. The lizards around our house started to emerge around the same time our grandkids were here, so they had fun catching (gently, as taught by their daddy) and releasing them. But in the last week with the hot weather, they have really come into their own- holy cow! Welcome to Arizona! I appreciate that lizards are part of our ecosystem and are actually kinda, sorta cute, but I am not particularly fond of them. So, of course, I am leading up to my lizard photo. . .

My husband spotted him first from afar as he posed atop a high rock, and we debated about whether it was really a lizard. But then I got closer and zoomed in- and yes, it was a lizard! He was pretty big by my standards, and was definitely basking in the sun. This is cropped- I was not that close.

We also watched the ducks and a great heron, who was stalking slowly through the waters, concentrating intently on the water. I wasn’t sure if he was a heron or crane until he took flight. Cranes fly with their necks straight out. That is one of the two or three facts I know about birds. As usual, one of my more learned friends is welcome correct me on my bird fact!

All in all- a successful photography outing!

May 5, 2014May 4, 2014

Melinda4 Comments

Leader of the Covey

Sitting at my desk, I have the perfect view of anyone or anything coming into our yard. We hung a bird feeder right outside the window, so I can keep an eye on my little friends. It was while I was sitting here that I spotted the first roadrunner, and the other day it was quail. I think it is a Gambel’s quail, which looks almost the same as a California quail- but I am totally bird-challenged. But I am sure at least that it is a quail- that’s one of the three or so birds I am actually able to identify. I have seen them down the street- and actually all over Prescott- but never before in our yard.

I noticed two of these guys in the “flower” bed out front ( we haven’t yet replanted the bed with the annuals that were here when we moved in), so I grabbed my camera. I tiptoed out the front door, and came face- to-face with them on my porch. They skittered up the rocks to a bush that is usually filled with finches and the two mourning doves that hang out with them. I then saw that there was a big group (a covey or bevy) of 15 to 20 of them under the bushes. When I started clicking my camera- zoomed in from 15 feet or so away, they started heading out into the street, led by one of the quail from the front porch. They then took flight over to the field across the street and disappeared.

This photo is severely cropped, and there is a texture and blur added to the background.

March 19, 2014March 17, 2014

Melinda2 Comments

Happy

I’ve got that Happy song by Pharrell Williams going through my head (it was in my Facebook feed this morning)- a great way to start the day! If you know it, sing (clap!) along as you look at these two photos from our walk at Willow Lake earlier in the week. I know that going on this walk certainly made me happy, as did remembering how to add a frame on each photo!

I used two of Kim Klassen’s textures in both: bien and daisy.

Linking up with Friday Finds.

February 21, 2014February 21, 2014

Melinda11 Comments

A Birthday Walk

Special breakfast treats, presents, phone calls and facetime with kids and grandkids, and a walk at the lake were all part of my husband’s special day yesterday. And evening brought a delicious dinner and cake at Debbie and Dale’s house.

We puzzled over the big white bird we could see in a tree by the lake, but it was too far to see clearly, even with the zoom lens.After, looking at it on the computer (and asking my bird expert friend, Carol), we have decided it is a black-shouldered kite, which isn’t supposed to be in our area.

Textures by Jessica Drossin and Kerstin Frank

February 19, 2014March 7, 2014

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From the window. . .

A new feeder is hanging outside the window of our office! Although I’m hoping to see a variety of birds, I’m enjoying the finches (and an occasional scrub jay) who hang out there.