Inside an Osprey Nest

Recently I was fortunate enough to accompany a group of photographers on a pontoon boat tour of Osprey nests at the Jug Bay Nature Preserve in Maryland. As the naturalist approached the nests we were able to get very close to the developing chicks. One aspect of their story grabbed my attention:

Ospreys are formidable birds of prey, but when they are less than two weeks old they are completely helpless. Upon hearing a parent’s warning of nearby danger, the chicks sink to the bottom of the nest and remain motionless - except for one eye open.

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Some usual suspects at Thomas Point Park

This Winter I discovered Thomas Point Park which is located at the end of a small peninsula on the Chesapeake Bay near my home in Annapolis Md. During my visits I saw a variety of waterfowl that pass through during the Winter migration. I began to notice how a number of species of ducks and geese would all share the same small cove - particularly when the winds were blowing hard on the Bay. Here are images of some of my new friends: A preening Tundra Swan strikes a pose; A Long-tailed duck grabs a meal and a Bufflehead Duck just shows off.

Some cool looking dead stuff!

In this lockdown year, I have been trying to get out 2-3 times per week to the local parks and wildlife refuges. As the leaves fell and the plants have gone into hibernation, I began to notice dried seed pods, frost melting on grass and other cool looking dead stuff. A whole new genre!

Beginning Experiments in Macro Photography

I have not written a post since the Covid-19 lock down started in March. Trips to the Galapagos, the Ecuadorian Amazon and a much anticipated African safari were all rescheduled to next year (hopefully). Like most everyone, we had to deal with sheltering in place and severe limitations for travel and social events. I decided that this might be a perfect opportunity to learn more photography skills and focus on the small things close to home. I am really taken with macro and close-up photography. It is a challenging endeavor and I have much to learn. The possibilities are endless and it is the perfect discipline to slow down and learning to see often missed details. My photographic journey has now brought me to concentrate on birds and botanic macro. Most importantly, I am having fun!

Something about the eyes.

When photographing birds and wildlife, I am trying to get clear shots of the eyes. As with human portraits, a view of the eye gives us a glimpse into the “soul” of our subjects. The eagle shown below knows I am about 50 feet away and under the branch from which he is taking off. I have the same view as his latest prey. What is he thinking? The snake probably can’t see me on the other side of the aquarium glass, but his unblinking eyes are taking it all in - very sensitive to any movement.

Eye contact is a connection, and connections make for better stories and photographs.

Swans, Herons and Eagles

This week I returned to Blackwater NWR, one of my favorite places to photograph birds. The light was good and the wind was down. On this day I would concentrate on trying to capture the variety of birds in their habitat. For me, the image of the wading swans with the herons flying overhead was a striking contrast. It was also a good day for seeing eagles as they are now busy building nests. A good day.

Geese on the Ice

One of my favorite photography locations is the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center near Grasonville, on the Maryland Eastern Shore. I was alone on a chilly morning last week, just walking around the lake seeing what I could see.

You can hear the Canada geese before you see them. Around the bend, a small group was on the shore testing the newly formed ice. They were determined to get out on the lake and the rather thin ice was not going to stop them. Of course, incessant honking was part of the effort. After several flailing attempts, some were able to stand on the ice and walk-scoot in a unified direction. I suppose flying would be too easy and not as much fun.  Upon reaching the small island, all caution was abandoned and one appeared to show off with a one-legged nap on the ice. 

Glad I was there with my camera to share this simple adventure.

Shoreline at sunrise

On my recent family trip to Corolla, N.C. I made a point of getting up early and walking the beach. Many times I have photographed sunrise on the ocean and each time there is a difference. Lately, I have been trying spend a little more time just taking in the immediate scene and trying to find what more experienced landscape photographers call the “scene within the scene”. On this particular morning I became memorized by the play of early light on the waves as they broke on the shoreline. It is a timeless and beautiful ritual. It was fun to imagine that this rhythm of waves and sand has been repeating for millions of years before any amateur photographer roamed the beach to notice.

Bird on a rock

On a recent early morning shoot at Sandy Point Park near Annapolis Md., I arrived at 5:00am to set up for some landscape images of rocks on this Chesapeake Bay beach. Over the past year, I have been trying to find a theme for my photography that makes me happy. I really like landscapes and nature -particularly bird photography. When I am out looking for birds I typically carry my long lens and I try to concentrate on all the tips I learned about composition, and catching the action and “mood’ of the birds. Coastal landscape shots require a different set of skills. Today was a day for landscape work until……

After setting up my camera and tripod for some images of rocks on the beach, a lone Sandpiper flew in and positioned himself on a rock right in the center of the composition. He stayed there for about 30 minutes, staring at me from “his” rock. I suppose the lesson is - “put some birds in your landscapes dummy”. Anyway, here is what we came up with that morning. - Bill