I had a bit of luck while distracted by shooting some pheasant chicks. I hear that distinctive call only cuckoos make behind me. That will get your blood flowing...
It took a little while but after hearing him throughout the woods in different locations, I decided to switch spots and found a pine squirrel climbing a tree. Waiting for him to come into view, a cuckoo flies into that very same tree. I shot away, trying to get angles of him around the leaves. He hopped from here to there, and then a bit of rustling of leaves, and 2 cuckoos flew away. What a lucky day!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Yellow-billed Cuckoo-Lifer!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Outdoor Illinois Magazine
My first publication outside of Grundy County. (For those of you who don't know, I do a feature bi-monthly for GO Magazine [Grundy's Own] called "Grundy Gone Wild".- See my Flickr Sets called "Published" for back issues)
I was thrilled to be a part of Outdoor Illinois Magazine, especially because of the subject matter. Rarities!
This Silver Fox was photo'd in Kankakee, IL this past November. To my knowledge, it hasn't been seen since. Lucky me! I've been saving this photo to share since then, and am proud to have it displayed state-wide. Other photos of this fox can be seen in these sets: Foxes, Oddities, 2010.
Click on any image to read article.
The Blonde Squirrel and the Albino White-tailed Doe are my images. The Leucistic Pileated Woodpecker is by Steve Patterson (Illini Images)
The Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk is my image. The Slider is by Chris Philiips and the Leucistic Bat is by Tim Carter.
I was thrilled to be a part of Outdoor Illinois Magazine, especially because of the subject matter. Rarities!
This Silver Fox was photo'd in Kankakee, IL this past November. To my knowledge, it hasn't been seen since. Lucky me! I've been saving this photo to share since then, and am proud to have it displayed state-wide. Other photos of this fox can be seen in these sets: Foxes, Oddities, 2010.
Click on any image to read article.
The Blonde Squirrel and the Albino White-tailed Doe are my images. The Leucistic Pileated Woodpecker is by Steve Patterson (Illini Images)
The Leucistic Red-tailed Hawk is my image. The Slider is by Chris Philiips and the Leucistic Bat is by Tim Carter.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Killdeer Chicks Update
Killdeer chicks are adorable. I can't resist visiting them almost daily, but so as not to bore you too much, this should be a final post on their progression.
They are growing into their wings...
and learning to stretch them out...
Little puffballs on stilts!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Whitetail Doe
A close encounter with a hungry doe. I can only imagine she has a fawn hidden nearby, as the season for newborn fawns is here.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Ring-necked Pheasant Family
The Ring-necked Pheasant was introduced into North America from Asia and is established over much of the continent, especially in agricultural lands. It is a distinctive and colorful species and is a popular game bird.
I found a family of at least 6 chicks with both parents protecting them.
Goose Lake Prairie State Park
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Killdeer Family Survival
I have always wanted to see Killdeer eggs hatch, and had a mom on my radar for weeks.
She sat on a good spot, but being there when it was happening is a lot to ask. I can't camp out, but knew it was a matter of days or even hours this past weekend. Of course, when I arrived Monday morning, the chicks were born and scurrying around. I missed it! Oh well, at least they are still near the nest, so I can only be a few hours late. Getting down to business, I'm hoping I can get a shot I've been wanting forever, so I take couple hundred cutie shots of the newborn action.
Climbing this curb was fun to watch. The chick made it to the top with those stilted legs doing their job.
Dad tried to lure me away with his best broken wing display, but gave up after I backed off a little further away.
Click on any photo to much larger!
Watching the chicks tuck under mom for security and warmth was the shots I was after.
Wanting to see all those lanky legs under moms fluff was a shot I was going for, but I settled for these which were adorable to watch, as they scooted under and disappeared. What happened next though was shocking...
A Mink came out of the tall grasses and attacked the Dad. Dad was quick enough to fly up instantainiously and retaliate by dive-bombing the Mink. Mom joined in and kept the Mink distracted from her babies until it fled back into the grasses. This all happened in a nano-second and then it was over.
I got a total of 3 shots, it happened so fast. 2 of them were barely in the frame. I posted this half-Mink shot because you can see the chick in the background on the right side. The Mink by-passed the easy meal to go after the larger prey. Luckily, it lost the fight and the Killdeer family remained intact!
So it was a VERY happy ending for the Killdeer family! (And this photographer!)
She sat on a good spot, but being there when it was happening is a lot to ask. I can't camp out, but knew it was a matter of days or even hours this past weekend. Of course, when I arrived Monday morning, the chicks were born and scurrying around. I missed it! Oh well, at least they are still near the nest, so I can only be a few hours late. Getting down to business, I'm hoping I can get a shot I've been wanting forever, so I take couple hundred cutie shots of the newborn action.
Climbing this curb was fun to watch. The chick made it to the top with those stilted legs doing their job.
Dad tried to lure me away with his best broken wing display, but gave up after I backed off a little further away.
Click on any photo to much larger!
Watching the chicks tuck under mom for security and warmth was the shots I was after.
Wanting to see all those lanky legs under moms fluff was a shot I was going for, but I settled for these which were adorable to watch, as they scooted under and disappeared. What happened next though was shocking...
A Mink came out of the tall grasses and attacked the Dad. Dad was quick enough to fly up instantainiously and retaliate by dive-bombing the Mink. Mom joined in and kept the Mink distracted from her babies until it fled back into the grasses. This all happened in a nano-second and then it was over.
I got a total of 3 shots, it happened so fast. 2 of them were barely in the frame. I posted this half-Mink shot because you can see the chick in the background on the right side. The Mink by-passed the easy meal to go after the larger prey. Luckily, it lost the fight and the Killdeer family remained intact!
So it was a VERY happy ending for the Killdeer family! (And this photographer!)
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Playing with HDR
HDR is short for High Dynamic Range. It is a post-processing of taking either one image or a series of images, combining them, and adjusting the contrast ratios to do things that are virtually impossible with a single aperture and shutter speed.
HDR Image
I thought I would give it a try, and liked the results, although this particular scene isn't as dramatic as I would like. The best HDR's have deeper shadows, so I will be looking for more dramatic scenes in the future. I used a Photomatix's free version found here which leaves a watermark on the finished image, but I cloned it off my image.
Original Image
HDR Image
I thought I would give it a try, and liked the results, although this particular scene isn't as dramatic as I would like. The best HDR's have deeper shadows, so I will be looking for more dramatic scenes in the future. I used a Photomatix's free version found here which leaves a watermark on the finished image, but I cloned it off my image.
Original Image
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