No they didn’t nest there last year but did see and photograph them last year. We have had barn owls nest there but this is the first time I’ve had GHO nest there.
Thank you Gary and Bruce for commenting on the coyote shot
I was standing with my Daughter Carie and my Grandaughter and I was back-to the coyote. Silently, Carie gently tugged on my sleeve and pointed. Otherwise I would have missed it.
And on that trip, I had equipped them both with cameras so they could shoot too.
Been shooting with a d850 over the z9 a lot the last week and I never realized how much I missed working on these raw files. Boring blue BG but he had a fish
Loons nest on freshwater basins and are very territorial. It is usually in May that they begin earnestly competing for the nesting rights to a freshwater basin. If it gets violent, they may stab each other, usually from below, with one loon underwater and stabbing upward into the feet or body of the loon floating on the surface. (personal observations).
This adult loon has a scab healing from a stab wound from last year. It is lucky it did not lose its eye.
This one did lose its eye. Here, it is wintering on a North Atlantic estuary. It may have been stabbed by a crab leg when violently shaking the legs off
Here is the other side of its head. Sadly, I named this Loon One-Eye and observed it for about 3 years. This loon stayed in the ocean in summers
Rimpson wrote:
Nice clean set and commentary Robert.
Like the low angle on the first.
The others illustrate the struggle wildlife encounter.
Thanks for posting.
Thanks Ricky. Your response means a lot to me. I know you are a passionate wildlife photographer. And I respect your interest in loons.
I am fascinated by nature and enjoy observing nature more than the photography. However, a small percentage of the images can sometimes capture a story, leading to the documentation.
I consider it a great priviledge to share the water with this unique bird. I wish we had them here in my area. I hope to head North in a month or so to see and photograph them again.
You are showing how great the 850/500-5.6 combo continues to be.
I'm always amazed at many of the images we see here. Lots of good photographers here and it always humbles me to see them.
This morning I got out after a loud clap of thunder woke me in the night. I was excited to get out to see how much it rained and see what the days work in the field would be. It was wet and I knew I had some time to get around and possibly get to see and photograph some wildlife.
The first picture is of a young Great Horned Owl who just came out of the nest in the last few days. It has been interesting to watch this nest during the spring.
Some burrowing owls at the Scottsdale Community College grounds, Scottsdale Arizona, 5/27/2023.Some images with Nikon TC-20E111 convertor,SB800 flash with beamer and some in DX crop mode.
Harry Palmer
For stills, it is definitely quicker than my D850 to make an AF decision and snap into focus... no hunting at all. And that is indoors.
It is not the same with video AF despite what some have said. I am sure I will improve on this Video AF but so far I am not impressed. It hunts in video. Maybe someone will step in the give us the secret.
But again, the Z8/500PF stills AF is very quick to decide and snappy!. I love it so far. Better than DSLR
