2019 was a great year and I had more than normal favorites photos. The first favorite came 2 days into 2019 when I captured a Ferruginous Hawk taking flight and the last one was taken on 12-20 during the Fallon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) of a Western Meadowlark signing and I really like the bluish bokeh. The Ferruginous was perched on a power pole at Washoe Lake and I immediately pulled over. I took a few photos while it was perched and I knew he was going to fly off and I was able to up the shutter speed to 1/1600s and still being able to use f/5.6 and with a nice low ISO320.
Featured Photo: Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis), Washoe Valley, WAS (NV)
EQ: D850, 500mm f/4 Taken: 1-2-2019 at 13:59
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/1600s, f/5.6, ISO320, 1/3EV, Conditions: sunny
It was early in the morning when I saw a Western Meadowlark perched on a post at Carson Lake. I was able to get fairly close, which is difficult for this species. I notice the bluish background, which made for a nice contrast to the yellow in the Meadowlark plus it had great bokeh.
Featured Photo: Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta), Carson Lake, CHU (NV)
EQ: D850, 500mm f/4 Taken: 12-20-2019 at 8:42
Settings: 500mm (35mm eqv), 1/640s, f/4.0, ISO400, 1/3EV, Conditions: mostly cloudy
Wood Ducks are hard to find in Washoe County, NV and this male was very close allowing for a sharp detailed image. I also really like the Marsh Wren with its tail up and the Sandhill Crane being chased by a Red-winged Blackbird.
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Virginia Lake, WAS (NV), 1-4-19
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris), Damonte Ranch Wetlands, WAS (NV), 3-21-19
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis), River Fork Ranch, DOU (NV), 4-26-19
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), Caughlin Parkway Trail, WAS (NV), 2-1-19
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus), Rancho San Rafael, WAS (NV), 2-22-19
Eagles are always nice sighting. I saw this Bald Eagle flying over the Washoe Valley and it must have had a nest near by but I never found it.
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Washoe Valley, WAS (NV), 3-8-19
Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia), Washoe Valley, WAS (NV), 3-8-19
Snow Dog Kaja, Mont Pelier, WAS (NV), 3-12-19
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Washoe Lake SP - Bellvue, WAS (NV), 4-4-19
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), Davis Creek RP, WAS (NV), 5-3-19
Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), Davis Creek RP, WAS (NV), 5-3-19
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea), Davis Creek RP, WAS (NV), 5-3-19
I went on a trip in search of Warblers through Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan USA. The tour was with Tropical Birding (http://www.tropicalbirding.com): The Warbler Tour in Three States and over Thirty Warblers May 9 - 20, 2019. I was able to capture so many new birds and ended the trip with 39 new species. Here are a few of my favorites from the trip.
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor), Red River Gorge - Rock Bridge Road, WOL (KY), 5-10-19
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), Red River Gorge - Rock Bridge Road, WOL (KY), 5-10-19
Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), EastPark Industrial Park, GRE (KY), 5-10-19
Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna), EastPark Industrial Park, GRE (KY), 5-10-19
Dickcissel (Spiza americana), EastPark Industrial Park, GRE (KY), 5-10-19
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus), SF Rd 2 to Pond Lick Rd, SCI (OH), 5-11-19
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), SF Rd 2 to Pond Lick Rd, SCI (OH), 5-11-19
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica), Shawnee SP, SCI (OH). 5-11-19
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Rocky Fork Road, SCI (OH), 5-11-19
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens), Edge of Appalachia Preserve, ADM (OH), 5-11-19
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), Edge of Appalachia Preserve, ADM (OH), 5-11-19
Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
We spent a few days at Magee Marsh and the day we arrived a storm had passed through the day before and it was still cloudy with light rain off and on all day. The cloudy sky made it a little harder to get the optimal exposure but the soft light did bring out the colors of the birds. Another great benefit of the weather was the birds were low and abundant and at times they were so close I had to step back to obtain focus.
Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-13-19
Purple Martin (Progne subis), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-14-19
Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-14-19
Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina), Magee Marsh - Boardwalk, LUC (OH), 5-14-19
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis), Oak Openings, LUC (OH), 5-14-19
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), Magee Marsh - Causeway, LUC (OH), 5-15-19
Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus), Magee Marsh - Causeway, LUC (OH), 5-15-19
Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus), Magee Marsh - Causeway, LUC (OH), 5-15-19
Veery (Catharus fuscescens), Magee Marsh - Causeway, LUC (OH), 5-15-19
Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii), Curtis Road, IOS (MI), 5-17-19
Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera), Au Stable SF - Big Creek Rd, ARE (MI), 5-18-19
Summer is the time for the birds to fledge their young and you can find 5 species of Hummingbirds like the Calliope. Nevada has many herds of Mustangs with one herd about 10 minutes away at Little Washoe Lake. I found an ebird hotspot near Virginia City with no checklists so I investigated and as I was leaving I hear one of my favorite song: Canyon Wren.
Calliope Hummingbird (Selasphorus calliope), Davis Creek RP, WAS (NV), 6-22-19
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis), Davis Creek RP, WAS (NV), 9-4-19
Little Washoe Lake Mustangs, Little Washoe Lake, WAS (NV), 9-6-19
Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus), Cedar Hill Canyon, STO (NV), 9-17-19
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata), Washoe Lake WMA, WAS (NV), 9-27-19
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), McCarran Ranch, STO (NV), 9-19-19
Mustang Mom and Yearling, Washoe Lake WMA, WAS (NV), 9-27-19
Great Egret (Ardea alba), Diamond Creek Pond, WAS (NV), 10-18-19
Common Raven (Corvus corax), Mason WMA, LYO (NV), 11-5-19
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), Damonte Ranch, WAS (NV), 11-4-19
The second trip of the year was to Tucson, AZ. One of my favorite birds was the Pyrrhuloxia, which I saw many times but my best image was taken at Patagonia State Park. At Madera Canyon when I got out of the 4Runner I heard a song I hadn’t heard before. I tracked it down and was rewarded with a male Painted Redstart at eye level. Very nice. I ended the trip with 19 new species. Let’s see what happens in 2020.
Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), Patagonia SP, SCZ (AZ), 12-12-19
Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus), Madera Canyon, PIM (AZ), 12-10-19
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), Honey Bee Canyon, PIM (AZ), 12-8-19
Coues Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus couesi), Madera Canyon, PIM (AZ), 12-10-19
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), Tangerine Sky Park, PIM (AZ), 12-11-19
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.