Category Archives: Photographs: Birds

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

European Starling

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European Starling
“European Starling” — A European Starling perched in the brush on a foggy Central Valley day.

You may already know this, but I’m not really the “birder” type. I love photographing birds, and by doing so I’ve learned more about them than I would otherwise know. But I have never had the same passion for identifying them or keeping track of which I’ve seen that characterize the birders I know. I’ve learned to understand their passion, but it is different than mine. Perhaps because I’m not that knowledgable about birds, I often get the joy of “discovering” a bird that turns out to be somewhat ordinary!

When I photographed this bird I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to what it is. I had been photographing red-winged blackbirds in these plants. I think I just assumed that it was some variation on that kind of bird. (I probably should be embarrassed to admit this!) But when I looked at the photograph I was fascinated by the color pattern on the feathers. I looked it up and “discovered” that it is a pretty common (though no less attractive) European starling.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Black-Necked Stilt In Flight

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Black-Necked Stilt In Flight
“Black-Necked Stilt In Flight” — A black-necked stilt flies above Central Valley wetlands.

This black-eyed stilt was one of a pair of birds I tracked as they flew across this wetland pond. I’m intrigued by the stilts, with their striking black and white bodies set off by orange legs. Their long legs and bills equip them to forage in shallow wetland ponds. The feed quietly for long periods and then suddenly launch into very quick flight just above the water.

These characteristics make them easy to photograph when they are feeding, but very difficult to catch when they are flying. The pair flew across the scene in front of me, and because I was ready for them I managed to get a sequence of photographs. Of course, bird photography is, in my experience, marked by more failures than successes — and there’s a ‘failure story” to accompany this photograph, too! The birds landed in the pond together with ballet-like grace as I squeezed of one final shot — a photograph that was completely out of focus!

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Final Approach

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Final Approach
“Final Approach” — A trio of snow geese lining up to land in a Central Valley pond.

Snow geese and Ross’s geese were my first interest years ago when I began paying serious attention to photographing birds. I had been tuned into California’s natural world for decades, but somehow I had missed the annual bird migrations, so “discovering” them was a thrill. Eventually the geese didn’t like the only thing worth photographing, and I no longer chase after them reflexively. But they still can be compelling — and there’s nothing quite like the sight and sound of thousands of them taking to the sky at once!

I photographed this trio on a late-December day when the numbers of geese were steadily increasing. There are more things to attend to when photographing these birds than you might think. Exposure can be tricky, as their brilliant white plumage can blow out in bright light or turn gray against the sky. Light needs to shine on them from the right direction or their features get lost in shadows. And, of course, you hope that the geese aren’t facing away from you! For this photograph I was in just the right spot as the birds turned toward me and into the breeze to land.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Snow Geese Landing

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Two Snow Geese Landing
“Two Snow Geese Landing” — Two snow geese in the final moments before landing in a Central Valley wetlands pond.

The larger migratory birds often are graceful or powerful in flight, individually or in flocks. But that tends to break down in some ways as they land. They approach the ground, slow to stalling speed, crane necks forward, extend feet downwards, orient their bodies more vertically… and sometimes look downright silly at the last moment. (An exception can be the angle-like uplifted winds of geese in descending groups.) This pair is just at that moment then they transition from flight to landing.

This is a challenging moment to photograph the birds, but knowing a few tings about their behavior can increase your odds. Like airplane pilots, they come around to land facing the wind. If you can position yourself upwind from their likely landing point you get bird faces instead of bird butts. Also, at the last moment they tend to appear in front of distracting backgrounds. Here a larger aperture can blur the background, and looking for backgrounds that don’t include things that you don’t want in your photo — automobiles, buildings, power lines, etc.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.