Tag Archives: bird

Photographs: Wildlife

Gull in Flight, Blue Sky

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Gull in Flight, Blue Sky
Gull in Flight, Blue Sky. Pacific Coast, California. March 1, 2008. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

On the first day of March I went out for some “target practice” – trying to track gulls in flight from a bluff above the Pacific Ocean north of Santa Cruz, California.

I was using a new zoom that provides a 400mm focal length at the long end. Although I’m not primarily a wildlife photographer – not that I don’t give it a try from time to time – I have to say that trying to photograph gulls as they pass by in flight is a real challenge, and renews my appreciation for the skills of those who do specialize in “birds in flight” (or “BIF,” as they refer to it) photography.

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Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Ocean & Coast

Bird Rock and Surf, Dusk

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Bird Rock and Surf, Dusk
Bird Rock and Surf, Dusk. Point Lobos State Reserve, California. December 30, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.

Shorebirds on an offshore rock at dusk in winter surf.

keywords: evening, twilight, dusk, sunset, light, bird, rock, winter, surf, waves, crashing, foam, flight, flying, pacific, ocean, coast, spray, mist, sky, color, landscape, seascape, scenic, travel, stock, monterey, peninsula, carmel, california, usa, shore, seashore, seabirds, shorebirds

Photographs: Wildlife

Egret, Pond, and Fog

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EgretPondFog2007|01|20: Egret, Pond, and Fog. Calero Hills, California. January 20, 2007. © "Copyright G Dan Mitchell". ("sales") keywords: egret pond fog calero hills santa clara county park california color photograph

Egret, Pond, and Fog. Calero Hills, California. January 20, 2007. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell. (Sales)

The story: When I arrived at this pond at about 7:30 a.m. the egret flew up from behind some reeds and across the water before I could get my camera out. It settled for a moment on a nearby hillside and then flew off. Darn!

So I put my camera on the tripod and settled in for a long cold wait. Fortunately there were interesting foggy conditions to keep me occupied. Perhaps an hour later the egret came back and approached the pond as if to land. Spotting me, it made a quick circle and headed back the way it had come – but I managed to fire off about a half dozen shots as it looped in front of me.

keywords: egret, pond, fog, calero, hills, santa clara, county, park, california, color, usa, mist, water, reflection, tree, bush, bird, flight, nature, scenic, landscape

Photographs: Wildlife

Flock of Gulls

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Gulls2006|01|14: Gulls. Pacific Coast south of San Francisco. January 14, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell.
Flock of Gulls. Pacific Coast south of San Francisco. January 14, 2006. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

As I drove up the Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Cruz and San Francisco last weekend I came across a huge flock of gulls on a beach where a river flows into the ocean. As if they had just discovered an amusement ride for birds, the gulls dropped into the creek, rode it to the edge of the surf, took off to fly a loop back up the creek, and did this over and over.