Tag Archives: mnwr

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

Cranes in Silhouette

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Cranes in Silhouette
A flock of lesser sandhill cranes in flight is silhouetted against clouds in the Central Valley autumn sky.

Cranes in Silhouette. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A flock of lesser sandhill cranes in flight is silhouetted against clouds in the Central Valley autumn sky.

This photograph comes from the morning of my first-of-the-season trip to photograph migratory birds in central California. This subject — including both the birds and their landscape — is a focus from November through the beginning of March. My subjects include geese, herons, ibises, egrets, raptors, “little brown birds,” and sandhill cranes. In this photograph a small group of cranes is silhouetted against an autumn morning sky filled with scattered clouds.

Because this visit was early in the season, there were few geese around. Later I’ll turn more of my attention to them — mainly the Ross’s and snow geese, but others, too. But the cranes had already arrived in great numbers, and they were pretty much the main attraction on this visit.

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: Central California, Photographs: Nature

Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands

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Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands
Autumn sunrise over California Central Valley wetlands.

Autumn Sunrise, Wetlands. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

The sun rises over California Central Valley wetlands.

There is a seasonal pattern to my photography. One of my favorite subjects from late fall through winter is the return of migratory birds to California. This year’s first outing was near the end of November, when I spent a day in the Central Valley. This photograph isn’t just (almost) my first photograph of the day, but it is also the seasons first photo of this subject. As I expected, the number of birds was lower than it will be later in the season, but the stillness and quiet of the place at sunrise was no less profound.

If you passed by here during one of those oppressively hot Central Valley summer days, you might never imagine that it could be a beautiful place in the right season and at the ideal time of the day. But the transformations of season and time of day can do amazing things, and the annual arrival of the birds amplifies that here. It didn’t hurt that I was listening to the sound of sandhill cranes passing overhead as I photographed.

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 to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife, Tongue in Cheek

Rabbit

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Rabbit
A rabbit sits in a Central Valley pasture.

Rabbit. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

A rabbit sits in a Central Valley pasture.

I have encountered plenty of wildlife before — I’ve gotten up close and personal with black bears and other critters — but this experience was quite different and unexpected, and it left me shaken. At a place where I often photograph it is common to spot rabbits running around, especially early and late in the day. Mostly, they seem like they are trying to get away, scurrying off into the brush somewhere. Perhaps this one has been taking extra vitamins or had a chip on its shoulder about something?

When it did not run away, decided to step out of my vehicle and make a photograph — after all, I don’t have many bunny photos in my archive. The critter immediately bared its teeth, started hissing, and assumed a surprisingly aggressive stance. I was a bit taken aback, but not worried — until the bunny charged me, launching itself in my direction with the obvious intent of doing me harm! I had just enough time to leap back into my vehicle and lock the doors before its body slammed into the side! I’m going to have to see if the damage can be repaired. Don’t let this cute photo deceive you — I barely had time to quickly roll down a window and grab this shot before I was forced to drive off! It was an important reminder that any wild animal can suddenly turn into a vicious predator!

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

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

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Pas de Deux

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Pas de Deux
Two sandhill cranes in a winter field, California Central Valley.

Pas de Deux. © Copyright 2023 G Dan Mitchell.

Two sandhill cranes in a winter field, California Central Valley.

It seems to me that sandhill cranes have more “personality” than some of the other flocking birds I photograph at this time of the year. Even their manner of flight is diverse. They can fly in semi-organized fashion, but you’ll also see individuals do very odd things — dive-bombing, craning their necks in odd directions, altering the tempo of their wings and more. And then, at times, they can be graceful.

At one far end of their behavioral range there is an occasional kind of gracefulness — often in the air but in this case, on the ground as these two cranes walk, one after the other, out towards a large field that was recently plowed.

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 | Twitter | Flickr | Facebook | Email

Links to Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Information.

Scroll down to leave a comment or question. (Click this post’s title first if you are viewing on the home page.)

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