Tag Archives: snow

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

Sharing the Sky

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Sharing the Sky
Three sandhill cranes share the Central Valley sky with a few geese.

Sharing the Sky. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

Three sandhill cranes share the Central Valley sky with a few geese.

During the first part of March, the migratory birds that call the Central Valley home during the winter seem to become restless. At this time of the year I think back to my first late-autumn visits to the birds and recall how it was sometimes hard to find them at all back then, and when I did they were frequently in small groups and at times in places that were not accessible to me. But by the end of their annual residency, they become much more active and appear in greater numbers.

It seems to me that the different kinds of large birds interact with other species much more late in the season. In the early season I might find cranes in one place and geese in an entirely different sort of location. By late winter they often appear together, and mixed groups are often seen in the air and on the ground. In this photograph you can see three varieties of migratory birds — the large sandhill cranes in the middle, a couple of white-fronted geese below, and a group of white snow geese above.

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

Edge of the Flock

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Edge of the Flock
A large flock of migratory snow geese in a pond in California’s Central Valley.

Edge of the Flock. © Copyright 2022 G Dan Mitchell.

A large flock of migratory snow geese in a pond in California’s Central Valley.

The conditions must be just right, you must arrive at the correct time, persistence is necessary, and a bit of luck is important. If all of this works out you may encounter stunningly large flocks of over-wintering migratory geese covering the landscape in parts of the Central Valley of California. If you are extra lucky and extra persistent one of the flocks may settle in right next to you.

I don’t know how many birds were in this flock, but it stretched across this large pond and over a great distance from side to side. The visual impact is obvious, but unless you are there you miss out on the sonic effect. The flock produces a constant audio drone, with sudden crescendos when a threat appears — and with that threat all of the birds’ heads rise straight up on their long necks until it passes.

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

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Photographs: Fall, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Sierra Nevada

Morning Sky After Autumn Snow

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Morning Sky After Autumn Snow
A cloud-speckled morning sky above the Eastern Sierra Nevada after light snow from an autumn storm.

Morning Sky After Autumn Snow. © Copyright 2021 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A cloud-speckled morning sky above the Eastern Sierra Nevada after light snow from an autumn storm.Morning Sky After Autumn Snow

On this second of two autumn visits to the Eastern Sierra this season we arrived after a few days of early winter-like storms. That’s not unusual during this transition season, a time when it seems that warm and sunny autumn days may alternate with bouts of weather that feels distinctly winter-like. While the weather was in the “warm and sunny” pattern by the time we arrived, we had to alter our plans since several of the high passes were still closed by the early snow.

On our first full day there we headed up towards the base of the eastern escarpment of the range, driving up dirt roads that climbed the huge, gently sloping country below the steeper peaks, an area that is perhaps characterized as high desert. As we gained elevation and worked our way closer to the mountains the views to the north and east began to open up. Far away and beneath morning clouds remaining from the recent passage of a weather front, we could see distant snow-capped peaks, and the very summit of the closer ridge also is topped with a light coat of the early snow.

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 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: Nature, Photographs: Owens Valley, Photographs: Sierra Nevada, Photographs: White Mountains

Owens Valley and the White Mountains

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Owens Valley and the White Mountains
The morning view from the base of the Sierra Nevada, looking across Owens Valley to the White Mountains.

Owens Valley and the White Mountains. © Copyright 2021 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

The morning view from the base of the Sierra Nevada, looking across Owens Valley to the White Mountains.

Our recent road trip began in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. The reason for starting here was aspen color, and whether or not that ended up being the primary photographic focus the fall aspens are always worth a visit. Having photographed that subject for quite a few years, going to only the “usual places” is no longer quite enough, so I invariably end up heading out and exploring some places where aspen hunters typically don’t go. On this morning we headed up toward the base of the Sierra, passing through lots of aspen-free high desert terrain, and finally reaching a high enough point that we found some small, isolated groves.

In places like this, aspens can take a back seat to the larger and even monumental vistas along the eastern escarpment of the Sierra. With a bit of elevation, views open to the north, south, and (especially) to the high ridges of the White Mountains along the eastern side of Owens Valley. Although this range is in the rain shadow of the Sierra, and thus lacks the Sierra forests and deep snow, it is just as high and rugged. The photograph looks straight across Owens Valley toward the range, where White Mountain, the highest point, is just nudging Into the base of the morning clouds.

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 | 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.