Tag Archives: wildlife

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

Winter Birds, Virga

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Winter Birds, Virga
“Winter Birds, Virga” — Migratory geese in flight against virga sky, Central Valley.

An incoming storm from was just beginning to make its presence known on this morning. The front would not arrive until that night, but high clouds were already producing virga — rain that fails to fall all the way to the ground. I made the photograph as a group of migratory geese passed in front of a cloud lit by early morning light.

I’m going to give away a secret about this photograph and some others that I have made. Because I used a very long lens, I was able to isolate a small, interesting section of the sky. I frequently see small, distant, and very interesting things in the landscape. When this happens I like to use long lenses to extract them from the larger scene.

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: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

European Starling

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European Starling
“European Starling” — A European startling perched on tree branches, California Central Valley.

One of the fun things about knowing so little about birds is that I frequently have the opportunity to “discover” the obvious. (Those who know a bit about my travel photography may recognize that pattern from some of my travel stories.) For years I have wished that we had the European starlings that produce the remarkable “murmuration” flock behavior that you may have seen in videos. And now I find that these birds are here. Experienced birders are welcome to laugh at my ignorance — I’m laughing, too!

I came upon this one when I stopped along a Central Valley back road to marvel at and photograph trees full of trim-colored blackbirds. I put on the long lens and began to make pictures, and I soon realized that there were other birds mixed into the group, too. This European starling was close to the blackbirds, but just enough off to the side to indicate its independence. (Note: As a veteran non-birder, I’m totally prepared for someone to tell me I have misidentified it!)

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.

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

Two Cranes, Reflection

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Two Cranes, Reflection
“Two Cranes, Reflection” — Two sandhill cranes and their reflections in a wetland pond.

Sandhill cranes have the remarkable ability to look both comically clumsy (watch them land!) and remarkably graceful. This pair managed to produce the latter impression as they crossed paths in a shallow wetland pond. It helped that they were between me and the sun, placing their reflection in the water in front of them.

Sandhill cranes are remarkable birds and have become my favorites among the migratory birds I photograph . They are here between autumn and late winter in large numbers. Their characteristic cry is one of the defining features of my winter photography experience. One of the best moments comes when they return at dusk. I hear their cries before I see them, but soon hundreds arrive and land for the night.

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.

Photographs: Birds, Photographs: Nature, Photographs: Wildlife

Two Cranes, Morning Sky

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Two Cranes, Morning Sky
“Two Cranes, Morning Sky” — Two lesser sandhill cranes in flight against a morning sky.

If you follow my photographs, it is possible that you recall another photograph of these two cranes in morning sky a few weeks ago. Sometimes I use burst mode to photograph birds as they fly past. One advantage is that you have a better chance of getting that perfect moment when things happen quickly. However, a disadvantage is that you end up with a lot of photographs to review! When this pair flew over, out of perhaps a dozen frames there were two that I liked.

The photograph, and its near-twin, are slightly unusual for me. For one thing, I tend to include some landscape or foliage with the birds. But here it is just birds and sky, albeit with some lovely, fluffy clouds. The angle and color of the light were just about ideal. It was coming at a low angle from my right, where the sun was just over the horizon. As a result the warm, early light shone upwards onto the undersides of the birds.

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.

Scroll down to share comments or questions. (Click post title first if viewing on the home page.)

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