Spring Photo Shoot at Mayberry

Looped around the perimeter of Mayberry last Saturday. Because our property is permanent marsh, most of the wildlife is just across the drainage canal on the grazing ground.

White-front geese stage at Sherman Island and it looks like they are about ready to head north.

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Not sure why this single spec didn’t take off with his brethren, but he eventually flew off to join them.

As I watched some waterfowl, waiting for a good photo opportunity, I heard a splash in the canal next to me. Figuring it was river otters, I paused before turning to look. When I did, it was just in time to see a coyote dog-shaking to get the water off his back.

The coyote was nearly hidden by the tall growth.

Lola was very excited to be back in her element.

A horned owl, rested in a willow tree until Lola scared him off.

A red-tailed hawk took off from the field across the canal.

Lola jumped up a rooster.

Red-wing blackbirds were displaying.

The goats of Mayberry were back, cleaning up the vegetation on the levee. Hope they left enough cover for the pheasants to nest.

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Best Pheasant Shot Ever

It was a great couple days at Mayberry. Fishing was good and I was getting some pretty good photos as Lola and I walked around the property.

Working some thick cover in a location where we often find pheasant, Lola was red hot. I could hardly keep up with her. She ran out in front to about 100 yards and turned to work here way back, nose to the ground – going in and out of sight in the cover. The rooster rose quickly from about 50 yards in front of me and passed me at about 30 yards. I swung the Nikon and snapped a shot. What were the chances?

To fully appreciate, click on the photo to enlarge it.

It was a direct hit with good light and he was cackling all the way.

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A Cormorant Study

I’ve historically viewed cormorants as one of the least attractive birds I know. However, lately, I’ve had somewhat of a change of heart. In some situations they are an awesome creature to photograph.

Check out these shots, I took yesterday, and see if you agree.

Cormorants often have a very unique and attractive silhouette.

These three cormorants posed for several minutes as I took shot after shot becoming infatuated with their beauty.

See what I mean?

The new Nikon Coolpicks did the job pretty well.

Two cormorants looked pretty good too.

Three was better than two.

The silhouette of one bird is still photogenic.

The side view is very nice.

Ultimately, it’s hard to beat three cormorants.

Enough cormorants for one day?

 

 

 

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New Camera

Purchased a Nikon Cool Picks L810 at Mike’s Camera in Dublin and took it out for a spin yesterday afternoon.

Here’s what I came up with.

This red-tailed hawk landed about 150 yards away.

The front view was will poor light. You can see the difference between the quality of the first shot and this one.

The wild flowers caught my eye.

Took a quick (camera) shot at this coyote and almost missed from about 100 yards.

This was the first deer of the day and she was followed by two others. Given the poor light conditions, this photo came out pretty good..

Light was fading when I spotted this gobbler feeding about 150 yards out.

So far so good. The camera was refurbished so I got it at a favorable price – $129. Hope it keeps working. This camera and a new iPad  Mini will accompany me on a trip to the Galapagos Islands in May. I’m getting ready for action.

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February Has Been a Good Month for Lion Photos

This is one of three lion photos produced this February.

We have no shortage of lions on our 2000 acres. This and another of the photos were taken with trail cameras placed nearly two miles apart. This is typical.

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Hardly-Fired-Up Goose Hunt 2013

For the second year in a row, the action was modest for the late goose season. However the weather was gorgeous and the duck photo ops were excellent. Here are a few of the best.

 

Click to enlarge.

 

The black pheobe landed close. I know, its not a duck.

 

This ring neck was moving fast.

This spoony wasn’t as clear as some of the others, but I like the way his landing gear was down.

This is my favorite of the day.

 

Lola posed nicely with my lone spec of the day.

So once again the hardly-fired-up goose hunt was a success.

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Waterbirds of the Delta

Birds were everywhere last weekend and the bright sun made photographing them a little easier than usual.

Here are a few:

(click on the photo to enlarge)

This cormorant could have been bronze.

Why is there no hunting on Little Franks. It no longer serves as a refuge as there’s no habitat. Before the levees crumbled, Little Franks was marsh, now it’s open water.

Seems to be more tundra swans than last year.

Sandhill cranes seem to increase in numbers each year. Twenty years ago we seldom saw a crane. 

They’re called sandhill cranes for a reason. Webb Tract has lots of sand hills and cranes too.

Sandhill cranes make great sounds.

The cranes are quite large. In a few states they are hunted.

Sandhills are quite a sight.

The Delta is quite a place when all the winter visitors are present.

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End of the Day – Fire in the Sky

Last Saturday was a solo hunt for me. I enjoy hunting with company, but sometimes it’s nice to have the freedom to make ones own decisions.

That’s how it was on Saturday afternoon. I hunted an untested blind and had some success, getting some close decoying shots at specs and bagging two nice birds.

After the final shot, I snapped a couple photos of Lola with the specs. The western sky was lighting up.

The water was cold and Lola would rather have stayed on dry ground, but she retrieved these birds.

I could see that the sky was lighting up as we walked from the pond. On the way back to the truck, the sky grew brighter and brighter until I had to stop a take a couple photos. For a better look, click on the photo.

A fireball grew next to Mt Diablo.

The core of the sunset was brighter yet.

One of the best sunsets….

You never know about the next surprise. And, the photos don’t always to justice do the event. In this case they did.

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Archery Opener More for the Birds than Bucks

This buck watched as I drove by. He was about 50 yards off the road and was one of five encountered.

On the way to my deer stand, I passed this buck bedded beside the road. This was the closest I came to a buck on Saturday, but I did get some good bird photos, so here they are.

Approaching my tree stand, I pair of bandtail pigeons lifted off from an elderberry tree. I hoped that they would return and present a photo opportunity.

Later I was granted my wish and the two birds landed not more than twelve feet from me and sat there for an hour.

But first a Stellar jay dropped in on me and began to squawk. (You can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.)

Stellar jay in flight

The femail pigeon showed off the band for which they are named.

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Spring is Here and Reptiles are Out

This alligator lizard was not full grown. He hid in the grass for a while before finally giving me an open shot.

Spent Saturday looking for reptiles and I found quite a few. Here are some of my photos.

Western fence lizards were out sunning themselves on the many rock piles.

Here’s a classic fence lizard.

A few snakes were circulating. I found one whipsnake.

This whip snake didn’t want to leave and I took several photos.

The Alameda whipsnake is listed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=C04A

I finally came upon a large rattle snake.

This guy makes a living eating wood rats.

Here he is again.

Plenty of rattles on this guy. No wood rat too big or too small for him.

The next one is not a reptile, but he posed so nice I couldn’t resist.

He stood in the middle of the road and strutted his stuff, but the hens must have been nesting.

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