Slow Morning on the Laguna Madre

I spent three hours yesterday morning photographing birds and a kayaker on the Laguna Madre at South Padre Island.  The weather was beautiful with a gentle north wind blowing down the bay and the sun at my back.  Hoping for some good flight photography, I patiently wasted 2/3 of my time waiting for ducks and pelicans that just didn’t come …at least not by air.     Fortunately, there were some birds about so, I took advantage of their feeding and loafing activity.

Using a Canon 7d II camera and 500 mm lens on the Gitzo tripod and Wimberley head, I had enough telephoto reach to make some reasonable captures.  Here are a few images from a slow morning on the Laguna Madre:  Click on an image to enlarge and sharpen it for viewing.

This male American wigeon was one of the few airborne birds of the morning.
This male American wigeon was one of the few airborne birds of the morning.

I prefer for birds in flight to be a little closer to my eye-level, but this bird was acceptable.  Wing position and light angle are important, of course.

An unusual sight, this cinnamon teal male swam by looking for a freshwater inflow where he could drink and bathe.
An unusual sight, this cinnamon teal male swam by looking for a freshwater inflow where he could drink and bathe.

 

One of the drake redheads that eventually drifted by.
One of the drake redheads that drifted by.

 

Mottled Duck drake (yellow bill) loafing in the shallows in good cover.
Mottled duck drake (yellow bill) loafing in the shallows with good cover.

 

*** When the wind is out of the northwest, photographers are mostly seeing the rear end of birds as they face into the wind.  It is important to capture the subject look back over its shoulder.

Red-breasted Merganser drake shaking water.  Mergansers are fish eaters.
Red-breasted merganser drake shaking water.

 

This red-breasted merganser was faster than his unlucky prey.
This red-breasted merganser was faster than his unlucky prey.

 

A beautiful morning to kayak the shallow Laguna Madre.
A beautiful morning to kayak the shallow Laguna Madre.

 

Clapper rail stalking along the shoreline.
Clapper rail on the hunt for invertebrates along the shoreline.

 

Common Gallinule at first light.
Common gallinule at first light.

 

Great Blue Heron cleaning his beak.
Great blue heron cleaning his bill.

 

Tricolored Heron preening on a black mangrove perch.
Tricolored heron preening on a black mangrove perch.

 

Reddish Egret herding a school of silvery fish in the shallows.
Reddish egret herding a school of silvery fish in the shallows.

…and so the morning ended.  There are many birds about the Laguna Madre this time of year, but success is always regulated by wind speed and direction and by the tides.  It takes some planning and good luck to catch a “fast” morning on the bay.  I’ll hit it right before winter ends.

Larry

January Whitetails

When December rolls around, I always try to dedicate about three days to photographing white-tailed deer at the peak of the breeding season.  But, this year the time just got away from me and I missed the chase.

Here are a few deer images from January 9, just in time to capture the end of the main rut.

Don’t forget to click on an image to increase its size and sharpness for better viewing.

Big buck emerging from weedy cover.
“How did that vine get on my antler?”

 

Young buck trailing a doe at sunrise.
Young buck trailing a doe at sunrise.

Most of these photos were taken from ground level with a Canon 7D Mark II and Canon 70-200 mm lens, hand held.  My elbows were on the ground and the stabilizer was on setting # 2.

Dominant buck testing the air for the scent of a doe.
Dominant buck testing the air for scent of a doe.

Getting this shot requires photographer vigilance and having the necessary camera/lens settings “dialed in” before that magic moment occurs.

Hot pursuit!
Hot pursuit!

 

This is my space!
“This is my space!”

 

What spike bucks do while the big boys are chasing does.
What spike bucks do while the big boys are chasing does.

These spikes played at “being bucks” for about 5 minutes and without paying any attention to me.

I hope you enjoyed this brief trip to deer country.

Larry

 

Cold Day at Laguna Seca

In spite of cold and windy south Texas weather last weekend, four Houston photographers and I managed to capture some good images at Laguna Seca Ranch.  Here are a few of my shots.

Remember to click on an image to enlarge and sharpen it for viewing.

American Kestrel on hunting perch
American Kestrel on hunting perch

The wind was blowing so hard this day that I was surprised this little kestrel never lost her grip on the perch.

American Kestrel on hunting perch
American Kestrel on hunting perch

 

Hungry Green Jays stealing acorns from a stump.
Hungry Green Jays stealing acorns from a stump.

 

There is always another hungry bird to take the last one's place.
There is always another hungry bird to take the last one’s place.

 

Harris's Hawk going to food
Harris’s Hawk going to food

 

Lesser Goldfinches drinking
Lesser Goldfinches drinking

 

Loggerhead Shrike on hunting perch
Loggerhead Shrike on hunting perch
Long-billed Thrasher swallowing a mouth full.
Long-billed Thrasher swallowing a mouth full.

 

white-crowned sparrow
white-crowned sparrow

 

Pyrrhuloxia male
Pyrrhuloxia male

 

Northern Bobwhites on log, s. Texas
Northern Bobwhites on log, s. Texas

It’s just about impossible to get 4 bobwhites with their heads lifted at the same time.  Patience……

Happy New Year!

Larry