Wildlife Photography across the Water: California Travelogue-Day 2

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

California Travelogue-Day 2

The weather started off very grey and dreary with possibilities of rain but the forecast was to improve later in the day and that would/should be the end of the naff weather for the week, I started off down at the lake after the Eared Grebe, I found it straight away and set up in some bushes, I used the D7000 and 600+1.4 just in case it stayed distant, I could not have been more wrong and ended up over lensed as it would dive and pop up right in-front of me, No problem as the water wasnt the nicest of colours because of the grey sky, It really is a great looking bird, I spent the morning at the lake taking shots of the grebe as well as the numerous coots and Canada Geese that we eating the grass behind me, I moved a few miles down the road to the bay and got in position to shoot the waders that were there in the thousand, I watched as the birds got closer and closer, I dare not move and was within feet of starting to shoot when they all took off at the same time and suddenly there was deep barking behind me as an idiot with a big dog decided to walk up and see what i was doing-not pleased would be one way of saying it, I left and spent some time shooting or trying to get Snowy Egret and Night Heron images as they flew up to their nests, The weather was now nice and sunny-great for getting a tan or in my case getting a red face, I left to grab something to eat as the light was now very harsh, When i returned i set up and waited to get some birds in flight-hoping for avocet and stilt, Just before i was about to leave the birds started to go mad in-front of me, Both Stilt and Avocet working together instead of bickering over territory, I couldn't understand what was going on and guessed there must be a predator around and after a careful look at where there were hovering over i could see a snake, There hovered over it for about 5 minutes giving me lots of opportunity to get images before packing up and leaving-what a great and enjoyable day-just hope that it carries on as the weather is now set for the week

Snake in the Grass

Dave

2 comments:

Pat Ulrich27 April 2011 at 23:10
Wonderful series of images! The grebe is such a handsome bird, and how interesting to have spotted a snake curled up in the pickleweed!
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Swisscore30 April 2011 at 10:14
Very very nice pictures, bird with which lens?
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.