Happy With the Hummingbirds

I spent a couple of sessions with the hummingbirds in the backyard today. Some of them are starting to molt so their wings are missing some flight feathers. Some of them have some weird looking wings. There were both Rufous and Anna's coming to the feeder and the flowers I put out. I had a great time photographing them and they were really happy with the sugar water. Creating images of them is sort of addictive. They are such a beautiful bird. Thank you lord for this day, chris Equipment used- Canon 7D Canon 100-400 IS, (5)Canon 540 EZ flashes set to 1/16th power Camera settings- Manual mode ISO 200, F Stop varied, Shutter Speed 1/200th of a sec. "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography" by J. Chris Hansen http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559

Hummers

After sitting with the wild turkey yesterday I had a great time photographing the hummingbirds in the backyard. I took down all of the hummingbird feeders except for one. I then placed some flowers loaded up with sugar water surrounding the remaining feeder. The humming birds were quite happy with the selection as they kept alternating between the feeders and the flowers. This gave me plenty of opportunities for photographing them. Hummingbirds are like flying jewels! Such amazing birds. What a great way to start off my day. God's precious love to all, chris Equipment used- Canon 7D Canon 100-400 IS, (5)Canon 540 EZ flashes set to 1/16th power Camera settings- Manual mode ISO 200, F Stop varied, Shutter Speed 1/200th of a sec. "Secrets of Backyard Bird Photography" by J. Chris Hansen http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Backyard-Photography-Chris-Hansen/dp/1937538559

Branch, Birds and Squirrel

Yesterday after working out at the gym I headed home. I drove down our road looking for a good branch to do some photography with. Near the end of our road I found a fir branch covered in lichen. Perfect! I brought it back to the house and made a frame to support it. Then I set it up in front of my photoblind. Over the next couple of hours I photographed Bandtail Pigeons, Steller's Jays and one Western Gray Squirrel.





This morning I got up and gave it another go. It was pretty nippy out this morning and I needed a long sleeved shirt. Fall is just around the corner. I was happy to get some nice squirrel images.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Here is another Anna's Hummingbird image from yesterday for you to enjoy as well.This was created before the bees took over the feeder.

Hummingbird Silhouette

This morning I got up before sunrise to beat the bees that have been swarming my hummingbird feeders. I was lucky to get a few photographs taken of the hummers before the bees began arriving in large numbers taking over the hummingbird feeders once again. My biggest problem that ended up actually being a winner for me is that the batteries started dying on the flashes I use for my hummingbird photography. In a few images the flash went off for the background but not for the bird itself leaving me with a
bright,colorful and beautiful silhouette.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Late Summer

Late summer is one of the most difficult times to try and photograph hummingbirds at my house. The bees are stocking up on nectar for the upcoming winter. In the process they absolutely overwhelm my hummingbird feeders. This morning it was impossible for the hummingbirds to try and feed. In moving the feeders around I was surrounded by bees and a constant buzz. It felt like a beekeeper at the hives. I finally gave up and came back indoors.


I went up to my office and started looking through old files and I came across one of my favorite images.When we were in Bora Bora my kids began catching Hermit Crabs along the beach. They kept them for a little while and then let them go. The kids as well as myself found them to be fascinating creatures. I love this image it for its simplicity and the beautiful color combination. What a cool little creature!



God's precious love to all,

chris

Note: The bee image has only about half of the bees that were on it. When I lowered it down to photograph it about half of the bees fell off or took off before I photographed them.

A Few Birds

This morning before I went to work out at the gym I decided to do some bird photography out at the Burris Ranch. I figured enough days had passed since I restocked the feeders to make it active again.There were a few birds there when I arrived but after I refilled the feeders there wasn't a bird to be seen for almost half an hour, Finally little by little they began returning. This time of year the birds have lost those breeding colors and are going into plumages that are a lot less flashy and less likely to get them eaten or attract a mate.They are still cool just not as beautiful as they are in the spring.I photographed some House Finches,Gold Finches,Oak Titmouse, Juncos and some Nuthatches. A good time was had by all. Birds love free food.

God'as love and blessings,

chris

Anna's

Yesterday afternoon I played in the backyard with the humming birds. As usual there was one dominant humming bird that took over the feeder I was using. There was one male Anna's Hummingbird that was very successful in keeping everyone else away. He would sit on his little perch between feedings and bombard and then chase any other hummingbirds that came in for a drink. Here are a couple of images of the cheeky little guy.

Love and blessings to all,

chris

Time in the Photoblind

I finally made the effort to spend some more time in the photoblind and it was totally worth it.We have had three ravens hanging around the house for the last week or so. Today I finally figured out why.They are the parents and one of their offspring.They have been hanging around keeping watch on their little one to try and keep it out of trouble.Today I set out some meat scraps for it by the bird feeder and it came by and greedily ate them up. Seeing it up close with its tattered plumage I recognized it as a very young raven.Pretty ratty looking but if it survives will grow into a beautiful adult.Soon after that a Bandtail Pigeon came for some seeds. Later just as I was getting ready to exit the blind a young hen turkey came by with her poults. What a great time in the photoblind.

God's love and blessings,

chris

Going for Gold and Other Things

Actually should have put "Going for Goldfinches".Today I planned on doing some bird photography out at the ranch. I really wanted to photograph some Goldfinches on Thistle flowers. I grabbed my leather gloves and some clippers as I headed out the door.When I got to the ranch I cut down a thistle plant and carried it up the hill. Did you know those things those things have thorns that can go through leather gloves? Ouch! Ouch! On the way up the hill to the photoblind I stopped and photographed a couple of deer near an apple tree in the lower pasture. I really liked how they looked in the fog.


When I arrived at the blind I tied up the thistle to a stand next to the bird feeders. I sat back and waited and waited. It helps to keep the feeders stocked to keep the birds coming and I haven't restocked them for awhile. Finally a male Goldfinch came by and I took his portrait

After the Goldfinch came the bird photography slowed down even further.I decided to photograph the jeep that shares the ranch junkyard with my photoblind. I often think while I'm photographing of all the stories that jeep could tell if it could talk. All the places it has been and the things it has experienced.I daydream of what it would be like to resurrect it. But then my mind jumps back to reality because I'm really lousy at working on cars and it's not my jeep.

After photographing the jeep I was climbing out of the blind when a fawn jumped up in the pasture behind my blind and I photographed it as headed away from me towards the forest.Fawns are always so darn cute!

I started down the hill when suddenly I remembered that I wanted to photograph the ridge where I live because a few people have asked where I live. A picture is worth a thousand words. Here is the view of where I live from the ranch. My house in on a ridgetop about four miles northwest of the town of Willits, CA.

The last image I created was of some ripe apples in tree on my way out by the pasture gate. It's the apple on the right. I walked the rest of the way to my pickup crunching away on it's sweet flavor. Delicious!

God's love and blessings to you all,

chris

Couple of Locals

At this time of year the variety of birds coming to my bird feeders goes way down. Here are the two most common ones from this morning.Bandtail Pigeon and Steller's Jay.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Wild Birds

This morning I went out to the Burris Ranch to do some bird photography. I wasn't expecting much because it's midsummer and a lot of the birds are beginning to molt.I was really surprised how many birds there were.The birds were falling all over themselves to get to the feeders.It was pretty wild. Finally I got into it and just began focusing on one image at a time and waiting to get what I wanted.Patience.

The Gray fox taunted me from the hill above the blind with it's harsh bark. I didn't even bother to try and photograph it as I knew the lighting and the junkyard were against any odds of me getting a good picture.Someday...

God's precious love and blessings to all,

chris