Give Them Water and They Will Come

I set up a tray of water in front of my photoblind and filled it with mossy rocks and gravel. It didn't take the birds long to find it and start using it. I could hear the quail long before I could see them. They were calling back and forth below me near the road. The calls got closer and closer and then went dead. Then my brain slowly kicked in and spoke to me. "Hey there is a pair of California Quail on the rock in front of you!" I must admit my reaction time was a bit on the long side. Which probably helped because I didn't thrash about and scare the quail away. I took my time with some restraint and recomposed the camera onto them. At first I was way too tight so I just took a portrait of the male. Then I backed off and I was able to get the full body of the male and then the female. A really nce way to spend a bit of my morning. Have a blessed week, chris All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS lens supported on a Manfrotto Tripod 190 XPROB with a Bogen 3055 heavy duty ballhead. #TeamCanon

Procrastination Can Have Its' Rewards

Yesterday dawned rather gloomy with gray skies and some rain. My intention was to stay home pay the bills and work on the manuscript for my new book. About ten minutes after making this momentous decision the skies in the valley below were filled with glorious light.The winds of change were upon me and I immediately decided to put off the toils of labor and go play. I made a few images of the clouded valley below. Then I loaded up my pick up, called to a more than eager Badger the Photoblind Dog and we were on our way to the Burris Ranch. It was a great decision. I ended up photographing a Lazuli Bunting, Lawrences Gold Finches (Thank you Judy and Ron for the ID), California Valley Quail and some superb images of House Finches.Oh, and a California Ground Squirrel as well. I had a wonderful day. Now I need to get back to work. Hmmnn, the lighting looks pretty good down in the valley... God's love and blessings to all, chris

More Quail Yesterday Morning

Yesterday morning didn't go as planned but it was still very successful. I really wanted to photograph a goldfinch on some yellow Acacia branches. Instead the birds ignored my Acacia perch and went directly to the feeder. The California Quail came in great numbers and were around the blind for close to forty five minutes which gave me some wonderful opportunities to both observe and photograph them. Here is a sampling of some of the images I was able to create.

God's love and blessings to everyone,

chris

Patience and Planning

This morning I got up early and dropped Jay off. On the way out to the Burris Ranch I stopped and clipped some yellow Acacia blossoms. When I arrived at the photo blind I spent about half an hour setting up the feeder with the blossoms I brought. I fussed and fiddled til I got it set up right. I climbed into the blind and focused my camera on the the little branch and I waited. I waited and waited. None of the birds liked my Acacia branch. It's yellow and pretty. What's not to like? Eventually a covey of quail came in . I photographed them on the fence posts,grass and railings as they were too big for my little branch. After they left one lone House Finch finally settled down onto my perch. I took two frames and it was gone onto the feeder. That was good and I called it a day.

God's light and precious love to all,

chris

California Quail

This morning I was out on the ranch. Last week they trimmed the apple trees around the pasture where I photograph. I piled up all the cuttings and the quail seem to really like the resulting brush pile.Now every time I arrive at the blind I'm greeted by some quail.They all take off but work there way back later. This has given me the added bonus of some opportunities to photograph some quail.

God's blessings to all,

chris

Not According to Plan

Today did not go as planned. I really wanted to create an image of a male American Goldfinch on a purple flower with an olive/yellow background. Yesterday there were small groups of American Goldfinches coming to the feeder like crazy. Today? Not a single one! So I photographed what God sent me. Afterwards on the way home I stopped along Berry Creek and played with the water there for awhile.

God's blessings to all,

chris