Gotta Love Those Squirrels

Sometimes I just love to photograph the squirrels. In photographing the birds there is almost always going to be an opportunity to photograph the squirrels too. Eventually they are going to find the bird feeder and raid it. If you can't beat'em, join'em. I set up a feeder just to photograph the squirrels yesterday. I had an old knothole feeder that I haven't used for awhile and I just knew the squirrels would love it. Tomorrow I'll take it down but for now the squirrels and i will just enjoy it. Here are a few Douglas tree Squirrel images from the past few days in the photoblind. Enjoy and have a wonderful day, chris

Digging Through the Archives

Today I was digging through the archives looking for some work for a client when I ran across this image of a Varied Thrush that I hadn't processed. I really liked it because I have been seeing quite a few of them lately with the little bit of rain we have had. I always call them "Rain Birds" because they always come out when it rains. At least that is when I see them the most often anyway. May you have a blessed evening, chris This image was created with a Canon 7d anda Canon 100-400 IS lens at 330 mm. Camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800 because it was dark and rainy! 1/60th of a sec at F 5.6. Most likely I used my Manfrotto tripod.

My Favorite Squirrel and a Chickadee Too

On Sunday afternoon I created a new set up for photographing the birds and squirrels. I found a fir branch partially covered in lichen and set it up near the bird feeder. I sat in the blind after I set it up for about an hour and only managed to photograph one Chestnut Backed Chickadee. I gave up and went back into the house. A couple hours later I looked out the window to check on it and saw my favorite squirrel munching away at the feeder. It was a little female Douglas Tree Squirrel. I walked out very slowly and just photographed her with my camera on a tripod over the top of the photoblind. Douglas Tree Squirrels are my favorite because they are quite feisty for their size and sometimes will take on the Western Gray Squirrels that are four times their size. They also resemble a cute little teddy bear! Both images were created with a Canon 7D and a Tamrom 150-600 mm lens. AV mode, ISO 800, F 8.0. God's love and blessings upon your day, chris

Roll Back the Fog

I have noticed over the years that my photography goes in spurts. Something will catch my interest and many times I will stick with that theme for a little bit. The birds always seem to be a constant but other things come and go and stay for a little while. Right now it must be the fog because this morning I found myself photographing it again. I was up early today due to the time change. When I looked out our bedroom window I noticed that the fog had rolled back to reveal the valley floor covered in fog with tendrils of mist reaching up into the mountains around it. I grabbed my camera and photographed it with a telephoto lens and then went for a walk. When I returned the fog had rolled back in and covered the valley back up again. Thank you Lord for the incredible view, chris Images created with a Canon 7D and a Tamron 150-600 mm lens.

Waiting and Waiting for the Birds

Yesterday the fog was perfect around "Saint Francis Castle" when I looked down into the Little Lake Valley yesterday morning. "Saint Francis Castle" is what I call a really tall old Redwood tree that lost its top many years ago on the old Saint Francis Ranch. The fog and lighting were just right for what I wanted to do. I grabbed my 600 mm telephoto lens composed it on the castle and waited. I waited and waited. Every time I had the movement of a bird entering the frame I clicked the shutter. After a long wait and many single birds I had a flock of birds go across the frame. I clicked the shutter several times and I knew I had it. After processing the image I was really excited to see a beautiful simple image of fog, tree tops and birds. I love it. God's love and blessings to all, chris This image was created with a Canon 7D and a Tamron 150-600mm lens at 600 mm propped on my bedroom window sill. Camera settings used were AV mode,ISO 400,F 16.0 at 1/ 1250th of a sec.

Is It the Star of Bethlehem?

Yesterday morning after putting Badger out to go for his morning pit stop I glanced to the east to see a brilliant light in the sky. Oh that's right I reminded myself. This week there was going to be a major convergence of Venus, Jupiter and Mars in the eastern sky just before dawn. Apparently I have already missed when the planets were at their closest last weekend. I crawled back under the warm covers only to realize that I should get up and take a few photographs of it. After all it was an important event. Some astronomers believe that a similar convergence around 2-3 A.D. was the star of Bethlehem that led the wisemen to find Jesus in Bethlehem. Pretty cool if it was. In any case here is the convergence of the planets over the Mendocino Mountain Range east of Willits, Ca.I couldn't decide which image I liked best. God's precious light and love to all, chris These images were created with a Canon 7D and a Canon EF- s17-85mm lens. Camera settings used were Manual Mode, ISO 800, F 4.5 for 15sec.The camera was supported on a Manfrotto 055 XPROB tripod with a Bogen 3055 heavy duty ballhead.

Another Jay

Yesterday morning I alternated between the Douglas Tree Squirrel and the Steller's Jays. They were taking turns coming to the feeder. I just love the sharp contrast between the bright blue of the Steller's and the bold yellow, red and orange of the fall colors in the background. I think I have exhausted the use of this perch and will be onto something new. God's love and blessings to all, chris Today's image was created with a Canon 7D,Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens on a Manfrotto 190 XPROB tripod with a Bogen 3055 heavy duty ballhead. Camera settings used were, AV mode, ISO 800, F 5.6 at 1/125 th of a sec.