Posts Tagged ‘Nikkor TC-17 EII’

Western Screech-Owl, Another Birding First!

Western Screech-Owl, Another Birding First!

We had heard that there was a Western Screech-Owl (Megascops kennicottii) at San Pedro House in Arizona. So as we had never seen this Screech Owl, we headed to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area near Sierra Vista in Southern Arizona. Our friends Michelle and Dennis had shown us a phone picture of the […]


The Newfoundland Iceberg Show

The Newfoundland Iceberg Show

Nearly every late spring and summer Icebergs calved from the Greenland Icecap head South in the currents down the East coast of Newfoundland. This was a major attraction for our visit to Newfoundland in Canada. My first encounter with icebergs happened a very long time ago, when I was 17 years old. I had been […]


Puffins – Aren’t They Just Gorgeous?

Puffins - Aren't They Just Gorgeous?

One of the great opportunities when visiting Newfoundland in Canada is to go to Elliston on the east coast and see the nesting Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) colony. We were there very early in the Season and these cute little birds were just arriving for their 3 months of the year on land to breed. […]


Birds Seen for the First Time

Birds Seen for the First Time

Here are some photographs of new birds for my list so far this year. They have been shot exclusively in Texas and Southern Arizona. There are many beautiful areas and wildlife preserves down here and it is my delight to make the most of them when I can. These images were shot in the following […]


Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) and their Young

Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) and their Young

Earlier this year was my first encounter with Eared Grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) at Mono Lake in the Californian Eastern Sierras.  They were just arriving and the guide books said that there would be so many that you could walk on them to the other side of the lake! However, when visiting Saskatoon Lake Provincial Park […]


This Guy Deserves an Award !

This Guy Deserves an Award !

While in Yellowstone National Park, I had stopped to work a pair of Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) and noticed a group of cars pulled off the road just up the hill – probably bear! Having finished with the swans, I decided to walk up to the other cars to see what was going on.  As […]


The non-Shorebirds that go to Churchill

The non-Shorebirds that go to Churchill

My previous blog was about the shorebirds in their gorgeous breeding plumage that make their way to Churchill, Manitoba.  But there are plenty of other types of birds and species that travel all the way to Churchill in order to breed. Many of these birds also “dress up” in order to attract a mate!  Here […]


Why Go to Churchill, Manitoba, to Photograph Birds?

Why Go to Churchill, Manitoba, to Photograph Birds?

Story with photographs showing the breeding plumage of several species of shorebirds as they migrate to the sub-arctic North to breed in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada


Witnessing a Natural Phenomenon

Witnessing a Natural Phenomenon

As the blog from our full-time RVing in North Americas says – serendipity strikes again.  We visited Haines in Alaska for images of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) but instead discovered all three species of Scoters (Surf Scoter, Black Scoter and White-winged Scoter) in this feeding frenzy. Oh how I love wildlife photography! Mother Nature is […]


Why do they call Haliaeetus leucocephalus “Snow Pigeons” ?

Why do they call Haliaeetus leucocephalus “Snow Pigeons” ?

This is a recent blog from our full-time RVing travels about Wildlife Photography of Bald Eagles in Alaska. Click on the image to go to the blog entry.


Both Avro Lancasters Flying Together

Both Avro Lancasters Flying Together

I recently received and watched the BluRay “Reunion of Giants”.  It is an incredible feature of a truly unique event.  It is the story of how the Avro Lancaster Mk. X owned and operated by the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) was readied and flew to England in order to fly in formation with the only […]


Oh to be able to shoot them in their natural environment!

Oh to be able to shoot them in their natural environment!

This was my first “long exposure” (pun intended) to photographing gorillas (Gorilla gorilla), especially since I started wildlife photography a couple of years ago.  While this is not their natural jungle environment this enclosure at San Diego Wildlife Park seemed to work well for the gorillas. We just stood and watched them for a while […]


Things To Do On The Beach – 05

Things To Do On The Beach - 05

Plan A Royal Wedding …. These two love birds were parading around completely oblivious to what was going on around them.  However, it was “Not tonight Josephine”! Gear: Nikon D4S, Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII, Nikkor TC-17 EII, RRS Tripod, RRS Gimbal Head, Lexar Digital Film


A Sample of Recent Adventures in South Dakota.

A Sample of Recent Adventures in South Dakota.

As we approached the Thor Diesel Owners Club Rally I managed to carve out a day and a half to work on some images.  Something I haven’t managed to do since the end of May – which is REALLY bad.  But essential timing as I head to Anchorage tomorrow morning for a Moose & Northern […]


A Rare Experience in Custer State Park

A Rare Experience in Custer State Park

We were visiting The Black Hills of South Dakota and fell in love with the scenery and especially the Wildlife Loop.  We also really liked Custer, the town and could envisage settling there eventually (as long as the Winters are not too L o n g ). While in the area we had enjoyed seeing […]


Things To Do On The Beach – 04

Things To Do On The Beach - 04

When you wake up…… Preen A Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) preening


Things To Do On The Beach – 03

Things To Do On The Beach - 03

Have a Snooze Gear: Nikon D4s, Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII, Nikkor TC-17 EII, Lexar Digital Film.  For the close-ups mounted on Skimmer Ground Pod II with RRS Ball-head, for the others mounted on RRS Tripod and RRS Gimbal Head


Things To Do On The Beach – 02

Things To Do On The Beach - 02

Take A Bath Gear: Nikon D4s, Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII, Nikkor TC-17 EII, Lexar Digital Film.  For the close-ups mounted on Skimmer Ground Pod II with RRS Ball-head, for the others mounted on RRS Tripod and RRS Gimbal Head


Things To Do On The Beach – 01

Things To Do On The Beach - 01

If you have an itch scratch it!! Gear: Nikon D4s, Nikkor 600mm f/4 VRII, Nikkor TC-17 EII, Lexar Digital Film.  For the close-ups mounted on Skimmer Ground Pod II with RRS Ball-head, for the others mounted on RRS Tripod and RRS Gimbal Head


Why Did I Go to the Tundra to Shoot Shorebirds?

Why Did I Go to the Tundra to Shoot Shorebirds?

As you may recall from earlier posts, it was quite a journey to get to Churchill, Manitoba,  just below the Arctic Circle.  It took two days to fly there, one day to Winnipeg (Manitoba’s Capital) and another day to Churchill (the train from Winnipeg takes 2 days!) and the same to return.  When I got […]


Juveniles ONLY – NO ADULTS !

Juveniles ONLY - NO ADULTS !

I made a return visit to Pinecraft Park in Sarasota to show Louise the Barred Owls and the Pileated Woodpeckers.  However, on this visit I could only shoot the juveniles.  We did see an adult Barred Owl, but it was right against the trunk of a tree and completely obscured by branches and leaves.  But […]


First Outing for Bigger Bertha

First Outing for Bigger Bertha

I called my 200mm-400mm f/4 VRII lens “Big Bertha” when I first got it because it is big and also heavy.  I use this mostly for airs hows.  I have recently acquired “Bigger Bertha” to use for wildlife and this was “Bigger’s” first outing.  Also for my new heavier duty Really Right Stuff tripod and […]


I just LOVE photographing Silver Birds

Often, as a child, airplanes were referred to as the “big silver bird”.  This description was aimed at civilian commercial airliners rather than military ‘planes (the military always applied camouflage schemes to make their aircraft less visible to the enemy). However, recently, with the restoration of old warbirds (such as the P-51 Mustang, B17 Flying […]