Eastern Screech Owl

Joan and I traveled to an area near Syracuse New York to see a Saw Whet Owl.  Sadly, the owl did not cooperate.  On the way home we stopped at a spot where Screech owls have been seen. We saw one and we heard at least three others. 

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Until next time

Jim

Raptor Time

Winter is Raptor time for Joan and I.  We enjoy viewing the raptors that have migrated south for the winter months.  We took a short trip to two of our favorite places yesterday to see how things were shaping up for this winter.  At Liberty Loop Trail at the north end of the Wallkill Wildlife preserve, we saw migrating Mallards, migrating Northern Shovelers, a Kestrel,  two Northern Harriers and a Red Tail Hawk.  

Kestrel

Red Tail Hawk in Flight

Smooth and Graceful Landing for young Red Tail Hawk

Red Tail Hawk on Mouse Patrol

After spending some time at the Marsh, we stopped by one of our favorite winter haunts for Bald Eagles.  We only saw the resident pair there, but they gave us quite a show.  I had left my 600mm lens on so I missed part of the best action right close to me.

V85-the male Bald Eagle of teh Lackawaxen Pair

Surveying the situation as the moon rose and the sunset

Until next time

Jim Borden

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Pennsylvania Elk-Waning days of the Rut

Pennsylvania Bull Elk trying to get the attention of a young cow

We spent three days in Pa Elk country this past week with friends Gary and Kim Amatrudo from Connecticut.  As usual we were able to view 100+ elk.  We saw a number of decent sized bulls but no "monster bulls".  The rut was still active with bugling, sniffing and some breeding going on.  The weather was unusually warm for late October and the elk were visibly in stress from the heat.  Most of the foliage had long gone past peak color, but the Tamarack trees were in their yellow/orange splendor. 

We spent a considerable amount of time watching nad following the bull pictured here.  

Mornings in the Benezett PA area in the fall are normally very foggy which creates a beauty of its own.  The early morning with fog is a great sight to see.  This a the view of the valley between the Winslow Hill viewing area and the mine reclaim area. There were 4 to 5 bulls bugling as we stood and watched this beautiful scene. 

There were a number of snow buntings in the area-seemed unusual for this time of year-they are a very pretty bird

We also saw a number of Wild Turkeys and one group was a bunch of about 12 very mature gobblers feeding together.

Until next Time

Jim Borden

Tunkhannock PA

13 image panoramic stitch. Lane Hill from Tunkhannock River Bridge

The foliage peaked the week of October 1 at our place 10 miles north of Tunkhannock. So, we missed it.  However, Tunkhannock peaked this weekend.  The view from the Susquehanna bridge last night was beautiful.  Not as colorful as what we saw in Maine as these mountains are mostly oak.  The above image master file is 20 inches by 55 inches at 300 dpi. It can be printed crisply up to 40 x110 inches.

Fall is a great time to catch the Suisquehanna River with few or no ripples. 

I used a 300 mm telephoto lens to isolate the Wyoming County courthouse from the busy surroundings.  

Until next Time

Jim Borden

Maine Fall Foliage

West Branch Penobscot River from Abol Bridge

Winding Road in Maine North Woods

Doubletop in Baxter Park from Marsten Parking Area

Sandy Stream Pond from Big Rock

Newsoundehunk Stream from Marsten in Baxter Park

Newsoudehunk Fields in Baxter Park

Pretty Maple leaves near Millinockett ME

Sunset as Seen from Abol Bridge West of Millinockett ME

King of the Road in Maine North Woods

Until next time

Jim Borden

Lubec Maine Eagle

On the way home from our recent Moose looking excursion in Maine we decided to hit the coast of Maine for foliage and lighthouse pictures.  We stopped in the little fishing town of Lubec, Maine (most northeastern town in the USA) for lunch.  The little restaurant was directly along the Lubec harbor.  As we were enjoying their delicious clam chowder and fish sandwich, we saw harbor seals, gulls and cormorants fishing in the harbor.  The waitress explained the mackerel run was in process.  Suddenly a Bald Eagle appeared to join in the fishing activity.  We finished lunch and grabbed our cameras and moved to the edge of the wharf.   Needless to say, our trip home was delayed :)

Most of these images are un-cropped.  The Eagle passed so close many times that I was not able to get more than the head and part of the body in the frame. 

The eagle perched on roof tops along the edge of the harbor as well as on channel markers.  The following image is a landing shot as he approached a channel marker.

The Eagle is powerful and yet graceful.

After watching gulls and cormorants fishing-he waited until the gulls were fighting over a fish and then he took off and snatched it from them.

On his way to a fish catch

the eagles are amazing to watch as they land with fish grasped in both feet

All the while the fishing was occurring-the lobster boats were coming to harbor

Until next time

Jim Borden

More Maine North Woods Moose

Cow Moose and Calf leaving the river after a meal. Taken from Kayak.

Had a fun few days in North Maine woods again at the beginning of September. The bulls that we had seen this July were no where to be found.  They were in the woods preparing for the upcoming rut. The cows had their calves out in the river and lake to feed. These moose are very shy and wild. Extreme care had to be sued to observe and photograph them.

The calf was much more aware and nervous about our presence than the cow. He easily spooked.

This is a different calf about 1/2 mile upstream from the one pictured above.  he walked along the river bank and played peek a boo with us through the alders. Our entire mode of transportation was by kayak as can be seen here. Friend Cecil Gray-Registered Maine Guide joined us for a couple of days of Moose "hunting".  

Until Next Time

Jim Borden

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Sunset at Nubble Light House

On my way home from a Moose Photography trip in the north Maine Woods this past week-I stopped to stay in Kittery Maine.  Being so close to one of my favorite light houses, I just had to run over there and sit and wait for sunset.   I know and appreciate the sunsets looking into the west but we often miss an even more beautiful view if we were to look East.  This is facing East at Cape Neddick after the sun had dropped below the horizon in the west. 

This was taken with wide angle lens mounted on tripod with a 2 second shutter release delay.

Until next time

Jim Borden

Pennsylvania Buck

Mature Pennsylvania Whitetail

We were worried about the buck population around our home after the fiasco with the "pipeline poachers" last fall. However, we have been blessed that they did not get all of them.  This beauty is hanging out in a woodlot in front of our home. 

Two of 6 Bucks in a bachelor group

The bucks have been hanging together in groups of four to six.  This big guy has been hanging out with 5 other bucks.  It is fun to watch them as they feed.  The younger, smaller bucks sure understand the hierarchy.  This photo is special to me because as I waited in my hide that evening I was thinking of my dad that had passed away 11 years ago at the time I sitting there.  It may be "corny" but I felt as though dad was visiting me in the spirit of those six bucks. I am thankful for the upbringing I had as I was taught the ways of nature and taught how to value and respect animals and nature.

A view often seen on a Penna Whitetail :)

Until next time

Jim Borden

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Whitetails of Shenandoah

Motherly Love

Nikon D4 Nikon 600f4 @ f7.1 1/400 ISO7200 EC+.67

Joan and I spent Friday and Saturday in Shenandoah Park looking for and photographing deer and butterflies and scenery.  The weather was predicted to be partly cloudy and warm, but it was heavily overcast and we experienced some rain and heavy fog.  I welcomed the overcast skies as it provides even filtered light for photography.  We had fun on Friday with a couple of very large bucks and then in the evening we watched and photographed a number of does and fawns. 

Handsome Dude

Nikon D4 Nikon 300 f2.8 @ f6.3 1/500 ISO2000 EC+.67

The above buck was one of a pair that we found in one of our favorite spots.  I followed the two through the woods for a couple of hundred yards as they fed along. the second one is below and I believe I photographed him last fall in the Meadow.  He has distinctive brow tines.

Photogenic One

Nikon D4 Nikon 300f2.8@ f6.3 1/400 ISO1000 EC+.67

One doe and fawn spent quite a bit of time in front of me and actually almost walked right up to me. 

Curious Deer

Nikon D4 Nikon 600f4 @ f7.1 1/400 ISO1000 EC+.67

Until Next Time

Jim Borden

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Shooting the Moon

Nikon D4; Nikon 600 f4@ f4, 1/60s, 200 ISO

I have always enjoyed observing the moon and stars and quite often I have taken pictures of the full moon.  Last evening I decided that the crescent moon deserved a chance.  The first image was taken in good light at about 7:15 PM.  I was in the house later and looked out and saw the crescent glowing orange just before it dropped below the horizon.  I could not resist capturing it.  I had to use higher ISO to keep the shutter speed up to avoid movement and to also avoid getting earth and moon movement.  The trailing edge is ragged looking due to the environmental effects of diffracted light as it was close to the horizon

Nikon D4; Nikon 600 f4@ f4, 1/80s, 10,000 ISO

Until next time

Jim Borden