Great Horned Owl

Nikon D4 600F4 with 1.7 TC @F8 1/1250 ISO 1000 +.67EC

I am usually not a fan of using Teleconvertors on lens as it normally softens the image.  I did not have much choice tonight as I did not want to disturb this owl and it was all open ground between it and me and a stalk was pretty much out of the question.  I switched to using Auto ISO with ISO200 as minimum and ISO 10,000 as maximum with threshold shutter speed of 1/1250s. 

Until next time

Jim Borden

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Puffins and Razorbills-machias Seal Island

Atlantic Puffin-Full Frame!!!

On July 9 I took the Bold Coast Charters trip to Machias Seal Island 10 miles out into the Bay of Fundy off the coast of Maine. Captain Andy Patterson made the trip very enjoyable.  It was a bright sunny day which made photography challenging-but careful study of the birds from the blind allowed the capture of pleasing images of Atlantic Puffins, razorbills and Common Muir. 

Cutler Harbor-our ride the ship Barbara Frost is the white one in center

We met in Cutler harbor at about 7 AM and were transported by Captain Andy in a skiff to the Barbara Frost.  The seas were still as we left the harbor and headed out to sea. 

Light House at mouth of Cutler Harbor

We passed a little light house as we left the harbor and headed into open sea.  

About 45 minutes latter we arrived at Machias Seal Island.  the Island is only about 15 acres and has a light house on it an individuals that study the birds.  We saw shearwaters, arctic terns, harbor seals, Atlantic Puffins, razorbills as we approached the island.

We were transferred to the ramp in the background by skiff from the Barbara Frost.  It was a pleasant ride with calm seas.  We were greeted by one of the research scientists that lives on the island.  he gave us an overview of how the viewing works and briefed us on the etiquette to be used during our stay.  The island is a nesting place for the Atlantic Puffins and so the desire is that we make the most minimal impact while we are there.

We were separated into groups of three to four individuals and we were guided to blinds such as the one pictured here.  we were allowed 1 hour in the blind.  Our viewing and photography was done out the little windows in the blind.  The Puffins would flush as we approached the blind and then about 5 minutes after entering the blind they would return to the rocks and to the roof of the blind. Short lenses were the choice!   My 300 f2.8 gave me plenty of opportunities for head shots and it was tough to get any full body shots with that lens.  I put the 70-200 on and then was able to get some shots of the whole bird.  We saw Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and Common Muir.

Due to the time of day and the high sun I had to use care in position of the Puffin to prevent harsh shadows and blow out of the white. 

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Until next time

Jim Borden

Summer Time Moose in North Maine Woods

Sunset on Remote Lake in North Maine Woods

I spent 10 days touring Maine starting with some lighthouses along the coast and then moving to Machias Seal Island by boat to photograph Puffins.  After that I met up with photographer friends Mark Picard, Anita Mueller and Chris White and we traveled into the North Maine Woods to photograph birds and Moose. We stayed in cabins at a remote lake and traveled the lake and river by kayaks to view moose, waterfowl and warblers. It was a very good time and we saw numerous moose. 

Bull moose feeding 

We saw this moose on our way up the river and the sun was in our faces. He spooked into the thick brush and we passed on by.  We waited and watched up river and then just before fit started getting dark-we traveled down the river and found him out feeding. Photographing Moose in the remote Maine North Woods is different than photographing in the Baxter Park vicinity.  The moose are skittish and spooky as they are truly wild animals compared to the human acclimated animals in the baxter area. This moose eventually spooked when my kayak slid over a grassy bog causing a scraping noise on the body of the kayak.

Cow and Calf Moose in Morning Golden Light

This cow moose and calf spooked a few times but kept coming back into the water until they finally figured I meant them no harm.  I really enjoyed listening to the little guy "squeaking" at the cow moose. 

This is the same bull as the first shot-but was when we were approaching him as we came up river and the sun was in our faces. i had to adjust the lighting in Photoshop to overcome the back lighted conditions.

We saw a number of adult male and female loons but only one pair with a chick.  Here is an image of mom and baby. 

Until next time

Jim Borden

More Warblers

Chestnut Sided Warbler

We did more birding along the Pine Creek valley two weeks ago with friends from Connecticut.  We had a great time and the warblers were very active. The weather really cooperated. Our friends are fairly new to birding and they got to see a number of birds that they could add to their life lists.  The above Chestnut sided warbler was the best of that species I have ever gotten.  This image was almost full frame in the 600 lens. 

Magnolia Warbler

Once again the area that we often see Magnolia Warblers had a number of them calling and flitting around.  They are a very pretty bird and have a beautiful song. 

Black and White Warbler

One swamp area that we visit often has many Black and White warblers.  we were not disappointed on this trip as four of them entertained us. They creep up and down trees much like the brown creepers. 

Barred Owl

On our first evening of the trip-we went to one of my favorite spots for owls and Joan and Kim were both able to capture awesome shots of a Barred Owl.  there were three of them there and two of them were having a fit about the third one being there-it was fun to watch and listen to. 

Cedar Wax Wing

We had a half dozen Cedar Wax Wings flying round at one spot that we went to bird. They look like bandits.

Black Throated Green Warbler

On our last evening there we went back to see the owls but they were not there.  However, a Black Throated Green Warbler was there.  Since it was getting dark and we were under heavy evergreen cover, I borrowed Joan's Camera and Long Lens to get this image as my camera can not push the ISO as well as her's without getting digital noise that make s the image unusable.  This image was taken at 6400 ISO. 

Until next time.

Jim Borden

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Pa Grand Canyon

The Pa Grand Canyon is one of my favorite places to visit whether it is spring, summer, fall or winter. It takes me back in time and refreshes my memories of the outdoor lessons taught to me by my grand father and father. The above image is actually a composite of 25 individual photos taken at Leonard Harrison Lookout.  The shots were taken from a tripod and 5 shots were taken at each position due to the lighting that day.  The tripod head was rotated to overlap individual views so the panorama could be made.  The composite file is 396MB and the native print size is 20 inches by 60 inches and will print up to 40 inches by 120 inches.  We are going to print and frame one at 20x60.

 I look forward to going back in the fall and winter to repeat the process.

This view of the canyon is missed by many.  It is along the west rim looking north, but one has to leave the vehicle and walk to this look out.  It is my favorite view of the canyon as it shows the meandering Pine Creek and the rail trail as well as the structure of the mountains and leaden valleys.


Until next time


Jim Borden

Warbler Migration Time

Magnolia Warbler

Joan and I enjoy spring.  It is a refreshing time and it is also a time when new life comes to the fields and woods. We look forward to little outings to listen to, view and photograph the warblers.  We had a great week in the Pine Creek Valley of North Central PA last week.  We enjoyed birding, kayaking and fishing and we were also treated to the annual insurgence of yellow swallowtail butterflies. 

The Magnolia Warbler pictured above likes marshy areas and seems to like coniferous trees.

We always enjoy hearing the Black Throated Blue Warblers along the rim of the Pa Grand Canyon. This tiny bird is hard to spot but sure has a hearty song.

Black Throated Blue Warbler

The bushes along hedgerows and the shrubs and bushes along Pine Creek and the Pine Creek Trail seems to be filled with the Common Yellow Throat and the Yellow Warbler. 

Common Yellow Throat

Yellow Warbler

The young sycamore trees along the Pine Creek Rail Trail at Rattlesnake Rock abounds with American Redstarts.  Below is a female American redstart.

Female American Redstart

The Northern Mocking bird is a sassy bird and it carries on forever with its mimicking songs

Northern Mockingbird

The little Black ad white warbler is a joy to listen as well as watch go up and down trees-it was once known as the Black and White Creeper. 

Black and White Warbler

The butterflies are always a joy to watch flit from flower to flower.  It is often hard to get images of them that are large enough to print as large prints.  Using a 600 F4 lens with three extensions tubes on it allows to stay back far enough not to scare them-yet close focuses so that a sharp image can be achieved. 

yellow swallowtail

Until next Time

Jim Borden

Spring Warbler Migration

It is that time of year again that many of us look forward to.  The songs of birds filling the air and the springing of vegetation.  The spring warbler migration has begun in outs area.  Over past two days we have seen many White Crowned sparrows, song sparrows, chirping sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, Brown Thrashers, Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows and Carolina Wrens.  We will be working hard this week so that we can take off the week of May 13 for sping birding

Enjoy

Jim Borden