The Carolina Wren featured in "Some Elements of a Good Photo" signaled the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency. But, it didn't know about the Delta variant and the return to mask mandates. The Common Yellowthroat never has to give mask mandates a second thought. It's forever attired in a black one. I wrote … Continue reading A Tale of Seven Birds
Category: Osprey
A Game-Changing Bird Photography Camera, Part Two
Let's take a quick break from reviewing the Canon EOS R5, and let's look at some more "signs of spring" photos. These were grab and go, but they're fun and they highlight what's going on in the bird world in early April in SE Virginia. In order, there's a Yellow-rumped Warbler molting into breeding plumage, … Continue reading A Game-Changing Bird Photography Camera, Part Two
A Game-Changing Bird Photography Camera
We continue our review of the Canon EOS R5, which we began in "From Birds to Photo Gear." The EOS R5 and its less well-appointed sibling, the EOS R6, were recently introduced. We'll touch on the camera's eye detection ability and its high-resolution sensor. Please keep in mind that this isn't a professional review. It's … Continue reading A Game-Changing Bird Photography Camera
From Birds to Photo Gear
Some of you enjoyed my reference to Joni Mitchell's "Chelsea Morning" in "The Birds of Spring." And you also enjoyed the photo of the Ospreys there. I often think about Joni's song when I head out with my camera and it's the kind of morning where the sun is giving everything it touches a butterscotch … Continue reading From Birds to Photo Gear
The Birds of Spring
Many of you enjoyed the Carolina Wren sound recordings in the last blog. I love recording birds and listening to the results. But I especially enjoy looking at the spectrograms, where I can "see" the sounds and learn more about them. Birds' songs and calls are a lot more interesting and complex than many people … Continue reading The Birds of Spring
New Beginnings
We ended "A Late Winter's Tale" with a joke book recommendation. BTW, I hope some of you ordered Wayne's book. We'll begin this one with an edited/accessorized version of a photo that appeared at the end of "Finding Humor, Finding Birds." One of the wonderful things about digital photos is that you can alter them. … Continue reading New Beginnings
Bird Notes
No doubt, some of you have Green Heron fatigue. I understand. But I need to share a few more photos with you. Please bear with me. This is a young bird getting ready to leave for the winter. As I understand it, the bird is headed for a small lagoon in Punta Cana. The bird … Continue reading Bird Notes
Birds Haven’t Changed
It's interesting, but one of the many coronavirus pandemic outcomes seems to be a renewed interest in nature. Just ask a Virginia birder who reports that trails she's always had to herself are now congested. Or ask a Maryland birder who finds her usual "haunts" filled with too many people. There are many possible reasons for … Continue reading Birds Haven’t Changed
The One Constant
"There are 2 things I can't imagine being without: birds and music. OK, there might be a 3rd: potato chips." I jotted those words down in my journal a while back. It's fun and important to write things down. But what I wrote there doesn't reflect how I rank the things that matter. Religion, which … Continue reading The One Constant
Bird-Related Grace
Before I begin, please note that some of what follows might be a little obscure unless you're familiar with my previous 2 blog posts. It's funny, but as a writer, albeit a middling one, I feel something of an obligation to blog more often now, if it means providing my readers with a little more … Continue reading Bird-Related Grace
Elizabeth River Bird Blog 