I caught a FB post that said a pod of transient (Bigg's) Orca were going under the Narrows Bridge headed north. I grabbed the camera and headed out.

After about an hour, a group of 9+ individuals came through, including one calf!

But this year, they came back! And, I'm pleased to say they were successful, raising two healthy chicks.

Dad making a bug run

Coming back to the nest with a spider

Mom showing up Dad by catching an enormous dragonfly. She tried to give it to one of the chicks, but it was too big. So, she ate it herself.

"Branching" is when chicks move from the nest to a branch in preparation for eventually fledging.

These chicks were quick studies as one day they were branching and by the next, they'd fledged and flown to the next tree over!

Of course, both parents kept a watchful eye for some days to come.

I recommend selecting the option to view at 1080p - once the video is playing, hover over the lower right area of the video and select 1080p from the drop list. You can also choose to view full screen.

Buen Camino!

Music: Cafe Mocha, Jesse Cook

I set off to Anahuac NWR, a favorite spot, for an early rail walk. I was able to see my "lifer" Black and Yellow Rails - yay! Photos of those weren't happening but after the walk I drove the auto tour route. I caught sight of a couple of King Rail. And, they weren't alone. They had three fluffy black cotton balls following them!

Rails are generally very skittish. But this family was very tolerant of my rolling bird blind (car). I watched them for about 30 minutes as the parents hunted, caught crawfish and fed them to the ravenous chicks who followed and occasionally imitated their parents behavior. It was something really special.

On my March trip to Botswana, one of the memories that will forever stay with me is the time spent with these lions, a mother and her two year'ish old female cubs. I hope you enjoy the shots.

Who knew a big stick was such a great cat toy?!

Playtime!

Sisters

A stick!

Mom

Sibling snuggles

...you shout "No way!", share your excitement about a rare bird with your spouse who looks back at you like you grew a third head

...you bring up a map and giggle with glee that it's only a 2.5 hour drive

...you rise at 0-dark thirty and consume two caffeinated beverages within an hour of hitting the road

...you walk 20+k steps and climb the equivalent of 48 flights of stairs looking for the bird

...you spend ALL day 1) waiting for the bird to show up then 2) waiting for the bird to return to get photos

...you are still smiling the next day at what you saw

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the way out of range, female Elegant Trogon of New Braunfels, TX (2/5/18)! Low light so a bit of ISO noise, but what a treat!

Flicking tail

Vocalizing

Bug snack!

Pretty bird!

Note the white eye mark.

Batting eyelashes (actually, she's looking for bugs).

Here's to another year of adventure, memories and pixels!

The show finally arrived last night. While you can't take in a big camera, cellphone pics are okay. Thank you, TSO, for that!

True showmen and amazing talent!

Can't wait to see YOUR birds!

Joy & Peace this holiday season,

Kirsten

Alas, our magical winter wonderland was very short-lived.

As a child, I fondly remember watching glass blowers create shiny beautiful paperweights at the Corning Museum. As a young adult, I bought my first piece of art glass at Corning's store - a cattail and dragonfly piece by Victor Meyer.

So when I was recently in Seattle, I made time to visit the Chihuly Garden. I could have spent all day there. It's so beautiful. You should visit.

Yesterday, there was a BioBlitz, a day devoted to biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within the area. We still birded but we also ran around photographing plants, insects, fungus and everything that would stay still long enough. I can't wait to find out the results of the effort!

I was also reminded how difficult it is to photograph on a bumpy moving steam train!

Sunspots

"Totality" - 67% in Houston

Composites

If you'd like a guide to maximize your time and photo targets, contact Daniel Dietrich at Point Reyes Safaris. You will not be dissapointed.

California Quail

American Badger

Bobcat

Jackrabbit

Western Gull

Tule Elk

Fancy chess pieces in the Rosenborg Castle museum in Copenhagen, Denmark

Iris Blooms in Copenhagen, Denmark A look up within the Spilled Blood Church in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It's all mosaics!

Loggerhead Shrike

Blue Jay

Carolina Chickadee

When I last visited, only one owlet remained. The other had fledged and flown off. Owlets tend to remain in the nest area for a while, so there's a chance I may get another photo or two.

What a thrill it's been to watch them grow!

I'd signed up for few photo sessions and given myself plenty of time on my own to push myself "out of the box" photographically.

I think I had some success!

What do you do to shake things up for yourself?

Some Bluejays came by to squawk at them; they didn't like that very much. I wouldn't like it either.

I named the female owl "Minnie", so I guess you can call these guys Mini Minnies!

Some of my favorites spots are:

• Santa Ana NWR
• Estero Llano Grande SP
• Edinburg Scenic Wetlands
• Hugh Ramsey Nature Park
• Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Some of the "Valley Specialties" you may see:

Common Pauraque Curve-billed Thrasher

Olive Sparrow Plain Chachalaca

Great Kiskadee Long-billed Thrasher

White-tipped Dove Green Kingfisher

What specialty birds have you seen in Texas?

We had access to a small but impressive collection of maps, covering 400 years of Texas history.

And, there was the "Mummies of the World" exhibit. Wow, just wow!

Egyptian objects A baron who must've really loved his boots! This Peruvian mummy - I was captivated by how the mummy seemed to be smiling but the reflection was entirely terrifying. Honored ancestors A family of mummies - I won't give the story away! And, after all that, I strolled through Wildlife Photographer of the Year and was impressed and humbled.

Hope I'm in town for the next Pixel Party !

~ Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, October 2016

Your photos are all grain because of the moisture in the air. The Burrowing Owl you went to find is not there. You've seen photos/heard tales of a Merlin that likes to perch on a post, but with the luck you're having... You are seriously bummed out.

I almost drove past him. I had about 30 seconds before he flew off.

Day redeemed. All is right with the world.

There was ice in Port Aransas, TX (near Corpus Christi) on Saturday morning; I had to give up on one birding spot due to heavy wind plus freezing temps.

Sunday morning was 10 degrees warmer. I was headed out on a boat in search of Whooping Cranes. It was a clear, beautiful morning, albeit a bit windy still. The light was amazing. And, two cranes foraged quite close to the Skimmer. It was worth the windburn.

Whooping Cranes

American Bittern

Green Heron

Here's to another year of adventure, memories and pixels!

More photos the next day. Hmm...

More photos a couple of days after that with a note that, "it shows up nearly like clockwork on the hour." Hmm...

I wake up at 5:30 am, toss the binocs and camera equipment into the car and set off west. Destination - Crescent Bend Nature Park in Schertz, TX.

It was dark. "This is a long drive for a bird," my mind tells me.

It gets lighter and at some point the sun rises behind me in my side view mirror. Vultures rise and swirl. Crested Caracara chase each other. My mood improves.

I arrive at the park around 9:15 am and the birder folk tell me the bird is around. Excellent!

15-20 minutes later - there he is!! This is one of the most stunning woodpeckers I've seen. It's a hybrid cross between a Red-naped Sapsucker and a Red-breasted Sapsucker. Camera drives are clicking furiously. The bird stays maybe a minute. We "ooh" and "ahh", congratulate each other on the sighting and show off some shots.

A couple of people must leave and a seat opens up in a good position for when the bird comes back. I sit. It's a chilly day and very windy. The north wind is blowing in my face and I'm only wearing a light sweatshirt over my shirt. I'm cold. But I am not giving up this seat. The bird will return.

Other birds visit the water and seed occasionally. Two hours pass and I'm mentally questioning if the bird is coming back.

"There he is!" I hear. And I realize I'd been hearing him for a few seconds not knowing it was him. Cute sound, almost kitten-like. This bird is pretty AND adorable. More clicking of shutters. For a second he stops on a horizontal branch. Perfectly. My brain is screaming, "Oh, please. Please, let me get this shot."

I walked around the park for a bit then visited a second nearby birding location before heading home.

It got darker and at some point the sun set behind me in my side view mirror. Vultures settled. Crested Caracara chased each other.

What an amazing day!

Don't worry, the video is only a sample of what I saw, not all of them! ;) Just two songs worth.

Can't wait to see what birds reveal themselves in 2017!

OK then!

Why do I go back again and again? It's simple - IT'S MAGICAL!

Here are some shots from this year's Nuremberg to Budapest adventure.

You never know what might be out there, so take your camera everywhere!

Palm Warbler Sandhill Cranes, affectionately referred to as the "Air Force" by my mother White-tailed Deer Little Blue Heron White Peacock Whooping Crane (rehab bird) Royal Terns having a chat Black Skimmer Migrating Monachs The aptly named, Fence Lizard

Fiery Skipper

Long-tailed Skipper

Painted Lady

Buckeye

Gulf Fritillary

Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak

Monarch

Giant Swallowtail

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did!

10/1/16 Balloon Glow at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Hot air balloon ---> the bigger the balloon the better!

There used to be an annual balloon festival near the Space Center here in Houston called "Ballunar Liftoff", but it ceased operations.

Ballunar Liftoff

I was scheduled to take my first ever hot air balloon ride over Bagan in Myanmar a few years back. I arose at the appointed hour very excited. We waited and waited and waited, only to find our launch was cancelled due the presence of a big-wig politician. Grr!!

But, this is my lucky week, I hope. I'm headed to Albuquerque's annual Balloon Fiesta. And, weather-willing, I'll be Up Up and Away this weekend. Wish me luck!

The photo is a focus-stacked composite of eight individual images with some foreground lighting on the flowers.

But, then it got dark and I ventured off to do my own thing. I experimented with long exposures, then with HDR long exposures. I ended up learning a few things.

Message of the night - Stay open to possibilities. Push through and try!

The entry

Internal views

A panorama

The original shots (sky, land, water) before compositing and processing:

Night sky post-processing can be laborious but I think the results are worth it!

"Smith Rock Sunset"

Stars, milky way, etc. photos to follow!

"Shall We Dance", a portrait of two Green-breasted Mango hummingbirds interacting, was taken this past spring in Costa Rica.

I booked a 2005 fjord cruise on the now-retired Cunard QE2, round-trip Southampton to Southampton.

QE2 exuded history. She also had no stabilizers, making crossing the North Sea rather interesting! Grasping the ropes, we made our way to dinner the first night to find that our table was in the restaurant's smoking section. Ack! I'd not been given an option at booking.

The next morning before lunch, I went to the restaurant to see if we could be re-seated in non-smoking. The gentleman was happy to oblige and handed me a slip of paper with the new table number. As I was walking away, he called me backed and asked to confirm the number of my party was "Two, correct?" "Yes, two." He retook the slip of paper and wrote in a new number. I thought nothing of it.

We arrived to dinner the second night and met our table-mates, all lovely wonderful folks enjoying a holiday. Then our table host arrived. Table host? Why do we have a table host? "This is the Captain's table." What?! How awesome is that?!!

We were at this table the duration of the cruise, each night hosted, wined and dined by a different ship's officer. This stuff does not happen to me so I guess it was my mother's first-time cruiser good luck. Thanks, Mom!

One dinner we were joking about wanting to push the noon-time horn. A couple of days later, we found ourselves on the bridge doing so! This was post-9/11 and a special treat as large cruise ships do not generally allow passengers on the bridge. Here's Mom steering the ship.

Another night we had pre-dinner cocktails in the captain's quarters before dinner.

Some very special memories were made that cruise. Very belated thanks to Cunard!

Click the photo below to proceed.

Have you tried Spark yet?

I immediately researched birding day trips and connected with Birding Africa. They were quick to respond and had very good reviews. I booked two day tours (one land, one pelagic).

As misfortune would have it, my flights were delayed such that I was going to have one less day in Cape Town. Birding Africa to the rescue!

I expressed that if I could choose one trip over the other, I'd really like to take the Hottentots Holland land tour. They contacted the guide and moved the trip a day later - all of this occurred far past business hours and with sincere concern for my desires. What customer service!!

My guide, Campbell, picked me up promptly at 6:45 am from Simon's Town and off we went. First stop was Rooiels. We quickly found one of my target birds, the beautiful Cape Sugarbird.

A bit later, the fabulous Cape Rockjumper

and Orange-Breasted Sunbird.

After a couple of hours, we moved on. Along the road we found a perfectly perched Rock Kestrel.

We enjoyed lunch at the Harold Porter Botanical Garden cafe then hit the trails. I need to revisit this location. Not just for the birds, but the trails. It's a beautiful spot.

At the gardens, I captured:

Swee Waxbill

Cape Batis

And, Karoo Prinia

We swung by Rooiels again on the way back and picked up a couple more lifers, including Yellow Bishop.

Then we drove the coastal road back toward Simon's Town.

The perfect end to the day arrived when we spotted an early Southern Right Whale lolling in the bay. He waved a flipper in greeting!

It was a very full day during which I tallied nearly 60 life birds. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and Campbell's guidance.

If you have birding desires in and around Cape Town, do contact Birding Africa!

King Penguins

Afraid? No.

Do I feel a bit out of my element at times? Yea. But, that's a good thing. And, I am cautious and aware as warranted.

Unless you are solo hiking in remote areas, you're never really alone when you're traveling. I often meet a group for a tour somewhere and, if not, there are people everywhere. I'm an introvert, but I still meet wonderful and interesting people (like some of you reading this!).

I can't imagine not having had the experience of:

• Crossing a landslide on foot and being stuck in a Land Rover in the middle of a river in Tibet
• That time at a hoop retreat in Bali that I ended up at a house party where Ganga Giri was playing in the living room
• Food: the wonders of the best steak ever in Tokyo and the horrors of yak butter tea and that weird dried cheese in Bhutan
• Drink: seriously good wines all over the world and <hint> don't try to keep up with a Mongolian drinking vodka
• Sunrise at Angkor Wat
• Sunset in the Serengeti
• Giving myself a black eye at the Dead Sea
• Wildlife - lions and tigers and bears and birds and, and, and!!!
• Land, sea and sky
• The list is endless...

I promise - the more you travel, the easier it gets and less foreign it seems. And, if we haven't yet, I look forward to crossing paths with you some day.

I likely won't be posting on this blog much for the next few weeks, but I hope to be able to make quick posts on Facebook or Twitter.

Africa bound,

Kirsten

I am the Black-billed Nightingale Thrush. I can be found in Costa Rica and Panama.

Listen for my song - https://macaulaylibrary.org/audio/209445.

Well, of course I do!

Eared Grebe

Abert's Towhee

Bridled Titmouse

Williamson's Sapsucker (female)

Olive Warbler

So many birds, so little time!

Care to guess how many dust spots I edited off these photos?! Packing the camera bodies up for cleaning as soon as I finish this blog post...

If you'd like to order a print, rest assured it won't cost you a $million. <wink>

The Desert Spiny Lizard who suns himself atop a shrub.

The Greater Earless Lizard standing guard at Tuzigoot National Monument.

And, (my favorite) this horned lizard (a.k.a "horny toad") that we were super lucky to spot yesterday along Hanging Garden Trail in Page, AZ. I think it is a Desert Horned Lizard.

My list for northern Arizona is about 25 species long. I've spotted and photographed 10 birds off the list as of today. Here are a few representatives:

Red-faced Warbler Juniper Titmouse Plumbeous Vireo

Lucy's Warbler

Western Bluebird

More to come of these little devils plus I hope to get caught up on photos and posts from my Costa Rica trip last month. Stay tuned!

Firsthand, I repeatedly witnessed a heart-breaking scene - Sandhill Cranes smoking corn stalks!

What's next?! Corn stalks are surely a gateway drug.

If you see this behavior, or behavior such as tossing of corn cobs and debris, document it. We can't help if we don't study and understand this problem.

Happy April Fool's Day!

The landscape is just gorgeous! (Although, the wind was a bit nuts...)

Lots of critters, too!

Feral Piglet

Golden-fronted Woodpecker Rufous-crowned Sparrow (a lifer for me!) Bewick's Wren   Greater Roadrunner Ring-necked Pheasant

Bison, Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas

"Atop of Osorno, all covered with snow.

I lost my poor lens cap; know not where it go.

Fell out of my pocket, and onto the ground.

And now my poor lens cap, shall never be found."

Osorno Volcano, Chile ~ January 2016

But that does not mean they are alone. Hortense and Mr. Hooty are nearby.

This morning, the bobbles were sleeping in but I spied Hortense in a tree to the west.

AND, Mr. Hooty in a tree to the east. Isn't he handsome?! Such a treat to see the whole family.

Big Yawn!

Mom's Away. Let's play!

So I pulled over, walked up to the base of the boulders and began to "pish". Up popped this little fellow. He sang twice, fussed a bit and then disappeared behind the rocks again.

If you've never heard the call of a Canyon Wren, you are missing out. Listen here.

Tonight I had a "Wild Kingdom" moment. For those too young to know what that is, think of a "National Geographic" moment.

I was watching Hortense (yes, I named the owl... don't judge) hoping for something exciting. I was rewarded SO SO greatly!

First, I discovered an owlet!

Then after watching a while longer to see if there was more than one owlet (I'm still not sure), the male owl stopped by! I was so excited I was going to burst. I snapped photos furiously. But, it was getting dark (high ISO) and I was hand-holding at 400mm.

So friends, I share with my you my grainy masterpiece of the family.

Anyone want to lend me a 500mm lens for a while?. <wink> 400mm is not quite enough.

"Oh, you're back again with that camera. Lucky me."

This morning they had a surprise for me - 6 fluffy new chicks! I will call them the "Jellies".

Spring is definitely here.

Happy Superb Owl Sunday!!

On a recent cruise, we ported one day in Stanley (an interesting place in it's own right!). I'd booked an excursion with Estancia Excursions (top notch company, by the way!) to the Rockhopper Penguin and Imperial Cormorant colony at Cape Bougainville. We met our driver, Nobby (fabulous driver and great guy), and headed out. We drove a long way on paved road, then a long way on gravel, then a long way bumping along the boggy ground (thank you 4WD!).

Wow, was it windy! But I forgot about that VERY quickly when I saw what lay before me. It was heaven watching the cormorants courting and nesting, the penguin chicks creching and the adults waddling about, the sea lions being sea lions and all the other wildlife (hares and birds galore!).

This was one photographically productive (long) hour! I'm still smiling three weeks later. That's how much fun I had.

Upland Goose

Sea Lions

Imperial Cormorants

Rockhopper Penguins

Here's to the folks and fauna of The Falklands! I'll be back.

I recently took a cruise vacation in South America. While I wade through the piled up "pays the bills" work and photos to edit, I share with you "The Fludgling."

The peeping was close - very close. But, WHERE on earth was that bird? I looked in the trees high and low. I took a step back to look harder; I looked down when I did. And, there was little Fludgie. He looked too small to already be out of the nest but I soon saw a parent near by.

Note to birder self and others, look down more often!

P.S. - it's a Rufous-collared Sparrow chick.

Here's to another year of journeys, memories and captures.

I've put together a sampling of the many birds I've seen and photographed this past year.

How many can you identify?

Enjoy!

The quality is not what I'd normally like to achieve in low light, but I try to remember that this kind of thing was impossible just a few years ago.

Oh, and the concert? It ROCKED! "TSO! TSO!" Anyone know how to get me a press pass so I can take real photos next year?

What a treat it was to watch these wonderful birds!

Share a photo of your cherished or favorite ornament(s)!

Twinkle, twinkle..

Houston will always be "Space City"

Under the Sea

Don't forget to enjoy the carnival activities!

Should you decide to take in the lights yourself this Thanksgiving weekend, save 15% off tickets purchased for November 25-29th using the code “MAGICAL15”. Offer valid online only.

There wasn't much time for photos but I squeezed these in. I also took a bird walk in Central Park (thanks Birding Bob!) and saw a great show (Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder).

Who doesn't love New York?

Behind Penn Station

Lovely sunset building reflection

Grand Central Station

"Let's Sit a Spell" (Central Park)

Autumn Leaves in Central Park

Photographers from the Houston area, including Houston Center Photography members were treated to two hours of inside access in the "Out of the Amazon" exhibit and the Hall of Ancient Egypt. The only rule? No flash. Works for me!

So many beautiful feathers in the Amazon exhibit.

And, there's always something new and interesting in Ancient Egypt.

$14.99 each plus shipping. Contact me at [email protected] .

What's a photo ranch? Across Texas ranches are setting up photo blinds. Some ranches also offer lodging and meals. Photographers like Ruth shoot and lead workshops at the ranches. My workshop was a one-day shoot offered as part of the annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival.

There's a lot of waiting involved; you're on the bird's schedule. It's a large ranch; the birds have a lot of territory and options. And, for a while, a Cooper's Hawk plants himself in a nearby tree and scares off the birds - that is, until the Green Jays gang up and chase him off.

But, the sunken photo blind I'm in gives a unique perspective and there's a lovely soft background to work with.

Long-billed Thrasher Black-crested Titmouse Green Jay (you know I love Jays, right?) Olive Sparrow Northern Bobwhite

I'm looking forward to doing another photo ranch trip soon. Who's with me?

On the final day of shooting at the Summit Series nature photography workshop, I had the privilege of shooting with him. He's a genuine guy and a pleasure to learn from. He took us to some of his usual haunts in the Tetons. Even did a little unplanned 4x4'ing! Wildlife was scarcer than usual but we found some bison in lovely tall grass (think about your backgrounds!). 

The workshop also gifted participants with a copy of Tom's most recent book, "The Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek." It's a beautiful piece of work. I had mine signed, of course!

You can get your own copy online or at an upcoming book signing. 

I never made it to Yellowstone.

Late September 2015 - second attempt. Success! I had three marvelous days in Yellowstone (not enough for this amazing place!). One of my must-see destinations was the Grand Prismatic Spring.

Most people see the spring from the boardwalk. It's interesting; it's nice.

But, if you want that classic view, you're going to have to climb for it.

Drive down the road a bit further to the Fairy Falls trailhead. Hit the trail. Go across the bridge and after a ways, you'll see a couple of rough trails up the hill to the left that overlooks the spring. It's rocky and a little steep but quite doable for the generally fit. And, it's SO worth it!

If you are up for some more walking after Grand Prismatic, complete the full Fairy Falls trail. It's about 5 miles RT and quite flat and easy with a lovely waterfall at the end.

I've never been that close to a non-captive bird. It's possible it was a rehab bird and is rather used to people (it was banded).

What a rush to spend a full 10 minutes watching and photoing this magnificent hawk!

Cooper's Hawk

My favorite hike was Mills Lake. If you've ever seen the back side of a Colorado quarter, you've seen Mills Lake!

The hike is moderate, a bit over 5 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of about 800 feet. The incline is very gradual and pleasant.

The Approach to Mills Lake

If you plan to take in some RMNP hikes, you need to know about this website - http://www.rockymountainhikingtrails.com

So much useful information!

Other tips for enjoying park hikes during peak summer season:

• Go early! The parking lots fill by 8-9 am.
• Go early if you want that peaceful serene experience. I started hikes by 7 am and was on my way down when everyone else was going up. It was perfect!
• Go early! It's cooler.
• Pack water and snacks.
• Don't feed the critters.
• Breathe in that mountain air.
• Listen to the sounds of nature.
• Really look at where you are - it's amazing!
• Be ready to answer "How much further to the lake?", the mountain equivalent of "Are we there yet?"

My 2nd favorite hike? The Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake and Haiyaha Lake circuit.

Colorado did not disappoint me in this department.

Gray Jay

Black-billed Magpie

Clark's Nutcracker

Stellar's Jay Which jay or magpie is your favorite?

Lest you think I only shoot photos of critters, here are some other things that caught my eye.

The approach to Mills Lake

A partially-submerged fence at a farm pond Rocky Mountain wildflowers

Daisies in the rain

Mule Deer

Yellow-bellied Marmots (I love to say "Yellow-bellied...")

Mourning Cloak Gray Jay (he'll steal your lunch if you are not careful!)

Where did you escape to this summer? I'm making a list for future "avoid Houston in August" years. :P

Here's a few things I saw during my first week:

American Three-Toed Woodpecker

Green-tailed Towhee Great Plains Toad

Squirrel! (Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel)

Say's Phoebe

Cooper's Hawk

Steller's Jay (juvenile)

What - you've never been either?! Head on down a bit before sunset. Peer under the bridge at the bats as they stir (you may need to hold your nose and wear a hat...). Soon enough they will start to fly out. There's a lot of them so it takes a while. And, if you are lucky, you'll see some hawks out for an evening snack of fresh bat!

After the sun goes down, take a selfie at the "dandelion" fountain, gaze at the moon, then head to the Chocolate Bar for ice cream.

To encourage the return of local fauna, Kleb stopped allowing dogs in the park about a year ago. One of the recent park visitors is a grey fox. I'd heard tell of it's regularity, so I stopped by this afternoon. As I wandered about, I heard someone calling my name alerting me to the animal (thanks, Linda!). 

There it was! Eating bird seed. I guess when you are hungry, you are hungry! And, the birds didn't seem to mind.

It struck a quick pose and was off for an evening stroll.

What adventures have you had on a suburban safari?

Killdeer are precocial - "hatched or born in an advanced state and able to feed itself almost immediately."

You have photographic expectations when you book this kind of trip. You want the perfect polar bear shot, the perfect puffin shot, the perfect walrus shot, the perfect iceberg shot. Many of your wishes will be fulfilled.

Some wishes will not come to fruition. There have been no great icebergs. And, we’ve aborted our visit to East Greenland due to early and lasting sea ice that even a nuclear-powered ice-breaker would find challenging.

Things not possible also occur - a landing on the island of Jan Mayen, located between Svalbard and Iceland. The island has 18 residents, primarily Norwegian military manning a weather station and various other technological stations. The post is highly coveted; the current commander is serving his 13 months on the island as his pre-retirement wish. There are just a handful of days when “Mr. Handsome”, Beerenberg, the volcano tips his hat to reveal his full glory. The day we visited was such a day. Yes, those are glaciers running down the side of the volcano!

Some wishes are yet but dreams of future days… Here’s to the perfect puffin shot to come!

Part of the horror of traveling is seeing how other cultures do things.

Electrical pole in Kathmandu, Nepal, circa 2010.

We passed a military transport of the happiest and friendliest troops I've ever seen.

I need to revisit Bhutan soon.

Another spot that will take your breath away is the Taj Mahal. I expected great things, and it was so much more. The first glimpse through the door is something I'll always remember.

Oh, and visiting Mount Everest. That one takes your breath away quite literally!!

Where have you had your "Take My Breath Away" travel moments?

Below is the result of that latter process - 187 exposures, 22 seconds each. I've applied a "comet" effect in Photoshop by grouping exposures and graduating the opacity of the groups.

How do you prefer to do your star trails?

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the Goldpaint Photography night sky workshop I attended in Moab, UT.

Processing night sky photos takes time - a lot of it! Photoshop turns out to be a time suck. :P

Here is my freshman effort at a full Milky Way panorama over Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park.

And, the best part? I know how to do it even better next time.

This photo is dedicated to a most dedicated mentor and teacher. Thanks, Brad! Congrats on your upcoming nuptials and adventure honeymoon!

Last Friday afternoon I was visiting Lora's Blind at South Llano River State Park near Junction, Texas (a marvelous park for birds by the way). The blind was a little slow, so I turned my attention to the Ladder-backed Woodpecker I could hear behind me. What I saw stopped me in my tracks. It was leucistic! What a find.

The opposite of leucistic is melanistic. Now to find a melanistic bird!

For example, Painted Buntings. They are flying rainbows!!

Mother Nature is fickle. Except for a few hours here and there, the weather did not cooperate. I managed this shot an hour or so before we were driven off of Delicate Arch by a thunderstorm (some day you should ask me to tell you that story...)

Sadly, we never really did see the Milky Way that weekend.

Fast forward to 2015. This past weekend, I tried my luck again, having signed up for an alumni only class. Once again, it seemed Mother Nature was not gonna let it happen. BUT... Brad always suggests you arrive a day early and leave a day late to allow for weather issues. That extra night/following morning at the end of the weekend did the trick!

Sleep deprived and elated, I caught this group portrait under the moonlight with the Milky Way over Landscape Arch in Canyonlands National Park, UT.

I have many more photos to process and will share them with you soon. In the meantime:

• Do you find yourself gazing at shiny objects in the night sky?
• Are you ready to learn night sky photography skills?
• Are you ok with being a little short on sleep, maybe a little cold and sometimes unsure of your footing (and sanity)?
• Do you like to drink fresh-brewed hot chocolate, coffee or tea in the middle of the night/morning while in the company of like-minded photographers just like you?

Then sign up for Brad's newsletter so that you'll be among the first to know about his 2016 workshop offerings!

Happy Earth Day!!

Here are a few photos from this past weekend's trip.

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl Scissortail Flycatcher Bronzed Cowbird

Cotton Rat

Buff-bellied Hummingbird Common Pauraque (with her two little ones) Spiny Lizard Olive Sparrow I plan to return to the Valley again in the fall for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. Who else is going?

Click play on the sound bite link here to hear it yourself. Pretty unique sound!

At this time of year, every couple of weeks the parks hosts a Friday morning bird walk. The walk is free (although you must pay park admission if you don't have a Texas state park pass. You don't have a state park pass?! You ninny! Go get one - now! But, I digress...). Walks start at 8:30 at the 40-Acre Lake parking area. Birds you may see this time of year include:

Tricolored Heron - I'm not sure what he caught here; maybe a tadpole?

American Bittern - this is one of THE parks to see this bird. I believe this specimen is perfecting moves for a "Dancing with the Stars" audition.

Little Blue Heron - he's not blue, you say? Well, he'll grow into it.

White Ibis - "I wonder if this is edible?" Ultimately, he decided it was not and dropped it.

Cute little Barn Swallows - who doesn't like Barn Swallows?

And, the park is home to many many wonderful alligators, deer and such.

Tomorrow's weather should be fantastic in the Houston area. Why not go to Brazos Bend?

P.S. If there's a gator on the trail (it happens a lot), walk BEHIND it. ;)

There are nifty things on the ground, too, like this Wolf Spider that I saw carrying her egg sac yesterday. Such pretty eyes!

When the babies hatch, she'll carry them around on her back until they are big enough to go off on their own.

Have you seen anything interesting on the ground lately?

"The Reunion" - Great Egrets are actively nesting at the Smith Oaks rookery at High Island.

""Incognito" - what Great Blue Heron?

'Sweeping Up" - an Avocet sweeps the sediment in search of a snack.

"Skimmers, terns, godwit..." - what else can you ID in this crowd?

"The Poser" - this Reddish Egret was fairly tolerant of my pursuit.

Now, I await the influx of spring migrants!!

Before the trip, I was leafing through my copy of "The Birds of Costa Rica." When I saw page 265, I thought, "I *really* want to see that bird!" Our guide said they were likely near Arenal volcano. I crossed all my fingers and toes.

And... they were there!

These birds ooze personality and are so curious. Some built nests. One near a lunch spot swiped a packet of mayo off the table. They watched us nearly as much as we watched them.

I saw many many birds on this trip - over 70 were lifers! But, these guys stole the show.

I also saw a Resplendent Quetzal in the Monteverde Cloud Forest! A "holy grail" kind of bird. Wish I'd gotten THAT picture, but he flew away too quickly. Guess I need to go back to Costa Rica soon. Oh, darn!!

Sometimes your photo model wakes up on the wrong side of the bed.

Snow Leopard, Feb 2015

Percy, the Eastern Screech Owl

Juliet, the Barred Owl

Tskili, the Great Horned Owl

Skeeter, the Mississippi Kite

Spirit, the grande-dame Red-tailed Hawk (she's 30 years old!)

Cairo, the Peregrine Falcon

Or, Luna, the adorable Swallow-tailed Kite (I admit, I fell in love with her!)

These presentations are an amazing opportunity to get up close and personal with owls and raptors and learn more about them. Why not contact Mary Anne Weber or Vicki Stittleburg at Houston Audubon (713.640.2407) to schedule one today?

Many thanks to my spouse for supporting my very out of the way side trip! And, a hearty "Good to see you again!" to fellow photographer Scott Paine who I was able to reconnect with while there.

The calm before the liftoff:

Pre-liftoff:

The landscape:

A Greater Roadrunner who seems to be very late for an important date. Why do I love roadrunners so?

A friendly deer:

The stealthy Junco. They don't look stealthy, but they are!

Do you notice a theme in the color tone of the location?

Last month, I grabbed a friend for a 4-day whirlwind Christmas Market extravaganza in Münich, Stuttgart and Nuremberg, Germany (my all-time favorite market) and Innsbrück, Austria. I was even lucky enough to connect with my brother for a day in Stuttgart.

The Christmas season in Bavaria is magic to me. Maybe I see it with rose-colored glasses, but it's so traditional. Church bells, organ and choir concerts. Socialization and family are key. The food! Oh, the food, especially the sausages. Freshly cut trees and evergreens. Glühwein, that marvelous spiced wine elixir flows and keeps the chill at bay.

Come to the markets with me in 2015? I'd love to show them to you. I even speak a little German. ;)

Most days I see Osprey at this park. Two were flying rather far off together so I waited for them to get closer to take their photo. When they were near, I realized that although the osprey were about, the pair I was presently tracking were not osprey at all!

Mr. & Mrs. Bald Eagle gave us quite a show, flying about 8 feet overhead (too close for my long lens!). What a treat!

I did find the grebe, too, but it was rather far out in the lake.

I am woefully behind on processing photos from November and December, and I've been neglectful of this website.

While I wade through the photo flood waters, here's a few photos from my holidays.

Happy 2015 everyone!!

The museum most graciously invited photographers to a Pixel Party yesterday to view and photograph the exhibit. There are, of course, several Faberge eggs! But there are also some very special and unusual items. Drop by the museum to see them yourself.

I took a trip to Attwater yesterday. I walked a couple of trails and took the Auto Tour. The place is a-buzz with sparrows, caterpillars, butterflies and dragonflies right now!

While I didn't see a Prairie Chicken this trip, I have seen them three times. Once during the refuge's annual festival (each April). A second time during the refuge's annual bird count (each December). And third, on the refuge's monthly free van tour (call to register; generally the first Saturday of the month).

This refuge is free, folks! Step outside and go visit. They also have nice informational displays in the visitor center.

Even if you don't see a prairie chicken, you'll see sights like this:

The Texas Renaissance Festival is full of magic, music and adventure. If you've never attended, you should! It runs weekends through Thanksgiving.

It was a dikdik. I got one shot off before it bounded away. Who knew dikdik alarm calls sounded like sneezes?! He's a link to a YouTube video of something similar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vk4jd0bt6Q

"Mingi" children are considered cursed in their Omo Valley communities. If allowed to remain, they may bring drought, famine, disease or death. Tribes such as the Kara and Banna have now ended the killing of Mingi, but superstition and fear remain in other tribes.

This beautiful girl is Mingi.

During my recent visit to Ethiopia, we visited Omo Child, an organization dedicated to saving, housing, feeding and educating Mingi children and educating communities to end the Mingi practice.

Our group was moved to support this organization's mission. Should you be interested in learning more, visit http://omochild.org/ .

Super cute Ethiopian kittens! Interested in using this photo as computer wallpaper or in print? Email for pricing.

Case in point - On the first full day of our Ethiopia photo tour, we visited the National Museum of Ethiopia. We toured the museum plus got an insider view of areas not open to the public. But, the icing on the cake was Lucy. Yes, THE Lucy. As an undergraduate student in Anthropology, I'd studied Lucy and related hominids. 

We were taken to the museum's third floor, through a locked corridor, through a locked door, and there she was! On a conference table - no barrier, no glass. Full access to one of the most important and well-known hominid fossils. How amazing is that?!

Tomorrow, we are off to the north to take in the historic rock-cut churches of Lalibela.

Girl of the Mursi People

But, Mother Nature had other plans most of that week - nightly clouds and rain. Ahhhhhhh!

As I make my way through the photos, a few silver linings (like these) are emerging, though.

Stay tuned for more.

If you've never been, you are missing out on good people, good wine, good hiking and some outstanding opportunities to be in nature.

Need some recommendations? Give me a shout out!

A Cedar Waxwing collecting berries for her young along the nature trail at Cranberry Pond in Braddock Bay on the shores of Lake Ontario:

Sapsucker Woods, home to the Cornell University Ornithology Lab - fledgling Cedar Waxwing and a chipmunk:

Buck Settlement Cemetery along the Finger Lakes Trail:

And, my favorite spot - Watkins Glen:

Houston Audubon will be hosting 3 more similar viewings in the coming weeks - click HERE for more information.

I took a brief video with my phone.

Now, I've been to Rodeo (note the capitalization) in Houston. It's a big affair, lasting weeks and rivaling Mardis Gras. Really!

Local rodeo, though, is very different. And, on this Fourth of July, I can't think of anything more patriotic to share.

Kid events:

Big kid events:

I'd never photographed a sporting event before, so this was both a treat and a challenge. I can't wait to do it again!

And, don't forget to amble over the the Blue Moon Nite Club after the rodeo ends. Thursday is karaoke night! You might be invited to do shots with the locals. And, if your pal chats up the owner, you may get invited to see the family trophy room. They are serious hunters!

Have a safe and excellent Fourth of July!!

And, the opportunity came. This cat was a little timid but oh so beautiful. Someday, I hope to see one in the wild. Until then...

Stay tuned for many more photos from this amazing workshop!

Find the Columbian Ground Squirrel easily near Lake McDonald Lodge in Glacier National Park. They sound a lot like birds when they talk.

Happy Sunday!

I sometimes entertain myself with my iPhone camera; I'm usually disappointed in the results. But then I took this photo of my cat, Kolya, last week. The sharpness at such close range really surprised me! I may need to experiment with the phone some more...

P.S. - if you are wondering, he's a Siberian (not Maine Coon).

Enjoy the shiny eye candy!

But, this past Tuesday I found not one but TWO cuckoos in Galveston willing to give me a few seconds. Love the polka dotted tail! And, I just noticed the warbler photo bomb. Ha!

Now to find a Black-billed Cuckoo...

Here are a few photos from the event.

It's Spring and the gators are a courtin'.

Imagine a slew of gators posturing (see below) and singing/snoring/bellowing to each other across the marshes. "I'm here! Look at me. What do you say to a date?" Quite the musical interlude!

The next field trip is 2/22 to Sheldon Lake State Park. Want to join me? Registration opens 2/1.

I found this flock, nearly acting like starlings, a couple of weeks ago.

On April 21, 1836, General Sam Houston and the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army in a fight that lasted 18 minutes.

We got on the road early yesterday to check it out. As promised, she was easy to find. I can't wait to go back in a few weeks and see the chicks!

The Attwater Prairie Chicken is an endangered subspecies at this refuge, which as luck would have it, is just an hour away from my home. I'd never seen one before yesterday. And, we saw SIX of them thanks to a bit of luck and and a Fish & Wildlife intern named Justin. Thanks Justin!

We piled out of the bus, crossed the road, tromped across the field and started snapping. The Burmese can sometimes be shy, but they are always gracious. Few refuse photos. (Sometimes they even ask for your photo with them!)

The men sang while they winnowed by hand and gave us a good-natured show. They laughed as we stooped under the peanuts and debris raining down to get "the perfect shot."

The ladies kept the men supplied with the work. This lovely girl is covered from the sun and wearing thanaka, a traditional Burmese cosmetic. The watch tucked into her hat is pure charming!

~ at Mount Popa in Myanmar.

Who knew Asian elephants had freckles?!

Pretty Bird

Case in point, this photo. While I'm sure this photographer got stunning photos of the pronghorns we were watching, he totally missed this lovely rainbow!

Grand Teton Rainbow

If you are wanting to see some stunning eye candy, I recommend you look at the work of conservation photographer, Michael Forsberg. Michael was my favorite instructor at the Summit.

This photo of Oldupai Gorge in Tanzania is for them - thank you!!

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Yes, the sunsets really ARE that amazing...

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