Tips and advice for getting great wildlife photos
I’m amazed at how fast the chicks grow! Another busy day for mom and dad, delivering groceries. I cut some brush along the road this afternoon. Dad watched from the power lines above me and I apparently turned up several tasty morsels – he was quick to swoop down and claim them.
I haven’t forgotten the loons. The Middletons have mated and selected their nest site. They’ve even moved some vegetation around near the nest. I’ve been over every morning since Saturday, just way behind on editing the photos. A post with details on the Middletons and their pond mates coming soon.
We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes. We occasionally get some pixelated frames in the video, I think that is a WiFi issue. A new WiFi repeated is on the way.
The chicks look like they’ve doubled in size. Both parents keep busy providing food. With the warmer weather, I’ve been on the deck more. Mom has always more or less ignored us on the deck. She’ll come in, land on the perch I planed about 20′ from the box, make a quick check then head directly into the box.
Dad does a Mission Impossible thing on his way in. He’ll land on the perch or the deck roof. After a look around, he’s likely to dive into the azalea bushes in front of the deck, then onto the deck railing or roof, then onto the nesting box roof before ducking in. We’ve never been able to catch such a crafty fellow.
We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes.
Mom and dad bluebird have both been busy hauling groceries in to the chicks. The chicks have learned to open wide when they think they hear a parent approaching.
There’s a smudge on the camera lens, maybe a bug, maybe debris. Unfortunately, it is dead center on the nest. We’ll have to live with it, I can’t get at it to clean it until the birds depart.
We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes.
We’ve got four bluebird chicks. As of late Saturday evening, the fifth egg has yet to hatch. Here’s a good clip showing mom coming and going. Both parents are busy hauling groceries in.
There’s a smudge on the camera lens, maybe a bug, maybe debris. Unfortunately, it is dead center on the nest. We’ll have to live with it, I can’t get at it to clean it until the birds depart.
We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside to let us watch without disturbing them. The camera switches to black & white in low light. And, the exposure control stinks, that’s why it washes out or goes black as a bird comes or goes.
The forecast for this morning called for rain. I happily planned to sleep in. Owing two huskies often thwarts such plans. When I let them out, there were stars to be seen. There was a thick fog over the Connecticut River, but clear skies above. The Middleton’s – the loons that live on the pond between the other two ponds – pond is a few hundred feet above the Connecticut. Hoping for some mood shots, I packed up and headed out.
I’ve been back to the Weston’s (the loons to my west) pond three times since failing to break through the ice on the 17th, and finally managed to get photos of them. Along with some of their pond mates.
Before we get to the photos, is there anyone interested in a trip to see the puffins on Machias Seal Island? A friend and I made reservations out of Grand Manan Island for the trips on July 28 & 29. She can’t make it, I’m hoping to find a new sidekick to come along. I can get away a few days before if we want to explore anywhere along the way, but I have to head back promptly after the trip. Send me an email if you’re interested.
I ventured out to the Weston’s pond on the 20th and again the 21st. Both afternoons had a brisk breeze. The loons were out on the main body of the pond and the waves ruined any chance for good pix of them. I spent some time poking around the marshy coves.
I’ll be giving my slideshow An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon at the Morrill Memorial and Harris Library in Strafford, Vermont, Thursday April 26 at 7:00.
We had a foggy and dreary morning here on the hill this morning. None of us was in any real hurry to get up and about. Including Mrs. Bluebird. She got up, looked out and went back to sitting for a few minutes.
The chicks should hatch between May 5 and May 10.
We’re watching eastern bluebirds in a nesting box with a camera installed inside. We can watch without disturbing the birds.
Mrs. Bluebird waited for me to start to post that she had started sitting on four eggs when she surprised me. She ventured out of the box and there’s a fifth egg. She spent the night sitting on the eggs last night, that starts the clock on incubation. The chicks should hatch between May 5 and 10.
We’re watching eastern bluebirds raise their family in a camera equipped nesting box. We can watch without disturbing the birds.
Our bluebirds caught me off guard this spring. Their cameras have been acting up and not sending notifications when they’re in the box as they should. It has been on my list to figure out why, but I hadn’t found the time. Yesterday, I went to show a friend the live feed and discovered Mrs. Bluebird laying her first egg. I was able to get the video running this morning to catch her laying a second egg. Mr. Bluebird makes a cameo, delivering a snack.
Loons have returned to our local ponds. The Westons – the loons on the pond to my west – were spotted a week ago on Monday, April 10. The Middletons – the loons on the pond between the eastern and western ponds I’ve been following – showed up Thursday, April 13.
In other news, our bluebirds have been around the yard regularly. Their camera is supposed to send me a notification when they’re in the box. It hasn’t been sending notifications and has been on my list to fix for a time. Yesterday I went to show off the live feed and found Mrs. Bluebird in the box.
On Friday, I tried the Middletons’ pond. Two loons were foraging together for a time before preening and settling in for a nap.
I hope to follow the loons on the same three ponds that I have been watching again this season. You can keep up with their adventures by subscribing. And, if you know someone who enjoys wildlife, please share the blog with them.