Category Archives: Uncategorized

Happy Birthday America

I took this image of the then Freedom Tower crane right when they started construction. It has become a constant reminder for me of the friends I lost and the families that were touched on September 11. Its a shinning beacon that reflects all those souls that lost their lives that day.

World Trade Center Crane (previously freedom tower)
World Trade Center Crane (previously freedom tower)

Every time I speak to a Vet they remind me of one very important lesson that cannot be said enough, Freedom is not free.

Image captured with Nikon D2x on Lexar Digital film.

More Maine

Thank you for the kind words about the images I made while at Pemaquid Lighthouse in Bristol Maine. I promised a few more when I had time to sit down at the computer and process some more images. It feels like the weekends are the only time I have now for working on my images. Here are two more Lighthouse shots.

Pemaquid Lighthouse at Sunrise
Pemaquid Lighthouse Reflection

I also took the following 2 images that I really like while at Boothbay Harbor. We were trying to photograph a famous lighthouse named Cuckolds Lighthouse but the location of the sun just wasn’t right so we had to settle on finding other subjects.

Boothbay Harbor Sailboat
Colored Sea Weed/Grass

Images Captured with Nikon D3x, 70-200 VRII and 200-400 VRI on Lexar Digital Film

Mallard Ducks

I have been stopping by Greenwich Point in hopes of finding some birds. The incredibly warm weather seems to have changed the feeding habits of what I would have considered common shore birds and even backyard feeder birds the last few weeks.

Mallard Drake
Mallard Hen Doing the Shake
The Happy Mallard Couple

My schedule the last few weeks also hasn’t helped me be in the right spot at the right time when photographing birds. Sunrises have not been kind and when they are good, they don’t seem to match high tide which is important on the coast of Connecticut. At many of the beaches and parks that allow public access (don’t get me started with that one), low tide could mean you are several tens of yards away from the birds. Unless you are using the Hubbell Telescope, you won’t have enough glass in that situation ;-).

Images captured with Nikon D700 w/600mm f/4 and TCe-1.4 II on Lexar Digital Images

Monday Musings – What Seed is in Your Feeders?

As a follow up to last weeks post on the current configuration and layout of my Backyard Bird Photography Studio, I wanted to let you know what kind of bird seed I was using and why.

Tufted Titmouse Working Over a Seed

Frankly, I have followed a different feeder seed approach this year. Last year I was faced with an interesting dilemma. When I filled the feeders with seed on Sunday, they would usually be empty by Wednesday. Given that I leave the house early and come home late each night, the lack of seed would force the birds to look elsewhere for a food source and subsequently effect my viewing options for the weekend.

This year I tried a combination of 3 different feeding options in an attempt to ensure access to food all week. In the ranch feeder and the squirrel buster, I use Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) Choice Plus Blend. This is the seed that seems to go the quickest and is usually gone by mid week. In the large perch feeder I use WBU Safflower Seed. My local WBU store made the comment that birds look at the choice blend as dessert and safflower seed as salad bar! The benefit of this strategy is that the safflower seed seems to make it through the whole week, providing some food source for the birds when the more desirable choice blend is cleaned out. The third source of food I provide is suet. I place one in a cage on a dead branch that the tree clinging birds seem to love and one goes in a cage attached to the ranch feeder. So far I have found most birds really like the suet with berries and nuts in them, more so than bark butter. This combination seems to keep the birds around all week and provides a food source for a longer period of time, something that is important in ensuring the birds can get food consistently during the winter.

As for why I use WBU seed, the answer is simple. While expensive it does seem to be fresh and better quality compared to the big box store brands. I will also tell you that I don’t see the birds tossing out a lot of the filler seed with WBU brands like they do with the big box brands. I believe that when you take into consideration how much seed the birds throw away when using the cheaper brands, the cost difference between WBU (they don’t use filler seed) and the cheaper brands is not that far apart.

Hey Connecticut Birders, Come Join a Bird Walk in Wilton

For those of you who are Facebook members, check out Birders Who Blog, Tweet and Chirp. They are organizing a bird walk starting in Wilton, CT in 2 weeks. You can find out more information here: BwBTC.

House Finch Taking Some Sun

I have followed their page for a while and the people involved seem to be really nice, friendly and helpful birders. I have learned a lot from them. I hope to see you there and look forward to making some new friends!

Image captured on Nikon D700 w/600mm f/4 and Tce 1.4-II on Lexar Digital Film

Bird Land!

I have a trip to Florida coming up. Florida has a special place in my heart, it is a place I hope to explore more thoroughly in the coming years. Its rich in wildlife and easily explored.

One of my favorite birds to photograph are laughing gulls. Florida is the laughing gull capital of the east coast 🙂

Laughing Gull Preen at Sunrise
Laughing Gull Glide
Laughing Gull Checking Out a Fisherman

I have a host of new places to explore and new bird species I would like to photograph. It will be a challenge given the migration has started so I will be in between some bird movement but I look forward to sharing with you what I learn.

Have a great weekend!

Images captured with D3x and 70-200 VR I on Lexar Digital Film

Can They Really Fly?

Ha! Thought you were stopping by to look at some interesting bird I photographed didn’t you? I had the pleasure of volunteering some time for the wonderful actors and actresses (my daughter) at New Canaan High School as they prepared for this weekends performance of “Peter Pan“.

The dress rehearsal I attended was first class and the kids are sure to please anyone who attends. You can click on the “Peter Pan” link here or above to be brought to the website for the show which includes ticket information and show times.

What a great way to kick off the holiday weekend with family and friends!

Note: Peter Pan will be performed Nov. 18, 19 and 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the NCHS auditorium.Tickets will be on sale in the New Canaan High School lobby from Mon., Nov., 15 through Fri., Nov., 19 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and an hour before showtime.