New Post Coming Soon!

I'm in the process of editing photos from our summer adventures and some great wildlife shots from work.  So...expect a new post soon :)

Critters Around the Water Hole

I bagged some great images on my last trip to south Texas.  With the dry year, all the creatures are congregating close to water making for some great shots...and also making it a little easier to find them.  Click on any image to start a slideshow...

It's all about the water!  The critters below were all photographed within close range of windmills - the only source of water on many south Texas ranches.  During drought conditions, they rely exclusively on windmills for the precious water they need to survive.

Black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) - Although jackrabbits get most of their water from the plants they eat, during extremely dry years they need supplemental water and can be seen regularly close to windmills.

Texas Indigo Snake (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus) - Juvenile indigo snakes are often seen close to water and love feeding on other snakes and frogs.  This one was crossing the road within a few yards of a windmill trough.

Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) -  I saw a number of Harris's hawks hanging around in the shade near water.  They seem to like the convenience of being close to water and likely catch unsuspecting prey coming to drink as well.  They are often observed hunting in pairs or groups, flushing prey out to one another and taking turns chasing it.

Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - A small white heron often seen with cattle or horses.  They seem to be more at home on pastures and roadsides than in water, but I've observed them preying on frogs near water tanks and ponds.  

Overall...great June trip to south Texas.  I got a ton of work done at the ranch and had some time to shoot a few photos while I was riding around.  Things were drying up and temps were hitting triple digits, but rain showers in the weeks before my trip had kept things greener than expected.  And, although drought conditions are stressful on wildlife, it sometimes makes finding and photographing them easier.  Knowing where to find subjects during seasonal shifts in range can be invaluable for a wildlife photographer.

I'll be shooting around my home in Oregon for the next couple weeks, and then heading back to south Texas...so I hope to have more photos to post soon.

Until next time...

Randomness...

I thought I'd post a few photos from the last couple months.  My mind is feeling a bit random today...so there's not really a theme...other than I like these!

 Scissor-tailed flycatcher focused on a beetle

 Song sparrow on flowering red currant

 Tulips down the street from my house

 Awesome grass with seeds in a field

New life after the fires in Circle D

Until next time...

Back to Bastrop

Well we haven't been to Bastrop in a while.  Last time I helped my mother-in-law clean up her burned home!  The fires were devastating to the area...but many folks are rebuilding and moving on.  I'm anxious to see the site where our home once stood and to see the new life I know is sprouting from the ashes by now.

Burned Mary Jpeg - Shot this last time I visited my mother-in-laws place.  This statue was one of the only things left standing at the property.  The photo captures the eeriness I felt going back for the first time after the fires.

Oregon Zoo

We took a little trip across town...actually only 15 minutes...to the Oregon Zoo a couple weeks ago.  It was really cold but the exhibits were still nice and most of the critters were up and about.  And the coffee and hot chocolate made it a little more pleasant!!

I didn't have the 200-400mm zoom with me so all shots were taken with the D300s and 18-200mm zoom. Click on any shot to get the enlarged slideshow.

Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus)
The wolf photo is my favorite of the trip.  He just hangs out like that for hours and the pose just happens to make a nice shot with the colors this time of year...

African Lion (Panthera leo krugerii)
This large lioness kept coming over to the glass and licking it.  She was looking at me and then decided to show her chops.  Made for a neat shot...

Caracal (Caracal caracal)
These feisty little guys were the coolest cats we saw.  They were so lively, jumping and chasing each other all over the enclosure.  Then they decided to climb the rock wall behind them and disappear.  They normally range over western and south Asia and Africa...they seem to like Portland as a second home.

Golden-breasted Starling (Cosmopsarus regius)
I wasn't planning on bird photos on this trip...but this one kept flying in front of me and posing.

Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
I love this shot...it's almost hard to tell it was taken at the zoo.  I could have been hidden behind a rock on a mountain stream and seen this guy drinking just like this!

So thanks to the Oregon Zoo for a nice visit.  A nice way to spend a chilly afternoon...just don't forget the warm drinks!

Until next time...

Brad

PHOTO OF THE WEEK!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK - Birdwatching Magazine

I'm honored to have this photo chosen as Photo of the Week by Birdwatching Magazine.  They receive hundreds of submissions each day and decided this one was the pick of the week!  I guess it's a very appropriate photo for Halloween week!!

Until next time...have a great one!

Fall Feathers

On the weekend of my sister's wonderful wedding I got a chance to get some closeups of a few songbirds at Bubba and Shirley Cameron's bird feeder.  We were there to clean up after the festivities...but I took some time out and grabbed my D300s and set up for a few shots.

Click on any photo for a larger view.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 

 I love this shot...the colors and subject just make me happy!!

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

 These small passerines are sometimes hard to photograph.  They flit around from limb to limb and before you can focus...poof, they're gone!  I watched this one land on the same limb three or four times...so instead of following his path around in circles...I focused on the limb and waited for him to land.  It worked...and I love his attitude in this shot!

Juvenile Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

 I like this shot because the juvenile male isn't quite as brilliant as most cardinal photos you see.  His unique grey and the pose made the shot for me.

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 

Another shot where I focused on a limb and waited for the cardinal to come back.  Sometimes shooting in a back yard can be just as rewarding as being out in the woods...and just as challenging!

Thanks again to the Camerons for letting me capture some great images (oh...and letting Britt get married) at their place!

Until next time...have a great one!