I must admit that my new Canon 500mm L lens is causing me to take a Staycation this week. Enjoying the lull of business due to the holidays, I’ve been playing hooky all week traveling around the area looking for birds to capture.
I started by stalking Hooded Mergansers in a nearby pond at Kinder Farm Park. Naturally, a Great Blue Heron was stoically standing by keeping watch on the pond.
Hooded Mergansers
Great Blue heron
The next day tucking the big lens into my little Minicooper, I headed down to Annapolis to search for ducks at Thomas Point Park . Overlooking Thomas Point Lighthouse, the park was strangely quiet. Even though it was 35 degrees out, I had properly bundled up and excitement was building. Birding is like being on a treasure hunt. Alert eyes and ears are needed to pinpoint any movements or bird calls. And as a new birder, I only recognize the birds that are in my yard. Capturing new birds on film is only half the fun, the other half is trying to figure out what they are.
At Thomas Point Park, I hit the duck bonanza !
Mallards
Greater Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Lesser Scaup
So excited about my finds at Thomas Point I decided to head north in search of more of our feathered friends. Arriving at Fort Smallwood Park on the Patapsco River, I quickly saw a nuthatch – no photo as my CF card was full. But the ducks were ever-present, along with this ring-billed gull
Ring Bill Gull
Then the treasure of the week appeared. I was slowly trolling back out of the park and I saw a flash of red in a Sweetgum tree. I had heard rumors that White-Winged Crossbills had arrived in Maryland which is a rare sighting. Could it be that they are here? Why yes ! Crossbills are one of the more fascinating little creatures that Mother Nature has created.
White Wing Crossbill
White Wing Crossbill
My third outing took me out to the Eastern Shore for a visit to the Pickering Creek Audubon Center near Easton, Maryland. They had posted on facebook that shovelers were there, and I wanted to add to my arsenal.
Along the way I had stopped to check directions and looked up into the sky. THOUSANDS of migrating birds dotted the sky scape. They were Snow Geese that were traveling southwest on the search for good feeding grounds. Never have I seen a full migration like this and it was such a stunning sight to see. Honking as they flew by high in the sky. The 500mm lens was too detailed to show how the geese overwhelmed the sky.
Migrating Snow Geese
Greeting me upon arrival at Pickering Creek was this Red Shoulder Hawk.
Red Shoulder Hawk
I walked on the trails for a bit, but saw that the creek had frozen over. No ducks were in sight, just some Canadian Geese near the center. So I walked slowly back in the woods and captured these woodpeckers.
Downy Woodpecker
Red Belly Woodpecker
On my way home I decided to first stop at Kent Island to see what I could find in the waterways. Something is better than nothing, and I found these American Coots, and Buffleheads.
American Coot
Buffleheads
My last stop for the day was at Sandy Point State Park, seeing Buffleheads, Greater Scaups and who knows what else far in the water, I went in search for closer game. Near the boat launch I discovered these Ruddy Ducks.
Ruddy Duck
Of course, the obligatory Great Blue Heron standing sentry over this Belted Kingfisher.
Belted Kingfisher
All in all, it was a fantastic birding week. I managed to find twelve new species for me and had plenty of practice with the new lens. Now is time to set the lens beast away for the time being. I’m heading to Florida next week and will be traveling with my 100-400mm lens. I’m hoping to sneak off to capture some Florida birds while I’m there. Happy Birding! Bella
Categories: Annapolis, Birds, Foot Prints, Nature, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
wonderful photographs!
Thank you so much Vicki. I thought you might enjoy these
Great depth-of-field in those C-U shots. Nice series of frames, Emily.
Thank you so much Tom. This series does show me that practice does make me a better photographer. A few years from now watch out national geographic!
wow, wonderful detail, color and compositions here… what a treasure trove.. very nice job,, totally jealous of the 500mm by the way! congrats….
Thank you so very much Sally.
You are welcome! Maybe since we are so close we can hook up some time !
That’s a great idea! When I get back I’ll touch base
Looking forward to your posts from FL..
You can’t go to Florida and not take that 500 ..
Not this trip as its really a working trip. April will be fla with the big boy.
Very nice photographs. Thanks for sharing. And congratulation with your 500L.
It is my pleasure David. So happy you enjoyed these photos. Yes the 500 is awesome.
I also love to photograph. But I only have one great bird photo 😉
Kind regards
David
Keep trying David and the photos will come. Of course stalking them for hours helps. 🙂 Dig around for my bald eagle pics, you’ll love them too.
There’s so much life in your photos. Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much. We are fortunate that there are people with foresight to preserve natural areas for these birds to feel safe in. While at the Audubon center Hunting season was in full swing and you would believe how many gun shots I heard.
We live is a world of colour, light and beauty. You have captured it all….
The little treasures that Mother Nature contains on this planet is truly amazing. It really is a treasure hunt to try to find them to enjoy their beauty. Thank you so much Rebecca.
Wow, these are all magnificent!! I especially love the red belly woodpecker 🙂
Thanks Judy ! I tell you, that woodpecker shot was a lucky shot. I couldn’t really see what he had in his mouth until I came home and cropped it. If it wasn’t for that huge lens, I wouldn’t have captured it. They still aren’t “perfect” but not bad with handholding 11 pounds.
Wonderful photos! I enjoyed seeing some new waterbirds through your lens. Great post!
It is my pleasure to share these with you Tricia. What a fantastic start to a new year. I never knew so many ducks existed. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting. Look forward to seeing you back soon. Bella
Great photos! It is hard to pick a favorite but I love the red headed woodpecker and the Kingfisher. Are you able to hand hold your lens. Is it a must to use a tripod? Thanks.
Would you believe I was handholding the lens? It’s tough, and thank goodness I’ve been lifting weights. I figure if I shoot with it regularly without a tripod I’ll get strong enough to not move on the shot. 🙂 The Bald Eagle shots were all on a tripod.
The King Fisher was a lucky shot as well. The 500mm zoom really helps.
Those are some amazing photographs! I really need to do some serious upgrading of my equipment.
Thank you so very much. Perhaps this post will tempt you to do so. 🙂 Have a great day!
Boy did you get variety and beautiful shots of some gorgeous creatures. Your 500mm is really getting a workout. Love your photos.
Since you had asked, there was no way I wasn’t going to share my finds from this week. This post is for you, and true..the 500mm was working hard this week. I put my big baby away last night 😦 On to different things. Thank you for your kind comment.
A great week in birds! The photo of migrating snow geese is so bright, and the first image of the two Hooded Mergansers is just lovely. Love the two of these especially, but they are all great.
I wish you could have been there with me to experience the Snow Geese migration. It was so moving seeing the sky filled with migrating geese. The “V’s” kept transforming and colliding. Thank you so much for your kind comment and I’m so happy you enjoyed these.
Seriously impressed! Fun, awesome shots, and skills are rapidly improving. Yay you!
Thanks Janet ! As an objective eye, I appreciate your comment. I’m trying hard to improve. 🙂
Wonderful birds and wonderful photos… 🙂
I knew you’d love all the ducks Drake. They were all wondering where you were. 🙂
🙂 😉
You’ve gone to the birds! We love ’em! 🙂 🙂
I really have…it’s become an obsession which really isn’t a good thing.
Wow, you really have some real treasures here. BEAUTIFUL photos! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much Susan..I’d almost say that I’m well on my way for a Big Year.
That’s a funny mental image, the thought of your 500 crammed into your Mini! Lol
It’s so true Rick. It’s too big for the passenger seat!
Fantastic series Emily! Loved the buffleheads! Loves the mergansers! Loved the kingfisher!
Aw heck, loved ’em all! You gave the new lens a great workout and came back with killer shots!
Thanks Phil. I love my new lens and am missing it so much here in Florida. There are so many birds here! You would have loved being on Paynes Prairie today. Your favorites were there.
Wow! In just one week, it’s easy to see the improvement you made with your new equipment. Gorgeous shots. Almost makes me want to go birding. 😉
Thank you so much! All those hours stalking the bald eagles really taught me a lot. Still have so much more to learn.
omg you’re a pro birder! so lovely, all of them….
Well, you are sweet, but not yet. Baby steps my dear.
I suspect if I had a lens like that, I would be doing the same. Great work, you have out done yourself Emily.
Thank you so much Leanne ! it was a super birding week. This week I was using the 100-400mm L and really noticed the difference. But it’s easier ot travel with.
Great shots Bella and congrat’s on the new lens. You’ll have lots of fun with it. Your 100-400 won’t be the same.
It is so true Tim. But the 100-400 is still a keeper for traveling. I am spoiled with the 500mm. But I don’t think I’m up to laying down in mud flats for hours like you do. I’m always so impressed that you do that, and your photos are spectacular for it.
Fantastic photos. And I’m so jealous . . . you have a 500mm lens. 🙂 I have a 300mm which is fine a lot of the time, but there are times when a longer lens would be helpful. And thank you for stopping by my blog and for connecting me with your beautiful blog.
It’s a pleasure to meet you as well. We’ll have great fun sharing stories. 🙂
Quite the good day, I would have been so wound up if I had found all of them in one day!