Pintail visitor

 After the 3rd weekend storm this month, decided to go down the shore to watch the goldeneyes and mallards as a light snow fell.I was very surprised to see a pair of pintails fly by and pitch in with the mallards.
 As I sat behind the ice clumps the pair swam by a few time unaware of my presents.I was fortune to listen to them whistle at each other as they followed the mallards.Pintails are rare around these waters so I assume the storm brought them in,hopefully they'll return this spring again.

male pintail in flight

Pair of Pintails

Male Pintail floating in the ice

Pintail playing with Mallards

Barred Owl

  After the last visit to the old apple orchards and coming across a great horned owl.I decided to head back in search of him again.When I approached the orchards I spotted an silhouette in the branches,as I edged my way towards her I realize it was a barred owl.
  While I watched her rest I wondered if I would ever get this close again,so I sat and enjoyed our time together as we made eye contact she did not seem threatened by my presents.
  As I hiked back to the trails I ponder what could await me the next time I enter the woods.Guess that why I love hiking in with the camera and spending time in nature.

Barred Owl checking on me

Barred Owl enjoying nice day

Great Horned Owl

 While out hiking came upon a great horned owl sitting in some old spruce trees.After the surprise of shooting him,as he left I finished my hike checking on an old apple orchard and reliving what just happened and how  I should of done things differently.To my surprise when I returned back the owl had returned to the same area resting further up in the branches I watched him for about 1/2 hour as he watched over the the ravine before darkness chased me out of the wood.Here are few shoots of him,hopefully will have better luck this evening.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl stare down 

Sushi For Birds

  Over the past month while out shooting I've been trying to focus on catch the birds feeding.The start I was lucky enough to pass a loon feeding near and old wharf which gave me a good hiding spot.               

 

A few days ago we had a snow storm which brought in a few birds close to the shore where I set up a few ice clampers to hide behind and had a few red breasted merganser feeding on sculpins while a seagull tormented them to his success.

stolen meal

snowy dinnertime

 The next morning I returned to the shore watching a few common goldeneyes,while I was shooting a goldeneye feeding on a sculpin to my right I was startled by a splash,as I turned I seen a eagle raising out of the water with a cod in his talons.This really pleased me but unfortunately drove all the birds away. 

common goldeneye with sculpin

eagle with cod

 Hopefully with the ice moving in I have better chances to get out and catch more birds feeding near the shorelines.Most photos were taken with the Nikon d90 and Sigma 150-500 hand held.