Category: Birds

Birds Going About Their Daily Lives

by Earthwatcher, posted in Atlanta, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Earthwatcher, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, raptor, Roswell, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Red-shouldered hawk perched, leaning over while eating prey, on a gray tree branch. The background is green leaves. The bird’s head and legs are a rusty orange color. The wings are dark gray with white spots. It has a rusty orange colored patch on its wings at the shoulder. It has white stripes on its under parts. Its beak is yellow with a back tip and its legs are yellow. If you look closely, it has a stringy piece of its pray in its beak.
Red-shouldered Hawk;
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, California, USA; APR 2021

Assortment of birds going about living their daily lives.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution!

A Tufted Titmouse in flight with its wings spread viewed from its underside. The background is a blurred light colored tree trunk and blue sky. The bird is gray with black beak, eye and stripe above its beak. Its underparts are a mid to dark gray. Its tail feathers are dark gray. Its wings are translucent through gray. Its legs are black.
Tufted Titmouse in Flight; Island Ford;
Chattahoochee NRA, Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023

A Tufted Titmouse perched on a tree branch with a seed in its beak. The background is a gray tree trunk with a stripe of blue sky. The foreground has a small, gray, tree branch. The bird has a gray crest, neck, back and wings. It has a gray-white patch around its eye, breast and under parts. Its eye and beak are black. It has a black stripe above its beak.
Tufted Titmouse;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2022
A male Eastern Bluebird perched on a tree trunk at a circular hole that is a potential nesting cavity. The background is the gray tree trunk. The bird has a blue head, neck wings and tail feathers, the wings have a black patch with white stripes. Its eyes and beak are black with a gray patch on its neck.
Male Eastern Bluebird at Potential Nest Cavity;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2022
American Crow;
Arboretum Waterfront Park, Seattle, Washington, USA; JAN 2023

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

A Few Small Birds

by Earthwatcher, posted in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Roswell, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
A male Ruby-crowned Kinglet perched on the front fork of a gray, forked, three branch. The background is light and bright. The bird is facing forward with a slight twist to its left presenting a front and side view. Its neck and breast are light gray with a light olive cast. Its back and head are gray. Its beak is gray, its eyes are black, and it has a white eye ring. Its red crown is prominently displayed as short, red line. Its wings are gray with black and white wing bars and yellow stripes .
Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023

Here are a few small birds to enjoy.

Check out the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. It was a cold morning. It had itself puffed-up to insulate against the cold. Doing so included flashing his red crown. I’ve been trying for several years to get a picture with the crown showing; it’s a rare shot to get. Being all puffed-up, he looks like he escaped from the Angry Birds game.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution!

A Carolina Chickadee perched on a tree branch. There are some gray branches and any out of focus gray tree trunk in the background. The bird is facing left and is presenting a side view. The bird has a black cap on its head with a thick white stripe below. It has a black chin and an off-white breast and belly, with a very light reddish tinge on its underparts. Its back is a medium gray. Its beak is gray, and its eyes are dark. It is holding a brown seed under its gray claw.
Carolina Chickadee with Seed under Claw;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023
A male American Goldfinch perched on a tree branch facing forward with head tilted to the right. There is a branch above its head. The background is green. The bird is wearing its non-breeding coat. Its neck is muted light yellow. Its crown is muted brown, and it has the muted yellow eye ring. Its breast is a creamy light tan. Its eyes and beak are dark. On the bird’s right side, a very small piece of the wing can be seen. It is gray with white wing bars.
Male American Goldfinch, Non-breeding Plumage;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2022
A Carolina Chickadee perched on a tree branch. There are some gray branches and an out of focus gray tree trunk in the background. The bird is facing left with its head down eating a seed. Itis presenting a side view. The bird has a black cap on its head with a thick white stripe below. It has a black chin and an off-white breast and belly, with a very light reddish tinge on its underparts. Its back is a medium gray. Its beak is gray, its eyes are dark and it has a gray claw.
Carolina Chickadee with Seed;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023
Male American Goldfinch, Non-breeding Plumage;
Cochran Shoals, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Great Blue Herons

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
A great blue heron adult with 3 juveniles in a nest surrounded by green leaves. The adult appears mostly white and has its neck curved downward while it is preening itself. There is a small dark patch on its head and a blue patch above its wing. The juveniles have a proportionally large beak, gray on top and yellow on bottom. They have a white head and gray body.
Great Blue Heron with Chicks; Dewey Dam, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Prestonburg, Kentucky, USA; JUN 2022

I’m sharing some Great blue Herons. One from the Atlanta area, one from the Seattle area and one with its kids in Kentucky. These birds range throughout the southern and western USA as well as along the eastern coast. So, as a child in western Pennsylvania, I never got to see them. But I have learned to like them very much.

I’ve never seen one but there is a white morph.

Please click on caption to wee image at higher resolution!

An adult Great Blue Heron perched on a fallen log. The log is a brown-gray and supported by 2 brown boulders. The background is a green river with a few white caps. There are some brown boulders in the river further in the background. The bird has a black head with a white crest, a small white stripe below the cap and yellow eyes. The beak is gray on top and yellow on the bottom. The neck has light reddish coloration. The body is predominantly gray with a dark patch at the top of the wings and a dark flank and belly. Its legs and feet are gray.
Great Blue Heron;
Cochran Shoals, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023
An adult Great Blue Heron perched on the trunk of a fallen tree. The background is the water of a lake that is stiped in black, gray and white. The fallen tree trunk has three, thick, gray-brown, branches protruding from it. The bird has a black head with a white crest, a small white stripe below the cap, and yellow eyes. The beak is gray on top and yellow on the bottom. The body is predominantly gray with a dark patch at the top of the wings and a dark flank and belly. It legs and feet are gray.
Great Blue Heron;
Arboretum Waterfront Park, Seattle, Washington, USA; JAN 2023

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Some Woodpeckers

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Roswell, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Female Pileated Woodpecker perched on a tree trunk. The bird facing left. It is predominantly black with a white stripe along the base of its wings and a white head with a large red crest, black and white stripes and a red stripe. The beak is black. The tree trunk reddish-brown. The background is green with several gray, horizontal tree branches.
Female Pileated Woodpecker;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2022

Just a few woodpeckers for all to enjoy.

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution!

Female Downy Woodpecker perched on a tree branch. The tree trunk is gray with some gray-green lichen. The bird is predominantly black with white spots on its wings and across the back of its head. The background is light and contains some vertical tree branches.
Female Downy Woodpecker;
Cochran Shoals, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; JAN 2023

Red-headed Woodpecker; Island Ford,
Chattahoochee NRA, Roswell, Georgia, USA; NOV 2022
Red-headed Woodpecker perched on a tree trunk. Sex can't be determined. The bird has prominent, bright red head, black back with wide white stipe near the middle and white breast. It has an insect in its beak. The tree trunk is gray with a golden cast. background is blue sky.
Female Pileated Woodpecker;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2022
Female Downy Woodpecker perched on a tree trunk. The tree trunk is reddish-brown and gray. The bird is predominantly black with a white stripe down its back, white spots on its wings and across the back of its head. The background is dark.
Female Downy Woodpecker;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Dark-eyed Junco

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Bird. Dark-eyed Junco of Oregon subspecies, on the ground, with a sunflower see in its beak. The bird has a light gray beak, a black neck and head, rusty orange back, transitioning to light orange then very light gray on its breast. Its tail feathers are dark. There is a brown pine cone with red protrusions, on the ground, in the foreground.
Dark-eyed Junco, Oregon Group
Bellevue, Washington, USA; JAN 2023
Bird. Dark-eyed Junco of Slate-gray subspecies. The bird is perched on a tree branch with green leaves. The background is a variegated brown. The bird has a light pink beak, black head, neck and back with very light gray breast.
Dark-eyed Junco, Slate Gray Group
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2021

There are 2 subspecies of the Dark-eyed Junco: Slate-gray and Oregon. You can see the difference in their pictures. During the winter migration, the Slate-gray subspecies ranges across the continental USA while the Oregon subspecies is primarily in the western half of the continental USA. They are primarily ground feeders.

We visited Seattle over the Christmas holiday period, and I was excited to see the Oregon birds. Here in the Atlanta area, we see the Slate-gray birds. The Oregon birds were winter residents in our Sacramento backyard when we lived there. I think the Oregon bird is prettier, but I really like them both.

There is an interesting evolutionary change happening to some Oregon Juncos. Some of the birds have given up life in the boreal forests and have settled full time in Southern California. Scientists are studying them to determine why. I think I’d make that choice too.

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution!

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

An Owl’s Story

by Earthwatcher, posted in Apharetta, Big Creek Greenway, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, California, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, raptor, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Photograph of a Spotted Owl perched on the branch of a Coastal Redwood Tree in Northern California. The owl has very light gray breast. The remainder is gray with white spots on its back and some white spots on its head.
Spotted Owl on Coastal Redwood
Muir Woods National Monument, Marin County, California, USA; SEP 2013

I’m sharing these pictures because of an interesting relationship.  

I took the image of the Spotted Owl about 9 years ago. I believe it is especially poignant because the owl is on a Coastal Redwood.

This Owl was placed on the endangered species act in 1990 because of habitat loss. It lives in old growth forests like the coastal redwoods of California and Oregon. It sparked a battle between conservationists and the US Government against Loggers who wanted the right to log old growth forests. The Spotted Owl and its habitat won the battle. However, the Spotted Owl may be losing the battle; its numbers have not grown since it was placed on the endangered species list. One possible culprit is the Barred Owl; is encroaching on the Spotted Owl’s habitat and driving it out.

Notice how similarly they look.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Photograph of a Barred Owl perched on a tree branch with green and gold leaves in the background. The owl has a very light gray breast with some darker gray feathers intermixed. It has a band of feathers between its head and branch that give the appearance of wearing a dark gray and light gray stipes.
Barred Owl
Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

Canada Geese on the Chattahoochee River

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Chattahoochee, Chattahoochee National Recreation Area, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, river, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

Canada Geese on the Chattahoochee River
Island Ford, Chattahoochee NRA, Roswell, Georgia, USA; NOV 2022

Meandering up the river at sunrise.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Simple American Robin

by Earthwatcher, posted in Apharetta, Big Creek Greenway, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Image of a bird, an American Robin sitting on a bush with blue berries and green leaves. The Robin has a berry in its beak.
American Robin Feasting on Berries
Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; NOV 2022

PLease click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

Assorted Birds

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, North Carolina, Photography, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Photographic image of a predominantly gray and brown Barred Owl perched on a tree branch with green leaves in the background. The owl has a gray breast with heavy brown vertical stripes. It has heavy gray rings around its dark eyes, a yellow beak and what appears to be a white moustache.
Barred Owl
Big Creek Greenway, Alpharetta, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022

These birds are primarily from 2 locations: Beave Lake Bird Sanctuary in Asheville, North Carolina and Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta, Georgia.

We stopped in Asheville to visit a friend but made our first, early morning stop, at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. It’s a neat little wetland with a boardwalk meandering through it. We enjoyed it a lot.

The Big Creek Greenway is a 10 mile paved trail along Big Creek. Great place to walk; plenty of birds and deer.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Vertical photographic image of a Female Downy Woodpecker perched on a gray tree trunk. The bird is black and white.
Female Downy Woodpecker
Roswell, Georgia, USA; OCT 2022
Photographic image of a predominantly brown and gray White-throated Sparrow perched on an angled, gray tree trunk with green and yellow background. The bird has 2 black stripes on its crown with a white stripe in between, white throat, white orbital feathers between its crown and black eye stripe. It has a yellow lore above his beak.
White-throated Sparrow
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Photographic image of a predominantly brown and gray Song Sparrow perched on an angled, gray tree trunk with green and yellow background.
Song Sparrow
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Photographic image of predominantly brown and white Female Eastern Towhee perched on a horizontal fallen tree branch with green leaves in the background. It has reddish brown feathers between its wing and breast.
Female Eastern Towhee
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA; OCT 2022

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

 

 

 

 

Great Blue Heron Hunting

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography

A couple of weeks ago, we visited the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary in Asheville, North Carolina. It was a lovely place with a board walk that meandered through a wetland. While there, a Great Blue Heron gave us the opportunity to watch it hunt and capture breakfast. I created a time lapse so I could share it with you.

Please click here to see video: Great Blue Heron Hunting.

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.