Looking for Loons in All the Right Places

Posted by Chris Cunningham

Common Loons are reported to be common along the Texas Gulf Coast during winter and spring, and we do see them from time to time. Often, however, they keep their distance from humans. At a few spots in the Galveston Bay area, loons are reported to come in fairly close to shore. We plan on visiting a few of these places before spring ends and the birds return north. This morning we went looking for loons along the Texas City Dike. From a photographic perspective, this is a location that is going to require some further study, as is usually the case when one first tries to shoot somewhere new.

We were thrilled to see about two dozen Common Loons, mostly along the South side of the dike–as one would expect after reading the literature. The problem is that the sun is in the southern sky at this time of year, and so most of the time the birds are back-lit. A few birds were present on the north side of the dike, but they stayed much further off shore. The reason is possibly that the water is too shallow for them close to the dike on the north side. Loons prefer clear deep water for fishing, and we observed numerous fish being taken by these submarine hunters.

On this trip, we tried our usual tripod techniques as well as using our car as a blind while driving down the dike (a method often recommended for this site), trying to anticipate where the birds would surface next. I did notice distinct patterns of loon behavior relative to differences in water surface texture, no doubt reflecting water depth and currents. The loons were also fairly consistent in the amount of time submerged/distance travelled underwater. In the future, I hope I can become better at connecting water texture and loon behavior so as to predict more precisely where these fascinating creatures will next surface after diving. Can’t wait to get out there looking for loons again: Offatts Bayou is next on the itinerary!

Common Loon at Texas City Dike
Living in the Wake of a Loon: Common Loon along the south side of the Texas City Dike. This beauty allowed me to practice my swimming bird tracking technique. Common Loons are common, but they often won’t let you get anywhere near them.

© 2013 Christopher R. Cunningham. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.

Appreciating Galveston

Posted by Chris Cunningham
Eastern Meadowlark at Galveston Island State Park, Texas
Eastern(?) Meadowlark at the Prairie Trail, Galveston Island State Park, Texas.

In keeping with new year’s resolutions, we struck out this three-day weekend for Galveston in search of new areas to explore for birds. We scouted the northern edge of San Luis Pass, Lafitte’s Cove, and several trails we had not visited before at Galveston Island State Park, especially the Prairie and Freshwater Ponds Trails. We were lucky to see a group of about twelve Red-breasted Mergansers in a tidal channel at San Luis Pass. The Freshwater Ponds and Prairie Trails produced White-tailed Kites, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, a Barn Owl, Eastern(?) Meadowlarks, Savannah Sparrows, a Palm Warbler, Marsh and Sedge Wrens, Orange-Crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, American White Pelicans, and Buffleheads, among others.

On this trip the conditions were just what the doctor ordered: clear and dry, upper thirties in the early mornings and warming into the low sixties by afternoon. Over the past several weeks unusually nasty weather had keep us indoors, and our photographic skills atrophied. On this trip I got to practice my in-flight, hand-held technique with the 300mm f/4L IS and tripod work with the 500mm f/4L, including tracking swimming birds with IS Mode 2.

American White Pelican at Freshwater Ponds Trail, Galveston Island State Park
American White Pelican at the Freshwater Ponds Trail, Galveston Island State Park. These majestic creatures allowed me to practice my swimming bird tracking technique.

We were excited to discover a man-made  “water feature” in a wooded area at Lafitte’s Cove, specifically designed for bird watchers and photographers. This feature is very similar to the one maintained by the Texas Ornithological Society at Sabine Woods Sanctuary. Although I have never experienced anything but the utmost in civility at Sabine Woods, apparently photographers and binocular users can’t get along with each other at Lafitte’s Cove. Like at the Smith Oaks Rookery (where squabbles and hard feelings are common) there are posted time limits for spots and separately designated areas for binocular users and tripod photographers/spotting scope users. We’ll find out during spring migration if both groups can respect posted rules, avoid hogging the best viewing/shooting spots, and refrain from snarky comments . . . although a “night of the tiny fists” type encounter as described by the late Gore Vidal might be amusing to witness.

On the way home we visited the Skillern Tract of Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, where we were treated to a pair of Greater White-fronted Geese in one of the eastern fields near the tract entrance. During most of this trip to Galveston and environs I had the feeling that the birds were warier than usual. The frequent crack of gunfire in the background–not to mention yahoos in ATVs crashing through the marshes, music blaring–may hold the key. During the drive back along the White-knuckle Express (I-10), where I was treated to many interactions with maniacs and nincompoops, I had time to reflect upon the wonderful effects humans have had on the biosphere.

Greater White-fronted Geese at Skillern Tract, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
Greater White-fronted Geese at the Skillern Tract, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. These geese were extremely wary of humans. I wonder why.

© 2013 Christopher R. Cunningham. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.

Additions to Collections: Texas Ducks and Some 2012 Favorites

Posted by Two Shutterbirds

The jet stream being directly over Texas for the past several weeks has meant appalling weather and much time spent on the computer. As a result, some new images have been added to Texas Ducks and Some 2012 Favorites. Please take a look!

Snowshoe Hare in Summer Colors, Kalaloch, Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Snowshoe Hare in Summer Colors at Kalaloch, Olympic Peninsula, Washington. For MP: Critters don’t get much cuter than this!

© 2013 Christopher R. Cunningham or Elisa D. Lewis. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.

My Photographic New Year’s Resolutions

Posted by Chris Cunningham
Osprey at Indian Point Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
Osprey with Fish at Indian Point Park, Corpus Christi, Texas. Osprey don’t frequent places I normally shoot, but they are fairly common in some nearby areas in winter. Expanding into adjacent areas will certainly expand the diversity of species encountered and photographed.

Over Christmas break and into the new year I have been reviewing my collection of images and deleting clunkers. In addition to freeing valuable hard drive space, this process has been educational. It has also made it possible to set new goals and standards for my photographic work.  Addressing defects in the collection has lead to these new resolutions:

1) I will work harder at having the right lens at hand more often. Many of the clunkers need not have been so. The biggest clunker-maker is trying to use a telephoto in place of a macro. Yes, it is technically possible to take a close-up with a 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L that resembles a macro shot taken with a 100mm macro f/2.8L. The former, however, is a poor substitute that will invariably wind up being deleted.

2) I won’t  take pictures that I know won’t turn out. The laws of physics dictate that if a bird is too far away or if the light is wrong it is pointless to take the shot, not matter how rare the species or how interesting the behavior.

3) I will weed images immediately after the shoot. Digital photography makes taking photos easy. Without diligent and serious-minded weeding, astronomical numbers build up on the computer.

4) I will endeavor to be more adventurous in choice of shooting location. It’s tempting to return to Brazos Bend State Park and Galveston’s East Beach again and again because I know that I will get some good shots. I have enough shots of Blue-winged Teal, Sanderlings, and American Coots, though!

Digitalis at Olympic National Park, Washington
Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove) at Olympic National Park, Washington: a very pretty garden escapee (i.e., alien invasive weed). Sometimes you need a macro lens. Hand-held, 100mm macro f/2.8L IS USM.

© 2013 Christopher R. Cunningham. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.

 

Tracking Swimming Birds: Slow-motion In-flight Technique

Posted by Chris Cunningham
Male Green-winged Teal at Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
Floating Peacefully: Male Green-winged Teal in the freshwater channel, Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas. Ring-shaped ripples behind indicate that the bird was not swimming.

We recently spent three days birding with friends along the Coastal Bend, a great place to practice the art of tracking swimming/paddling birds. Some of the less timid species of ducks and other waterbirds will sit calmly on the surface of the water as a photographer approaches. Most species, though, will slowly begin to paddle away as humans approach. Some, like Buffleheads, will make a bee-line to the opposite shore! It’s easy to tell photos of paddling birds from those of stationary ones: a v-shaped wake spreads out behind the paddlers, whereas stationary floating birds are generally surrounded by a smooth surface or ring-shaped ripples. There is no question about it–the latter is much easier to capture.

Male Greater Scaup at Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas
Gliding Past: Male Lesser Scaup in the freshwater channel, Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas.

For paddling birds, I utilize a technique similar to the one I use to capture birds in flight. With tripod set as low as practicable given vegetation along the shore, and IS set to Mode 2, I pan as smoothly as possible snapping images along the way. A moving target means changing optical conditions–which means that frequent chimping (checking images) and tinkering with exposure compensation are often necessary. While not as technically challenging as capturing birds in flight, there is considerable satisfaction in getting great shots of swimming birds, even though probably not one viewer in hundreds looks closely enough to perceive the
difference . . . But I know it took a bit of extra effort to get the shot!

Female Bufflehead at Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Steaming Past! This female Bufflehead wanted no part of humans! No wonder. Note the crescent-shaped mound of water in front of the bird–she was paddling hard! Photo taken at the freshwater channel, Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Park, Corpus Christi, Texas.

 © 2013 Christopher R. Cunningham. All rights reserved. No text or images may be duplicated or distributed without permission.