patrick

ok..someone probably asked this before, but ...may I ask you..: Are you a professional photographer?

Your shots always stunning, take my breath away! Thank you for sharing :thumbs:

Thank you

No I am not a professional photographer, it's more of a relaxing and interesting hobby. I have been taking a lot of pictures lately so I will likely post some new ones soon.

Thanks guys, I'm glad you like them

Finally spring is here. What that means to me is lots of action! In the last couple of weeks I have had multiple Bald Eagle sightings, several adults and one juvenile. On two of the occations I was lucky enough to have my camera handy. The following photos are of two individuals, one spotted just east of Millet on 814 and the other further east maybe 1km west of Coal Lake.

This time of the year is also great for watching Coyotes. They can be seen in the early morning hunting rodents on the snow. Here are some photos of two individuals. The first guy launching and pouncing for prey, but not successful. The second guy however, was able to get some breakfast

They almost look like nubilis with the shape of a Matumbi Hunter. Do they have the same metabolism as the Matumbi?

Not the same metabolism, they are more "normal" for being victorians.

Here are some pictures of Haplochromis thereuterion, Senga Point. I love these guys. They have spawned a couple of times but I have not been able to get the female to hold more than a few days so far. Maybe better luck next time.

Thanks everyone

Something I always wonder - How the hell do you figure out all the names of these birds haha, some of them i've never seen or heard of ever.

Yes I know what you are saying. It is not easy to ID birds, especially not small warblers and sparrows. It is amazing how many different species there are when you start looking around.

Redtail Hawk, juvenile

Another juvenile Redtail Hawk

Bald Eagle. Great to have these so close by, at Coal Lake. This individual was very weary of me and I got this shot from far away.

A Purple Finch visiting one of my bird feeders

A Yellow-Rumped Warbler stopped by in my backyard on it's migration south.

A Northern Harrier at Coal Lake

A Great Blue Heron early in the morning at Coal Lake

This is a male Merlin

Black-Capped Chickadee, still a bit wet after visiting the bird bath.

Bluejay

what camera lens do you use? do you have one that you use for the majority of you shots? what about for you bird shots? a few topics back you had a pic of a humming bird, what was your shutter speed?

great pics!

I use a Canon 400mm 5.6L for the majority of my bird photos. The shutter speed for the last humming bird photo that I posted was 1/2000 with an aparture of 5.6 and ISO 400, and I also used flash.

Thanks guys

Okay time to serve up some new shots.

First a few shots from Northern Saskatchewan.

This is a Common Grackle

Here is a Gray Jay

First time I have seen one of these - Dark-Eyed Junco, male

and here is the female

And now back to Alberta again.

A very sleepy Pine Siskin juvenile

Downy Woodpecker

A curious Black-Capped Chickadee

This is a juvenile Redtail Hawk

Thanks everyone

Henry, I'll let you know the next time I go to Roper's

Jayba, I am using a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L lens (sometimes with 1.4x extender), handheld most of the time but lately I have been lugging the tripod with me more often. Recently I have also been experimenting with fill flash (see nuthatch, pine siskin, hummingbird).

I also visited Beaverhill Bird Observatory last weekend. I can really recommend it for any nature freaks. Lots of walking on not so well maintained trails though. I got to see some banding of birds. Here is a picture of a Blackpoll Warbler and a American Redstart.

YOU FOUND THE BABY!!! NICE pics Patrick. Next time you go the let me know. I wanna go with you!! I have pics of the baby Swainsons in the nest.

http://picasaweb.google.com/naturescornerstore/RoperPond06#5499151741794944642

"edit"

next time you go to Roper Pond.

I sure did Henry He was so much younger when you were there. When I was there on August 5th, he was just about ready to leave the nest. The mosquito situation was pretty bad though, I was wearing long sleeved shirt, mosquito net and gloves in +25C and sunshine...a bit warm.

Juvenile Spotted Sandpiper at Twin Lakes

White-Breasted Nuthatch in my backyard

Pine Siskin in my backyard

Common Yellowthroat at Beaverhill Lake

Yellow Warbler at Beaverhill Lake

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in my backyard. This guy is a juvenile and has been fighting with his sibling, hence the wound behind the eye. They are always fighting and I was at one point in the middle between them, a bit worried that one of the "darts" would hit me...

Finally, a Boreal Toad, captured at Twin Lakes

First some raptors. Descriptions below each photo.

Red-Tailed Hawk. This regal hawk comes in many color variations. This photo was taken along 814 between Beaumont and Millet.

Turkey Vultures are not all that common this far up north. This pictures was taken at Butchers Habitat Conservation Area at Bittern Lake.

Female Merlin being harassed by a Swallow. Picture taken at Roper Pond in Edmonton.

Swainson's Hawk chick in nest photographed at Roper Pond, Edmonton.

Swainson's Hawk at Roper Pond, Edmonton

Now on to some smaller birds.

Juvenile Robin along one of the trails on our property.

Downy Woodpecker in a rather lazy pose on my inlaws bird feeder.

Brown-Headed Cowbird in a tree on my inlaws yard in Millet

Closeup of an American Goldfinch in my backyard

White-Throated Sparrow in my backyard

Thanks a bunch!

Hi everyone. I found this salamander in my yard and was hoping to get some help identifying it. It's about 6" long.

Thanks guys.

BettaVishVish, I am not a professional, it's just a hobby

Cedar Waxwing

House Wren

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

White-Throated Sparrow

Wood Frog

Are All These Around Yer House Or Do You Just Travel With A Camera ?

Like Always Damn Nice Shots

Blake

Most of them are from areas close to where I live, but the Bison is from Elk Island National Park.

Mule Deer chewing on some greens

Baby Magpie

Pelicans

Prairie Bison

Tree Swallow

Sparrow

Speeding Retailed Hawk?

Cedar Waxwing

Horses in sunset

Thanks guys. They trick is lots of practice, VERY early mornings, and plenty of patience. Many times I get to see more wildlife by finding a good spot and sit and wait rather than walking around.

Thanks. If the pups stick around, then I will for sure take more photos as the grow

This little cute fox pup was chewing on a straw, sitting right outside the den.

This fellow was resting in the grass.

A female Redwinged Blackbird is looking for food at the shore.

These guys can be a pain in the butt for farmers, but they sure are cute!

Redtail hawk looking for prey.

This "Killdeer" was enjoying the warm evening sun at the "beach".

The Red-Necked Grebe (which I have posted before) is still looking after the nest, but no chicks yet.

I ran into a couple of single Deer bucks that were hanging out together for an evening snack.

Thanks guys