We have been so busy lately with guests that I haven’t had a chance to do my own photography. I got a chance last weekend and played around with some bats coming to the reflection blind at night. Fun!
Bullock’s Oriole
Bullock’s oriole hiding in the brittlebush last week.
Since we have been busy with guests, I haven’t had a chance to photograph from the blinds. Last week I had a personal day scheduled, however I had to replace the hot water heater in our RV, so this photo is from walking around the yard mid day. Hopefully I will get a better chance soon, although it is nice to be busy at the Desert Photo Retreat!
In one week earlier this month we had two new species, a black phoebe and two black vultures. I inadvertently walked up upon the vultures as they sat at the water table, wow, they are huge when up close!
Bullock’s Oriole
I have been really busy with guests camera trapping lately. However, we block today off so that I could tackle some projects, and wouldn’t you know it, two bullock’s Orioles arrived today! Such colorful birds. This is exciting as it not only seems early, but they have quickly discovered my hummingbird and oriole feeders – something none of them have done in past years.
Desert Photo Retreat 2021
While I was in Alaska last week, we filled the last couple of remaining openings in our schedule at the Desert Photo Retreat, and are now officially sold out for the remainder of Spring 2021!
I have had lots of inquiries about the night sky workshops I typically run this time of year, and we are still not offering any group activities at least until June. We hope to have lots of all activities available beginning next January (2022). I don’t know if we will open before January, but it is possible.
This is a gray fox from earlier this month. He comes by most nights, and we are beginning to see a bobcat a little more frequently. Janine watched it in the afternoon a couple of days ago.
Owl with Mouse
I normally wouldn’t share an out of focus image, but this is too cool not to share. I had my camera trap setup at the water hole when this bird swooped in and grabbed a mouse! I set my focus for the edge of the water, and because I was maximizing the stars, I had a fairly big aperture of f/4, thus limited depth of field. The bird was well beyond my focus point.
I believe this is a great-horned owl. We have a pair on the property, along with a pair of western screech owls. Based on the size, I’m thinking great-horned, but open to other opinions.
Olympus E-M1 II, 12-100 lens at 15mm at f/4, 20 second exposure, two Godox flashes at 1/64 power, Camptraption motion and flash transmitter / receiver triggers. Combining wildlife with the stars only works on near moonless nights where there isn’t ambient light.
Morning Mourning Dove
A morning, mourning dove yesterday at sunrise. So close – just 14 minutes earlier a gray fox came in for a drink. Too bad the fox wasn’t just a bit later. Maybe it is just as well, as the rock in the center of the frame would have made me crazy. I had put it there in the dark to help with focus, but then in the dark forgot to move it off out of frame. 🙂
Recent Comments