Blue Eyes, Juvenile Brown Thrasher

Blue eyes, Juvenile Brown Thrasher.

 

If you have ever seen an adult Brown Thrasher, they have some of the most brilliant yellow eyes. The contrast with their brown bodies makes them stand out even more. Every year we are lucky enough to have several juveniles spend some time in the yard with us, and to see their striking bright blue eyes make them stand out among the other birds. They will only keep the bright blue eyes for a couple months before they turn brilliant yellow.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 2000, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography, #birdnirdvana, #birdphotography

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler.

 

Things are really picking up in the backyard as fall approaches. 2 days ago lots of Warblers, Vireos, and Tanagers visited the backyard. I even had my first Cerulean Warbler of the year stop by! This is one of my summer residents, the Black-throated Green Warbler. I am seeing lots of young birds right now like Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Eastern Towhee, and a few Brown Thrashers. It is going to be a busy fall!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 640, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography, #birdnirdvana, #birdphotography

Dew covered Bee on Zinnia

Dew covered Bee on Zinnia.

 

I was out to photograph some of the birds in the backyard and noticed a few bees still dormant on the flowers waiting to dry off enough to fly. I didn’t use a “normal” macro lens, but instead used my Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. It has great close focusing capabilities for a long telephoto and being able to separate your subject from the background gives nice isolation in the image.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 640, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography

Why are they ignoring me…?

Why are they ignoring me…?

 

This is another image image of the beautiful juvenile Red-tailed Hawk that visited the other day. I was really amused with its behavior when it perched on top of the (vacant) Bluebird box. About 15 feet to the right is the seed feeder and a lot of birds were flying in and grabbing seed then flying out, not worrying about the Hawk. The other birds are smart enough to know the Hawk wouldn’t be quick enough to be able to fly to the feeder and grab one of them, but I will say that I didn’t see any squirrels or chipmunks while it was there!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 720, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography, #birdnirdvana, #birdphotography

A special young visitor yesterday

A special young visitor yesterday.

 

I’ve noticed lots of chatter with Crows over the past few weeks somewhere down in the woods below us. I guessed it was probably some hawks hunting and the Crows weren’t happy. I have the occasional Cooper’s Hawk and Sharp-shinned Hawk fly through the yard, and we regularly see Red-tailed Hawks around us. Two days ago I saw 5 Red-tailed Hawks flying above the house, much to the disapproval of the Crows. Yesterday though while sitting at my desk I saw a young one in a tree to my left. It flew off towards the backyard and when I went to see if it had found a squirrel or chipmunk, this is what I found. It stayed on the one of “The 3 Chairs” for a while, then on the ground eating a worm, then on another chair, then lastly the Bluebird box before finally flying off. It was fun to watch it have stare downs with the birds going to the feeder, as they knew they were too quick for it at that moment. I will share more images as it posed perfectly. These are shot through the back door which has a large glass center.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 360, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography, #birdnirdvana, #birdphotography

Early morning entertainment

Early morning entertainment.

 

I’m not sure where the Carolina Wrens had their third brood of the year as it wasn’t in the watering can, but the 4 young Wrens offer lots of entertainment for me in the morning. Yesterday morning was no exception as they explored every hole, nook, and spot on the logs in the studio area. They only paused to play with each other of take a mealworm from Mom or Dad. Wrens eat a lot of bugs and are welcome in my yard, I just wish we had more!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1400, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #sirui, #siruiusa, #siruiimaging, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary, #bearwoodsphotography, #birdnirdvana, #birdphotography

Fierce but tender

Fierce but tender.

 

My Eastern Bluebirds are leaving the nestbox, one left 2 days ago, some may have left yesterday, I haven’t checked this morning as it is still dark. The first one may have left prematurely with the heat, but it is okay. It has been an eventful few days and evenings at the nest box as all the noise attracts predators, mainly in the form of snakes. The female was making a lot of noise and very focused on a vine about 6 feet away the other day and would fly over toward the porch where I was sitting, almost trying to get my attention. I went over toward the nest box and sure enough there was a fairly small, maybe 4 foot Rat Snake. I relocated it the best I could. Not 2 hours later just before sunset she was alerting me again, this time another Rat Snake, about 5-6 feet in length. I was able to relocate it as well. The third alert came when a Rat Snake over 6 feet in length was attempting to go through the predator guard I install. I relocated that snake as well. 3 definitely different snakes in 2 days, but my yard still has a bunch of chipmunks and voles. Through all of that she is still the attentive gentle mom to the birds still in the nest box. Life is not easy for my Bluebirds. I do everything I can to increase the chances of their survival with nest boxes 6 to 7 feet high and at least 6 feet away from surrounding trees and shrubs, in addition to the stove pipe I install around the poles and snake netting around the pipe.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 3200, shutter speed of 1/250th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #withmytamron, #tamron, #tamronusa, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamron150600g2, #sirui, #siruiusa, #bearwoodsphotography, #bearwoodswildlifesanctuary

Thank you again

Thank you again.

 

I want to thank everyone again that registered so quickly and filled our Spring in the Tetons Workshop at Triangle X Ranch. We were confident it would fill up, but in just over 24 hours was beyond our wildest expectations. I just released a video of my week out there if you would like to get an idea of the beauty and splendor of the Tetons and Triangle X. Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG3l1kyzGdg&t=27s

 

For those folks that are already, like me, over this oppressive heat, something to look forward to could be our Winter in the Tetons Workshop, which is also at the Triangle X Ranch. Do you like the way I worked into that? Seriously, if you have ever been to the Tetons and thought it was beautiful in Spring, Summer or Fall, nothing touches its beauty in the winter. There are so few visitors to the park, as most people are skiing in town, you almost feel you have the park to yourself. Check out the link below to join us for some great food, great scenery, and great company.

http://www.natureinfocusworkshops.com/photo-workshops/2021-winter-in-the-grand-tetons

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 400, shutter speed of 1/800th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron150600g2, #TriangleXRanch, #TriangleX, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

End of the day

End of the day.

 

One of my favorite things to photograph at the Triangle X Ranch, and honestly every photographer that stays there, is to catch the horses running out to pasture each evening. I looked forward to it every day a couple weeks ago during my stay there, and it has been one of the inspirations to finally organize a workshop for photographers and base it at the Ranch. Take a horseback ride in the Tetons, on any level you feel comfortable with, then afterwards grab your camera and capture this scene! We have so many great things planned for our Spring in the Tetons Workshop based at Triangle X, I hope you will join us! May 23-27, 2021 Here is the link:

 

http://www.natureinfocusworkshops.com/photo-workshops/2021-spring-in-the-grand-tetons

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 250, shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #Tamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Tamron150600G2, #TriangleXRanch, #NatureInFocusPhotographyWorkshops, #BearWoodsPhotography

Cinnamon and Black Bears

Cinnamon and Black Bears.

 

Last week I posted an image of the Cinnamon Black Bear and her one cub, but I mentioned that she also had a cub that was actually black in color as well, so I wanted to post an image of the whole family. Cinnamon Black Bears are simply a morph of the regular Black Bear and it is common they have cubs of different colors.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1600, shutter speed of 1/500th of a second, handheld, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #tamron, #withmytamron, #tamronlensesusa, #tamronimagemaster, #tamronusa, #bearwoodsphotography, #tamron150600g2, #cinnamonbear, #grandtetonnp