AKA BIRD NERD

Photo By Shawn Weigelt
July 13, 2010
Vaughn, Washington

While eating breakfast at home recently, I heard a thump on one of our windows that I’ve come to recognize as a bird strike.  The tall eastern facing windows on the house reflect the morning light particularly well and, unfortunately, this thumping noise is not an unfamiliar sound.  When I looked outside I saw a bird flutter near the window and subsequently cling to the screen.  I was very surprised to see that it was a Brown Creeper, a bird that spends most of its life clinging to tree trunks!  I went outside to take photos to document the incident and see if it was okay.  The bird ended up just being a bit stunned and flew off minutes later.

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR, at 125mm, 1/400sec, ISO 125, f/4.8, hand held

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Photos By Shawn Weigelt
July 1, 2010
Vaughn, Washington

I love seeing these beautiful sparrows.  This individual was perched on a low branch of a Douglas Fir in our backyard and allowed my daughter, Lana, and I to approach very closely for a couple of photos.

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR, ISO 200, hand held
1)  at 185mm, 1/200sec, f/5.3
2)  at 300mm, 1/125sec, f/5.6

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Photos By Shawn Weigelt
July 16, 2008
Baxter State Park, Maine

Here’s a change of pace!  I was going through some old pictures and came across these images of a male Calico Pennant Dragonfly I took a couple of years ago in Baxter State Park.  I am fascinated by flight and dragonflies are my favorite insects because they are such expert fliers.  I thought the colors were exceptionally nice in these two images and worth sharing!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR, ISO 200, hand held
1)  at 300mm, 1/500sec, f/5.6
2)  at 200mm, 1/640sec, f/5.3

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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
June 30, 2010
Vaughn, Washington

Here’s a profile shot of a female Rufous Hummingbird in the backyard.  These active little birds are so much fun to watch!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 200mm, 1/40sec, ISO 200, f/5.3, hand held

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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
June 28, 2010
Sequim, Washington

Bald Eagles in Sequim are an almost commonplace sight.  This one was teed up in the top of an old fir snag along Marine Drive.  I took this on my Mom’s birthday!  Happy Birthday, Mom!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 300mm, 1/640sec, ISO 100, f/5.6, hand held

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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
June 7, 2010
Theler Wetlands, Belfair, Washington

Photo opportunities were a little hard to come by today while taking a, “birdwalk,” at Theler Wetlands.  Swallows were everywhere, though, and this beauty was very cooperative.  I was very happy to get this shot!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 250mm, 1/320sec, ISO 160, f/5.6, hand held

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Photos By Malia and Shawn Weigelt
May 17, 2010
Sequim, Washington

When we are in Sequim we have a little birding route we take along Marine Drive.  It’s a really nice ride with great views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Dungeness Spit, a large variety of waterfowl, and usually plenty of Bald Eagles.  One of our stops along the way is almost always Dungeness Landing County Park, which is a great place to let our kids out to walk along the beach and explore.  On this day we saw at least a dozen Bald Eagles here, many of which were perched on top of some old pilings close to shore.  They soon attracted a small crowd of people all of us with cameras in hand!  I wasted little time taking photos of these majestic and very active birds.  It was really awesome listening to them calling and watching as they knocked each other off of the pilings.  Overall it was a pretty amazing experience!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 300mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, hand held
1)  at 1/200sec
2, 3, 4)  at 1/500sec
5)  at 1/640sec

Juveniles jostling for a perch

Juveniles assuming a defensive posture just before an adult bird drives them away

A two year old landing beside an adult

A nice pose from this three year old eagle

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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
May 16, 2010
Carrie Blake Park, Sequim, Washington

It’s that time of year!  The goose babies have arrived!  This young one stayed so close to its parents and siblings that I couldn’t get a shot without someone else in the frame!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 300mm, 1/250sec, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held

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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
May 16, 2010
Sequim, Washington

I’ve heard a lot of calling California Quail lately around Sequim and was happy to find this handsome male doing just that while my family and I were out for a bike ride.  Fortunately I brought my camera and was happy to at least get this shot before he hopped off the sign and ran down the sidewalk!

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR at 300mm, 1/400sec, ISO 200, f/5.6, hand held

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Photos By Shawn Weigelt
April 23, 2010
Theler Wetlands, Belfair, Washington

There were tons of swallows at Theler today, mostly Tree and Violet-green’s.  I was very pleased to find this gorgeous male Barn Swallow chattering away beside a creek.  I was a bit surprised he was so close to the trail and I was really excited to get these shots.  This was my first Barn Swallow of the year.

Nikon D80 70-300mm VR, ISO 125, f/5.6, hand held
1)  at 250mm, 1/125sec
2)  at 300mm, 1/160sec

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