AKA BIRD NERD

Photos By Shawn Weigelt
January 30, 2011
Theler Wetlands, Belfair, Washington

Every once in a while I luck out with a cooperative bird that is just begging me to take his photograph!  It’s icing on the cake when that bird is the beautiful Great Blue Heron.  This individual was perched atop a duck nest box close to the trail and did not seem at all interested in moving!  The result is the best images I have ever taken of this species.

Nikon D80 70-300 VR, ISO 400, f/5.6, hand held
1)  at 270mm, 1/320sec
2)  at 300mm, 1/500sec
3)  at 300mm, 1/320sec
4)  at 300mm, 1/250sec

Magnificent from any angle…

This shot probably shows the highest level of detail

Tags: Bird Photo, Weigelt Photos by Shawn Weigelt
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887
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Washington State
December 30, 2010

This is my first American Bittern photo. If a friendly fellow birder hadn’t pointed this bird out I may have walked right past it. It was just off the boardwalk trail close to two barns. I zoomed in a little more on the second photo.

Nikon D80, Tamron 200-500 zoom at 300mm, f/5.6, 1/320, ISO 200

Nikon D80, Tamron 200-500 zoom at 410mm, f/6.0, 1/200, ISO 200

Tags: Bird Photo, Gallery by David Dilworth
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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
January 26, 2011
Vaughn, Washington

I was pleased with how this shot turned out, especially the colors of the background in contrast to the bird.

Nikon D80 70-300VR at 300mm, 1/125sec, ISo 400, f/5.6, hand held

Tags: Bird Photo, Weigelt Photos by Shawn Weigelt
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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
January 26, 2011
Vaughn, Washington

I thought this photo came out a little soft but I liked the composition and decided to post it anyway.

Nikon D80 70-300VR at 270mm, 1/500sec, ISO 320, f/5.6, hand held

Tags: Bird Photo, Weigelt Photos by Shawn Weigelt
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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
January 26, 2011
Vaughn, Washington

Here’s a Spotted Towhee keeping an eye on me from its perch in a Beaked Hazlenut.

Nikon D80 70-300VR at 300mm, 1/125sec, ISO 400, f/5.6, hand held

Tags: Bird Photo, Weigelt Photos by Shawn Weigelt
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Photos By Shawn Weigelt
January 9, 2011
Sequim, Washington

I photographed this juvenile Cooper’s Hawk as it was perched on a roadside post near our home in Sequim.  It was snowing to beat the band when I took these so any distracting spots on the photos are likely snowflakes.

Nikon D80 70-300 VR at 140mm, 1/1000sec, ISO 200, f/5.0, hand held

Tags: Bird Photo, Weigelt Photos by Shawn Weigelt
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886
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Washington State
December 29, 2010

This is by far NOT my best photo of this species. Several of these little guys were digging in the leaves for yummies. What attracted me was how well the bird blended in with its surroundings. The photo was taken on the two barns boardwalk trail not too far from the barns. You should have seen these birds scratch with a vigor that was almost comical. However, this time of the year I’m sure their lives depend on what they find among those leaves.

Nikon D80, Tamron 200-500 zoom at 200mm, f/5.0, 1/50, ISO 200

Tags: Bird Photo, Gallery by David Dilworth
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885
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Washington State
December 29, 2010

There were several Ring-necked Ducks swimming close in at the pond behind the visitor’s center.

Both photos – Nikon D80, Tamron 200-500 zoom at 500mm, f/6.3, 1/200, ISO 200

Tags: Bird Photo, Gallery by David Dilworth
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884
Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Washington State
December 29, 2010

Last month I made my last bird walk for 2010. NNWR is going through some big changes. The area had been diked for a long time to allow for farming. Now it is being returned to more of its natural state. Raised wooden walkways and some new dike paths are being added. Water water everywhere is the biggest change. I miss seeing the many Northern Harriers that frequented the pastures, but I’m sure the water birds are happier. I’m seeing many more Bald Eagles as they sit in the surrounding trees watching their lunches. After duck hunting season, the new trails will open up to the area that is too close to the hunters along the creek. At first I thought they were destroying a great bird site, but I think things may be pretty good when things are finished. I guess I won’t know for sure until those new boardwalks open.

Nikon D80, Tamron 200-500 zoom at 500mm, f/6.3, 1/200, ISO 200

This Eurasian Wigeon was among some Ring-necked Ducks in the pond behind the visitor’s center.

Nikon D80, Tamron 200-500 zoom at 500mm, f/6.3, 1/320, ISO 200

Tags: Bird Photo, Gallery by David Dilworth
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Photo By Shawn Weigelt
January 8, 2011
Vaughn, Washington

At long last, I finally have a photo of a Fox Sparrow (although it’s a little soft)!  I have been seeing them under our feeders for the past couple of weeks but I have found them to be a little camera shy.  The yellow on the bill and chevron patterning on the breast help to distinguish them from the smaller Song Sparrows.

Nikon D80 70-300 VR at 300mm, 1/50sec, ISO 400, f/5.6, hand held

Tags: Bird Photo, Weigelt Photos by Shawn Weigelt
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