Birds – Page 13 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

I’m a bit behind on the weekly photo challenges, but I found some topics that interested me that were released while I was on holidays, so I am going to catch up on them over the next week or so.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend!

WPC: Mirror

October 9, 2016

2016-10-09: Holiday Photos

Every month the photo club I belong to has a photo topic of the month, as well as being able to submit a further 5 photos for review and discussion. Since all I have captured since I returned home are a few grainy images of one of the local deer (and lots of my dog) I thought I would share them here as well. I am hoping to get back into the swing of things with my “What I’ve seen this week” Sunday post very soon.

Until then, I hope you enjoy some images of Uganda and Kenya.

dsc_9372-edit — This image stirs up so much for me. I can almost smell the fever trees and the acacia and the scent of the elephants, I can almost hear the rumbles, the crunch of branches and chewing of leaves, I can almost feel the warm of the sunlight. Working on these images takes me right back and gives me a mini mental holiday 🙂

dsc_0137-edit — Three young male lions had taken down a wildebeest in the night, and shortly before I shot this, all three were still picking away at the carcass. There were a half dozen jackals hanging around, trying to figure out how to safely get close enough to grab a morsel or two. This one only took another step before turning away.

dsc_9851-edit — Witnessing a river crossing involves a lot of waiting, and then a lot of chaos in a short period of time. I’m looking forward to sharing more about this experience!

dsc_4453-edit — Just like human babies, the mountain gorilla infants that I saw were incredibly curious, and explored their world by touching everything.

dsc_9570-edit — A lappet faced vulture lays claim to a wildebeest carcass that looks to be little more than some fur and bones.

p1010245-edit — The repeating lines of tea fields near the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda.

October 7, 2016

2016-10-07: Feel Good Friday

I’ve seen secretary birds on my past trips to Southern Africa, but it seemed that I always encountered them either in terrible light, or at such a far distance they were little more than specks (or both!). This past trip I was spoiled for choice, and saw them several times in Uganda, and every day while in Kenya. It was very interesting to watch them high-stepping through the grass, looking for prey.

The difference good light makes is amazing. The same camera and lens combo was used for both photos.

This photo was from my trip last year to South Africa, and basically the best I could capture of a secretary bird.

A secretary bird strutting past our vehicle in Masai Mara National Park.

Happy Friday everyone!

September 25, 2016

2016-09-25: What I've seen this week

I returned home Monday night from a fabulous trip to Uganda and Kenya. While I’ve been spending the week trying to get back into my normal routine, I have had some time to edit a few photo from the trip. There will be lots more of photos (and stories) over the coming weeks and months. Here’s a sneak peak of what’s to come.

Enjoy your Sunday 🙂

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-14 — I saw an abundance of birds during a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel in Uganda.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-13 — A red-tailed monkey near my cabin in the Kibale Forest, Uganda.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-12 — Young giraffes playing. Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-11 — Young elephants playing in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-10 — A gerenuk reaching for the choicest leaves. Selenkay Conservancy, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-9 — Wildebeest crossing the Mara River. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-8 — Male cheetah, Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-7 — Wildebeest and gazelle silhouetted in the sunrise. Ol Kinyei Conservancy, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-6 — A young lion in the Selenkay Conservancy, Kenya.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-5 — Toti the chimpanzee giving us the finger! Kibale Forest, Uganda.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-4 — Ugandan Kob in the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-2 — It looks like this L’hoest’s monkey wants to go on a game drive with us. Bwindi, Uganda.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week — A pair of juvenile gorillas playing in the trees. Buhoma region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.

20160925_what-ive-seen-this-week-3 — Gorillas grooming each other. Buhoma region of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda.

September 4, 2016

2016-09-04: Cee's Photo Challenge Feathers

I noticed this challenge before taking off on holidays, and thought it would be a great chance to showcase a series of photos I had edited and saved in a folder titled water birds.

I hope you enjoy!

_DSC9777-Edit — An African darter drying its wings.

_DSC9698-Edit — An egret stalking in the shallows.

_DSC9668-Edit — A mixed group perched in a dead tree, including African spoonbills and sacred ibis.

_DSC7662-Edit — A grey heron standing very close to a nile crocodile.

_DSC7010-Edit — A brown hooded kingfisher.

_DSC6354-Edit — A pair of malachite kingfishers.

_DSC1470 — A pair of pied kingfishers in the Okavango Delta.

Please note, I’m away for several weeks, so I have scheduled some posts in advance. I will moderate and respond to any comments just as soon as I am able.

I am hoping to be taking loads of photos, so if you would like to follow along, please feel free to give my page a like on Facebook @jennifersawickyphotography and a follow over on Instagram at jensawicky.

Cee’s Photo Challenge: Feathers

August 30, 2016

2016-08-30: WPC Rare

I’m a couple days late with this one, but I thought rhinos were (sadly) an ideal subject for the topic of rare.

A fork tailed drongo flew by at the perfect moment in this photo, casting a beautiful shadow on the rhino.

WPC: Rare

June 5, 2016

2016-06-05: What I’ve seen this week

I spent some time Saturday morning watching the birds in the backyard, and happened to be at the right place at the right time to see a male and female western tanager pass through the yard. It was only the third time I’ve ever seen these birds, and the first opportunity to photograph, so needless to say, I was thrilled.

I had another interesting sighting earlier in the week; while out on my bike I spotted an interesting bird with a very long beak. After looking on my bird app, I figured it was likely a long-billed curlew, a first time I have seen the species. I hopped in the car with my camera to see if they were still in the area, and luckily managed a couple photos.

That’s enough of the chatter, I hope you enjoy the birds I have seen this week 🙂

20160605_What I've seen this week-9 — A dark-eyed oregon junco with her chicks. Even though the ground was full of sunflower seeds that I spilled earlier in the day whilst filling up feeders, the chicks still wanted Mom to feed them.

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20160605_What I've seen this week-4 — I was watching the hummingbirds with camera in hand when I saw a flash of yellow land behind some branches. I moved slowly to get a better vantage point, worried I would scare the bird off before getting to ID it.

20160605_What I've seen this week-10 — The male and female tanagers arrived at separate times and only stayed a minute or to. I was really lucky to have seen them.

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20160605_What I've seen this week-2 — A pair of long-billed curlews with a chick (mid photo far right). I was taking photos when pulled over on the side of the main road into my neighbourhood, so I didn’t spend any time adjusting settings; a couple quick photos then I was off.

May 23, 2016

2016-05-23: Monochrome Monday

20160523_Monochrome Monday — A northern flicker perched atop a power pole.

May 15, 2016

2016-05-15: Hornbills

I’m out of town this weekend, and got this post ready ahead of time, as I knew I wouldn’t be back in time to do my usual “What I’ve seen this week” post. I hope you enjoy this instead.

According to a quick Google search, there are 29 different hornbills in Southern Africa. So far, I’ve seen 5 of them. The variety of shapes and colours was the reason I wanted to create this post.

Now for the photos!