Wildlife – Page 77 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

What did I see this week? The start of autumn! We’ve had frost several times now, and while it heats up as soon as the sun comes up, it certainly is chilly on my early morning walks with Spencer. I’ve even had to get out his sweater already. Hopefully there will be some lovely leaves changing colour in the coming weeks.

I had some interesting bird sightings this week, I hope you enjoy.

To me, it looks like these tree branches are trying to grab the moon.

I spotted some movement in the underbrush, and thought it might be a rabbit. Instead, it turned out to be a pair of ruffled grouse. The photo is lacking, but it was good enough to get an ID on the bird when I got home.

I was happy to get some photos in time to be able to ID this bird. As best as I can tell, it is a yellow-dumped warbler (Audobon's). There was a group of them handing around the yard. According to my bird app, our area is only part of their migratory route, so I guess I will be seeing them again in the springtime when they are ornate further north. — I was happy to get some photos in time to be able to ID this bird. As best as I can tell, it is a yellow-dumped warbler (Audobon’s). There was a group of them hanging around the yard. According to my bird app, our area is only part of their migratory route, so I guess I will be seeing them again in the springtime when they are on their way further north.

I spent some time today with the hairy woodpecker family (I posted a few photos of them last week as well). The light today was far better, and the birds were so much closer :) — I spent some time today with the hairy woodpecker family (I posted a few photos of them last week as well). The light today was far better, and the birds were so much closer 🙂

I believe this is one of the juveniles. The bird was on its own for most of the time I was photographing it. When I passed the spot I first saw it again on the way home from my walk, the whole family was together.

September 3, 2015

The Daily Post: From Every Angle

After seeing this challenge, I decided to go through the photos I took of fish eagles throughout my last trip to Southern Africa. I saw them from a lot of different vantage points, including from above, which is a unique way to watch birds.

I hope you enjoy!

Looking into the river, looking for the next meal. 1/1000sec, f10, ISO 400 — Looking into the river, looking for the next meal.
1/1000sec, f10, ISO 400

This juvenile fish eagle was perched in a tree across from my room. The branches in the background are distracting, but I couldn't ask him to move, and I didn't want to spend ages photoshopping them out. 1/32sec, f5.6, ISO100 — This juvenile fish eagle was perched in a tree across from my room. The branches in the background are distracting, but I couldn’t ask him to move, and I didn’t want to spend ages photoshopping them out.
1/32sec, f5.6, ISO100

The tilt of the head shows off the hooked book. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 100 — The tilt of the head shows off the hooked book.
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 100

An attempt at dinner as the light fades. This time, he was unsuccessful. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 6400 — An attempt at dinner as the light fades. This time, he was unsuccessful.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 6400

A view from behind.1/800sec, f7.1, ISO 800

Watching a fish eagle fly from above, during a helicopter tour of the Okavango Delta. 1/1000sec, f9.0, ISO 900 — Watching a fish eagle fly from above, during a helicopter tour of the Okavango Delta.
1/1000sec, f9.0, ISO 900

Capturing a fly by. 1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 160 — Capturing a fly by.
1/250 sec, f5.6, ISO 160

A pair of fish eagle perch along the river. 1/200sec, f7.1, ISO 200 — A pair of fish eagles perch along the river.
1/200sec, f7.1, ISO 200

Flying off into the sunset. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 2200 — Flying off into the sunset.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 2200

Daily Post Photo Challenge

August 30, 2015

2015-08-30: What I’ve seen this week

For some time, I have been wanting to have more structure to my blog posts, a schedule to keep me from posting three things in one day, then nothing for a week. This weekend, I think I have come up with a workable plan. So before I get on with the photos for today, I’ll fill you in on what to expect in the coming days and weeks.

Since I have moved, I have been a bit lazy getting out with my camera, concentrating instead on editing the mass of photos I brought back from my last trip. I’ve really been missing being out with my camera, so I am going to start a weekly Sunday post titled What I’ve seen this week. Hopefully with this I can get back to wandering around with the dog and my camera, getting pictures of the local birds (and hopefully some deer or a moose too!).

Some of the fabulous bloggers I follow regularly post Monochrome Monday and Wordless Wednesday posts, and I am going to add those two as regular items, as I always enjoy seeing what others come up with.

Tuesday and Thursday I will dedicate to creating posts for the photo challenge that interest me from that week.

Friday and Saturday I am going to leave free to post whatever I have felt like shooting or editing that week.

Please feel free to leave a comment as this progresses and let me know if the new, more structured format works.

Since I am doing some housekeeping, this is a perfect time to mention that I have signed on with Fine Art America. I still have my Smugmug account, and over the coming months, will determine if I will focus on one, or keep both. Links to the two sites are below. Any of the photos the I post here, that I have added to the sales site, will have a direct link included below the photo. As always, if there is something you are interested that I have not yet added, please let me know and I will make that happen.

Smugmug Sales Site

Fine Art America Sales Site

And with that, no one to the first instalment of What I’ve seen this week.

Wednesday was supposed to be a very strong evening for the aurora, but the near full moon made it very difficult to see much of anything. I did manage to catch a couple photos though.

The aurora and the light from the moon. 10 sec, f3.5, ISO 320 — The aurora and the light from the moon.
10 sec, f3.5, ISO 320

This morning I took my camera out while walking with Spencer, and as we were heading home, heard some vigorous chirping and turned back to see if I could see who was making all the noise. It turned out to be two juvenile and one adult hairy woodpecker. The sky was very dull and the light was really not in my favour, but it’s another new bird species for me.

That’s all for this evening. I hope everyone has had a great weekend.

August 25, 2015

Red Crossbill

We had a new bird in the yard yesterday, and after some searching, I believe it is a red crossbill (female). I wish the photos were a bit sharper, but I got these with my zoom fully extended from some distance away; I was more concerned with identification than having a perfectly sharp photo. The crossbill is a year round resident of my area, so hopefully I will get more opportunities in the future.

August 23, 2015

Weekly Challenge: Today Was a Good Day

The first thing I thought of when I saw this weeks photo challenge was seeing all of the big five in a single game drive.

It was our first game drive leaving from Chitwa Chitwa, and the first of the big five we came across were the elephants. We ended up in fairly dense bush amongst a large herd, and I know some of the other people in the vehicle were a little nervous of the proximity! At some points, we were completely surrounded by them (I was thrilled!!!)

A little too close for comfort for some of the people in our vehicle. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm. — A little too close for comfort for some of the people in our vehicle.
1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 1000, at 98mm.

The second we came across was the leopard. She was only steps away after we started moving away from the elephants. We followed her through the trees as well, and spent some time with her as she rested atop a termite mound.

A gorgeous leopard rests atop a termite mound. 1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600 — A gorgeous leopard rests atop a termite mound.
1/400sec, f8.0, ISO 5600

We stopped for a sundowner drink and spotted a group of 3 rhino in a mud wallow off in the distance. The light was fading, and the viewing was certainly better without the camera.

A crash of rhino enjoy an early evening mud wallow. 1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400 — A crash of rhino enjoy an early evening mud wallow.
1/100sec, f4.8, ISO 6400

Just as we were getting back into the vehicle after our drinks and snacks, Surprise our ranger pointed out a couple buffalo crossing the road off in the distance. The photo is awful, I knew it would be when I snapped it, but I thought I should take it as evidence of seeing 4 of the big 5 in a single drive.

Two buffalo cross the road, long after my camera was able to take a photo without a flash or spotlight!

As we were heading back to camp for dinner, we followed the tracks of some lions, and came upon them resting quite close to the camp. And with that, it was the big 5 all within the space of 3.5 hours! An absolutely amazing time.

A gorgeous lion rest in the early evening darkness. A female was close by as well. 1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400 — A gorgeous lion rest in the early evening darkness. A female was close by as well.
1/160sec, f6.3, ISO 6400

Of course, most people know by now that I am thrilled to view anything when on a game drive, from the smallest bird to the tallest giraffe and everything in between. Here are a few other interesting sights from that drive.

A chameleon that our tracker spotted while we headed back to camp. I don't think he was too thrilled with being pointed at, he has a rather sour look on his face. — A chameleon that our tracker spotted while we headed back to camp. I have no idea how they can see them in the pitch black from a moving vehicle, but it seemed to be a skill most of the trackers had! I don’t think the chameleon was too thrilled with being pointed at, he has a rather sour look on his face.

A yellow billed hornbill perched at sunset (or as my Dad calls them, a flying banana).

A pair of white backed vulture perched in the fading light. 1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100 — A pair of white backed vulture perched in the fading light.
1/200sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

Have a great day everyone!

Today Was a Good Day

August 23, 2015

Saddle-billed Stork

I just came across this photo of a saddle-billed stork, which I think is a stunning bird. I feel a bit mean now calling one of it’s relatives creepy (see this post if you missed it Photo Challenge: Creepy

August 20, 2015

CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE 2015 WEEK #33

Everyone should have figured out by now – I absolutely love photographing African animals!

For the which way challenge this week, a selection of animals blocking the way.

A group of male nyala block the winding way forward. Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015. 1/160sec, f8.0, ISO 4500 — A group of male nyala block the winding way forward.
Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015.
1/160sec, f8.0, ISO 4500

A mom and three young cheetah cubs block the road (as does a zebra, farther off in the distance). Phinda Private Game, May 2015 1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 1000 — A mom and three young cheetah cubs block the road (as does a zebra, farther off in the distance).
Phinda Private Game, May 2015
1/250sec, f7.1, ISO 1000

A crash of rhino at a bend in the road. Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 640 — A crash of rhino at a bend in the road.
Phinda Private Game Reserve, May 2015
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 640

CEE’S WHICH WAY CHALLENGE

August 18, 2015

Travel Theme: Mellow

I did a quick scan through my last batch of travel photos to find a few mellow shots to share.

I hope you enjoy!

20150818_Travel Theme- Mellow-3 — A leopard rests peacefully in a tree top near Baines Camp in the Okavango Delta. 1/800sec, f9.0 ISO 640

20150818_Travel Theme- Mellow-4 — A lion cub chills out as dusk descends on Phinda Private Game Reserve. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1600

20150818_Travel Theme- Mellow-5 — A group of cheetah cubs take a rest on the road after a hard days play. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

Travel Theme: Mellow

August 16, 2015

Photo Challenge: Creepy

I guess truth be told, I don’t find the maribou stork creepy per se. It’s more thinking back to kids stories about storks bringing home new babies. I can only imagine a small child seeing one of these birds after hearing one of those tales, and then spending time being terrified about what might actually show up at home.

Whether they are really creepy or not, here are a few photos of maribou storks, creeping through the Okavango Delta in search of dinner.