Wildlife – Page 86 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

September 23, 2014

Belted Kingfisher

A couple of weekends ago, I was out for my usual morning walk with Spencer when I finally had the chance to get some photos of the kingfisher that I have been seeing intermittently for the last year. The kingfisher was out along the river where I normally see the herons and ospreys, so I wasn’t able to get the crisp, clear shots I have been hoping for all this time. But, I had a great sighting, which is all that really matters to me!

While we were on our return along the dikes, the kingfisher was flying from one wooden post to the next, in the same direction we were headed. I tried a few shots each time she stopped at a different location, but the distance was the always just about the same, so there wasn’t much difference in the shots. Right near the end of the dike, I stopped to take one more shot, and managed to catch a sequence of the kingfisher diving, catching a small fish, dropping it, and then flying away.

September 22, 2014

World Rhino Day 2014

A pair of rhinos at Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa, April 2013.

September 1, 2014

Deer at Pitt River

It was a wonderful weekend for photography while out walking with the dog. I’ve got lots of photos to go through and edit 🙂

I spotted a deer along the river! It wasn't long before I realized there were two, resting in the grasses along the river. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5600 — I spotted a deer along the river! It wasn’t long before I realized there were two resting in the grasses along the river.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5600

I’ve only seen deer along the Pitt River a few times, and each time it has been on the far side of the dike, away from the river. Yesterday, I caught a pair of deer relaxing in the long grasses in the flats along the river. Once they caught sight of me, they didn’t stick around long, but it was lovely to have the chance to watch them for a few minutes.

The deer was definitely watching me to see if I posed any danger to it. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO3600 — The deer was definitely watching me to see if I posed any danger to it.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO3600

Always alert for danger - it was time to get on the move. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO6400 — Always alert for danger – it was time to get on the move.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO6400

The leader and the follower. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5000 — The leader and the follower.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO5000

Once they decided to head for cover, they did so with purpose. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO4000 — Once they decided to head for cover, they did so with purpose.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO4000

Wandering along the edge of the river, right towards the heron sitting on the stump. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2000 — Wandering along the edge of the river, right towards the heron sitting on the stump.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2000

After heading off along the bank of the river, both deer soon disappeared into a small clump of trees. 1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2200 — After heading off along the bank of the river, both deer soon disappeared into a small clump of trees.
1/500sec, f7.1, ISO2200

August 30, 2014

Cooper's Hawk

Today was a great day for bird watching out along the dikes while on my morning walk. I arrived a bit later than usual and ended up heading in a different direction to avoid following another walker with dogs that had arrived just before me (Spencer would not have been pleased with that scenario). The change in scenery worked out well though, as I saw heron, an eagle, a northern flicker and I was lucky enough to see a cooper’s hawk for the first time in many months. I managed a few shots while it hunted along the grassy edge of the river.

August 27, 2014

Even more wild dogs

Hopefully one day I will be lucky enough to see wild dogs again.

August 26, 2014

Wild Dogs

I recently had a request for some more wild dog photos, so I spent some time this evening going through the photos I took back in April 2013 when I was lucky enough to see them in Botswana. I had dismissed many of the photos when I originally took them, as the light was rather difficult, but what a difference a year makes. I have more skills in editing now, and am able to correct things that I wasn’t able to just a short time ago. I didn’t have time to go through all the photos I flagged this evening, so if you are a betting person, you can put money on the fact that you’ll see more of this group later in the week 🙂

Torn ears and a face full of flies. 1/400sec, f5.3, ISO1600 — Torn ears and a face full of flies.
1/400sec, f5.3, ISO1600

A group of wild dogs rests in the shade from the mid afternoon heat, at Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana. 1/500sec, f5.3, ISO1600 — A group of wild dogs rests in the shade, away from the mid afternoon heat, at Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana.
1/500sec, f5.3, ISO1600

I have no idea what they might have saw, heard, or smelled, but it certainly captivated the attention of the group. 1/640sec, f4.8, ISO800 — I have no idea what they might have saw, heard, or smelled, but it certainly captivated the attention of the group.
1/640sec, f4.8, ISO800

A wild dog heads away from the group. 1/1000sec, f4.5, ISO800 — A wild dog heads away from the pack.
1/1000sec, f4.5, ISO800

August 24, 2014

Great Blue Heron – Tree Pose

For some reason, seeing this heron perched on one leg reminded me of tree pose in yoga class.

A great blue heron perches on one leg atop a submerged log in the Pitt River. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO900 — A great blue heron perches on one leg atop a submerged log in the Pitt River.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO900

August 23, 2014

Robin Chicks

Just now while doing some work on the computer, I heard quite a bit of peeping from my open window. I’m used to having a robin in my little yard quite often, but today, she was here with her two chicks. I didn’t want to scare them away, so I wasn’t able to get Mom in the shot with the two youngsters; I was just glad I was able to get outside to take a few shots as through the window screen was not yielding great results!

All photos at 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO6400

August 23, 2014

Recreating a shot

A few weeks ago, I came across a heron perched on a water level post along the dikes, and while I was able to create an interesting silhouette from the photograph I took, it wasn’t at all how I had envisioned what the final image would look like. Since I had never seen a heron on that post before, I didn’t think it likely I would get the chance to try again for the shot I wanted, but it came only a week later. This time, I was able to approach slowly enough to shoot from a few different angles, and get some crisp shots of the heron.

August 21, 2014

Ospreys

Here are a few osprey photos from the past two weeks that I liked, but have only just had the chance to work on. They don’t really go together as a grouping, but I wanted to get them posted, as I am hoping to have some good sightings on the upcoming weekend 🙂

An osprey coming into land atop an electrical pole. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO140 — An osprey coming into land atop an electrical pole.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO140

An osprey perches atop an electrical pole. The first rays of sunlight were hitting the osprey directly, and I was shooting into the sun, making the colours washed out, and a black and white conversion a good choice. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO110 — An osprey perches atop an electrical pole. The first rays of sunlight were hitting the osprey directly, and I was shooting into the sun, making the colours washed out, and a black and white conversion a good choice.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO110

An osprey heads out over the Pitt River on a hazy summer morning. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO100 — An osprey heads out over the Pitt River on a hazy summer morning.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO100

A mother osprey with two (very large) chicks on a post in the Pitt River. The chicks called out constantly whenever the mother flew away. The small stretch of river I walk along regularly has been quite an osprey nursery, with several active nests. 1/1000sec, f10, ISO4500 — A mother osprey with two (very large) chicks on a post in the Pitt River. The chicks called out constantly whenever the mother flew away. The small stretch of river I walk along regularly has been quite an osprey nursery, with several active nests.
1/1000sec, f10, ISO4500