prince george – Page 9 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

November 30, 2015

2015-11-30:Monochrome Monday

November 29, 2015

2015-11-29: What I’ve seen this week

Cold temperatures and sunny skies this week have made for a some beautiful walks. I was delighted Tuesday to see a pileated woodpecker for the first time in a few years; I was even happier when it decided to fly from the thicker trees to an electrical post, and perch in the sunlight long enough for me to take a few photos.

I hope you enjoy my selections from this week – have a great evening!

20151129_What I've seen this week-11 — There was a light breeze this morning blowing snow and frost off the roofs and tree branches, and when you looked into the sun, the sky was glittering. I captured a little of it, but trying to freeze that in time really didn’t do the moment justice. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 900

20151129_What I've seen this week-12 — Simply a beautiful day 🙂

20151129_What I've seen this week-9 — I took a quick trip to Vancouver this weekend; this was a snap out the window with my cellphone.

20151129_What I've seen this week-10 — Coming into land in Vancouver.

20151129_What I've seen this week-2 — The rising sun illuminating the wingtips of a passing crow.

20151129_What I've seen this week — I absolutely love the light on the underside of the crow’s wing. 1/500sec, f6.3, ISO 500

20151129_What I've seen this week-3 — Climbing up the post.

20151129_What I've seen this week-5 — A beautiful pileated woodpecker on such a convenient perch.

20151129_What I've seen this week-4 — Climbing to the top of the post.

20151129_What I've seen this week-6 — A bit cluttered with all the components and wires, but it does give a better ideal of this woodpecker’s size (around the size of a crow).

20151129_What I've seen this week-7 — I didn’t zoom out in time, and cut off the wings, but I included this anyways because I think the sunlight coming through the wingtips is just too beautiful not to share.

November 22, 2015

2015-11-22: What I’ve seen this week

This will be a brief one, as I haven’t taken many photos this week. I’ve seen a few interesting things that didn’t translate into photographs though; like the tracks of a moose passing through my yard (and from what I can see of the hoof print and the stride, a large one as well).

My Tamron lens is back from sick bay, and I am hoping I will get a chance or two this week to take it out on my walks and see if it is working properly again. The extra reach will be nice as the grosbeaks seem to be just a little too far away a lot of the time to get any photos.

Have a wonderful evening – hopefully I will have more to share next week!

20151122_What I've seen this week-2 — Spencer has been having a lot of fun zipping around the yard after our walks, playing in the small amount of snow we currently have.

20151122_What I've seen this week-3 — Sunset is happening really early these days – this was just after 4pm! Some beautiful colours peeking through from behind the evergreens.

20151122_What I've seen this week — A female pine grosbeak hopping between branches, working on the pinecones. I’m hoping one day I’ll see one of the brightly coloured males in light like this; it was such a beautifully sunny day! 1/500sec, f6.3, ISO220

November 16, 2015

2015-11-16: Monochrome Monday

I'm always thrilled when I come across a silhouette opportunity, especially with birds! A pine grosbeak does a funny hop & flap to move from one tree to the next. His or her friends were not far behind. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 800 — I’m always thrilled when I come across a silhouette opportunity, especially with birds! A pine grosbeak does a funny hop & flap to move from one tree to the next. His or her friends were not far behind.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 800

November 15, 2015

2015-11-15: What I’ve seen this week

I’ve been having a wonderful time watching the birds discover the feeders in the yard over the last week. So far, I have seen grey jays, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and flickers visiting. Perhaps there are more as well, that are visiting when I don’t happen to be looking out the window.

Of course, I’ve been taking my camera out on walks as well, but most of the photos this week are from the backyard.

I hope you enjoy, have a great evening!

I love the expression of this little black capped chickadee, waiting for its turn on the feeder below. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 2200 — I love the expression of this little black capped chickadee, waiting for its turn on the feeder below.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 2200

A pair of red breasted nuthatches frequent the feeder, always taking turns and coming one at a time. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 4000 — A pair of red breasted nuthatches frequent the feeder, always taking turns and coming one at a time.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 4000

I started noticing the hairy woodpecker at the suet feeder towards the end of the week. I wish I knew if this was part of the family I have been seeing at the end of my road. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1100 — I started noticing the hairy woodpecker at the suet feeder towards the end of the week. I wish I knew if this was part of the family I have been seeing at the end of my road.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 1100

The best I have captured so far of the pine grosbeaks in the area. They are always in fairly large flocks and very vocal - and they don't like to keep still! 1/400sec, f6.3, ISO 1400 — The best I have captured so far of the pine grosbeaks in the area. They are always in fairly large flocks and very vocal – and they don’t like to keep still!
1/400sec, f6.3, ISO 1400

A black billed magpie calls out to its friends on a beautifully sunny afternoon. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 140 — A black billed magpie calls out to its friends on a beautifully sunny afternoon.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 140

A pair of black capped chickadees on clean up duty. They've spilled so many sunflower seeds the last couple days, I might just have to take the feeder away for a few hours to encourage them to tidy up! 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 250 — A pair of black capped chickadees on clean up duty. They’ve spilled so many sunflower seeds the last couple days, I might just have to take the feeder away for a few hours to encourage them to tidy up!
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO 250

This was the first flicker I saw visiting the suet feeder; I was so excited I tried taking pictures out the window. When looking through the photos from the week this morning, I realized I've had at least 3 different individuals visiting :) 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 3200 — This was the first flicker I saw visiting the suet feeder; I was so excited I tried taking pictures out the window. When looking through the photos from the week this morning, I realized I’ve had at least 3 different individuals visiting 🙂
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 3200

This flicker has some red cheek markings, but not as large as the other one. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 6400 — This flicker has some red cheek markings, but not as large as the other one.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 6400

A male flicker dining on some suet cake.

This flicker has no visible cheek markings at all - a female coming to visit. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO6400 — This flicker has no visible cheek markings at all – a female coming to visit.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO6400

Not the sharpest photo, but I included it for anyone that hasn't had the pleasure of seeing a northern flicker in person. I find them to be so stunning, and the orange colour that shows up when flying is so beautiful. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 6400 — Not the sharpest photo, but I included it for anyone that hasn’t had the pleasure of seeing a northern flicker in person. I find them to be so stunning, and the orange colour that shows up when flying is so beautiful.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO 6400

November 8, 2015

2015-11-08: What I’ve seen this week

I’ve been on my computer far too much today, so I will keep this brief. Unfortunately the most interesting thing I saw this week, two large flocks of bohemian waxwings, was when I didn’t have my camera with me… however, it was awesome to see and hopefully the next time they are passing through town, I will be ready! I also saw a smaller group of pine grosbeaks, but they were at such a distance and it was so foggy, that the photos aren’t even worth editing. On a more positive note, my D610 has returned from the journey to the service centre, seemingly good as new, so I am a happy Jen.

With that, the few photos I’ve selected to share this week. Enjoy, and have a great evening.

Even with a house in the background and the fog, this is still the best photo I have managed so far of a ruffled grouse!

I finally decided to get some food out for the birds, now that the daily highs are in the low single digits (celsius). The first visitor I had was totally new to me, a grey jay.

The grey jay kindly tidying up some dropped seeds. There was actually a pair of them, but only one fed at a time.

November 2, 2015

2015-11-02: Monochrome Monday

A raven (or a really, really big crow) calls out on a grey, snowy day. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1600 — A raven calls out on a grey, snowy day.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1600

November 1, 2015

2015-11-01: What I’ve seen this week

I was driving home from a morning trip into town, thinking that I would have nothing to post for this week, as it had been a slow week for both bird and animal sightings, and I already posted the lone landscape photo I liked for my monochrome Monday shot… and about the lack of a Wordless Wednesday post… I kinda forgot what day it was – oops.

Just as I was about to turn onto my street, I noticed something perched on a fence post at the end of the road; I couldn’t quite believe my eyes as it was an owl (at noon no less). I stopped in the middle of the road to watch for a moment, and then hurried home to grab my camera and the dog. I drove back up hoping I might be lucky enough for it to still be there, and it was. I managed to get the car into a great position without causing and ruffled feathers, and sat for about 10 minutes snapping photos before I decided to head off, as the dog needed a walk. It was rainy and miserable though and other than doing what was necessary, Spencer wasn’t too keen to stay out long, so I decided to take another drive and see if the owl was still there. This time I stayed longer, and managed to see a couple failed hunting attempts before I headed back home.

I’m really happy with how well the photos turned out despite the weather, but even more, I’m very grateful to have had such a cool, and unexpected, afternoon with wildlife.

I hope you enjoy the photos!

She showed off all angles while I happily snapped away.

Watching the ground for mice and other critters. Based on the leftovers I have been seeing on the road the last few days, she is fairly successful.

I love the angle on this photo, and the streaking raindrops in the background. 1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 800 — I love the angle on this photo, and the streaking raindrops in the background.
1/400sec, f5.6, ISO 800

If you look closely, you will see that there are remnants of another bird stuck in the fencing.

After watching the grass along the roadside intently, she launched off, but sadly did not make a catch. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000 — After watching the grass along the roadside intently, she launched off, but sadly did not make a catch.
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000

I included this only to show the beautiful variation in the feathers. Unfortunately the photo is blurry, a combination of too slow a shutter speed (due to the light) and user focusing issues!

Coming back in to land after an unsuccessful hunt.

A bit of post flight grooming and fluffing of feathers.

With this, she was off again and we left her in peace. 1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000 — With this, she was off again and we left her in peace. By the way, look at those talons!!!
1/500sec, f5.6, ISO1000

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October 26, 2015

2015-10-26: Monochrome Monday

Yesterday afternoon there were 3 leaves clinging to the top of this tree. After the snowfall this morning, only a lone leaf remains. Autumn is quickly giving way to winter. 1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO500 — Yesterday afternoon there were 3 leaves clinging to the top of this tree. After the snowfall this morning, only a lone leaf remains.
Autumn is quickly giving way to winter.
1/1000sec, f5.6, ISO500

October 25, 2015

2015-10-25: What I’ve seen this week

This week has seen a fair bit of rain and fog in my area, so I didn’t take my camera out with me as much as I would like. When I did, much of what I tried to shoot suffered from poor light and a lot of noise. So, just a few pictures this week to share, all taken today.

I was happy to see the northern shrike again, and this time, have my camera at the ready. This one is a juvenile based on the plumage. — I was happy to see the northern shrike again, and this time, have my camera with me. This one is a juvenile based on the plumage.

Another view of the northern shrike. If it hadn't been for a sizeable flock of other birds that caught my attention (finches or sparrows, or perhaps the crossbills) I wouldn't have even noticed this lovely bird. — Another view of the northern shrike. If it hadn’t been for a sizeable flock of other birds that caught my attention (finches or sparrows, or perhaps the crossbills) I wouldn’t have even noticed this lovely bird.

The three birds posed in the treetops are part of a much larger group that were pecking at the pinecones. With the fog, I wasn't able to make a species ID. — The three birds posed in the treetops were part of a much larger group that were pecking at the pinecones. With the fog, I wasn’t able to make a species ID.