Category Archives: Birds

Cedar Waxwings on the move…

What do you call a gathering of cedar waxwings?  A flock?  A flight? A pod? The Oxford English Dictionary lists these three options for birds in general but no term specific for cedar waxwings.  Today we were visited by a … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary | Leave a comment

Double Vision VI

Today we started Double Vision VI, an art show jointly sponsored by the All About Art Club and the Photography Club of Sun City-Hilton Head.  I chaired the setup committee and spent yesterday and today getting art panels moved from … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Turkey Vulture

The cold January weather and the unusual snow cover must have generated some grazing obstacles for our birds, and the traffic in our back yard has been as unusual as the weather.  I’ve seen a wood stork, several merganser ducks, … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary | Leave a comment

Pileated Woodpecker

The pileated woodpecker is one of the largest forest birds in the United States, being almost as large as a crow.  This woodpecker has distinctive markings, mostly black, some white, and a flaming red crest that is unmistakable in the … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Topaz Remask 5

Several years ago I took a marvelous close-up image of a great egret in full breeding colors during a trip to the Everglades.  This egret was almost tame and allowed me to get really close, so I was able to … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary, Software | Leave a comment

Herons I have known

Since coming to the Lowcountry I’ve expanded my circle of friends in the heron family.  Although I already knew the largest member of the family, I only recently became more closely acquainted with some of the smaller and less-well-known herons, … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary, Uncategorized, Wildlife Photography | 4 Comments

Snowy Egrets

We visited Fish Haul Beach Park yesterday afternoon, hoping to see some interesting birds or animals on the receding high tide.  It’s probably the wrong time of year for fiddler crabs and other tiny things, but we lucked into a … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Uncategorized, Wildlife Photography | Leave a comment

Cormorant Fishing in Sun City-Hilton Head

Recently The Atlantic ran a feature on the ancient Chinese custom of cormorant fishing.  Although now a dying art, Chinese fishermen have for thousands of years used trained cormorants to fish local lakes and rivers.  Today the practice is more … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary, Wildlife Photography | Leave a comment

Audubon Newhall Preserve

I visited the Audubon Newhall Preserve on Hilton Head Island Thursday, January 24, and while there I happened upon an anhinga having lunch.  As I approached the observation deck on the north bank of the pond I saw some movement … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary | 1 Comment

Gaussian Blur

I posted the photos of Charley the Bluejay on the CNPA web site asking for critique of the images, and fellow members and moderators offered the suggestion that the background was too busy with too much detail.  I agreed with … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Commentary | 1 Comment