Cedar Waxwing takes flight
Nature feeds my Soul a divine feast of discovery and serenity. ~ Lee Hiller
Love to ALL!
Lee
HSNP Goat Rock Trail Chipmunk
HSNP Whitetail Deer Fawn
HSNP Upper Dogwood Trail Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly On Birds Foot Violet
The squirrel leaping and robins in take off mode were captured the morning of my water photos for Blogging U #photo101 – Water and Orientation. Since then I have been thinking I needed to blog about the energy of motion in wildlife. Thankfully motion has turn my thoughts into action. The slideshow is a before and after showing the flow of energy in multiple beings.
The one that got away during lift off, leaping, running, flight etc. Elements of energy when photographing wildlife can represent both beauty and frustration. Wanting desperately to capture the perfect shot before they disappear and instead you only have their vanishing act. Perfection for me is both elements of energy. Building energy seen a crouch or expression of imminent flight followed by an explosion of energy in the lift off, leap or rapid turn.
Birds often provide both the still and motion blur on take off or during landing. Their wings and or legs becoming an independent focal element from the rest of their body. The strength of House Sparrows from the blog Street Fighters Flipping the Bird or their mating grace Happy Spring 2014 – Sparrows Dance of Life. A Pine Warbler dive bombing a White Throated Sparrow on a snowy trail. Elegant stretch of the wing by a Mourning Dove and the power wing extension of a Hawk.
Note the powerful reaction and energy in the robin barely out of the nest on take off. The force of wing action of both the juvenile Mockingbird and Pileated Woodpecker. Even the tiny fawn spins around with speed and rotation. The young use the energy to ensure their survival.
The only time I have been flustered photographing birds up close was early on during a morning hike. I was photographing the bark on a nearby Tree and a Vulture landed in frame. It was a huge surprise wings open as it came up from the Forest floor. I cannot imagine how it maneuvered in the close confines of the Forest. There I was close-up with my old Sony Cybershot in the drizzle looking a this massive bird. Did you know they build ground nests?
When an ice storm hits the birds flock in to have a spa day at the hot water cascade in Hot Springs National Park. They queue up on ice covered branches and rocks awaiting their turn to stand in the hot mineral water and drink.
Love to ALL!
Lee
Lovely birds flocked to Hot Springs National Park on February 05 2015. Only minutes on the first Trail I spotted a Female Cardinal plus a mixed flock of Robins and Cedar Waxwings. All were enjoying the berry laden Trees. On the Short Cut Trail several Male cardinals were crisscrossing the trail. A blur of red in the bright morning sun.
At the top of Hot Springs Mountain a mixed flock of Eastern Bluebirds and Pine Siskins land on a Tree next to me. It was the first time I had seen either of these birds in a flock. They hung on the side of the Tree fighting for pecking position in the mossy areas.
Bird song filled Hot Springs Mountain Trail during my hike around the mountain. Juncos, Pine Warblers, Sparrows and Yellow-Rumped Warblers created a beautiful sight with a delightful chorus as they traveled in mixed flock.
When I was changing my camera battery a sweet little Hermit Thrush landed on a branch near my shoulder. It appeared curious watching me closely as I zipped up my pack. A perfect end to a hike that was for the birds 😉
Love to ALL!
Lee
In 2009 when I began my foray into Nature photography I was not a birder. When I began hiking in Hot Springs National Park during the winter of 2009-2010 Birds became my companions. Even in the harshest weather Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Sparrows, Mockingbirds and Pine Warblers were with me along each trail. In those early days of hiking I only had my 5-year-old Sony Cybershot and each clear shot of a moving bird felt like a miracle. I used to call my camera the “Magic Box” as often I had no clue what I had captured until I returned home and scoured the Internet for bird identification.
To get better shots of the many beautiful birds I would stand out-of-sight in the pagoda on Hot Springs Mountain. One morning in February of 2010 as I was looking out over the valley when I heard loud squawking on the lawn below. I glance down and saw a flock of Robins grabbing at seeds and in the melee were smaller Birds holding their own. The Lovely Creatures of the Forest on the Hot Springs Trails I realized they were the same type of Bird I had seen briefly in January.
The exotic markings on the Cedar Waxwing made me take a second look all Birds. I began to see them all with a greater appreciation for their unique and individual beauty. Nature’s winged artistry.
Love to ALL!
Lee
Hike Our Planet - @HikeOurPlanet 