BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY

STOPS ALONG THE WAY

Category Archives: Birds


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EASTERN SCREECH OWL

Screech Owl

Walking along one of our favourite trails we came across some photographers with their cameras pointed upwards. If there had been no one else on the trail we would have walked right by as the owl was silent and its colouring provided perfect camouflage. The eastern screech is a small owl with a big head and almost no neck and it seemed to fit snuggly in the cavity of the tree. Out of camera the owl and tree were quite dark. I made contrast and shadow adjustments and added luminance to give more definition to the sky (all done in Lightroom) to show off this fine little bird.


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FEMALE MALLARD

Mallard

The mallard’s mates were out of site and she captured my attention alone on the log.  I took this shot just as the duck had taken a drink from the lake, I think she looks kind of wistful! I made some contrast and exposure adjustments in Lightroom to brighten the photograph and enhanced the detail in Nik.


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COMMON GRACKLE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)

Common Grackle-1

The common grackle is a member of the blackbird family although larger with iridescent feathering and striking yellow eyes. Grackles are resourceful and opportunistic foragers. The two shots of this grackle were taken moments apart and show the difference a well lit subject can make to a photograph. In the first photo the position of the bird caught the light to advantage, showing off its spectacular colouring; less so in the second example as the bird changed position. However, capturing the bird with a snack in its bill added some interest and made up for the less than perfect lighting.

Common Grackle-2

 


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MALLARD ON THIN ICE

Mallard on Thin Ice

On the days when the wildlife in the nature reserve makes itself scarce, you can always count on some mallards to show up. They are a lively bunch and I enjoy their antics. While the majority migrate south during the winter months some remain. I took this photograph in mid-November as the ice was just beginning to form on the lake. The duck obliged for a few shots then walked over to an opening in the ice and swam away.


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NORTHERN CARDINAL

Cardinal

I spotted this cardinal in a dense grove of trees and waited for him to emerge. Away from feeders they are shy birds. Often all you see of them is a flash of crimson in the woods. I took many photographs before I got a clear shot not obscured by branches. The background was closer than I would have liked and a narrower depth of field wouldn’t have made much difference. Despite this I think the brilliant fellow stands out.


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SINGLE-MINDED HERON

Great Blue Heron

This is my first blog post.  I picked up a camera several years back as I thought it would add to my enjoyment of exploring the trails and green spaces that exist outside my front door.  It has done that and so much more.  Looking at the natural world through the lens of a camera gives me a new appreciation of light, context, detail and the story of the creatures I photograph.  I do my editing in Lightroom and Photoshop. Photography has meant learning new skills, all part of the journey.  I hope to see you along the way.

About the photo: the Great Blue Heron arrives in Ottawa as soon as the ice melts and usually remains until the ice returns. These birds were not seen in large numbers this year so when I caught sight of this heron I was pretty pleased. I was able to take a lot of shots as the bird was focussed on finding a meal. The conditions were ideal.  I stood on a small bridge close by which put me at eye level with the heron wading in the rushes.  The bird, the warm sunshine … I couldn’t ask for much more.