Máistir Nádúraí: Early Fall Nature Photography

9.28.2007

Early Fall Nature Photography

(click for larger image)

What a beautiful day! I had a little time to some nature photography this morning before work. I confess I haven't been doing all that much digiscoping lately. Sometimes it's simply more fun to observe birds (nature, too) and not worry about lugging the spotting scope and tripod around. In case you were wondering, most of the bird images appearing in my blog in the past few months are recycled from past seasons.

Outdoor Studio for Digiscoping

Since my Nikon Coopix 995 is starting to drop a few pixels, I decided to switch to the Coolpix 8400. I set up at one of my "outdoor studios" about 15 minutes before sunrise and birds were already zipping around in the dense habitat. This is a spot I often return to - it's been so productive, especially during the fall...many images in my digiscoping gallery were taken right here.

I saw (and heard) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Common Yellowthroats, White-throated, Lincoln's and Song Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Bluebirds, even a Wilson's Warbler. I don't chase them down in order to get a photograph – I line up on a particular zone and wait. After several minutes, the birds begin to adjust to my presence and go about their business. In the limited time I had, the only bird to pop up on one of the pre-selected perches was this Song Sparrow:

(click for larger image)

I'm still reluctant to retire the 995, but I suspect it's time to move from one discontinued digital camera to another one. I think I could get comfortable with the 8400 and make it my primary digiscoping camera.

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range rifles. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom Shop 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry.