Máistir Nádúraí: Simply Cedar Waxwings

3.20.2010

Simply Cedar Waxwings

Mr. Forgetful failed to insert a compact flash card in his camera this morning before heading out to go birding and digiscoping at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Still, luck seemed to be on my side once I got back to my apartment. As I got out of my car, I noticed dozens of Cedar Waxwings feeding on various berry trees in the courtyard. I dashed upstairs to fetch a flash card, came down and went right to work. The best angle on the birds exposed my face to the wind, causing my eyes to water, which made it difficult to tell how good my focus was. While a few were a little blurry, I think I managed to get some pretty good shots!

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.