Spiderwort
Here are a couple wildflower images taken with my new Tamron AF 60mm f/2.0 macro lens. It's a keeper! Originally, I was going to go with Nikon's 60mm macro, but it's f/2.8. When testing the two lenses at The Camera Company last week, I thought the Tamron lens rendered slightly better results. They're both around the same price. Keep in mind that the Nikon 1 V1 has a 2.7x crop factor, so it's effectively a 162mm macro setup. I can't wait to try it out on tiger beetles and robber flies at Spring Green Preserve. Now that I have this macro lens I've finally retired my Nikon Coolpix 4500 for good.
Spiderwort
Brown Thrasher
While photographing the Spiderwort, chip notes from a Brown Thrasher caught my attention. The thrasher was carrying a millipede in its bill, so I surmised it must have a nearby nest. A quick switch from my macro lens to the Swarovski TLS APO and I'm ready to digiscope. I got a couple of nice shots but didn’t stay long. I could tell the thrasher was concerned about me watching where it was going to deliver the food. I walked around the hill and out of sight so it could go about its business of feeding its young.
Brown Thrasher
These images are not cropped. It isn't easy framing a songbird with such a long tail!
Cream Wild Indigo
Tree Swallow
Swamp Sparrow
I recently spent a few hours at the North Fork marsh hoping a Sora would venture into view, but only Swamp Sparrows were photographically cooperative. Actually, they were busy chasing away Marsh Wrens. The wrens will actually destroy eggs of other birds, so I can understand why the Swamp Sparrows were fairly agitated by their presence in the cattails. Both species are abundant at the marsh this spring and I'm pretty impressed with the bird diversity this part of the conservancy has attracted during the past few years. Even a Virginia Rail was found at the marsh earlier this spring.
Swamp Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Quite a remarkable looking sparrow when seen up close!
All images © 2013 Mike McDowell