Winged Wednesday 10.30.2024

[Eric Gofreed]

Thank you to everyone who posts to Winged Wednesday and everyone who comments.
My contribution is a sequence of 7 shots selected from a 20-photo series of a Ringed Kingfisher. The Ringed Kingfisher is the largest in the Americas, measuring about 16 inches in length with a wingspan of approximately 24 inches. Its range stretches from the southern United States through Central America and well into South America. Known for its distinct, loud, rattling call, this bird often makes its presence known before it’s even seen.

A stoke or two after launching showing his ventral feathers

Next wingbeat showing the dorsal feathers

Leveling off and tracking the fish

In full dive

He has turned slightly and honed in on the fish

Impact

He emerged with his fish. I watched him eat this white piranha for 20 minutes, and I'll eventually share those photos.

 

[Trent Watts]

That must have been a real thrill to see and capture this sequence Eric. The colours of this bird are really displayed in your photos.

 

[larryj]

Wow Eric that is an incredible series of shots, thank you so much for sharing them with us. Those images were real eye candy for wildlife shooters like me!

 

[Trent Watts]

Yesterday was a true delight for birding. Two friends were heading out to look for Whooping cranes and invited me along. One friend has been to this location 5 times in the last month and knows where the Whoopers hang out. We saw approximately 120 birds in total so it was a very successful outing. There are a total of 536 birds in this migratory flock. They nest in Wood Buffalo National Park and migrate through Saskatchewan on the way to their winter grounds in Texas. Seeing these 2 flocks of 50 Plus birds was really a thrill. We were never able to get close to them so the shots are cropped heavily so not the clearest. The Whooping Crane story is quite remarkable as the birds were down to a total of 22 in 1942. There are now 831 in total in the world including the known migratory, non-migratory and captive birds.

This male with the grey, red, grey leg band has been seen many times before. There is also a female and a colt (young Whooper) in the picture.

Closer view of the leg band and I think some kind of transponder or tracking device.

This colt was not banded at the breeding grounds.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Yesterday was a true delight for birding. Two friends were heading out to look for Whooping cranes and invited me along. One friend has been to this location 5 times in the last month and knows where the Whoopers hang out. We saw approximately 120 birds in total so it was a very successful outing. There are a total of 536 birds in this migratory flock. They nest in Wood Buffalo National Park and migrate through Saskatchewan on the way to their winter grounds in Texas. Seeing these 2 flocks of 50 Plus birds was really a thrill. We were never able to get close to them so the shots are cropped heavily (except for the birds in flight). The Whooping Crane story is quite remarkable as the birds were down to a total of 22 in 1942. There are now 831 in total in the world including the known migratory, non-migratory and captive birds.

View attachment 77005

This male with the grey, red, grey leg band has been seen many times before. There is also a female and a colt (young Whooper) in the picture.
View attachment 77006

Closer view of the leg band and I think some kind of transponder or tracking device.
View attachment 77007

This colt was not banded at the breeding grounds.
View attachment 77008

WOW!!! I have seen a pair of Whooping cranes at a distance twice. I envy your sightings and your photographs. High marks, Trent

 

[Trent Watts]

WOW!!! I have seen a pair of Whooping cranes at a distance twice. I envy your sightings and your photographs. High marks, Trent

Thanks Eric.. It was a pretty special day.

 

[larryj]

A few Blue Heron images from my archive:

Blue heron bring a stick for the nest.

Female blue heron works on nest and the male is about to fly off the get more materials for the nest.

Blue heron hiding in plain sight!

 

[Eric Gofreed]

A few Blue Heron images from my archive:

Blue heron bring a stick for the nest.

Female blue heron works on nest and the male is about to fly off the get more materials for the nest.

Blue heron hiding in plain sight!

Superb heron photography, Larry. GBH are magnificent birds and a joy to photograph

 

[murali]

 

[Eric Gofreed]

View attachment 77012

that's a great bald eagle photo, Murali. Highest compliments

 

[AlanLichty]

Wow - these are some tough acts to follow. Beautiful wing posts so far.

My offering for today is a shot of a young crow on a branch next to its mother. The young one is on the right.

 

[Jeffrey]

A Pelican peacefully gliding by me on a recent morning.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Thank you to everyone who posts to Winged Wednesday and everyone who comments.
My contribution is a sequence of 7 shots selected from a 20-photo series of a Ringed Kingfisher. The Ringed Kingfisher is the largest in the Americas, measuring about 16 inches in length with a wingspan of approximately 24 inches. Its range stretches from the southern United States through Central America and well into South America. Known for its distinct, loud, rattling call, this bird often makes its presence known before it’s even seen.

View attachment 76999
A stoke or two after launching showing his ventral feathers

View attachment 77000
Next wingbeat showing the dorsal feathers

View attachment 77001
Leveling off and tracking the fish

View attachment 76998
In full dive

View attachment 77002
He has turned slightly and honed in on the fish

View attachment 77003
Impact

View attachment 77004
He emerged with his fish. I watched him eat this white piranha for 20 minutes, and I'll eventually share those photos.

Incredible series, Eric.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

A Pelican peacefully gliding by me on a recent morning.

View attachment 77016

Very nice, Jeffrey.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Yesterday was a true delight for birding. Two friends were heading out to look for Whooping cranes and invited me along. One friend has been to this location 5 times in the last month and knows where the Whoopers hang out. We saw approximately 120 birds in total so it was a very successful outing. There are a total of 536 birds in this migratory flock. They nest in Wood Buffalo National Park and migrate through Saskatchewan on the way to their winter grounds in Texas. Seeing these 2 flocks of 50 Plus birds was really a thrill. We were never able to get close to them so the shots are cropped heavily so not the clearest. The Whooping Crane story is quite remarkable as the birds were down to a total of 22 in 1942. There are now 831 in total in the world including the known migratory, non-migratory and captive birds.

View attachment 77009

View attachment 77005

This male with the grey, red, grey leg band has been seen many times before. There is also a female and a colt (young Whooper) in the picture.
View attachment 77006

Closer view of the leg band and I think some kind of transponder or tracking device.
View attachment 77007

This colt was not banded at the breeding grounds.
View attachment 77008

What a wonderful experience this must have been, Trent. You did a great job with what you had to work with.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Here is my humble offering after seeing all of the great images above. This Cooper's Hawk picked off a bird in my backyard and proceeded to have lunch on a fence post in my side yard where I could peek around the corner of my garage to photograph him. You can see that he wasn't happy with me.

 

[Roger Bailey]

Short Eared Owl looking for Prey

 

[Eric Gofreed]

A Pelican peacefully gliding by me on a recent morning.

View attachment 77016

Excellent!!!

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Here is my humble offering after seeing all of the great images above. This Cooper's Hawk picked off a bird in my backyard and proceeded to have lunch on a fence post in my side yard where I could peek around the corner of my garage to photograph him. You can see that he wasn't happy with me.

View attachment 77021

Great shot of the Cooper's Hawk, Doug! One of the best things about bird photography is how often these stunning creatures come to us.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Short Eared Owl looking for PreyView attachment 77024

Highest compliments, Roger. I wish I had taken this photo!