An American Avocet. According to my bird book, not resident in this area. About 500 km too far north, but maybe global warming is having an effect on its range. My book also says spotting one for the first time is an occasion for celebration. So, Ya-Hoo!

Posted by Linda Frey on Sun, 05/11/08 14:23
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Comments by Linda Frey on Sun, 05/11/08 14:26

A red-breasted merganser. Seemed to be hanging out with the avocets and some yellow-legs. It's supposed to have a green head, but looked mostly black to me.




Comments by Linda Frey on Sun, 05/11/08 14:27

Tundra swans.


Comments by Jan Bjorklund on Sun, 05/11/08 14:41

All striking images. I like the stillness of the water in the opening picture with the nearly mirror-like quality of the reflection of the American Avocet with the contrast between that of the bird and the blue water working to make the Avocet stand out strongly in the image. The red-breasted merganser looks a little unkempt with the spikey hair on the head. The picture of the Tundra swans is a beautiful capture with the near paintlike quality of the composition with both the field and the birch trees serving as a strong backdrop for the swans.


Comments by Pietro Cecchi on Sun, 05/11/08 15:23

Linda, what beautiful and striking images today... :)
The swans flight against the silky wood is awasome...
All delicious creatures...


Comments by DebbiK on Sun, 05/11/08 16:27

great captures, but the OP is stunning. I hope you celebrated in style. Happy Mother's Day!


Comments by Bill Leggett on Sun, 05/11/08 16:34

Well done, although a bit more lead-in space on the RHS would be nice. I've found that framing with a generous amount of space in the direction the bird is moving allows more options to crop for composition. Of course the subject doesn't always cooperate, but it works most of the time.


Comments by Alias on Sun, 05/11/08 18:22

not only a good day for birds
but a good day for photographing them
I especially like the avocet

crisp, clean, well lit, good color, with just enough movement
well done !
Ya-Hoo indeed !


Comments by Michael Meek on Sun, 05/11/08 23:44

Wow, the avocet is in full bloom. Our Kauai stilts don't color up like this and just stay black and white. My range map for the avocet shows the summer range well up into Alberta, maybe thirty-percent. How far north are you? The picture of swans against the birch trees and grasses is elegant and gorgeous. The muted colors effectively say that winter is lingering. Have the swans arrived too early this year?


Comments by John Long on Mon, 05/12/08 04:18

The OP is a superb bird shot Linda - and the swan picture is one I am envious of!


Comments by Linda Frey on Mon, 05/12/08 09:47

Thanks all, for commenting. Yes, Bill, I probably should have given the bird more space on the right, but I couldn't resist something more symmetrical this time.

The bird book says these birds are mostly gray when not in breeding plumage, so that does make them much more showy. We're about two-thirds of the way north in Alberta, Michael.

The swans do arrive quite early. But they are heading far north so probably find snow there for the first while, too. We first saw them on the twenty-first of April, when it was -13 C, and so windy it felt like -50. (Just my guess!) But they were sitting in the icy water, so must tolerate the cold quite well.

Here's a shot of the swans from last month:




Comments by Andre Meyer on Mon, 05/12/08 10:05

Am m m mazing. I love the OP. The clarity in the reflection is superb. Well done send some of those beautifull birds down south for us.


Comments by Steve Owen on Mon, 05/12/08 10:07

These are all very impressive--what a great reflection in the OP!


Comments by Alias on Mon, 05/12/08 11:42

I do see Bill's point, but "too tight" would not have been my reaction without his comment.
Is this full frame ?

Also, if you don't mind, could you be a little more specific about your location ?
http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/reference/provincesterritories/alberta/map.pdf

Not exactly planning to just drop in, ;-)
but I'd just like to know where my PC friends are.
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Comments by Tommy McGee on Mon, 05/12/08 12:10

They are all fantastic, Linda, especially the OP. What a lovely reflection. Great captures on all. The toning on the OP is very good... I love the way that the reddish-brown of the birds head fades into white on the body.


Comments by Linda Frey on Mon, 05/12/08 13:54

Yes, Alias, this was full-frame. The avocets didn't seem too frightened to have us approach. I did get a shot or two a bit off-center too, but liked this one better.

Here's the Google map of Lac Cardinal. It's a very shallow lake (some call it a slough) about five miles west of Grimshaw, where I live.


Comments by Maria Salvador on Mon, 05/12/08 16:11

Loving the OP. The clarity, the bright colors of the bird over the muted blue of the water and that great reflection do it for me! Also like very much that cute merganser.


Comments by Julie M. Dant on Mon, 05/12/08 20:51

Wow, LInda! What beauties these all are! The OP goes without saying as it is just superb. And the Swans in flight are my second pick..as mentioned before, it looks so much like a beautiful painting. I was getting ready to ask you when you went to the seashore! ;0)
You are so GOOD!! ;0)


Comments by G.B. SHETTLER on Mon, 05/12/08 21:49

...and wildlife photographer. NIce Birds !!


Comments by Tony Scheuhammer on Mon, 05/19/08 20:38

wow, great catch Linda!


Comments by Zach Custalow on Thu, 06/05/08 14:00

Good stuff linda!


Comments by Christopher Azzopardi on Sat, 07/12/08 04:24

Very beautiful! I like them all. You are lucky that you have such beautiful wild birds to photograph. In Malta such birds are not common to see.