Tag: snow geese
Swans & Geese in the Skagit & Stilliguamish Deltas
Light is everything in bird photography! The time of day will affect the number and types of birds seen in flying overhead or feeding in the farm fields. The photo above is taken at dusk, and the birds are Trumeter Swans. Both Trumpeter and Tundra swans migrate and winter in the Skagit and Stilliguamish deltas.
During the hunting season, fewer Snow Geese are in these areas, due to hunters in the farm fields. During this time, there usually are many flocks of swans in the area. The easiest way to tell the difference is the length of the neck and color. Swans have longer necks, and snow geese have black wing-tips.
The birds in the photo above Snow Geese. These birds fly in flocks of a few individuals to several hundred. Later in the season (March – April), they gather by the thousands as they prepare for the long migation back to Wrangle Island in Russia. Annually, about 60,000 to 70,000 Snow Geese winter in the area.
Stanwood holds an annual festival celebrating the Snow Geese. It’s called the Port Susan Snow Goose Festival. This year, the dates are Febraury 25 and 26, 2017. I will be speaking on Sunday morning with a following field trip (optional). It is free!
I’ll leave you with one more photo. . .
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
“The Art of Photographing Birds” Feb 26, 2017 at 11 am – 12:30 pm, Registration Required
Finding Photographic Vision
It’s been an exploratory year for my photographic vision. I started shooting photography focused on sports, events, and people. There was always a landscape to photograph or an animal, so I followed my camera’s viewfinder. I filled it with images, and learned everything about my equipment. Photography is a continual learning adventure.
The last couple years have been filled with searching. At the beginning of this year, we lost 3 family members. Two were ill for a long time, and the other was a surprise. All my focus and energy had been spent on creating positive memories for my son with his grandfather. I have no regrets for the energy expended in this adventure. . .just gratitude for all the incredible time.
So finding photographic vision. . .
I choose to control every aspect of a photograph that is within my power to control. The camera is merely a tool to convey the scene, animal, bird, story, people, etc. in the manner the photographer sees it. The photographer is the artist, who shows the world their vision. The photograph below is a single image created in the camera. Since I shoot RAW files, I worked on it in Photoshop to create an image file to share with others or print. Equipment plays a part in an image like this. It is important to use a tripod to keep the camera and lens stable.
Much of this year, I’ve explored light, and refining my techniques for using it in my images. Above is soft, colorful, and flowing in composition. I experimented with exposure, white balance, and techniques.
Below is one of my favorite subjects. . .Snow Geese. This was taken on one of those perfect days in the field. The sky was sunny with billowing cloud formations. I think we ended up with most of the migratory birds (60,000 to 70,000) in the field in front of us. It was amazing to watch them fly in. It seemed like it would never stop. Then when it felt calm again, a Bald Eagle flew over head, and thousands of geese took to the air at one time. Their sound was amazing! I was about 25 feet from the edge of the flock. . .simply amazing!
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Migratory Birds are at the Skagit Flats
Last Saturday, I spoke at the Historic Concrete Theatre with 30+ people. The presentation went well, and the participants left with a greater understanding of photographing birds. The Skagit Valley from Newhalem in the mountains to Puget Sound is filled with migratory birds this year.
The last of the Chum Salmon run is happening on the Skagit River, and the last eagle count was 121 between Sedro Woolley and Newhalem. The high count this year was around 250 eagles. This area holds the highest numbers of migratory bald eagles in the lower 48 states (US).
There is one last weekend of the Skagit Eagle Festival. This weekend is filled with events. Most are located in Concrete or Rockport, along Highway 20.
The image above was taken this month in the Skagit Flats. These are Trumpeter Swans. This flock has both adult and immature birds. The adults are pure white, and the immature are gray. Currently, the swans are feeding between Highway 20, La Conner and west of the Skagit River. There are many flocks in the area, though not all are easy to photograph.
The Flats have more Bald Eagles this year. They are hunting Snow Geese and other migratory birds. The photo below is showing an eagle feeding on the remains of a Snow Goose. The geese seem to be in larger flocks this year. While we were watching this, two other eagles came in to feed. There was a conflict, though the light was too low to capture the interaction.
There is a visiting Snow Owl this year. This one (photo below) was resting on driftwood on the dike. There are several other birds on the Flats, including Short-earred Owl, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk and various migratory Sandpipers.
The presentation at the Skagit Eagle Festival went well. Here is a link to a short video clip of the photos used in the presentation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGSOvoIm2Q.
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Skagit Eagle Festival
The Skagit Eagle Festival takes place during the month of January. The event had many speakers, Native American events, float trips, and more. I will be speaking at the Concrete Theatre on January 19th from 12 pm to 1 pm, on photographing eagles and other wildlife.
This Festival comes at the peak of Bald Eagle migration to the Skagit River valley. The highest concentrations are from Concrete up to Marblemount along Highway 22. The photo at the end of this blog is from the Skagit Valley. Eagles congregate in the 100s.
The photo above was taken on Fir Island. It is where the Skagit River comes into Puget Sound. The Skagit Flats are home to resident Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, and other birds.
During the winter, the Skagit Flats become home to thousands of migratory birds. These birds include Tundra Swans, Trumpeter Swans, Snow Geese, various species of Sand Pipers, Ducks, and more. Often, these birds can be seen from the road, and at the wildlife refuge areas.
For more information, comes see my presentation on January 19th, or follow my series on The Examiner.
Happy Shooting. . .Karen
Birds – Eagles, Snow Geese, Swans & the Skagit Valley
I am often asked where I find birds to photograph. I have spent a number of years traveling, and documenting the birds I see. I have notes that I refer to every year, that lists where a certain species of bird is most likely to be found, and the time of year to look for them.
One of my favorite places to go in the winter is the Skagit Valley, either into the mountains or out onto the flood plains (the flats). The amount of migratory bird life in incredible.
Through the months of December to April, thousands of Snow Geese remain in the Skagit Valley. They feed on the winter cover crops that are planted by the farmers. The pristine farmland becomes covered with these large flocks, and give photo opportunities to professional and amateur photographers.
Along with the Snow Geese are Tundra and Mute Swans. All three of these species migrate down from the arctic for the winter. The summer months are spent raising young, in the short arctic summer.
Other birds that may be seen in the winter are Snowy Owls (depending on their food supply), Short Earred Owls, Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, Sand Pipers, Great Blue Heron and more.
Through-out the area, bald eagles migrate down from Alaska and British Columbia for the salmon runs on the Skagit River. These beautiful birds can be seen in large number in the mountains along Highway 20, and other roads along the river. Also, the eagles can be found closer to Puget Sound in the Skagit flats.
This past weekend, we discovered an area along the river by the small town of Concrete with 15-20 eagles at a time. There were both mature and immature eagles roosting in the trees, and flying over the river hunting salmon.
The eagles usually start leaving, and returning North in February. . .
More Later. . .Karen