Tag: swans

Familiar Subjects – New Perspective

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Tips

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The migratory trumpeter and tundra swans are a familiar subject to me and my camera. Often, they stay at a distance to areas that they can be photographed from. The limitations become equipment and the cost of these longer lenses.

Today, I tested out my new lens. It’s a Tamron 150-600mm 5-6.3 lens, and it is amazing! The photographs in this post are taken today with this new lens. It allowed me to fill the frame with more bird and less environment. I was happy with the image stabilization of the lens. These images are taken hand-held.

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I think this one is my favorite of these two photos. This is un-cropped and a full-frame sensor camera body. The lens is at 600 mm. With my previous lens (Canon 100-400), the swan would be much smaller in the frame, and the environment would be a stronger element.

Sometimes, it takes new equipment to bring a fresh perspective to a familiar subject. I cannot wait to find the next flock of birds to photograph!

Happy Shooting. . .Karen

Migratory Birds are at the Skagit Flats

by karenulvestad, posted in Instruction, Location, Workshops

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.

copyright Karen Ulvestad

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.

copyright Karen UlvestadThere 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

copyright Karen Ulvestad

Birds – Eagles, Snow Geese, Swans & the Skagit Valley

by karenulvestad, posted in Uncategorized

Copyright Karen Ulvestad

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.

Copyright Karen Ulvestad

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