Brown Pelican

Brown Pelican -- Crab Cove, Alameda, CA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 1/800s, f/5. ISO:100

If you have any experience trying to shoot birds in flight with a point-and-shoot camera, I think you'll appreciate what an incredible shot this is.  So many things had to go right for this to come out as well as it did, none of which I had much control over and not the least of which was a pelican had to fly almost right over my head at a very low altitude.

For a while there this was probably my best wildlife photograph.  This still might be my best pelican image.  Many of the other top contenders were also taken with my old SX40.

For the record, this is the first photo of mine actually improved by blogger's image auto-tuning.  The tones in the sky are better than the original.  I still wish they'd mind their own business.

Hoh River

Hoh River, Olympic National Park, WA
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS, 1/250s, f/4, ISO: 200

There is a bald eagle somewhere in the trees in this picture.  I was following the bird with my camera but it had landed on one of the trees by the time I snapped the shot.  So, yeah, not the most exciting of images but I do love this river.

Photo selection inspired by Geogypsy's Foto Friday Fun 101, photo #8888.

San Luis Wetlands

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/800s, f/5, ISO: 100

Not much to say here.  This is the kind of scene that's pretty common at the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.  Looking at a picture like this can bring calm when I find myself tensing up.  I imagine if you're a duck it might not seem quite so serene considering the usual high density of harriers and hawks, but to me this is the essence of tranquility.

Roadways: Capitol Reef's Scenic Drive

Scenic Drive, Capitol Reef National Park, UT
Canon PowerShot SD770 IS, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO: 80

Capitol Reef is probably the least well-known of Utah's national parks, and I'm both surprised and a little awed by that fact.  I've also been to Zion and Bryce Canyon, and of the three I'd have to say Capitol Reef was my favorite.  That makes me wonder what Canyonlands and Arches have in store for me on some future visits, because I think they're both more popular destinations than Capitol Reef, and if so they must be truly spectacular.  Zion and Bryce Canyon were pretty amazing also, I just didn't spend much time in Zion and Bryce was a bit too crowded for my liking.  It's easy to get away from the crowds in Capitol Reef, though (a lot like Death Valley in that regard) , and the views are unforgettable.

I spent a single night at Capitol Reef a couple of years ago.  I arrived in the early afternoon, snagged the last available camping spot, then spent the rest of the daylight hours seeing as much of the park as I could.  If I knew then what I know now I'd have spent an extra night at Capitol Reef and cut my time at Bryce Canyon shorter.  Well, then again I had some cool adventures at Bryce, so maybe not.

I kind of think all of Southern Utah should be one big park.  That place is amazing.

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal -- Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, EF-S 55-250mm IS II, 1/2000s, f/5.6, ISO: 500

I wouldn't say blue-winged teals are common at Arrowhead Marsh, at least not in places where they're easily photographed.  Every once in a while they'll appear somewhere near the shoreline.  I try to take a lot of picture when they show up. after all they're such pretty little ducks.  These two were part of a group of eight or so that were hanging out in December.  I had a couple of mornings with them but had mixed luck with the shots.  I was experimenting with different camera settings.  I think I got this one in sports mode, the old standby for shooting birds.

Sunrise at Jackson Lake

Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, WY

Canon PowerShot SD770 IS, 1/100s, f/8, ISO: 60

I'm itching to get on the road.  I'm hoping to make a big trip this summer, which means I'll probably forego the short trips I've been making in spring.  It will be worth it if I can get back to Colorado and Wyoming.  I may have gone stir crazy by July though.  Hopefully I'll have my kayak in these waters in a few months.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland, CA
Canon EOS Rebel T5i, 1/320s, f/5.6, ISO: 100

I'm a little under the weather, so just a quickie today.  Bird.  Lawn.  Estuary in the background.  Enjoy.