Canada Geese At Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Canada Geese at Blackwater NWR: Canon 7D- 28-135mm 5.6 EF at 35mm- 1/400 sec. f 5.6-ISO 400

February can yield many excellent photo opportunities, but sometimes one must travel to find them. Last year my brother Coy and I made two trips to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. So far we have been able to go this year because of his work schedule and inclement weather on the days it would have been otherwise possible to go.  Even though Canada Geese are a common species, I love to watch and photograph them and we had a lot of opportunities to photograph them.  I especially liked the mood created by the early morning light in these photographs.

Early Morning at Blackwater NWR: Canon 7D- 100-400mm 5.6  Lat 400mm- 1/400 sec. f 5.6-ISO 800

Canada Geese In Flight: Canon 7D- 100-400mm 5.6  Lat 400mm-- 1/3200 sec. f 7.1-ISO 400

One may also see the birds feeding in fields by the roadside. I am always reminded of James Michener's great novel "Chesapeake" when I think of the Canada Geese and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Feeding By The Roadside: Canon 7D- 100-400mm 5.6  L at 180mm-- 1/400sec. f 7.1-ISO 400

Of course Blackwater is also home to many other species of waterfowl, birds of prey, songbirds and mammals.

American Coot: Canon 7D- 100-400mm 5.6  L at 400mm-- 1/1000sec. f 7.1-ISO 200

Originally published at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.

American Coot at Middle Creek WMA: Camera Critters

The American Coot is often mistaken for a duck, but is actually a member or the rail family.  I have seen these birds quite frequently at Meadow Grounds Lake in Fulton County near McConnellsburg, Pa. and at Middle Creek WMA on the Lebanon-Lancaster County line near Kleinfeltersville, Pa.  It is possible to photograph a large variety of waterfowl at Middle Creek during the spring migration although it is often difficult to get close enough to obtain exceptional portraits of the birds--even when using the big prime lenses.  I did get a few photographs of American Coot on my March 7th trip.

American Coot: Canon 7D-500mmF4  ISO 400 1/500sec, f4-

Coots Interacting: Canon 7D-500mmF4  ISO 400 1/500sec, f4-

Even though the ranges are often long and the waterfowl somewhat shy, a morning at Middle Creek during the spring migration is usually time well spent.

For more Camera Critters photographs, click Here!

Originally posted at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.