January 15, 2025 by Mike Powell
Many of the trails were still covered in snow (but passable) on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, so I finally went trekking with my camera. Sparrows were feverishly foraging for tasty tidbits in the bare patches in the trail paralleling the water, including these White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis), one of my favorite winter birds.
These little birds were in constant motion, but it was a lot easier to track them when they were on the ground than in the trees (and I had a long telephoto lens). It was, however, a challenge to capture a moment when the sparrow’s head was not buried in the debris or pointed away from me.
These images may not be as impressive as ones of larger birds, like bald eagles, but I am nonetheless pretty happy to have captured these moment with the sparrows in the snow.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, sparrow, sparrows in the snow, Tamron 150-600mm, white-throated sparrow, Woodbridge VA, Zonotrichia albicollis | 6 Comments »
January 13, 2025 by Mike Powell
I have mostly stayed indoors this past week because of frigid temperatures, strong winds, and a snowstorm that dumped about 9 inches (23 cm) of snow on us. This is the most snow that we have seen in years and only yesterday has the weather gotten warm enough to melt any of the snow. Today is supposed to be a bit warmer, possibly reaching 40 degrees (5 degrees C) and then the temperatures are forecast to drop again.
Here are a couple of shot of what I think is an immature Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) that I spotted almost two weeks ago at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I often have trouble identifying hawk species, so I may not be right in this instance. Please let me know if you have a different idea about the identification.
The hawk was perched in a tree and the vegetation on the ground allowed me to get relatively close to the hawk, though the same vegetation partially blocked my view and limited my shooting angles.
I hope to get out with my camera later today after things have warmed up a bit. When I first looked out my window this morning, there was a lot of frost on my windshield and the last time I checked the frost was gone. It will be nice to stretch my legs a bit. I have been doing plenty of shoveling (with frequent breaks), but my phone indicates that my daily step count has dropped precipitously.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Buteo lineatus, Canon 7D, immature Red-shouldered Hawk, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
January 7, 2025 by Mike Powell
This acrobatic Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was twisting and contorting its body as it foraged last week in the trees at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge when I spotted it. In the first photo I managed to get a look at the bird’s red belly, a feature that is often hidden from view. The woodpecker seemed to be enjoying some success, though not surprisingly the pickings were fairly meager at this time of the year.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged acrobatic, Canon 7D, Melanerpes carolinus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA, woodpecker | 11 Comments »
January 4, 2025 by Mike Powell
This Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was having pretty good success in catching some small fish one morning last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I personally do not like to have fish for breakfast, but am aware that some people like lox, mackerels, or other kinds of fish with their morning meals. As the old Latin saying goes, “De gustibus non est disputandum” (“There is no accounting for taste.”)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron fishing, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 6 Comments »
January 2, 2025 by Mike Powell
I had been lethargic and uninspired throughout December, but decided on Monday to visit Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge to try to find some birds before the end of the year. As I walked along one of the trails, I spotted a small bird in the trees and tracked it as it moved about. I was not sure what it was, became a little excited when I thought I spotted a bit of yellow.
There are not many colorful birds in our area during the winter months, so I patiently kept tracking this bird. When I captured the first image below, I convinced myself that I would see traces of yellow in the breast of the bird. Eventually the bird turned and faced the opposite direction and I got a good look at the bright yellow patch on its rump—it was a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata), one of very few warbler species that I might see during the winter months.
It was a nice treat for me at the end of the year. Happy New Years to you all and best wishes for a healthy and happy 2025.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Setophaga coronata, Tamron 150-600mm, warbler, Woodbridge VA, Yellow-rumped Warbler | 7 Comments »
December 27, 2024 by Mike Powell
As I was exploring Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week, I spotted a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) perched high in a sweetgum tree. The eagle seemed to be surveying the entire area, like a king keeping watch over his kingdom. I am pretty sure that he spotted me, but may have judged correctly that I was not a threat, and therefore the eagle remained in place as I passed on by.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Bald Eagle, Canon 7D, eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, vigilant eagle, Woodbridge VA | 5 Comments »
December 26, 2024 by Mike Powell
Do turtles show affection? If so, how do they overcome the obstacle posed by their hard shells?
Last week on an unusually warm December day, I spotted two Eastern Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) sitting on a log in a small swampy pond at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. They were sitting pretty close to each other, which was not unusual given the small size of the log. What really struck me, though, was the way that they appeared to be rubbing the sides of their faces against each other.
Was this a sign of affection? It certainly seemed that way to me.
I’ve met people who appear to have as tough an exterior as these turtles. How do you reach people like that? Persistent small act of unrequited kindness may help to penetrate those barriers. For me, that is what Christmas is all about, an attitude towards others that lasts a whole lot long that a single-day celebration.
A belated Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrated yesterday and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2025 to you all.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Nature, Photography, Reptiles, turtle, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, Chrysemys picta, Eastern Painted Turtle, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, painted turtle, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 6 Comments »
December 24, 2024 by Mike Powell
Last week I spotted a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) couple perched near each other in a tree at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Although it is not quite nesting season here in Northern Virginia, the eagles were within eye sight of the large nest that you can see in the second photo below. It is hard to get a sense of the massive size of the nest from the photo, but it is so large that the eagles disappear from sight when they are sitting on eggs in that nest.
I suspect that the eagles will soon occupy that nest and, with a little luck, I hope to see some baby eagles in the next few months.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Bald Eagle, Bald Eagle couple, Canon 7D, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 5 Comments »
December 19, 2024 by Mike Powell
The last time that I recall seeing an American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) was during breeding season, when the goldfinch was bright yellow in color. That breeding season is long gone and the plumage of goldfinches is a lot drabber in color. I spotted this goldfinch on Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and captured this moment when the little bird was sticking out its tongue.
I am not sure if the bird was singing at the time or was merely clearing its throat. Whatever the case, it definitely was cool to be able to see the tiny tongue of the little goldfinch.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged American Goldfinch, Canon 7D, goldfinch, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Spinus tristis, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
December 18, 2024 by Mike Powell
This last week or so, I have had several opportunities to capture “artistic” shots of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In these cases the heron was not actively engaged in fishing and was standing in the vegetation a bit removed from the water.
In the first two photos, I was struck by the beautiful light that was falling on the heron. I particularly like the heron’s pose in the first image in which the heron has his neck stretched out, giving him a very slim profile. In the final photo, the heron was partially hidden by the reeds and is much more hunched over in an effort, perhaps, to retain his body heat.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, heron, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 16 Comments »
December 17, 2024 by Mike Powell
Are you a messy eater? Do you feel a need to constantly wipe your face with a napkin? Do you wonder if you have visible food stuck between your teeth? If you are like most people, you are very self-conscious about your appearance.
Birds, on the other hand, don’t seem to mind it when the remains of their last snack remain on their faces. Of course, the absence of mirrors and selfie cameras on cell phones probably makes them less aware of how they look or they simply don’t care.
Last week I spotted this White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge with some berry residue on its upper bill. Perhaps I merely caught the sparrow taking a momentary break from the feeding that seems to occupy the sparrows for most of their waking hours during the winter.
I felt an impulse to pull out a napkin to wipe this little sparrow’s face, but resisted that impulse and continued on my way, happy in the knowledge that the sparrow had been successful in finding something to eat.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, messy eater, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, white-throated sparrow, Woodbridge VA, Zonotrichia albicollis | Leave a Comment »
December 16, 2024 by Mike Powell
I confess that I know almost nothing about boats, so I was not sure what I was looking at when I spotted this enormous floating object in the Potomac River off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge last week. Eventually I figured out that it was a boat pushing some kind of barge up the river. It looked a bit like a tugboat, but instead of “tugging” the boat, it seemed to be pushing from behind.
I have seen the difficulties that some folks have in towing a trailer, so I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to steer something like this. Fortunately the tugboat seemed to be taller than the barge, so presumably the captain was able to see where he was going, and it appeared that he was able to stay on course pretty well.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Photography, Urban, wildlife | Tagged barge, Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Potomac River, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 3 Comments »
December 15, 2024 by Mike Powell
My mind was busy trying to identify the animal crossing the trail ahead of me on Thursday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, but my reflexes took over and I was able to capture these shots of what turned out to be an opossum (Didelphis virginiana), an animal that I rarely see. When I was doing a little research I learned that Virginia Opossums, also known as North American Opossums, are the only marsupial in the United States—most marsupials, including kangaroos, wallabies, and koalas, are found in Australia and New Guinea.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, Didelphis virginiana, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, opossum, Tamron 150-600mm, Virginia Opossum, Woodbridge VA | 4 Comments »
December 14, 2024 by Mike Powell
Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees by mid-December and the remaining birds have to work a lot harder to find food than in the warmer months. During a visit on Thursday to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted a small group of Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) foraging among the colorful fallen leaves.
Unlike many other colorful birds that migrate out of our area, cardinals remain with us throughout the year, providing a pop of color in an often monochromatic winter landscape. Although the males, like the one in the final photo, are easier to spot, I often prefer the more subdued beauty of the females, like the one in the first photo.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Canon 7D, Cardinalis cardinalis, female Northern Cardinal, male Northern Cardinal, Northern cardinal, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 1 Comment »
December 13, 2024 by Mike Powell
Yesterday I watched a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) fishing at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. After an extended period of cold and cloudy days, it was a treat for both of us to be out in the somewhat warmer weather. Although the the heron was really focused on its task, its results were modest—the fish that it caught may well be the tiniest fish that I have ever seen a heron catch.
I am hoping that the heron was eventually more successful later in the day—it would take a lot of those tiny fish to satisfy its appetite.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 9 Comments »
December 9, 2024 by Mike Powell
At this time of the year I often see large groups of ducks, often referred to as “rafts” because the ducks gather so closely together, in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Frequently there are different species of ducks intermixed, though in my experience there is usually a dominant species.
In later November, I spotted a large group of American Coots (Fulica americana) during a visit to the refuge, as you can see in the first photo below. Coots are pretty easy to identify because of the shape and color of their bills. In addition to the coots, a number of Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) were part of the raft. I encourage you to click on the image to get a better look at the individual birds.
Technically, coots are not ducks, though, because they have lobed rather than webbed feet. The coots that day were too far away for me to get a shot of their feet, so I am instead including a photo I took in April 2017 that shows those lobed feet and the coot’s distinctive red eyes.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged American Coot, Canon 7D, Fulica americana, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Oxyura jamaicensis, raft of coots, Ruddy Duck, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 4 Comments »
December 3, 2024 by Mike Powell
Some birds, like the ospreys and Great Egrets, leave our area and migrate to warmer climates as winter approaches. Others, like Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias), remain with us and have to work harder to find food.
Last week I spotted a heron standing in the shallow water of one of the tidal ponds at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In the past I have often seen herons wait patiently for extended periods of time to catch large fish, but this heron was content to strike often and pluck small fish from the water—every few minutes he would catch another fish, swallow it in a single gulp, and return to fishing.
I encourage you to click on the image to get a better look at the small fish in the heron’s bill and the visible spray of water droplets. I also really like the dynamism of the heron’s pose that suggests both the energy and the focus of the heron.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 7D, Great Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron fishing, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
December 2, 2024 by Mike Powell
It is still a little early for the Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) to begin nesting at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, but both members of an eagle couple were perched in a tree near a large nest last week when I visited the reserve. One of the eagles was partially blocked from view by the tree’s branches, but I was able to capture this image of the other one as it kept watch over the nesting site.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Bald Eagle, Canon 7D, eagle nest, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
November 30, 2024 by Mike Powell
During the winter I often see rafts of ducks in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Usually they are gathered in the deep water, far from the shore and out of camera range for close-up shots, but I can usually identify them with my long telephoto lens.
On Wednesday during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I spotted a large group of mostly American Coots and Ruddy Ducks. When I examined the group really carefully, however, I noticed a pair of Ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) that were resting on a semi-submerged log. I have seen this species of diving ducks at other locations, primarily in ponds, but don’t recall seeing them in the open water like this.
I’m pretty sure that the duck in the first photo is a male Ring-necked Duck, thanks to his striped bill and distinctive yellow eye. I am a little less certain about the duck in the second photo, but I think it is probably a female Ring-necked duck because of the white eye ring. I am a little rusty with my bird identifications after a summer spent chasing mostly insects and mammals, but suspect that I will better as we move into winter.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Aythya collaris, Canon 7D, female ring-necked duck, male ring-necked duck, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Ring-necked duck, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 1 Comment »
November 29, 2024 by Mike Powell
This past Tuesday I heard a lot of rustling in the underbrush as I walked about in Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Sometimes the noise was caused by squirrels, but often it was the result of energetic White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) foraging for food amidst the fallen leaves.
White-throated Sparrows overwinter in my area of Northern Virginia and seem to have arrived recently. I love the distinctive markings of these little birds, with their white “beards” and bright yellow lores, i.e. the region between the eye and the bill.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, sparrow, Tamron 150-600mm, white-throated sparrow, Woodbridge VA, Zonotrichia albicollis | 4 Comments »
November 27, 2024 by Mike Powell
I am finally more or less caught up with my photos from my road trip to Seattle and back. Here are a couple of my favorite shots of the trip, when I captured the sunrise on 5 November at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota. It was dark and cold when I crawled out of my sleeping bag that morning, but I really wanted to try to see the sunrise.
The sun rises and sets each day, but each one is unique, affected by a whole host of uncontrollable factors, including meteorological conditions and the landscape. Sometimes the sun arrives slowly and subtly and sometimes it explodes into view. Professional landscape photographers scout locations in advance and figure out the optimal locations to catch the sunrise. I simply got into my car and began to drive slowly on the road through the park.
As I was driving I came upon this view as I rounded a corner just as the sun was rising over the horizon. Results are unpredictable when you point your camera directly at the sun, but somehow I managed to get it almost right in the first shot below—well at least I got a cool image that I like. When I moved the camera to the side a little so the sun was no longer in the frame, I was able to capture the final photo. I really like the sort of layering in the background, as the sun painted the various land features.
I am not sure if I will do a posting tomorrow, when those of us in the United States will be celebrating Thanksgiving. In case there is posting tomorrow, let me thank all of you now who pause for a moment to look at my photos or read my rambling prose. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement over the years.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Landscape, Nature, Photography, sunrise, Travel | Tagged early morning, Medora North Dakota, North Dakota, sunrise, Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 6 Comments »
November 25, 2024 by Mike Powell
I am finally nearing the end of my photos from my brief stay in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota at the beginning of November. I captured quite a few images of wild horses, bison, and prairie dogs at the national park and it has been a real joy reviewing the photos on my computer and relive the memories after my return home. Normally I try to post images on my blog that are a week old or less, but I figure that you will forgive me for posting images that are three weeks old.
Here are a few selected images of American Bison (Bison bison) that I spotted at the park in early November. Most often the were simply grazing, so frequently I would try to capture some interesting background, as in the first photo below. I was quite excited to spot the young bison in the second photo. It was quite a bit smaller than the adults, but already seemed to be growing horns.
The bison in the final photo lifted its head momentarily, allowing me to capture this informal portrait. It may look like I was really close to the bison, but I was using a telephoto zoom lens on my camera and I am pretty sure that I took the shot from inside my car. However, the bison was close enough that I had to zoom out a little to 322mm (on an 18-400mm lens) to fit the bison’s enormous head in the frame.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, Travel, wildlife | Tagged American Bison, bison, Bison bison, Canon 7D, Medora North Dakota, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 9 Comments »
November 23, 2024 by Mike Powell
Although I returned from my road trip out West several weeks ago, I am still going through some of the images that I captured. One of the real highlights of the trip was staying for a few nights in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. Unlike some other national parks in that part of the USA, like Yosemite and Glacier National Parks, this park is uncrowded and I was able to drive slowly on its roads and observe a variety of wildlife species.
One of my favorites was the bands of wild horses that live in the national park. It’s estimated that there are about 200 wild horses in the park, though it is hard to know for sure. Most of the time I spotted some of the horses at a distance, out of the range of my telephoto lens, but I did have a few closer encounters and was able to capture some decent images of them.
It was interesting to note that the horse in the final photo is wearing what looks to be some kind of tracking collar. I am not sure if this is a normal practice at the national park or if the horse is part of some special study.
I grew up watching lots of Western show on television, like The Rifleman, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke. As a result, I have a special fondness for cowboys and find it really cool to see wild horses and bison herds.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, Travel, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Medora North Dakota, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, wild horses | 11 Comments »
November 22, 2024 by Mike Powell
When I was a child, I recall hearing and singing an old American folk song called “Home on the Range.” Its lyrics speak of a home where buffalo roam and “the deer and the antelope play.” Those words kept coming back to me earlier this month during my brief stay at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.
Over the years I have learned that the song is technically inaccurate, because there are no antelopes in North America. However, the Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) closely resembles the antelopes of the Old World and are known colloquially as “American antelope.” The closest living relatives of pronghorn, though, are the giraffe and the okapi, an animal often referred to as the “forest giraffe” found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of note, the pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in the Americas, capable or reaching speeds of up to 55 miles per hour (88 km/h).
When I first spotted these pronghorns, they were coming down the side of a hill and preparing to cross the road on which I was traveling. There were two young pronghorns and one an adult, that I presumed was their mother. I focused primarily on the young ones, as you can see in the first two photos, and finally got a shot of the adult as the the pronghorns were climbing a hill on the other side of the road. If I remember correctly, I took the first two photos through the windshield of my car.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, Travel, wildlife | Tagged Antilocapra americana, Canon 7D, Medora North Dakota, pronghorn, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 1 Comment »
November 21, 2024 by Mike Powell
I was delighted on Monday to spot multiple Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies (Sympetrum vicinum) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. During the past couple of weeks I saw a few female Autumn Meadowhawks, but until this week I had not photographed a single male—I think that all of the dragonflies that I spotted that day were males. Females are mostly brown with touches of red, while the bodies of males are mostly red, as you can see in the photo below.
Autumn Meadowhawks are only about 1.2 inches (30 mm) in length, so they are difficult to spot, despite their bright coloration. At this time of the year when fallen leaves litter the ground, they tend to blend in pretty well with their surroundings.
I was using my Tamron 150-600mm lens with a monopod, my preferred combination for photographing birds, so it was a challenge to focus on such tiny subjects as dragonflies. I was persistent, however, and was successful in capturing some pretty detailed shots of them.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Autumn Meadowhawk, Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, Canon 7D, male Autumn Meadowhawk, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Sympetrum vicinum, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 3 Comments »
November 20, 2024 by Mike Powell
Monday was a wonderfully sunny autumn day, so I headed out with my camera to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Suspecting that the insects were almost completely gone, I decided that I would primarily be searching for birds and switched to my longest telephoto lens, my Tamron 150-600mm zoom lens. This is a really versatile lens, but it has a minimum focusing distance of almost 9 feet (2700 mm), which makes focusing on small subjects problematic.
There were ducks on the bay, but they were too far away to photograph. I also spotted a few Bald Eagles as they flew away from me. Fortunately I had better luck with a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) that I initially heard singing. I located the small bird and waited until it turned its head to the side and captured this wonderful little shot of the wren with its mouth wide open and its tail lifted up.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Carolina Wren, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Thryothorus ludovicianus, Woodbridge VA | 7 Comments »
November 19, 2024 by Mike Powell
Early in the morning on 5 November, I encountered some mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora, North Dakota. Initially the deer were lapping up water that had accumulated alongside the road after a rainstorm.
I remained in my car as I captured a few shots of the deer, who looked at me with what appeared to be curiosity rather than fear. I was happy to be able to capture views of the tails and the ears of the mule deer, two of their most distinctive features, before they slowly moved into the underbrush.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Medora North Dakota, mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 3 Comments »
November 18, 2024 by Mike Powell
The number of butterflies continues to dwindle, so I was thrilled to spot this pretty little Variegated Fritillary butterfly (Euptoieta claudia) last Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The weather has gotten cooler and it won’t be long before below freezing temperatures arrive, so I will be out chasing these last summer survivors until none remain.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Euptoieta claudia, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 18-400mm, Variegated Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary butterfly, Woodbridge VA | 2 Comments »
November 16, 2024 by Mike Powell
Earlier this month I spotted a coyote (Canis latrans) at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. The coyote was hanging around a prairie dog town (you can see a prairie dog in the background) and magpies accompanied it, hoping to scavenge some tasty remnants.
I took these photos from inside my car with the windows open, hoping that no other cars would come by and disturb the coyote. Fortunately it was early in the morning and I was able to watch the coyote without interruptions. The coyote was unsuccessful in its hunt while I was there and eventually moved on.
Although we have coyotes at the wildlife refuge where I do a lot of my photography in Northern Virginia, this was my first time seeing and photographing one.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in animals, Autumn, Nature, Photography, Travel, wildlife | Tagged Black-billed Magpie, Black-tailed Prairie DOgs, Canis latrans, Canon 7D, Coyote, Medora North Dakota, Tamron 18-400mm, Theodore Roosevelt National Park | 5 Comments »
November 15, 2024 by Mike Powell
Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) are very skittish and usually take off as soon as they detect my presence. As soon as I spotted one in the distance last week in the waters off of Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I immediately focused on it, anticipating its imminent takeoff. My instincts were correct and I shot off a burst of photos as the cormorant took to the air.
Unlike some other species, cormorants do not rise straight out of the water. Instead they bounce across the surface to generate some momentum before they lift off. The three photos below show the beginning of the takeoff sequence, as the cormorant flapped its wings and started to gain speed. Although I was pretty far away, I managed to capture the orange face of the cormorant, which really stands out against the choppy blue water in the background.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Canon 7D, cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Phalacrocorax auritus, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | Leave a Comment »
November 14, 2024 by Mike Powell
As the weather cools off and the insects disappear, my attention has gradually been shifting to birds. This was a real challenge for me a month ago when the leaves were still covering the trees and hid the birds from my view. Now, however, most of the leaves have fallen and I feel like I have a fighting chance of spotting a bird when I see or hear one.
On Tuesday I visited Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge and managed to capture shots of some of the resident birds. The bird in the first photo is a Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), the smallest woodpecker in our area. You can see a touch of red on the back of his head, indicating that he is a male.
Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis), like the one in the second photo, are quite common, but they are small and elusive and therefore difficult to photograph. During most of the time that I was observing this bird, its head was hidden by branches, but I watched and waited and finally was able to get an unobstructed shot of it.
I am not certain of the identification of the bird in the final photo. On the basis of its markings and color, I think that it may be a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), but that is really not much more than an educated guess. I would welcome a confirmation or correction from a more experienced birder.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Canon 7D, Carolina Chickadee, Catharus guttatus, Downy Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Picoides pubescens, Poecile carolinensis, Tamron 18-400mm, Woodbridge VA | 5 Comments »
« Newer Posts - Older Posts »
Mike Powell 