Last night was simply one of those evenings I needed to get out. With Lake Erie Metropark right up the street, it seemed like a good place to go. After saving a Painted Turtle from becoming a speedbump on West Jefferson, I made my way to the lakeshore.
Photos of the Caspian Tern doinking around nailing minnows just were not up to snuff. Lighting was a bit iffy. Photographing swallows over the flowerbed was just about impossible. Their size. Their speed. Forget it. I don't know how anybody does that.
Nevertheless, beautiful temps and nice light made for a awesome walk and a great evening. As I was returning to my car, I spied a Belted Kingfisher on a branch. That big, fat head with the massive beak on that proportionally tiny body make ID a cinch, even if it was backlit. No rattling call, either. Simple silence while it surveyed its kingdom. Lighting was a big rough. Plus, trying to take advantage of the mild pinkish cast to the sky, I shot with my rig at a negative exposure compensation. That can provide some nice saturation options later. Here is the best shot I got, even if the noise in the sky is enough to make you puke. On a positive note, the bird was cooperative and sat there for at least 15 minutes.
There it sat. Male? Female (a Queenfisher?)? I can't be sure. I never saw the front so I didn't see whether or not it had a belly band.
Royally cool? You bet.
Photos of the Caspian Tern doinking around nailing minnows just were not up to snuff. Lighting was a bit iffy. Photographing swallows over the flowerbed was just about impossible. Their size. Their speed. Forget it. I don't know how anybody does that.
Nevertheless, beautiful temps and nice light made for a awesome walk and a great evening. As I was returning to my car, I spied a Belted Kingfisher on a branch. That big, fat head with the massive beak on that proportionally tiny body make ID a cinch, even if it was backlit. No rattling call, either. Simple silence while it surveyed its kingdom. Lighting was a big rough. Plus, trying to take advantage of the mild pinkish cast to the sky, I shot with my rig at a negative exposure compensation. That can provide some nice saturation options later. Here is the best shot I got, even if the noise in the sky is enough to make you puke. On a positive note, the bird was cooperative and sat there for at least 15 minutes.
There it sat. Male? Female (a Queenfisher?)? I can't be sure. I never saw the front so I didn't see whether or not it had a belly band.
Royally cool? You bet.
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