Harlequin Duck

Male Harlequin duck resting on rocks, headwaters of the Gulkana river, interior, Alaska.Canon 1Ds Mark III, 500mm f4L w/1.4x, 1/2 sec @f45, ISO 100 Harlequin duck males are colorful birds with distinct markings. They favor fast moving water for feeding and can often be found resting on rocks along stream shores. They are attentive birds…

American Dipper Lamentations

American Dipper fishing underwater – not quite sharp This is a story of attempt, not of success; of progress but not achievement–as I would prefer. On a previous blog I showed a few pictures of an aquatic passerine called the American Dipper, a very fascinating bird that hunts for bugs, grubs and fish underwater. I…

Grow antlers grow

Young bull moose along the Alaska Highway Canon 1Ds Mark III, 500mm f4L, 1/125 sec @ f6.3, ISO 640 On a trip into the Alaska range, about 150 miles from Fairbanks, I saw more than 10 moose feeding along the roadside about 9-10:30pm or so. Interestingly, they were predominantly young bulls. Those that travel the…

Clouds, the art of the sky

Dramatic clouds reflect in tundra pond, interior, AlaskaCanon 1Ds mark III, 16-35mm f2.8L, 1/15 sec @ f14, ISO 100 Clouds move with an inspiration singular to their great immensity and shape. Not only do they cast their color catching shapes across the sky in dramatic form, but they repeat themselves in the landscape on ponds,…

American Dipper

American Dipper hunts for small insects in fast moving water. Canon 1Ds Mark III, 500mm f4L IS w/1.4x (700mm) 1/400 sec @ f8, ISO 400 Closeup crop almost reveals the eye of the bird. The American Dipper is an aquatic passerine. What is that? For those who don’t know, the order of Passeriformes are more…