Common Moorhen Chick

posted by Andy

Wild common moorhen chick following it's parent near Walt Disney World's EPCOT park.

Mallard Duckling

posted by Andy

Wild mallard duckling crossing the road near Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom.

Anhinga

posted by Andy

Wild anhinga air drying its wings near Walt Disney World's downtown area.

Photo: Anna's Hummer

posted by Andy

Anyone know what's up with the feathers on this little guy head? Is he just molting or could it be something more serious?

Photos: Finley Ducks

posted by Andy

It's been over a month but I finally got out this weekend to photo some nature. Here's a few of the ducks hanging out in the area at this time.

Photo: Wet Feather

posted by Andy

I photoed this dew covered feather a few weeks ago, but never got around to editing the image. After masking out each and every drop, some colorizing and blending, here's the finished result. The original feather is a dark blue-gray. Not sure what bird it came from.

Photos: Dove and Wren

posted by Andy

Took an early morning walk through the William Finley wetland refuge on Friday. Not too many cooperative birds, but I did spot a pileated woodpecker, some flickers, stellers jay, bunch of chickadees squawking at me (probably black-capped, not positive), some grebes and mallard ducks.

The mourning dove in the first image was right beside the road. Photo taken out the car window with a 200mm zoom. The Winter Wren was one of several bopping about the path, pretty oblivious to my presence.

Photos: Finley Wildlife

posted by Andy

To decompress from a long working weekend I took an early morning hike yesterday before going into the office. I had heard that the elk were in the area and the bulls were fighting. I didn't see the males, but while looking at a woolly bear caterpillar crossing the path I noticed several fresh drops of blood and could hear the elks bugling within a few hundred yards off in the woods. I did run across a mother elk and her large calf.

Also, spotted a downy woodpecker and a brown creeper near the Finley quarry.

Photos: Wetland Birds

posted by Andy

(1) Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron fishing for tadpoles in the muck. (2) Great Blue Heron in a tree screeching at me to go away. (3) American Bittern

Photos: For the Birds

posted by Andy

Here are a few more bird images. The hummer is a Rufus buzzing around our backyard Bee Balm, which they seem to love. Staking it out for 30 minutes resulted in several nice shots, but I had to use manual focus.

The woodpecker is a juvenile Downey that was hopping around an apple tree. My wife spotted it. But, so did the scrub jays which chased it off.

Last image is a daddy quail and his brood. Shot out the car window as they skittered away into the sunset.

Photo: Wabbit!

posted by Andy

Oregon Coast Aquarium

posted by Andy

Petting Pool: Here are a few images taken at the indoor petting tide pool. The color and tone of the green anemone was heavily edited. The abalone tone was done using the virtual photographer plug-in for Photoshop. And the 3rd shot is an urchin close up.





Tufted Puffin: One of many types of birds in the avary. This guy's massive eyebrows are breeding plumage to impress the chickie-poos. This guy was holding still so the image turned out pretty sharp, and using a monopod doesn't hurt.


Catterpillar: guess the aquarium ain't just of fish and fowl.


Oregon Trail ends here. A funny sign along Hwy 34, near the Toleto turn off.