The Return of Naturally Digital - 2018

     Well a new year is just around the corner, and we've decided to get back into the blogging business.  This year, the concentration will be on rounding out my life ABA Photo-list in an effort to approach the magical goal of 600 species.  I'm at 549 species photographed as we enter into 2018, so it will be somewhat of a challenge to find 51 more species that I have yet to photograph during the next 365 days.  With no trips planned beyond the east coast in the United States, the challenge may be more than I can hope to do, but we'll attempt to find some exotics while we winter in the Sunshine State as well has find some of the birds whose images have eluded me like the Mangrove cuckoo.

       One added note - I will be adding a few notes as to the specifics of my photographs for anyone interested in the technical data of how I captured my images.  While the emphasis is always on birds for me, I will never let a great landscape or beautiful butterfly pass me by.  I'm looking forward to another year in the field with camera in hand and invite you to join us on our birding adventures.

     While no major trips to the west coast are planned, we do have a couple of exciting journeys planned in the form of a trip to Panama in March and a "cultural venture" to Switzerland for some new "non-ABA" birds.  Can't wait.  Thanks for joining us.

     One of our final birds of 2017 was this fine specimen of a Cooper's hawk.  We had just left our house to head out to visit some friends in Cornwall to our north when my wife, Sharon, called my attention to the hawk which had alighted on a wire above our heads.  Shooting from the car was to no avail.  I hate trying to photograph through windows be they from inside the house or the car.  I pulled up ahead and slowly got out to see if I could get the bird.  The lighting was horrible as it was behind the bird at his present location.  I shot anyway, knowing that I would end up with little more than a silhouette .  The bird accommodated me however, by flying an very short distance to a limb which put me between him and the sun.  With the lighting coming from over my shoulder, the bird was perfectly illuminated and made for a very nice shot.  I waited patiently for him to move from his static perched position and as he did, I was able to capture a much more interesting shot.  Tip of the day.....keep the sun at your back so that your shadow is pointing towards the subject you are photographing and you will generally be pleased with the results.

( above image - Nikon D7200 with Nikon 200-500 zoom at 500mm. f/5.6, 1/1250 sec at ISO 450)