Alexander Woodruff Photography

This is an image I captured at the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch earlier this month. I followed this Anna’s Hummingbird for about 30 minutes as it flitted between 3 perches. He eventually settled on these flowers long enough for me to get 5 shots off. This behaviour seems typical of these birds, and once I can identify the perches a bird uses I can set up my gear to my best advantage and simply wait for him to come to me.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AFS and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/1250″, f9, ISO 400, +0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode

I haven’t been out for a few weeks, so do not have much to write about. But, I was told about this video today and thought I would share it on this blog.

Sir David Attenborough narrates “What a Wonderful World” to a collection of clips from the BBC Wildlife department, which is based in my home town of Bristol.

I have had some family visiting for the Christmas holiday and I took advantage of their interest in photography and took them birding… lots! We tried all the local haunts and some new ones and managed 7 new lifers to add to my list.

The nicest surprise was a Vermillion Flycatcher at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve who shared his perch with a Say’s Phoebe and a Black Phoebe for about an hour – each one taking his turn to pose for us. After that encounter we watched a Northern Harrier defend his territory from a coyote. The action was too far away from us to capture, but a Gilbert regular caught this shot (credit goes to Eddy D.).

Vermillion Flycatcher.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/500, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Say’s Phoebe.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/500, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Black Phoebe.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/500, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Verdin.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/500, f5.6, ISO 250, 0 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Black-necked Stilt.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/640, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

American Avocet.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/1600, f5.6, ISO 200, 0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

I had a really lucky break when I crept up on one of the recharge ponds an almost disturbed another photographer. I headed down the bank slightly to find a Green Heron who was intently watching a fish. The next thing I knew was that a couple of other photographers made the same mistake I did… except they pushed the Green Heron right into my area. The heron them promptly speared a fish and gave me a great opportunity for a shoot.

Green Heron.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/640, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/640, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

A trip to Tucson was the next event. Arranged at short notice, and with advice from the members of the Arizona/New Mexico birding listserv , we made a trip out to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (a lot like the Desert Botanical Gardens here in Phoenix). Again, we found lots of subjects to photograph.

Northern Cardinal.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s.  1/200, f4, ISO 200, +1.33 EV, 300mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Phainopepla.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/500, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Anna’s Hummingbirds.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s.  1/320, f5.6, ISO 250, 0 EV, 300mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s.  1/320, f5.6, ISO 250, 0EV, 300mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/640, f5.6, ISO 250, 0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/640, f5.6, ISO 250, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s with 1.4 x Nikkor Teleconverter.  1/640, f5.6, ISO 200, +1.33 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Broad-billed Hummingbird.

EXIF: Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f4 af-s.  1/320, f4, ISO 200, +1.33 EV, 300mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

After the Desert Museum we made the 20 minute journey to Sweetwater Wetlands, though because of the traffic and road works it took us nearly an hour. Unfortunately we were disappointed by the wetlands… I think that we chose the wrong time of day to visit because all we saw were Northern Shovelers (by the thousand), Northern Pintails, American Wigeons and a Cinnamon Teal. It wasn’t until we had walked the area and were back at the parking lot that we caught a flash of a Common Yellowthroat and found a tree full of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Unfortunately the lighting was awful and the spirit was weak and I came away with nothing.

I have been editing the shots from these trips over the last few days and I consider this a good start to my 2012 shooting. Let’s hope it continues.

Towards the end of last month I headed out for a couple of mornings, shooting from the car again. They were successful outings with some nice shots and another couple of lifers.
You can imagine my frustration when I had finished editing them to have my computer become disabled by a virus. It is not as if I was unprotected – firewall, realtime spyware protection, Microsoft security essentials, windows defender, malware removal all in place and running. The first I was aware was when all my security  started displaying alerts, then icons started disappearing from my desktop and program list. Eventually I was left with an empty desktop and an empty c: drive. It has taken since the 24th November to put things right. I have everything backed up, except for the last 2 outings… so I thought I had lost those images. Now I have them back again and I am finally able to post them.

Killdeer.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/1600″, f5.6, ISO 320, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

White-crowned Sparrow.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/4000, 5.6, ISO 500, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Western Meadowlark.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/4000″, f5.6, ISO 320, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Gambels Quail.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/1250″, f5.6, ISO 320, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Red-tailed Hawk.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/1000″, f5.6, ISO 320, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Rock Squirrel.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/1600″, f5.6, ISO 320, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Mourning Dove.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/800″, f5.6, ISO 320, +0 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Brewer’s Sparrow.

EXIF: Nikon D90 with 300mm f4 AF-s and 1.4 x Teleconverter. 1/2500″, f5.6, ISO 500, +1 EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

… I thought it might be a nice idea to put some of my favourite images into a little slideshow. This is the first one I have made and it incorporates 2010 and 2011.

EDIT: I have now revamped the original, pixelated version and although I lost the music I think that this one has a much better image quality to it. If you want to view with a soundtrack simply find a track in your music collection that is 5 minutes and 8 seconds long and listen as you watch! It should open in a separate window and display a little animation to showw it is opening. Happy 2012 everyone!!

Digital slideshow personalized with Smilebox

I have been monitoring the Arizona Bird Alert lists and have heard about a Glaucous-winged Gull that has been 10 miles down the road. So this morning I ventured out, with baby strapped to me, to find the bird. This bird is a very rare visitor to Arizona with only 6 confirmed sightings ever. It was quite a frustrating experience – the baby harness gives me incredible back-ache, the gull was as far from the car as it could possibly be and my son seemed intent to kick me from his chest harness, pretty much ensuring that enough bodily damage was done that he won’t ever have a sibling! Of course a squirming, kicking baby makes it very hard to hold a lens steady, so my shots were only for ID purposes.
While I was there I noticed that the Glaucous-winged Gull was hanging around with some Ring-billed Gulls and I realized that I did not have an image of this gull either! So inbetween kicks to the ‘meat and two veg’ I managed to get 2 lifers!
Glaucous-winged Gull.  EXIF: 1/800, f5.6, ISO 320, +0.33EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Ring-billed Gull.  EXIF: 1/800, f5.6, ISO 320, +0.33EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Next I headed out to Palo Verde, planning to revisit the Sandhill Cranes and scope out an area to create a bird set up (like this one by Alan Murphy). While I was there I spotted a Northern Harrier (#3 lifer), a Vesper Sparrow (#4) and a Brewer’s Sparrow (#5).
Vesper Sparrow.  EXIF: 1/1250, f5.6, ISO 320, 0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Brewer’s Sparrow.  EXIF: 1/3200, f5.6, ISO 320, 0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Northern Harrier.  EXIF: 1/2000, f5.6, ISO 320, +0.33EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

So, another 3 lifers and a spot for the feed/water set up located! I headed on over to Arlington to find that the Sandhill Cranes had moved on, as had the White-faced Ibis and Cattle Egrets I thought I might find – but plenty of Kestrels, White-crowned Sparrows and Loggerhead Shrikes to be found.
American Kestrel.  EXIF: 1/1250, f5.6, ISO 320, 0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

White-crowned Sparrow.  EXIF: 1/2000, f5.6, ISO 320, 0EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

Loggerhead Shrike.  EXIF: 1/800, f5.6, ISO 320, +0.33EV, 420mm, Pattern Metered, Manual Mode.

A flash to my left had a bird backlit by harsh sun – at first I thought it was a Cardinal, but as I repositioned myself I realized that the bird was a Phainopepla (lifer #6!). No EXIF for this one as the image is pretty awful!
Phainopepla.

So now I have an active life-list does that make me a birder more than a bird photographer?

Photographed Life List = 111.

For the last year I have been receiving emails from the Arizona/New Mexico Birding List, a listserv that allows birders to keep in contact and pass on information. It is really useful for me to hear about sightings from other birders and read trip reports. It allows me to plan my own trips, to venture out with a purpose in mind.

So this week I was planning on staying home. A couple of days of rain in the west valley and some cooler weather (cool enough for a jacket!) was going to hamper any trips for me… or so I thought.

A couple of days ago I started seeing posts on the AZ/MN listerv about Buckeye and Arlington (my local area). What’s more, the reports I was reading described some birds I have not yet photographed. So this morning I drove out along my usual route to see what was around.

The first 1/2 hour of my expedition was totally frustrating… I was scanning bushes and trees and missing birds right in front of me. Several times I spooked raptors by approaching too fast, only to see them take to the wing and disappear over the fields.

Eventually I found my focus (no pun intended) and started to locate the birds. The big successes were the flock of Sandhill Cranes (a first for me) and a Red-tailed Hawk who was happy to pose for 5 minutes within 15 feet of the car.

All in all in was perhaps the best day I have experienced from the car. I’m looking forward to the next trip – hopefully next week.

Burrowing Owl:

Eared Grebe:

Chipping Sparrow:

White-crowned Sparrow:

Gambel’s Quail:

American Kestrel:

Sandhill Crane:

Red-tailed Hawk:

Western Meadowlark:

Today it was finally cool enough that I was able to take my 5 1/2 month old son to the Riparian Preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch. I was expecting a day of missed shots and ‘stroller frustration’… but suprisingly Finn remained in good spirits the whole morning and I was able to stash some of my kit in the bottom of the Finn-mobile. A couple of other birders asked how I managed to keep a baby so quiet… I replied that Finn is always as good as gold!

As you can see by the photograph below, he became a very good bird id’er!

As far as the birds were concerned I saw more warblers than at any other time. I even found a spot that I can stake out that should give me some good results next time I travel out to Gilbert. I am not seeing as many waterbirds as I have been expecting, but I am sure that they will arrive as the weather cools even more. There were more dragonflies and butterflies than last time and the pond sliders were sunning themselves on the banks.

Here is a selection from today:

Verdin.

White-crowned Sparrow (Juvenile).

White-crowned Sparrow.

Western Kingbird.

Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Mallard.

Loggerhead Shrike.

Monarch Butterfly.

Roseate Skimmer.

My father flew in to town last week and he brought some cooler weather with him… cool enough that we were able to go to the Riparian Preserve and tour the area around Palo Verde.

We saw plenty of bird-life and photographed most of it. It was nice to be able to spend time with my Dad and introduce him to the Burrowing Owls and stake out the Hummingbird perches together. There were successes coupled with frustrations, but I think we both walked away with some nice shots.

I will be glad when the weather cools down a little more… then I will be able to take my son to the Riparian Preserve without fear of him overheating!

Here is a selection from this week:

Say’s Phoebe with insect.

Roseate Skimmer.

Burrowing Owl

Chipping Sparrow.

Burrowing Owl.

Osprey.

Anna’s Hummingbird.

This week I was determined to get to The Riparian Preserve at Gilbert. It is a long drive and requires a really early start, but it is the best place I know for my type of photography. It is particularly special at this time of year because the migrant birds start to appear. Every year at this time I struggle to maintain a consistent number of successful shots - during the summer my photography is tailored for the intense heat and so I avoid being outdoors – as the autumn starts I find that my stealth, rather than my photographic technique, needs to be relearned. I watch the warblers in the hedgerow, I see glimpses of yellows, golds and oranges but when I try to approach I only succeed in scaring the birds away! At this time I return to the old faithfuls:  The Art of Bird Photography – by Arthur Morris, The Guide to Wildlife Photography – by B. Moose Peterson, Photographing Wild Birds – by Chris Gomersall. These classic books help to cement the methods of approach in my mind. Of course, it does not help that The Riparian Preserve has gravel paths, so skittish birds are never easy to approach if you are carrying the kit that I carry. However the tips that these books provide are invaluable.

Here are some of the shots from today – including a shot of a yellow warbler (often seen but never photographed) from a large crop and a Black Phoebe who was only happy to throw me an over-the-shoulder look!

Anna’s Hummingbird.

Abert’s Towhee

Curve-billed Thrasher

Desert Cottontail

Yellow Warbler

Black Phoebe