Wildlife of Edmonds, WA. 2015

[Bill Anderson]

The killdeer was joined by some of its landlubber buddies after it came ashore.





There were about a dozen killdeer at the marsh and they were all very skittish. There was no sign of predators, so I suspect they may be getting into a mating mood.

 

[Terry O]

An amphibious Killdeer Nice shots, Bill.

T

 

[Bill Anderson]

Tuesday morning (2/10) I was parked on Sunset Ave. when I saw a large, dark bird flying south bound towards me that was being chased by crows. I initially thought it was a juvie bald eagle, of which I have plenty of shots. That and the lousy light caused me to disobey my cardinal rule of "shoot first and ask questions later."

I did not realize the bird was a raven until it was too late to get anything but a passing "Sasquatch" shot.


According to Birds of the Puget Sound Region (http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Puget-Sound-Region-Regional/dp/0964081024), ravens are not supposed to be in the metro Seattle area. We have been seeing a pair in the Pt. Edwards/Woodway area for the past nine months, but I blew my opportunity to get a good shot of one.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Since the foliage was removed from the fence behind the #1 viewing platform, Wesley has been perching on the barbed wire very close to the platform. Wednesday (2/11) I caught him perched above a spider web. I shot at -1 exposure compensation to keep his bright red feathers from being blown out.









Up on Pine St. I captured a hummer and the Pt. Edwards bald eagle pair in one photo by shooting at 1/500 and f/32 to get everything in focus. Look for the hummer perched on a branch of the tree in the lower left corner.

 

[Terry O]

Amazing you were able to get both the hummer and eagles, Bill. That was a huge distance between them.

Here's a few of my shots of Wesley - fairly close crops - ISO 3200 - I ran these through a very light noise reduction program - fortunately I didn't lose any detail.

 

[Terry O]

Here's one shot of the eagle pair - I couldn't get the dramatic sky you did - I probably NEED the new Canon 100-400

Shot at -1 e.c.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Some shots from Thursday (2/12):

A small flock of sanderlings(?) flew past the marina.......


.... as did a pair of surf scoters.


An evil minion of the Dark Lord was watching my every move at the #1 viewing platform of the marsh.


The marsh wrens have become quite vocal in the cattails at the marsh. One briefly came out into the open with a bug.


A flock of geese flew northeast from the marsh. I suspect they were flying to the Civic Center play fields or Olympic View elementary school.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Another episode of everyone's favorite reality show, "Snipe Hunt."

5DIII + 100-400L telephoto zoom, handheld @ 400mm.




Moving closer.

5DIII + 500L telephoto + 1.4x teleconverter, tripod mounted @ 700mm.

 

[Terry O]

As usual, great sequences, Bill!

 

[Bill Anderson]

Some birds from Friday the 13th.

Two pigeon guillemots began courtship rituals off the fishing pier.


A black-capped chickadee was digging for larvae in cattail heads at the marsh.






The marsh wrens are coming out of hiding for the spring mating season.

 

[Terry O]

Looks like I better get out there, Bill ....Nice shots!

 

[Bill Anderson]

Saturday (2/14) my son Daren and I ran into Janine at Marina Beach. Janine had not yet been to the marsh, so we both drove over and found two snipes in the usual spot off the #1 viewing platform. One preferred to stay hidden in the grass, but the other walked around in the mud looking for food. The shots were not easy as we were looking directly into both shadows and the sun.

5DIII + 500L telephoto + 1.4x teleconverter, tripod mounted.




Wesley, the male Anna's hummingbird who guards the #1 viewing platform, gets very upset when he is not the center of attention. He will perch fairly close to us to get his photo taken.
7D + 100-400L zoom, handheld.

 

[Terry O]

Good ones, Bill....

 

[Terry O]

From a couple of days ago at the Edmonds Marsh - nothing special, but I liked the lighting and reflections.

5Diii 400mm f5.6L + 1.4x 1/1250s f8 ISO 1600.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Great photo! It looks like an angel of some sorts.

What a difference your new 5DIII makes. You can use your 5.6/400L telephoto lens + 1.4x teleconverter with autofocus. You can also use a shutter speed of 1/1250 @ ISO 1200 to produce a photo without noise.

 

[Terry O]

Thanks, Bill....yes, I am in love with my 5Diii

Turns out the ISO was actually 1600....

 

[photographmemories]

Boy, that's a neat pic, Terry!

I like how you framed it. interesting how the wing reflection tapers into a straight edge along either side of the wings reflection towards the bottom of the photo.



Chad

 

[Terry O]

Thanks, Chad - I noticed that too.

 

[Bill Anderson]

Monday's (2/16) warm weather brought out bugs. A hummer on the west end of the Pt. Edwards walkway took advantage of the situation and went hunting.

 

[Terry O]

Really nice sequence shots, Bill. Its amazing how much their coloring changes in different light.