Eleven-Years Ago (01-June-2008) — Colorado

Springtime Nature in Colorado.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E II 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/160 sec). Raw image processed with Capture One Pro, Focus Magic, and Photoshop CS5. The Male Broad-tailed Hummingbirds arrive first in the spring to define their territories.  Spring comes late at nearly 9000 feet to Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. You hear the hummingbirds long before you finally see them (even with the car windows closed).

Male Broad-tailed Humming Bird at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E II 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Male Broad-tailed Humming Bird at Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VR lens + TC-E II 20 teleconverter (ISO 200, 400 mm, f/8, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (18-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 3.

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Dinner to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 s).

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec. (David J Mathre)
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 140, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 sec. (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (17-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 2.

Female Painted Bunting Leaving After a Bird Bath at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Female Painted Bunting Leaving After a Bird Bath at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Female Painted Bunting Leaving After a Bird Bath at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 500, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (17-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 1.

Northern Cardinal on a Cactus at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 720, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec).

Northern Cardinal on a Cactus. Bobcat Blind at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 720, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Northern Cardinal on a Cactus. Bobcat Blind at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 720, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Five-Years Ago (16-May-2014) — Texas

South Texas Birding Photo Safari with Jason Odell Day 1.

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec.

Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec. (David J Mathre)
Male Northern Cardinal Feeding Breakfast to a Young Cardinal at Dos Venadas Ranch in Southern Texas. Image taken with a Nikon D4 camera and 500 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 1600, 500 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 sec. (David J Mathre)