Tag: Wildlife

Wednesday (16-December-2009) — Hawaii

Gone to See Hawaii, Maui Day 1: Haleakala National Park.

While attending a scientific meeting in Hawaii, I had the afternoons free. For the first day I decided to drive to Haleakala National Park to check out a good location for a sunrise or sunset photo shoot on top of the volcano for later in the week. It is amazing going from sea level to Pu’U’Ula’Ula (Red Hill) the summit of Haleakala at 10,023 feet. There were not many bicycles riding up, but many riding down. It looks like the tour operations bring you up the mountain and then let you ride a bicycle down. Up at the summit, I got some images of the rare Haleakala Silversword plant (one in bloom), and the Haleakala US Air Force Satellite Observatory Station. Going down the mountain, I stopped at the Kalahaku Overlook to take a panorama of the volcano crater. Further down, near the visitor center there were a pair of Nēnē (Hawaiian Goose) at the side of the road. The Nēnē is the state bird of Hawaii.  I had  previously seen Nēnē on the Big Island of Hawaii during a photography workshop with Thom Hogan.

Haleakala Silversword Plant. Image taken in Haleakala National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 220 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)
Haleakala Silversword Plant. Image taken in Haleakala National Park. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 220 mm, f/8, 1/640 sec) (David J Mathre)


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Friday (27-November-2009) — New Jersey

Autumn Nature at the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

Canada goose flapping its wings. Many of the Canada geese no longer migrate, but rather spend their winter here in New Jersey. Every fall and spring they join up and fly in circles for a couple of weeks ending up where they started. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens.

Canadian Goose in a Lake at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with Nikon D300 and 18-200 VR lens. (David J Mathre)
Canadian Goose in a Lake at the Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with Nikon D300 and 18-200 VR lens. (David J Mathre)

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31-October-2009

Halloween 2009

For Halloween I went to St. Petersburg Florida for the wedding of Lars (my brother) and Valerie. The day began with a sunrise photo shoot at Fort De Soto Park with Kari and Elise. When we got to the park we found out that we would not be able to get to the east tip turnaround because of the Florida Halloween Halfathon race. We ended up at the fort itself to view sunrise. After that we shot some pictures of folks in costume doing the race, and then went for a walk down the beach. I have images of both Kari working a sea urchin, and Elise working a shell. Ft. De Soto is always a target rich environment for birds.

Later that afternoon the extended family attended the wedding of Lars and Valerie. I am not a wedding photographer, but I did take some snapshots.

The following images were taken with a Nikon D3x or D700 with a 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye,  35 mm f/2, 45 mm f/2.8 PC-E, or 70-300 mm VR lens.

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D3x and 45 mm PC-E (ISO 100, f/16, 1/160 sec)

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/125 sec)

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 300 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec)

Sunrise at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec)

Darth Vader running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D700 and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/25 sec)

Princess running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 360, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec)

Hawaiian Tourist running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec)

Fairy running the Florida Halloween Halfathon at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 320, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec)

Kari working a Sea Urchin at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 300 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Check out the result.

Kari working a Sea Urchin at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 220, 75 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Check out the result.

Kari working a Sea Urchin at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 280, 85 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec). Check out the result.

Elise chimping her image of a shell at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 140, 155 mm, f/11, 1/250 sec).

Sunrise Pelican in flight at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 230 mm, f/5.3, 1/400 sec).

One eyed Tern at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec).

Sandpiper at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 250, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

American Oystercatcher at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Young Blue Heron at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Snowy Egret at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Snowy Egret at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 sec).

Black-hooded Parakeet?? (not native) at Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg Florida. There were at least 50 of these birds at this location. Image taken with a Nikon D3x and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 200, 300 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec).


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Saturday (29-August-2009) — At Sea

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 08: Alaska Marine Highway on the MV Columbia.

Somewhere in British Columbia, Canada traveling from Bellingham, Washington to Haines, Alaska. The day started out foggy. During the night there was a bit of rain and wind. I felt sorry for the folks living rough on deck, but they seemed to be warm and cheerful once they moved under the covered Solarium. We saw a few Orcas during the day. Later in the afternoon, the sun came out and folks living rough moved their chairs back out on the open deck.

Lone Deck Chair on Misty Morning. Solarium Deck on the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway Between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 50mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Lone Deck Chair on Misty Morning. Solarium Deck on the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway Between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 50mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/8, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Seagull Fishing with an Orca. Viewed from the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 720, 400 mm, f/8, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Seagull Fishing with an Orca. Viewed from the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 720, 400 mm, f/8, 1/400 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Jonathan and Christine Sleeping in the Afternoon Sun. Solarium Deck on the M/V Columbia Alaska Marine Highway Between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 50mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Jonathan and Christine Sleeping in the Afternoon Sun. Solarium Deck on the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway Between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 50mm f/1.4 lens (ISO 200, 50 mm, f/11, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
Christine Chimping on the Alaska Marine Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and a 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 195 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Christine Chimping on the Alaska Marine Highway. Image taken with a Nikon D3x camera and a 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 100, 195 mm, f/8, 1/500 sec). (David J. Mathre)
Silhouette, Shadow, and Sunburst on the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway Between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska -- Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia - Canada. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)
Silhouette, Shadow, and Sunburst on the MV Columbia Alaska Marine Highway Between Bellingham, Washington and Haines, Alaska — Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia – Canada. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 24-70 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 24 mm, f/22, 1/1000 sec). (David J Mathre)

Wednesday (18-February-2009) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Black-capped Chickadee.

I found this small bird trying to keep warm in my front doorway.  It looked like it was trying to make a nest in an old spider web.

Black-capped Chickadee trying to keep warm. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, flash). (David J Mathre)
Black-capped Chickadee trying to keep warm. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-200 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, flash).