American Kestrel – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The beak is yellow at the nostrils, while the remainder of the beak is blue While on a hike through a wash in Saguaro National Park, we came across an American kestrel that was being pestered by a northern mockingbird. Presumably, the mockingbird was trying to scare […]
White-Faced Ibis – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The white-faced ibis has a long gray cured bill No matter what age you are, there is something amazing about seeing a creature for the first time. That was the case with this bird, the white-faced ibis. I was not looking for this bird. I came across it by […]
Hairy Woodpecker – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern The hairy woodpecker and the downy woodpecker have almost identical plumage There are a variety of woodpecker species in the United States and many of them look very similar to each other. There are a few critical features that can help you identify what type of woodpecker you […]
Eastern Towhee – IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern A fully grown eastern towhee will weigh less than two ounces This photograph was taken in Salisbury Beach State Park in coastal Massachusetts. These colorful sparrows are called eastern towhees. They can be found in the eastern half of the United States. Interestingly, the eyes are red for most eastern […]
Mackinac Island It can be a cold endeavor standing still in the dark Mackinac Island is a small island near the bridge that takes you from Northern Michigan to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is a very dark place, especially in the winter when I took this photograph. There are challenges with shooting photos at night […]
Adirondack State Park The few faint lights on the bottom are campsite lights along the water’s edge When you think of New York you don’t think of a dark place good for shooting astrophotography. However, Adirondack State Park in remote northern New York is an excellent place for shooting the stars. I took this photograph along […]
Acadia National Park You can see a shooting star in the top center When you live up north, summer is the best time of year to shoot the stars. The nighttime temperatures are bearable, and your camera batteries don’t cold-crash. I took this photo in Acadia National Park in Maine last summer while camping. If you look closely, […]
Saguaro National Park This meant feeling the heat of the sun throughout the day This photo was taken while on a hike in the east side of Saguaro National Park. The east side of the park has a trail called the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail. It spans 11 miles and proceeds slowly uphill from west […]
Big Bend National Park The Milky Way was so readily visible to the naked eye It’s been five years since I took this photo of the silhouette of an ocotillo against the starry night sky in Big Bend National Park. I have to say that despite taking astrophotography in several other parts of the country, […]
Northern Lights Forecast The sky went from a shade of green to a burst of red I’ve chased the Northern Lights for my entire adult life. Whenever I’ve heard a forecast that the Northern Lights might be visible near to where I am, I have attempted to see them. There was one night when I […]