To be honest I’m more than a little sick of all the rain this winter. I’d planned to do the Neusiok Trail this winter but the weather is really… oh no! lame pun warning… dampening those plans. There’s three reasons to hike the Neusiolk in the winter: 1) Few or no insects. 2) No snakes. 3) The trial is DRY AND COMFORTABLE. Oh well, maybe next year. The wet weather is even messing with my day hikes, local photo outings and regional explorations. If it’s not raining, it’s overcast, the lighting is flat and dim. Just not the best conditions for photography.

I was out last Thursday morning looking for some shots. I started out at Cedar Point on the Tideland trail, but there just wasn’t much going on. On my way home I got this brilliant idea (they’re always brilliant when still in the idea stage) that since the wind was picking up and rain threatening there might be some ducks held up on the Willow Pond on the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum Property. The Willow Pond features a nice, comfy blind for observing and photographing any waterfowl or wading birds visiting the pond. On my way I noticed a few Brown Pelicans perched on pilings at the community marina at Harkers Island. As the rain had started I figured shooting out the window of my van might be a bit more pleasant than walking the short trail to the blind. I liked this portrait of a pelican and thought I’d share. Oh, in case you’re wondering, I did make the short walk to the blind, camera and tripod in tow. Not a single duck to be found. Such is the nature of nature photography.

With the recent rain and cold the idea of hitting a trail has just been anything but pleasant. So instead I recently decided to stay close to home… the backyard is pretty close, yes?… by taking some shots around my bird feeders. While I attract a variety of interesting birds to my feeders… Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, House Finch and more… I thought I’d post about an often over looked bird; the female Redwing Blackbird. Now a lot of folks might think of the male with his solid black body and red & yellow wing markings as a handsome bird, but I’d bet most don’t give the female a second thought. Personally I think the female Redwing Blackbird is one of the more photogenic birds found in the Carolinas.

Named for the male’s shoulder markings, the Redwing Blackbird would be easily mistaken for a Grackle or a Brewers Blackbird if not for its distinctive epaulets. This bird is found in most of North America as well as much of Central America. Northern RWBs tend to be migratory, wintering in the the southern states and Central America. It isn’t unusual to see large flocks of migratory RWBs in agricultural fields all around NC during the winter (see The Skies Darkened on Jared Lloyd’s Photo Journal). Males average around 9 1/2 inches in length with the smaller female averaging about 7 inches. Young males are colored similar to adult females.

I thought I might change things up a bit and talk little about photography and one of the things that separates professionally made images for those shot by camera bugs. Now first let me clarify that I don’t personally think my wildlife photos are “all that.” But I am working to improve that segment of my work. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive a bit of advice from some accomplished wildlife photograpers plus have spent more than a little time reading some wildlife photography forums. I’ve learned a few things through these exposures… such as some of the things that sets professional shots apart from those taken by hobbiests. So, you might be thinking, what is it that seperates the Pros from the Ametuers? Well one asnswer is pretty simple: Point of view or, if you prefer, perspective.

Most shutter bugs snap pictures while standing erect. Now if you think about it, you’re taking a photo of a bird that stands a few inches tall while towering a few feet above. This results in a look that professional nature and wildlife photographer Jared Lloyd refers to as “the duck pond effect.” So for photographing a shore bird, wader or small mammal on the ground, don’t be afraid to lay on your belly to make a photo at… should I say it… birds eye view.

The photo below is of a Sanderling taken on Atlantic Beach in early January. In order to make this image I had my lens and camera mounted on a skimmer ground pod… a low platform used for low point of view images… laying on my belly. Some of the beach walkers looked at me like I was a little silly, but I think the results are worth a little embarassment in front of strangers. If you look through some of my earlier posts you’ll find some additional examples of getting down to the subjects level. So if you want to take your photography to… lame pun warning!… take your photography to another “level” don’t be afraid to get down and dirty.

I really enjoy egrets. Doesn’t matter whether it’s a Cattle Egret, a Snowy Egret or a Great Egret, everytime I see one I crack a little smile. Smaller than the Great Egret this all white bird also differs in that it has a black bill and yellow feet where the Great Egret has a yellow bill and black feet. Like other members of the heron family this bird was hunted to near extinction in the late 1800′s for its feathers which were used for decorating ladies hats. This bird received protection in the United States under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and it’s population has rebounded nicely. In southern states these egrets are year-round residents. Northern birds migrate in the winter to Central America and the West Indies.

This Snowy Egret was photographed in a canal at the Lake Mattamuskeet Wildlife Refuge in Hyde county. They can frequently be seen locally here around the Crystal Coast. Look for them along the Tideland Trail, while kayaking the White Oak or Newport Rivers and along the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore. You may also see them when walking the waterfronts in Beaufort or Morehead City.