outdoor photography

Sandhill Crane Every couple weeks I visit Red Bug Lake Park to see the Sandhill Crane family that is there.  Every time I go, the chicks have more than doubled in size.  Now they're long past the "cute" stage, and it looks to me like some flight feathers are finally starting to come in.  I wonder if the next time I visit them will be the last before they're fledged.  The "little" ones are still taking food from their parents, but they also are foraging for themselves. Sandhill Crane Sandhill Crane Sandhill Crane Sandhill Crane that found what looks like a Crayfish

Lizard At Red Bug Lake Park, I came across a very interesting looking lizard on a tree trunk.  I took a couple shots and then tried to re-position myself to get a better angle.  But as I did so, the lizard took off.  This normally disappoints me; I had seen a shot but then was unable to get it.  It's why I normally shoot first and re-position myself later. But this time the lizard grabbed some ugly bug and came back to the tree to eat it.  So this time, I got to move to a better spot, and the lizard got its bug--we're all winners.  Well, except for the bug, but if you ask me, it had it coming.  I mean, it's one ugly bug. Lizard when I first saw it Lizard after re-positioning myself Lizard Lizard

Sandhill Cranes On my way home from work yesterday I went by Redbug Park to find the Sandhill Cranes.  They were out foraging in the grass, and they had a little bit of an audience.  Thankfully everyone was respectful of their space, but honestly I don't think they were concerned about any of us in the least.  It's fun to see the chicks growing up.  The parents are still feeding them, but the two chicks are trying to find food on their own too.  And they are probably more than twice the size they were when I photographed them just two weeks ago.  They seem to be exiting the "cute" phase, but I think their still fascinating to watch. Sandhill Cranes I met a fellow photographer there whom I've interacted with before on line, but never met in person.  It was great to meet a kindred spirit in person.  He mentioned to me that the last time he was there one of the adults had gotten its legs tangled up in something, probably fishing line. ...

Sandhill Cranes At Red Bug Lake Park, there are currently two Sandhill Cranes with two chicks.  I saw them yesterday, but I didn't have my nice camera, so I went back this afternoon to find them again.  It was so fun to see the parents forage for the chicks and feed them.  I photographed them for about a half an hour today before I had to go home.  It looks like I may have to return from time to time to see how they grow. Sandhill Cranes Sandhill Cranes  Sandhill Cranes  Sandhill Cranes  Sandhill Cranes 

Red Bug Lake Park Sunrise On my way into work today, I decided to stop by a park that is right by my daughter's school.  I walked to the lake right as the sun was rising.  I took several images to do some HDR work, but this picture in particular had enough detail for me to make adjustments in Lightroom.  So here's the sunrise over my daughter's school (which you can't see) at Red Bug Lake Park.