I was a Cardinal in Elementary School and I’ve always like taking pics.  I’m just not sure this one works yet or not.  I want to print for a friend and then try in a charity auction.

This is a blended photo with the background hit with LightRoom’s Cold Tone and the birds in original state.

I knew the day would come, but didn’t think it would be so soon.  It’s also the first fish he’s caught with an artificial lure all on his own!

I really didn’t care that I didn’t catch a thing afterwards.  Really.

In the mall at Branson Landing there’s a flower pot with a mama duck sitting her eggs… here she is!  Not the best close up photo but it will serve it’s purpose.

Swallows have long been my favorite bird to follow in flight.  Recently I found a small colony of Cliff Swallows.  They are slightly different than their relative, the barn swallow, who has a longer forked tail.  My best photo from the day is below.  Best viewed larger, click image to do so.

Last weekend Bryan Orr and I were out at Lake Olathe well before anyone else.  It was a breathtaking sunrise over a slightly foggy lake.  The water was very clear and Bryan was anxious to get his new blind set up and snapping photos.  Landscapes continue to stand out this month, but next month promises to be chocked full of portraits.  Enjoy and let me know if you have questions.

Top:  Red Sun Rising at Lake Olathe
Middle Left:  Bryan trying to get a nice sun rise picture
Middle Right:  From the confines of the new blind I snap photos
Bottom:  Two geese closing in on the blind

Today, I processed photos of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that I shot with Bryan Orr in Lawrence, Kansas.  Where were freezing our hiney’s off at the new University of Kansas Boathouse taking photos of our nation’s most recognizable symbol.  Fortunately, Bald Eagles can be seen throughout the day.  Immediately behind the boathouse was a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) that was snooping around the grounds at midday.

Photos were all taken with a 300mm lens… one day I’ll get the pro version! Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Good luck and happy shooting.

Olathe Lake is a nice place just to kick back and shoot the sunset.  That’s a Great Blue Heron flying off into the sunset.  Unfortunately, this is a composite photo taken from two shots combined into a single one. 

• Camera:  Canon EOS 40D
• Exposure:  0.005 sec (1/200)
• Aperture:  f/8.0
• Focal Length:  23 mm
• ISO Speed:  400
• Exposure Bias:  0 EV
• Flash:  Off
• Location:  Olathe Lake, Kansas

Being a country boy at heart, I spend a great amount of time researching where to find various wildlife around the Kansas City Metro Area. Today, I found Muskrats, or Ondatra zibethicus, in Lenexa, Kansas in the heart of the city. I saw one and his effortless swimming makes for great family entertainment as his head pops up and disappears under the water.

Though I visited at twilight this muskrat was active and appeared to enjoy human contact, though I don’t know his reaction to more than a few people. I’ve read that muskrats can stay underwater for up to 10 minutes and that would be long enough to send most viewers moving along to the next sight. Further research indicates that beavers also live alongside muskrats in relative harmony. Curiously, muskrats do not store food for the winter, however; they are known to raid beavers’ stores during cold spells.

Next to this marsh area is a paved walking trail with fantastic scenery… a river runs near the muskrats. Also, running about are a pack of coyotes, but only expect a glimpse at best as they are very reclusive.

Below is a map to the exact location of my muskrat sighting. Let me know if you head out that way and definitely bring your camera.

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