Category Archives: Birds

Flyby (Black Skimmers)

May
24
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 2 Comments

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Knowing how the shot was taken, imagine my surprise when I viewed this image on my camera’s LCD screen. I was even more delighted when I pulled it up on desktop’s screen for processing.

This capture of black skimmers was taken from the bow of our river boat on the Madre de Dios River. We were traveling downstream at about 30 mph.  I know this because I judged the speed to be close to the speed I use to water ski at on Ten Mile Lake in Oregon.  This is fast for being on the water.

The skimmers had to be flying faster as they flew alongside us and then passing across our bow from the right hand side of the boat. So the boat was moving, the skimmers were moving and I was moving a bit like being on a gimbal, trying to keep my balance, while keeping the birds in the view finder as they zoomed by. It all happened in about 5 seconds.


In short, I’m amazed the birds are in such good focus with great detail visible in the wings. This is not to mention they are pretty cool birds, built for flying fast. I hope you can view this on a screen larger than your cell phone.

Here’s the exposures details:

f/8 @ 1/6400 sec, ISO 1250, Exp. Bias -0.7, 400mm

Also posted in Madre de Dios River, Peru

Fasciated Tiger-heron (Diversity)

May
19
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 0 Comments

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If you’ve been following the Amazon River Basin postings you should be getting a feeling for the wonderful, amazing diversity of the area.  And I’ve only scratched the surface. Most of the images I’ve shared so far were taken either along the river from our boat or along the shoreline of Cocha Salvador and Cocha Blanco from a floating barge. When we were on each of the two lakes, we were able to drift along slowly and quietly. Thankfully, because we were on a flat platform, I was able to use my tripod. It was still a bit of a challenge though because the barge was always turning and moving although much slower than the river boat. The good news was that we were able to get right up to the shoreline most of the time.

The attached image is of yet another heron, a juvenile Fasciated Tiger-heron. This bird is VERY similar to the Rufescent Tiger-heron and could very well be the Rufescent Tiger-heron, but I’m going with the Fasciated Tiger-Heron because that’s what our field notes indicate. My wonderful Birds of Peru Field Guide notes that the Rufescent Tiger-heron has a longer and heavier bill than the Fasciated Tiger-heron. I’m thinking this is a tough call.
http://raindogscine.com/?attachment_id=157 levitra uk Unfortunately as we age we become more appreciative of the abdominal area we become more aware of the various diaphragms.

The foreword in my Birds of Peru Field Guide notes that there are over 1800 species know in Peru. Leafing through the guide by itself is an amazing experience all by itself. Peru is second only to Colombia in terms of bird diversity. And new species are still being discovered! Again, amazing.

Also posted in Peru

Capped-Heron, Manu River, Peru

May
18
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 3 Comments

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I’m beginning to have a problem figuring out how many more images to post from our adventure into the Amazon River Basin. I mean it’s not everyone who gets to experience such a wonderful trip. And as I note on my home page, for me, a good photograph is simply one that shows the viewer something they have never seen before or takes them to a place they may never be able to visit. A valuable photo is also something one can use to recall special times in special places with special friends.  I believe these postings and images meet both criteria.

I took over 1500 frames on this trip and I’m still sorting through them, finding little jewels here and there. In retrospect, I wish I would have taken more. Part of the problem is coming up with something to say about each of the images I’d like to share. I also wish I would have taken along a tape recorder to capture the ongoing dialog from our guide who was a wealth of information – especially when any given bird was under discussion.  


Each night, before dinner, we’d huddle around a table wherever we were staying, all wearing head lamps. The lamps were all set to red so we would not blind each other. During this time we reviewed each and every bird we spotted. The review was facilitated by a really great check list provided by Manu Expeditions. In summary, we spotted and identified over 150 individual species. Again, recording these sessions would have been very cool. 

The one thing I recall about the Capped Heron is that as Wikipedia notes, “the Capped Heron is distinct from other herons, being the only one with a blue beak and face, and a black crown, with three to four white long feather extending from the black crown.” Danny, our guide, referred to the Capped Heron as being quite handsome.  I agree.

Also posted in Manu River, Peru

Cream-colored Woodpecker

May
17
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 6 Comments

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While the Cream-colored Woodpecker does not carry the stardom and obscure status of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, according to our guide, it is still relatively uncommon in the Manu Biosphere. In fact, our two boat attendees, both great birders, who have grown up on the Manu River, had never seen one before. However, BirdLife International notes that because the species has a large range and despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion. Either way, we all felt very fortunate to see one and I felt happy to be able to capture a frame without a lot of foliage in the way.  I can only imagine what it would be like to spot an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, surly the Holy Grail for birders.

 

 

Also posted in Peru

Hoatzin

May
14
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 5 Comments

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Taken at Cocha Salvador, Peru

“Deep in the wilderness lurks a fat, foul beast that stinks of manure, barks and caws in guttural tones, and produces offspring with sharp claws in unusual places. Nobody quite knows where it came from, but we do know where to find it: in the trees of the Amazon jungle, crouched on low branches that hang over rivers. Sound sinister? It’s called a Hoatzin—and once you get to know it, it’s about as goofy and awkward a bird as you can find.

The Hoatzin never quite got hang of the whole “being a bird” thing. Not that it doesn’t try to fit in—on the outside, Opisthocomus hoazin looks like a mish-mash of half a dozen other birds, with the scruffy crest of a Guira Cuckoo, a Cassowary’s bright-blue face, the body of a chicken, and a long, stiff hawk’s tail. And the Hoatzin can fly, though it’s a clumsy, reluctant flier at best. (If you have a hard time imagining how the word “lumbering” could be applied to a bird in flight, just take a look at the Hoatzin trying to get from one tree branch to another.)” – Quote from Audobon

Kalij Pheasant

Apr
14
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 0 Comments

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Like myself, the Kalij Pheasant is not endemic. The species was first introduced to Hawaii in 1962 for hunting purposes at the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Ranch. Native to the Himalayas, studies have noted that the birds occur in pairs of a single male and a single female, leading to the conclusion they live a monogamous lifestyle. But in Hawaii, and certainly in our backyard, researchers have observed that they live a more gregarious lifestyle with family units consisting of just one female and between one and six males along with their offspring.

As near as I can tell, we have several family units patrolling our kingdom. They are highly entertaining, verbose and for the most part unimpressed with your presence. In the spring, like right now, almost on a daily basis you can find two or three males in the middle of a dust-up with a single female on the sidelines looking on.

“Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame…” – Jimmy Buffet, Margaritaville

Also posted in Impressionisms of Hawaii

Fine Feathers

Feb
11
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 0 Comments

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With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Red was bound and determined to find a young wahine to wine, dine and tweet. But after two months of singing his heart out, with nothing to show for it, he came to the conclusion he needed to up his game.

Being the resource bird that he was, Red did an internet flyby and finally found Fine Feathers Makeovers with an outlet along Alii Drive in Kailua Kona. The breadth of services provided by Fine Feathers was impressive. Starting with style consultation and color analysis, Fine Feathers wrapped up their makeover with plumage rejuvenation, a portrait photoshoot with award winning fashion photographer Cabana Boy and a Talk Story Posting on Tropical Exposures which included Search Engine Optimization tailored to Red’s good looks, life style and space for Red’s dating profile listed as follows:

I live by myself, I live in a split level nest. I wear socks that match and I love my mom. I am a confident, attractive and sassy Northern Red Cardinal.

I like to hangout in backyards near bird feeders. I have a healthy diet of insects, seeds, grain, fruit and sap. I especially love fermented sap. I like kale. I’m loyal and do not migrate around.


I’m not into drones.

My favorite tune is Rockin’ Robbin.

I’m told I have a nice voice and sing a variety of melodies. Turn up the volume on your speakers and give me a listen. (2017_02_08_10_06_21)

Chao!

Also posted in Impressionisms of Hawaii

Red-Crested Cardinal

Feb
06
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 5 Comments
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A longtime friend mentioned recently he liked what I’ve been doing with my digital art renderings, but he REALLY liked the crisp colorful bird and flower shots. Subtle! I can take a hint.

Knowing that I’ll be spending some time in the Amazon in the spring, I have also been thinking about birds. It occurred to me that maybe I should practice up beforehand. With birds, you don’t often have much time to get it together exposure wise and all.  Always be prepared.

So there I was, sitting on a third floor balcony at Honokeana Cove on Maui, overlooking the ocean, drinking something sinful, waiting for whales and surfers to show themselves, when a feisty Red-Crested Cardinal made a cameo appearance. What to do?


If only I could get so lucky in the Amazon!

Not to be confused with the Yellow-Billed Cardinal found on the Big Island, the Red-Crested Cardinal is slightly larger, a bit brighter, carries a crest on his noggin and is not found on the Big Island. In my mind, the Red-Crested Cardinal is an upgrade to the Yellow-Billed Cardinal, but neither one can hold a candle to the Northern Cardinal which, by the way, has been waking me up every morning calling out to hook up with a female.  Spring has sprung.

Get one room already brah and let me go back to sleep!

Also posted in Hawaii, Photography by Douglas Walch, Tropical Exposures

Carl – The Year of the Rooster (2017)

Jan
27
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 3 Comments

CARL THE ROOSTER

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #258


The day Carl was made henhouse rooster had to be the proudest day of his life. Oh, how he strutted and preened outside the little hut where all the chickens lived. From the corner of his eye he could see them nervously peeking out to see the new cock of the walk. You could hardly blame him for smiling so smugly. He knew that from that moment on, if a chicken wanted extra feed, well, she had to ask Carl. Same thing for pecking privileges in the yard. And of course, when it came time to lay eggs, the premium spots nearest the warming lamps were handed out by you-know-who. Yep, life was good for ol’ Carl. Up at dawn, a loud clearing of the throat, a largely ceremonial patrol of the perimeter, and then, an afternoon and evening of doling out favors to the chickens. And the best part about it was he never had to actually ask for anything in return. He would simply tell each chicken to decide for herself what, if anything, she should give him to ensure his continued friendship. But let me tell you, it’s no accident he named his rooster hut “Casa Quid Pro Quo.” Yep, Carl had it knocked. At least until he was forced out of his job by a class-action paternity suit that was entirely without merit and probably politically motivated by bitter, eggless chickens. (1st Aired: 28 September 2009)

Also posted in Hawaii, Impressionisms of Hawaii, Photography by Douglas Walch

@SparrowCare

Jan
11
2017
by doug@douglaswalch.com | 1 Comment

“They are saying our health care insurance is being replaced by a series of self-improvement tweets. They are calling it @SparrowCare.”

Also posted in Hawaii, Photography by Douglas Walch, Tropical Exposures