Thursday, July 25, 2019

Sense of scale, Piping plover at Sandy Point State Reservation

Photo of a tiny piping plover chick next to a small beach plant in Massachusetts

Sometimes, while watching these birds on the beach through a large telephoto lens, you forget the sense of scale. Especially when their curiosity brings them close and they fill your viewfinder. But then one passes by a tiny plant in the sand, just three leaves on a side, and you remember how small these chicks are -- and how amazing it is that they're responsible for feeding themselves!


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Under the watchful eye of a parent, Sandy Point State Reservation

Photograph of a piping plover chick near its parent in Massachusetts

A young piping plover chick exploring the beach as its parent watches in the background. Perhaps I'm reading too much into it, but the out of focus parent seems a bit frazzled to me as it's calling out and running down the beach. I suppose that's to be expected when you're trying to keep watch over four small chicks, each heading in a different direction!


Tuesday, July 23, 2019

California quail on a fence post, Point Reyes National Seashore

Quail on a fence post in Point Reyes National Seashore, California

A classic Point Reyes scene – a California quail perched on a fence post set against a backdrop of the coastal scrublands of the peninsula. I’ve spent plenty of hours scouring the park for photographic opportunities like this and have never tired of attempting them. I've collected many of images of quails perched on posts, and while they may look similar, each has its own story to tell.


Monday, July 22, 2019

Golden hour, Point Reyes National Seashore

Landscape photograph of coastal pastures overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean in California

Pastures bathed in golden light and the deep blue of the Pacific drew my attention, and my lens, away from the grazing tule elk across the road on this surprisingly clear summer evening in Point Reyes National Seashore.


Sunday, July 21, 2019

Tule elk in summer wildflowers, Point Reyes National Seashore

Tule elk cow in wildflowers at Point Reyes National Seashore

On this July 2016 evening, a small herd of tule elk were grazing in the wildflowers along the road to Drake’s Beach.

Female tule elk in summer wildflowers in California

The shadows were getting long as the sun dropped toward the horizon, and these females slipped in and out of the warm rays, as a male watched over the harem.

Bull tule elk in wildflowers at Point Reyes National Seashore, California