The Photographer Quarterly: The Birds of 2017

With all the "Year in Review" material about to flood the media I thought I would share some of my favorite bird photos from 2017. The year of 2017 brought a significant step up in my photography equipment with the addition of a Sigma 500mm prime telephoto lens. The f4 aperture provides more light than the zooms and enables a clarity in the photo that can't be matched. Some pictures if handled right almost come out in 3-D-like quality revealing a wonderful presence. A bit of luck doesn't hurt either.

Highlights of the year started with a trip to Florida to see Jennifer in January with a stop at the well known Merrill Island Wildlife Refuge. Later at home in the Spring the migratory birds arrived in our county and morning boat rides on clear days provided some beautiful photos including a pair of visiting loons on their way north. Our Lake Monticello eagle and osprey family were also cooperative in the early mornings. June brought a trip on the James river east of Richmond to see the eagles of the James. A trip up to Cape Cod provided some lovely moments in the marsh and an invitation to a beautiful wedding on the eastern shore of Maryland provided more material

One of my favorite shoots of 2017 was the result from our lake friends calling one morning and proclaiming "the Goldfinches are in the Red Bed Trees'" I quickly gathered my kit and headed to their deck where I spent a delightful hour capturing these little birds in their Spring best contrasted in the beautiful red buds. The picture below later went on to take first place in the Monticello Bird Club Photo contest.

A back injury put a cramp on my travel for the remainder of the year however the birds of my backyard and the lake did not disappoint. A trip to Montana in the Fall gave us some wonderful wildlife shots but for now - these favorites are for the birds!