NANPA MeetUp at Jenney Pond

Great Blue Helen Dragging the Tip of Its Wing in the Water

Today, February 21.  I held an NANPA Eastern, Massachusetts, MeetUp group meeting at Jenney's Pond.  I was joined by Steve, who is a landscape photographer and wants to get into wildlife and birds.

The only problem with Jenney Pond today was that almost all of the ice has melted and so the waterfowl were scattered all over the pond, rather than being concentrated as it is when most of the pond is frozen over.  However, we had a great time.  First and foremost they  were to great blue herons, which gave us some great flight shots.  Most of the blue Heron flight photograph you see the herons flying from left to right or vice versa.  Today the Heron flew in circles and gave some interesting poses.

Great Blue Heron Flying at You

Great Blue Heron Flying with One Wing down

Great Blue Heron Flying with Its Wings Sidewards through the Trees

To help Steve with his flight shots, I utilize some cracked corn tossing the corn into the water and this caused the mallards to fly and give us some chances at flight shots.  I like that trick from Artie Morris and Glenn Bartley.  At least the corn is nutritious for the waterfowl rather than the bread that people bring to feed these birds.

Hen Mallard Flying toward Us with the Sun to Its Back

Drake Mallard Flying toward Us with the Sun behind Us

After we finished photographing, we all went and had a nice breakfast at a restaurant in Plymouth.  All my blog readers are invited to join the Meetup group, which is free and you do not have to be a member of NANPA.

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Piping Plovers at Allens Pond

Finally, after many trips to the beach loop at Allens Pond, I finally was able to photograph some of this year's piping plovers.  Arriving at the beach loop, we saw down the beach running in and out of the water a small bird.  At first we thought it may have been a semipalmated plover, but as we got closer we were able to identify it as a piping plover.  Making our way slowly down the beach, we end up seeing two different piping plovers.  They were both feeding, but one was aggressive toward the other.

Walking back toward the path leading from the beach loop toward the road, a piping plover, in the area where in previous years there was a nest of a piping plover, a piping plover was angry with us being near that area by approach and us closely and displaying to move us away from this area.  This makes me think that finally, a piping plover family is nesting in this area.  Well will have to keep an eye on this area to see if this is true.

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Remember Monday, June 15, marks 10 years for Nature Photography Day:  a time for discovery and inspiration.  And the natural world offers so many opportunities to be creative.

Remember to look for the Nature Photography Day Member Event on NANPA's page on Facebook! Take images on June 15, and upload one for the event section.  

New this year on NANPA's Facebook Group Page:  a special photo contest sponsored by Tamron, Red River Paper, Hunt's, and NANPA.

Plovers, Set, and Nature Photography Day

Killdeer

Yesterday afternoon we returned to Nelsons park in the beach to see if we could find anything new.  In the grass failed, by the parking lot, a pair of killdeers were voicing their displeasure at us as we were in the area.  In fact, one of the killdeers flew to the wall and did not give a broken wing display acted like she was injured, which made me think that they either had a nest, or young ones in the area.  I believe they have young ones somewhere around because both killdeers were up and moving.

Killdeer in Injured Pose

Killdeer Vocalizing

The tide was low and the mud flats at the beach had a number of semipalmated plovers running up and down and feeding.  I was able to photograph one plover eating a large sand worm.

Semipalmated Plover Eating a Sand Worm

Semipalmated Plover Eating a Sand Worm

Semipalmated Plover Eating a Sand Worm

Semipalmated Plover Eating a Sand Worm

In the water, between Nelson and Long Beach.  There was a feeding frenzy going on with gulls, terns and a great blue Heron.

As it was getting closer to sunset, we traveled up to Manomet Point to photograph the sunset over Whitehorse Beach and Plymouth.  There were low clouds in the sky, and as the sunset, the clouds in the sky were lit up with color, which continue to at least 15 minutes after sunset.  They were reds, yellows and oranges.  For these pictures,  I used my Nikon D810, Nikon 80 to 400, all on a tripod,ISO 125 in manual mode and utilize live view.  I set the camera for a two second delay in shutter release to stop vibrations in the mirror and used a remote release.  I also took some sets of bracketed pictures which I processed in LightRoom utilizing their new HDR interface.

Sunset at Manomet Point

After Sunset at Manomet Point

After Sunset at Manomet Point

June 15:  Nature Photography Day Celebrates 10 Years
A camera, time, and your imagination can be the best ways to celebrate Year 10 of Nature Photography Day.! Nature Photography Day is a time to appreciate how images influence our world.

Looking for ways to enjoy the day?  Take yourself on a photo adventure. Teachers and students: Explore a setting you haven’t yet photographed, and arrange to shoot on June 15. Show children how to photograph flowers or trees in their backyard or other places close to home. Inspiration and beauty can be close by.  
For those people who are interested, I will be at Allens Pond, Dartmouth Massachusetts at 8 AM on June 15, come rain or shine to photograph the beauty that surrounds us.  Everybody is welcome

Plus, NANPA is hosting two separate events on Facebook.

1. The Nature Photography Day Member Event is back, and so is our page on Facebook! Take images on June 15, and upload one for the event section.  

2. New this year on NANPA’s Facebook Group Page:  a special photo contest sponsored by Tamron, Red River Paper, Hunt’s and NANPA.
For details, visit www.nanpa.org/nature_photography_day.php.

On June 15, see where your photography takes you!

June 15, 2013, Nature Photography Day

June 15, 2013, Nature Photography Day

The eighth annual Nature Photography Day will be observed nationally on Saturday, June 15. This day was designated by NANPA to promote the enjoyment of nature photography, and to explain how images have been used to advance the cause of conservation and protect plants, wildlife, and landscapes locally and worldwide.
In 2006, NANPA celebrated the first Nature Photography Day and placed it in McGraw-Hill's reference work, Chases's Calendar of Events. Many media and websites took notice. Since then, people throughout the North American continent--from overseas, too--have discovered numerous ways to observe and enjoy the day.
NANPA encourages people everywhere to enjoy the weekend by using a camera to explore the natural world. A backyard, park, or other place close by can be just right. Walking, hiking, and riding a bike to take photos are activities that don't lead to a carbon footprint. And fresh air can do wonders for the spirit!

Nature Photography Day Event

NANPA will be supporting Nature Photography Day by hosting a Facebook event page for your nature photos taken on June 15. Just get out there and take some photos, and then upload your best shot to the Nature Photography Day page. One photo per person, please.
You will need to have a Facebook account and you must "Attend" the Nature Photography Day Event. Facebook will accept photos up to 2048 pixels (on the long side), but these photos are downsized to 720 pixels for presentation with a link to the high-resolution version. So, unless you intend to make your high-resolution image available for public download, NANPA recommends you size your photo to 720 pixels on the long side before uploading.
This is not a contest, and no fee is charged for submission. Photos must be taken on June 15, 2013, within walking (or biking) distance of wherever you are. The time frame for uploads is June 15 through June 21.

 In honor of Nature Photography Day I will be hosting a get together at Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, on June 15 starting at 7:30 AM, at the field station located on Horseneck Rd., Westport/Dartmouth.  Everybody is welcome.  Bring your camera, no matter what type you have, iPhone, iPad, etc. and join the fun photographing the natural beauty of our world.  We will also visit other sites of the sanctuary, including the Stone Barn and the Allens Neck areas.  We will be holding the event, no matter what the weather.  If it is raining, plastic bags, and rubber bands will help protect your equipment.