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.

To change the subject, especially when I am processing night sky images with high ISO I utilize Topaz DeNoise to cut down on the noise without losing detail.  Starting June 16, Topaz is running a promotion on our plugin Topaz DeNoise. The discount will be for $20 (25%) off, reducing the price to $59.99 for the month of June. The coupon code is: JUNEDENOISE.  The link to order this plug-in is http://www.topazlabs.com/aff/idevaffiliate.php?id=850&url=http://www.topazlabs.com/DeNoise

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!

Thoughts

Last evening, as I was sitting out on my back porch reading a good book and enjoying a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, I looked up and watched the wind gently blow.  When the trees and power was overcast, the clouds was slowly moving by, birds were saying in the trees and approve no matter what the weather.  The world is always enjoyable.

Remember Sunday, besides being Father's Day is the annual nature photography day.  Go out take pictures and post one on the Facebook site at NANPA created.

Last Saturday in the Boston Globe there was a recent editorial by Larry Harmon entitled Move over, plover; the beach is for people http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/06/07/move-over-plover-beach-for-people/zvl2SgGZCFwaiMXXi3XnIJ/story.html.   This editorial decried blocking off portions of the beach, so that the piping plovers could nest and raise their young.  His feeling is the beach belong to people.  Many people have emailed Mr. Harmon protesting his words.  In fact, Devin Griffiths wrote an excellent blog http://devincbirder.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/beaches-are-for-the-birds/which I encourage you to read.  I have been down to Nickerson beach on Long Island, which has more people than Revere beach, where the nesting birds, and the people exist in harmony.  Please make your voices heard in opposition to this very biased editorial and to it, respectfully.

Speaking of shorebirds, remember on June 21, I will be leading a workshop on photographing shorebirds and there are still spaces available.  You can preview the program and sign up at ... http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/program-catalog#program:sanctuary=25:program_code=34448

Nature Photography Day - Follow-Up

Part of the members of the group

Cottontail Rabbit

Five people join me to celebrate Nature Photography Day at Allens Pond.  The day was bright and sunny with intermittent wind.  Four people at the at the field station and one person joined us at the beach.  Of the group all were experienced photographers is except one, Phoebe an intern at the sanctuary, who was using a bridge camera.  Personally, I decided to photograph using my Tokina 10-17 mm fisheye and a 28 to 75 mm short telephoto.  Because a few of the people haven't photographed any piping plovers, we started off to go down to the beach.  On the way, a cottontail rabbit was very obliging and sitting out in the open and eating and giving everybody opportunity to photograph it. 

When we reached the beach and the fifth number joined us, the piping plovers were running on the beach, so I sat people down, because I know if they stayed still and didn't move much the plovers would approach them closely.  I went further down the beach with Dan, who was trying to take some video of the plovers and chicks with a Sony SX 50.  The plovers and chicks did approach to within 10 to 15 feet of everybody. 

Sitting on the beach photographing piping plovers

After we finished on the beach, we hiked to the Quonset trail, which was very muddy because of all the recent rain.  We set up at the stone bench overlooking the marsh and photographed some of the birds that were in the area.  What turned out to be probably the most interesting event of the morning was a pair of tree swallows mating.  The cameras behind me, were clicking away, I was just watching because my grandson was behind me with the long lens, however, he missed the whole event because he was photographing a Willet.  As the sun climbed higher in the sky and the light became harsh we called it quits and went back to the field station with everybody having a great morning.

On the Quonset trail overlooking the marsh

I obtained some interesting photographs, utilizing my fisheye and also a number of scenics that I wanted for an e-book that I am writing on photographing Allens Pond and vicinity.

Daisies with a fisheye

Looking over the fields toward the marsh

Drainage ditch into the pannes

The beach

Beach Pea with a fisheye

Reminder 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.

Remember for those people in the Southeastern Massachusetts area I will be hosting "NATURE  PHOTOGRAPHY DAY" at Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary,  starting at 7:30 AM at the field station located at 1280 Horseneck Rd., Westport, MA .

To Sanctuary Entrance at Field Station:
From Interstate 195, in Westport, take Exit 10 (Rt 88 South). Follow Route 88 through three lights to intersection with Hixbridge Rd at 4th light. Turn left onto Hixbridge Rd and proceed 1.8 miles to stop sign at Pine Hill Rd and Horseneck Rd. Turn right onto Horseneck Rd and proceed nearly to the ocean for 4.8 miles. Sanctuary parking is on your left just past Bayside Restaurant and adjacent to our Field Station at 1280 Horseneck Rd. 

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.