Turkey Vulture at sun rise – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/320, ISO 500, -1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light, not baited
Two bald headed birds, but very different in appearance, one is a vulture who cleans up the earth and the other a wading bird with pink and carmine plumage. This Turkey Vulture was photographed yesterday morning in Box Elder County, Utah as the sun rose. The vulture was perched on a fence rail of a corral and it may have spent the night roosting there. After the vulture warmed up it probably lifted off to soar on the thermals until it found something to eat.
Roseate Spoonbill in a lagoon – Nikon D200, handheld, f6.3, 1/800, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 400mm, natural light
This is a mature Roseate Spoonbill in nonbreeding plumage. I couldn’t resist photographing these cotton candy pink wading birds when I lived in Florida and aimed my lens at them whenever I had the opportunity. This one was photographed in the evening at Fort De Soto County Park in Florida in 2009 as the spoonbill foraged for food in a tidal lagoon.
Some people find birds with featherless heads unappealing, odd or even ugly. Me, I think all birds are wonderful.
Life is good.
Mia
I know it has been a while that I placed my comments. Too busy with taking pictures of birds and wildlife and landscapes. Anyway, I totally agree with you, as I also love all the birds in what shape or form. And as always I really like all your pictures, they are super. Also these ones. Keep up the great work, Mia!
Terrific photographs, Mia! I love the comparison of two bald-headed birds. For a third perspective, I’m off in search of a mirror ……
The Roseate Spoonbill is definitely a better looking bird than the Turkey Vulture. Both are wonderful shots.
Nice shots…i especially like the composition of both birds, including the hint of a second rail(were there three or four?) in the first and the wiggly reflection of the spoonbill…
Ah, Roseate Spoonbills in warm light… I love it. So when are you going to
come back to sunny Florida to visit Fort DeSoto, and other hot areas? Did
you ever visit the Circle B-Bar Reserve south of Lakeland, Fl when you
lived here? Great area for wildlife photography, with a lot of diversity.
Keep up the great work. ;-)))
Beautiful photos Mia.