2015 is shaping up to be the “Year of the Bird” for me. In a few days, I’ll be in Costa Rica, photographing the colorful birds and other wildlife in the rain forest. This is another photography workshop with Moose Peterson and Kevin Dobler. Then, in February, I’ll be in Port Aransas, TX visiting my friends Susan and Chris. Port A, on the Gulf of Mexico, is where I first discovered bird photography 8 years ago, even before I had a DSLR. And, in March, I’ll be back in Texas, this time in the Galveston area, photographing migrating birds along the Texas Spring Migration route with my friend Connie whom I met last year on a Moose and Kevin adventure at Arches National Park in Utah. On my way home from Texas, I’ll be stopping in Prescott, AZ visiting Melinda and Lonnie. Melinda is my photography buddy who encouraged me to get my first DSLR. Last year, my blog featured many photos of birds I took in her backyard and environs. Of course, lots of birds continue to visit my own backyard; I have a companion parrot who makes a captive subject at times; I photograph events for the California Foundation for Birds of Prey; and, I live in middle of the Pacific Flyway. I think I’ll have lots of opportunities to photograph birds at home in 2015.
With all the practice I’ll be getting, I hope to improve my bird photography in 2015. I especially want to be able to capture in focus shots of birds in flight. That has been such a challenge for me. Sometimes I luck out and sometimes I don’t.
I’m not featuring a bird photograph I took today, or even this year. Instead, taking a cue from my friend Melinda, who reminded me that a Flickr group challenge for the first week of January was a reflection on favorite photos from 2014, I’ve created a collage of bird photos, one I took in each month of the year. And, with the exception of the osprey whose flight I captured in Texas, I photographed all the rest somewhere in California, many in my own yard or house.
So, please enjoy some of my favorite bird photos from 2014.
