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The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,10:59    Quote (dhogaza @ April 28 2013,07:49) Quote (The whole truth @ April 27 2013,23:21) dhogaza, are you aware that there is a Black Necked Stilt at RNWR? It's hanging out in the partially flooded field on the south side of Rest Lake. Yes, I just heard that friday, ran into someone at Bowerman Basin who told me so.  That wasn't you, was it? Nope, that wasn't me. Are there gobs of shorebirds at Bowerman Basin as usual? There were some yellow legs, dowitchers, and sandpipers at RNWR on Friday. A male marsh hawk too, but no females. I saw those turtles. There were 17 of them on the log. A male yellow headed blackbird was at the pond with lots of cattails, and there was a dead coot and a dead nutria in that pond. -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,12:22    Quote (The whole truth @ April 28 2013,10:59) Nope, that wasn't me. Are there gobs of shorebirds at Bowerman Basin as usual? There were some yellow legs, dowitchers, and sandpipers at RNWR on Friday. Bowerman Basin is slow, count was about 7,000 for the last high tide I saw numbers for (probably thursday).  Should start picking up very soon.  Saw some good-sized flocks feeding around ocean shores.  Weather was horrible up there saturday so didn't even bother with bottle beach.  But did photograph dunlin, western sandpipers, and sanderlings feeding at Point Brown, in the rain.  I'll post a couple of pics here.  There were several hundred feeding on the rising tide. Yes, I saw and heard yellowlegs and dowitchers at RNWR last weekend, and saw some smallish flocks of peeps.

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,12:26    [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ice_worm_closeupNASA.jpg[/IMG It's an ice worm. Credit: NASA -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,12:27    Quote (Arctodus23 @ April 28 2013,12:26) [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ice_worm_closeupNASA.jpg[/IMG It's an ice worm. Credit: NASA I think something went wrong in the programming. -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,14:31    Only got to look for and then photograph shorebirds for about a half hour at ocean shores on saturday, as monsoon-like conditions set in and chased me off. Here we have dunlin feeding on a mother lode of what appear to be sand shrimp, with shorter-billed sanderling in the foreground apparently unable to share in the feast.

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,15:36    Nice picture. It's also nice of dunlin to have markings that make them easier to identify than some other shore birds. I like to watch sanderlings run along a beach. I wish I could move my legs that fast. :) -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,15:37    Quote (Arctodus23 @ April 28 2013,10:27) Quote (Arctodus23 @ April 28 2013,12:26) [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ice_worm_closeupNASA.jpg[/IMG It's an ice worm. Credit: NASA I think something went wrong in the programming. That's an awesome looking critter. -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: April 28 2013,23:48    Quote (The whole truth @ April 28 2013,15:36) It's also nice of dunlin to have markings that make them easier to identify than some other shore birds. Don't worry, I'll post some winter-plummaged dunlin in a few months.

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: April 29 2013,00:10    Quote (dhogaza @ April 28 2013,21:48) Quote (The whole truth @ April 28 2013,15:36) It's also nice of dunlin to have markings that make them easier to identify than some other shore birds. Don't worry, I'll post some winter-plummaged dunlin in a few months. Troublemaker. :) Seriously though, I used to pay a lot more attention to identifying all birds that I encountered and there were some shorebirds, gulls, and a few sparrows that frustrated me. I also attended some meetings with some very experienced birders and they would often debate the identification of some shorebirds, gulls, sparrows, or some other birds. Many butterflies, moths, and other insect identifications are also regularly debated, and of course many plants too. Nature can be difficult to figure out but that's one of the things that makes it interesting. There's always more to discover and understand. -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: April 29 2013,15:05    Quote (The whole truth @ April 28 2013,15:37) Quote (Arctodus23 @ April 28 2013,10:27) Quote (Arctodus23 @ April 28 2013,12:26) [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Ice_worm_closeupNASA.jpg[/IMG It's an ice worm. Credit: NASA I think something went wrong in the programming. That's an awesome looking critter. Awesome, indeed. I haven't figured out what species it is, but when I do, I'll start a topic on taxonomy, and that will be included. -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: May 04 2013,01:47    dhogaza, I went to RNWR yesterday but didn't see the stilt anywhere. Besides the usual array of critters I saw 4 or 5 male yellow headed blackbirds, an adult bald eagle, the smallest turtle I've ever seen there (about a 2 and 1/2" carapace length), a bunch of dragonflies and a few damselflies, a few ruddy ducks (same pond as the yh blackbirds), a yellowthroat, a male bittern putting on quite a show belching/burping for the ladies, and I heard some soras and another bittern. The bittern I saw caught what appeared to be a giant water bug. The bittern squished it over and over with its beak for about 5 minutes before swallowing it. A few minutes later the bittern caught a large bull frog tadpole and swallowed it about 5 seconds later even though it was much larger than the water bug, which was pretty big itself. Apparently the bittern wanted to make sure that the water bug was really dead before swallowing it. I forgot to mention the other day that last week there was an osprey hovering over Rest Lake (same day that I saw the stilt). -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

Lou FCD Posts: 5455 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 04 2013,06:48    Saw this guy the day before yesterday, new for the life-lists. Black-necked Stilt by Lou FCD, on Flickr ETA: And this guy yesterday, also new for the life-lists. Orchard Oriole by Lou FCD, on Flickr The weather's been shitty for bird photography, though. Edited by Lou FCD on May 04 2013,07:49 -------------- “Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas? Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

Lou FCD Posts: 5455 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 04 2013,08:30    Also new for the life-lists, from the day before yesterday. Glossy Ibis by Lou FCD, on Flickr And mixed in with the Dunlin here are either Short or Long-billed Dowitchers, either of which is new for the life-lists. Of Dunlins and Dowitchers by Lou FCD, on Flickr -------------- “Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas? Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: May 04 2013,18:53    This is a Sciurus vulgaris, a species of squirrel: -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: May 04 2013,18:54    Quote (Arctodus23 @ May 04 2013,18:53) This is a Sciurus vulgaris, a species of squirrel: I've been having trouble lately, with Commons, Here's it again: -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: May 04 2013,18:56    Quote (Arctodus23 @ May 04 2013,18:54) Quote (Arctodus23 @ May 04 2013,18:53) This is a Sciurus vulgaris, a species of squirrel: I've been having trouble lately, with Commons, Here's it again: Got it: -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 06 2013,20:03    thewholetruth: does this look like your bittern?  I photographed it at Ridgefield friday the 3rd, on my way to ocean shores.  Caught in the act of "sump-pumping":

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 06 2013,20:06    Since we're doing "life photographed birds", at Damon Point there was this nice black-bellied plover.  I've gotten photos in the past of them in grey plover plumage, but not breeding ... And this, which we don't see so often any more - ruddy turnstone, one of five at Bottle Beach ...

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 06 2013,20:37    Now for some better photos from this weekend ... all from ocean shores.  as you can see, the weather was much nicer than the weekend before. western sandpiper: Semipalmated plover And dunlin

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: May 06 2013,21:18    Oh heck yeah, I'd recognize that bittern anywhere. :) Seriously, here's the one I saw, about to swallow a juicy tadpole. Was yours toward the west end of the first canal or the east end of the second canal on the right? (Across from the pond with lots of stumps and logs). If so, it was likely the same bird. I don't recall ever seeing a black bellied plover in breeding plumage but then I've forgotten lots of things. It has been quite awhile since I've been to the coast to seriously look for birds but 20-30 years ago it wasn't real hard to find ruddy turnstones, at least at places near Tillamook that processed oysters and left the shells in big piles outside. Are they diminishing in numbers? I would appreciate it if you and some others would tell me if my picture is too light or dark, etc., because I'm currently using a monitor that may not be calibrated very well. Thanks! -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 06 2013,22:48    Quote Are they (ruddy turnstones) diminishing in numbers? Yes, but they're so widespread that they're not of international concern at the moment.  But on our pacific coast, declines have been steep.  On the other hand, there's strong evidence of cyclical  changes in numbers, with numbers 40 years ago being at a high point in our area.  So no one knows for sure AFAIK. But ... Many PNW shorebirds are diminishing.  Back when I first learned of bowerman basin in gray's harbor, documented numbers of migrants feeding there were in the 500K range.  Today, 100K would be exciting.

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 06 2013,22:56    Your photo looks fine, BTW.  Light's less harsh than when I took mine (in the midst of this record-setting high temp and high-intensity sun weather we've had). And mine was on the east end of the second canal on the right (north).  Scott Carpenter apparently photographed it for some time before I showed up mid-morning. black-bellieds are easy enough to find in singles and in isolation.  The brits call them grey plover because apparently they don't (or almost never) see them in breeding plumage.  We catch some of them in breeding plumage. But on all of ocean shores, where I was playing with many flocks of multiple thousands of shorebirds, I only saw one black-bellied, and it was by itself. Bottle beach had maybe a half-dozen - a place where 100,00 shorebirds aren't unknown.

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: May 07 2013,01:51    Quote (dhogaza @ May 06 2013,20:56) Your photo looks fine, BTW.  Light's less harsh than when I took mine (in the midst of this record-setting high temp and high-intensity sun weather we've had). And mine was on the east end of the second canal on the right (north).  Scott Carpenter apparently photographed it for some time before I showed up mid-morning. black-bellieds are easy enough to find in singles and in isolation.  The brits call them grey plover because apparently they don't (or almost never) see them in breeding plumage.  We catch some of them in breeding plumage. But on all of ocean shores, where I was playing with many flocks of multiple thousands of shorebirds, I only saw one black-bellied, and it was by itself. Bottle beach had maybe a half-dozen - a place where 100,00 shorebirds aren't unknown. Thanks for letting me know that my photo looks fine. When I took that photo there was some late afternoon-early evening cloud cover which made the lighting less harsh.   It's probably safe to say that it's the same bittern as yours. When I first saw it it was at the east end of the second canal and then it walked over to the first canal. After awhile it flew over by the pond with lots of stumps and logs but later it returned to the east end of the second canal and again walked over to the west end of the first canal. The other bittern I heard was along the west edge of the pond with stumps and logs, about 100 yards or so from the road. The name Scott Carpenter sounds a bit familiar. I've talked to lots of people at RNWR over the years but I don't know if I've met him.   I'm going to have to get myself to the coast again one of these days and over to the Ocean Shores area to see lots of shorebirds. I mostly go to the GPNF these days and to RNWR and a few other places. Those shorebirds you photographed are beautiful and just too cute. Yeah, this weather is amazing. I keep listening for the usual sound of rain on my roof, but so far so good, and the forecast for the next several days looks good too. It's a shame that shorebirds are diminishing. Diminishing numbers is the trend for many species, and it's depressing. I enjoy seeing your pictures and the pictures posted by others, and I appreciate the info about the shorebirds and the places you're seeing them. ETA: a missing 'the' Edited by The whole truth on May 07 2013,00:20 -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

Lou FCD Posts: 5455 Joined: Jan. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 07 2013,07:11    Really nice set of shots, dhogaza! -------------- “Why do creationists have such a hard time with commas? Linky“. ~ Steve Story, Legend

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 20 2013,07:37    Ocean shooting ... Pacific ocean last weekend ... Risso's dolphins practicing synchronized swimming: Baby humpback during one of its 40 or so breaches: And yesterday on the sagebrush ocean ... (well, OK, flood-irrigated field in the Great Basin): Also at Monterey Bay last weekend, obligatory Brandt's cormorant colony ...

Robin Posts: 1431 Joined: Sep. 2009 (Permalink) Posted: May 21 2013,10:11    Really nice shots Dhogaza! -------------- we IDists rule in design for the flagellum and cilium largely because they do look designed.  Bilbo The only reason you reject Thor is because, like a cushion, you bear the imprint of the biggest arse that sat on you. Louis

Freddie Posts: 371 Joined: Oct. 2009 (Permalink) Posted: May 21 2013,12:05    For the "serious enthusiasts" out there ... anyone planning to get one of these any time soon? :-) http://www.dpreview.com/news.......F4 Lens Okay so a little expensive at £11,999 retail (approx. $US 18,000), but i'm sure it would be worth it! -------------- Joe: Most criticisims of ID stem from ignorance and jealousy. Joe: As for the authors of the books in the Bible, well the OT was authored by Moses and the NT was authored by various people. Byers: The eskimo would not need hairy hair growth as hair, I say, is for keeping people dry. Not warm.

dhogaza Posts: 525 Joined: Feb. 2006 (Permalink) Posted: May 22 2013,17:43    Fortunately the price in the US is "only" $11K+, y'all in the UK is bein' robbed! No, I'm not in the market, I want to upgrade my 18 yr old non-IS 600/4 to the latest version (along with IS and better sharpness, the new one weighs 8+ lbs rather than the 13.3 lbs my current one weighs). But that 200-400/4+built-in 1.4x is a sweet, sweet lens.  Perfect for safari in Africa, for instance, where you're stuck in a vehicle and where distances to various bits of wildlife range from really close to distant.  Testers note no noticeable decrease in sharpness when the 1.4s kicks in (obviously there will be, but it appears to be so sharp it's not noticeable though I'm sure the pixel-peeper testers will quantify it). Much like my shooting from boats, which led to my picking up a 100-400/4.5-5.6 used for $250.  Yes, the price difference is one reason I'm not upgrading :)

Arctodus23 Posts: 322 Joined: Mar. 2013 (Permalink) Posted: May 25 2013,10:40    Quote (dhogaza @ May 20 2013,07:37) Ocean shooting ... Pacific ocean last weekend ... Risso's dolphins practicing synchronized swimming: Baby humpback during one of its 40 or so breaches: And yesterday on the sagebrush ocean ... (well, OK, flood-irrigated field in the Great Basin): Also at Monterey Bay last weekend, obligatory Brandt's cormorant colony ... Nice shots, dh. -------------- "At our church’s funerals, we sing gospel songs (out loud) to God." -- FL "So the center of the earth being hotter than the surface is a "gross violation of the second law of thermodynamics??" -- Ted Holden

The whole truth Posts: 1554 Joined: Jan. 2012 (Permalink) Posted: May 29 2013,16:40    I couldn't find an appropriate thread for this, so I figured this thread is as good as any. This should put a smile on your face: http://shine.yahoo.com/author-....61.html -------------- Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. - Jesus in Matthew 10:34 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. -Jesus in Luke 19:27

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