These photos are delightful! Every time you post it inspires me to look more closely at the little bugs (and other small creatures) that I typically overlook.
Sarah: You are a talented curator. I thoroughly enjoyed this and the fact that you failed to find birds during migration may have led to your success in spotting these magnificent creatures.
Thank you! It's true, and when I switched from telephoto lens to macro+flash+diffuser that first time, I thought that it wasn't giving up but doing something else fun. Plus I kept birding by ear (which is how I started out birding anyway.) I learned what a Swanson's thrush sounds like while photographing raspberry cane borer jewel beetles (they didn't end up featured in this post but will be in another, probably the next time I don't feel an essay is ready and need an “emergency photo post.”)
After that, I've found I really enjoy photographing arthropods while birding by ear at the same time!
These captures are absolutely spectacular! Congratulations on the new flash. I love them all! My daddy used to bring home click beetles to show us how they clicked. So much good stuff here!
A group of cedar waxwings is called an “ear-full” as they are when they descend on a feeding site. I watched a group gather and attack one of our holly trees in the woods here on the farm. An amazing scene to watch play out.
The monarch is so timely. I’m currently listening to Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Path. Monarch’s were my daddy’s favorite and I had one tattooed on my lower leg in his honor with the last words he wrote to me in a card. Of course he would’ve hated it because he didn’t like my tats. 😂
These photos are delightful! Every time you post it inspires me to look more closely at the little bugs (and other small creatures) that I typically overlook.
Sarah: You are a talented curator. I thoroughly enjoyed this and the fact that you failed to find birds during migration may have led to your success in spotting these magnificent creatures.
Thank you! It's true, and when I switched from telephoto lens to macro+flash+diffuser that first time, I thought that it wasn't giving up but doing something else fun. Plus I kept birding by ear (which is how I started out birding anyway.) I learned what a Swanson's thrush sounds like while photographing raspberry cane borer jewel beetles (they didn't end up featured in this post but will be in another, probably the next time I don't feel an essay is ready and need an “emergency photo post.”)
After that, I've found I really enjoy photographing arthropods while birding by ear at the same time!
“Birding by ear” - a very nice approach!
These captures are absolutely spectacular! Congratulations on the new flash. I love them all! My daddy used to bring home click beetles to show us how they clicked. So much good stuff here!
A group of cedar waxwings is called an “ear-full” as they are when they descend on a feeding site. I watched a group gather and attack one of our holly trees in the woods here on the farm. An amazing scene to watch play out.
The monarch is so timely. I’m currently listening to Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Path. Monarch’s were my daddy’s favorite and I had one tattooed on my lower leg in his honor with the last words he wrote to me in a card. Of course he would’ve hated it because he didn’t like my tats. 😂
Thank you for the restack, Brandon!