Yosemite and More

Before this current Covid-19 crisis three fellow photographers and I took a little  sojourn to the Merced Wildlife Refuge. It turned out to be one of the  most memorable ones I've taken to the Refuge, and that's  saying a lot. While there were a lot of geese I'm posting those a little later. This first one is of one of my favorite birds, the Black Necked Stilt. These birds are constantly feeding and usually move just as I hit the trigger. The birds in the Refuge don't seem to have any trouble mixing with each other. While the old saying 'birds of a feather, flock together' applies it's not carved in stone. The image above includes a Great Egret, below is a Snowy Egret, much smaller and there seems to be fewer of them at the Refuge. Note the longer bill. Another bird you only see a few of are the White Pelicans. While not a total stranger to the Refuge the most I've ever seen at once were  4 or 5 a c...

Friedhelm and I took a quick trip to the Merced Wildlife Refuge.  All the geese where at the very beginning of the refuge. The birds were fairly active with some coming and going. While the Ross Geese were prominent there were Canadian Geese mixed in. I find it interesting that the geese don't seem to care who they're mixed in with. No this is not a photo of a flock of birds, this is actually a swarm of  bugs. It was getting dark and I didn't have a fast enough setting to get a real sharp image but you get the picture.  BRING BUG SPRAY.  Especially in a month or so when the mosquito's are out. The Refuge is a great place for Sunsets. I usually take them from a few specific  spots. This time I took the nature trail and got this shot. I will admit the camera saw a little more color than I did. Mea Coppa. Go, See, Enjoy and Photograph Dave