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John Hadden Photography

Photography of the Natural World

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birds

Chickadee Fledgling

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A chickadee fledgling hungrily greets its arriving parent

We visited Waterbury Center State Park the other day to enjoy some time on the water. While walking the little nature trail along the shore, I heard a ruckus of chickadees in the trees and noticed several fledglings hopping about in the branches. It was tough getting a clear shot of the action as, chickadees being chickadees, they were not staying in one place for very long. I managed to grab this shot of a fledgling as its parent arrived with food.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 1000, f.5.6, 1/1300″ exposure.
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Green-backed heron

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A green-backed heron hunts patiently in the mangroves on Big Pine Key

Back to the Florida Keys again with this shot. This green-backed heron was quitely perched near an observation platform at the Blue Hole Nature Area on Big Pine Key. I almost didn’t see him!

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On the wing

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Ruddy turnstones and sanderlings on the wing at Bahia Honda beach

There were quite a few ruddy turnstones and sanderlings gathering together and poking about in the washed up seagrass along the shore at Bahia Honda beach. When people approached, they would take off, swing out briefly over the waves and return to their foraging after the people passed.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 102mm, circular polarizing filter, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/3200″ exposure.

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American Kestrel

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An American Kestrel on the hunt

I finally managed to get a good shot of an American Kestrel! This guy was hunting in the fields along Shaker Mountain Road yesterday at midday as the snow fell. Usaully these small raptors will fly away before I’ve even gotten my camera out, but this one was more patient with me, allowing me to snap off several shots before flying off.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 400, f/7.1, 1/1000″ exposure.

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Baldy Pair

 

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Dark clouds behind and a spot of sunshine illuminate this mature pair of bald eagles near their nest in Ferrisburg, Vermont.

Bald eagles have made a dramatic recovery in Vermont over the past two decades. Here’s a discussion from the Audubon Vermont website:

“…15 Standard Survey Routes (SSR) were covered for the 2015 winter survey.  A record fifty-one Bald Eagles (30 adult 20 immature, and 1 unknown age) were observed by designated observers on Vermont’s SSRs in 2015. This number is well above the record of 30 eagles reported in 2010.  Bald Eagles were located on  of the 14 SSRs surveyed including three routes along Lake Champlain, two along the Connecticut River, on the upper Winooski River, and on Lake Bomoseen. 2015 was the first year that an eagle was seen on the upper Winooski River route. The area between the Champlain Bridge and Shelburne Point on Lake Champlain supported the largest concentration of Bald Eagles (16 adults, 11 immatures) in the state. The overall numbers are well above totals of full surveys in recent years.”

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 400, f/11, 1/320″ exposure.

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Bluebirds are back!

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A pair of bluebirds inspect one of the boxes in our front field

The bluebirds are back! I was enjoying today’s warmth working in my “front office” (on the front porch) when I heard the distinctive burble of a bluebird. Grabbing my camera and long lens, I didn’t have to wait long before this pair came around to inspect one of the boxes we have in our front field. Hopefully they’ll stick around for the season!

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 800, f/9, 1/400″ exposure.

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The first to arrive…

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A group of robins makes an appearance. Harbingers of things to come…

I was standing at the back door overlooking Fargo Brook when I heard the unmistakeable call of robins. Grabbing my camera and long lens, I headed outside and found them over by the winterberry bush munching on a few remaining berries. They took to the willow over the pond as I approached and were nice enough to pose for a few shots.

Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/500″ exposure.

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Puffy Purple Finch

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Chilly morning temperatures make for puffy purple finches…

We started the day with 2 degrees above zero and it’s been dropping since. This male purple finch was all puffed up keeping warm near the feeders.

Panasonic Lumix GM5, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, 1/320″ exposure.

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Sharp-Shinned Breakfast

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A sharp-shinned hawk makes a morning meal of bluejay

My breakfast this morning was disturbed by the sound of bluejays screaming outside the windows by the feeders. Looking out, I saw them scatter as a fast moving shape slammed one of them to the ground. A sharp-shinned hawk had found its breakfast!

The hawk flew the still struggling jay over to underneath the apple trees near the brook to finish its prey off. I was able to get a few shots from the living room window before it flew off into the woods to finish its meal.

Panasonic Lumix GM5, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 3200, f/5.6, 1/250″ exposure.

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