Clovis' 2025 images

[clovishound]

Thanks, I'm obsessing a little with the lack of detail in these due to the high ISOs. For the non photographers, that is the sensitivity setting for the sensor. With lower light levels the higher sensitivity results in "grainy", or noisy images. There is great software that will take care of this noise, but the original image just won't have the same level of detail as one shot with more light. These little guys are fast, so I have to use high shutter speeds to capture them without excessive blurring. I'm using 1/3000 sec to 1/8000 sec to stop that motion. The wings are moving at incredible speeds.

My plan is to try and get over there before the birds migrate south for the season and try and get some shots with more light on either a cloudless, or light overcast day. The lack of detail is less apparent in the smaller sized images uploaded to the forum here, than the full sized ones I have on my computer.

[clovishound]

This first picture is proof that a state of the art Nikon camera will inspire fear and awe in the local wildlife.

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The rest are just the latest in my attempts to photograph hummingbirds.

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[CT_Shooter]

Is that Hummingbird poop? Wow! It's clear, and I don't just mean the photograph, which is also clear!

[clovishound]

Is that Hummingbird poop? Wow! It's clear, and I don't just mean the photograph, which is also clear!

I did a little reading online about their poop. I assumed that because they mainly eat nectar, their poop would be almost all water. Apparently that is not necessarily so. However, they have a very short digestive system and things pass through in a mater of minutes. I would think it's not unusual for their poop to be clear if they are eating artificial nectar, which is nothing more than sugar and water. Hummingbirds do eat small insects on occasion, and may also eat fruit, although nectar is their primary food source.

You probably know they don't have a separate digestive and urinary tract, but instead the urine is mixed with their poop and it all exits through a cloaca. Also they will starve in 3 to 5 hours without food, unless they go into a state of torpor.

[markiver54]

Wow, a lot of information to "digest". Interesting.
Good info, as I do feed them.

[clovishound]

Went out in the backyard after the rain stopped today. Nice soft light, so I thought I would try a few available light macro shots. Lots of blurry shots due to movement.

I think this is the best of the batch. Nice soft colors and background. I usually don't care much for caterpillar images, but I kind of like this one.

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This one seems a little soft, but I guess I'm used to the crisper flash shots.

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The lizard seems unimpressed.

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[The Wiz]

The title for the for the second shot should be " Go ahead, make my day "

[clovishound]

One last batch of hummingbirds from this morning. Full sun, but had areas of shade, and dappled sun. Made things very challenging, but gave a different look. Think I will give the hummingbirds a rest for a while.

Here's the best of the batch:

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And here's the rest:

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[CT_Shooter]

I love the various tail positions you've selected for these latest photos, CH. Especially 2926 with tail fanned wide and it's little feet curled and tucked up. Very nice.

These look like Ruby Throated Hummingbirds, which is the only kind we have in CT. I keep a feeder within ten feet of my front window; I attached a tall one inch thick bare branch with several thin limbs that stands six or seven feet above it. There's one male bird that shows up each morning like he's punching a clock and perches there, high above the feeder. He's the gatekeeper for several other males and females. It's always a show, and sometimes, it's an amazing one.

[clovishound]

There's a lot of squabbling at the feeders. I would love to get some good shots of them going at each other, but all I seem to manage is maybe one in focus and the other a blob.

Something like this unsatisfying image:

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And of course, there is sometimes the ugly feeder to be dealt with.

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[Hatchdog]

I appreciate the pictures and marvel at the detail you capture of the birds. My wife keeps a feeder in the back yard just off the patio and the hummers keep us entertained continuously.

It’s great seeing your stills to appreciate the F-16’s we have flying past us.

[clovishound]

I've had a couple buzz me when I was taking pictures. Not sure how close they actually got, but it seemed like fractions of an inch. They sound like a piece of soft cloth caught up in a spinning drill bit.

[clovishound]

I shot a copperhead today.

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[CT_Shooter]

Wonderful, colorful photos of its face in profile. The shallow depth of field makes it pop. Nice.

[clovishound]

I didn't realize how nearly identical these two images were until I had posted them.

[Vaquero]

There are a couple slight differences. Very nice.
It's been a good while since I've actually seen one around, and that is fine by me.

RP

[Hatchdog]

Nice, glad I’m seeing it in your picture and not at my feet. Not that we have Copperheads around here.

[clovishound]

The good news about copperheads is that they are the least potent venomous snake in North America. Well, if you don't count the hog nose snake, which is technically venomous. I don't really count them as they have a very mild venom in their saliva, and if they bite and break the skin, it can put a very small amount in your system. Not really much of a threat, as I understand.

The bad news is that they are the most common venomous snakebite in the US. I had a possible bite from one a couple years ago. Hand swelled very quickly after I had my hand on some leaf litter, and began bruising in a matter of minutes. Went to the ER, and their final verdict, was they weren't sure it was a snake bite, but couldn't think of any other explanation. Fortunately, the swelling began to subside after a few hours, and hand was mostly back to normal after a few days, although the bruising lasted a couple weeks. I did buy some snake boots a few days after the incident.

[Vaquero]

I've never seen a Hog-nose except at the zoo.
Copperheads and the cottonmouth are the only two here locally.
The rattlesnakes are more common down closer to the TN river.
And, as a fact, I've never seen a copperhead around the house or even on the 300+ acre farm next to us that I use regularly.

RP

[clovishound]

I rarely see copperheads in my area. The most common venomous snake I see are moccasins. I suspect the reason I don't see more copperheads is that their camouflage is so good. Moccasins are not as concerned about hiding. Another reason may be that I spend more time near water than I do pine savannas.