Stopped off at the Palo Alto Duck Pond on my way home from work, eager to try out my new 70-300mm lens. The pond was teeming with ducks, geese, pigeons, seagulls and other birds that I can't name. This guy had commandeered the post and was not going to give it up, even though I sat nearby and photographed him for quite a while. (By the way, sitting on the benches at a duck pond is a dicey proposition - they're covered with you-know-what...)
Love the new lens !
Tags: seagull Palo ALto Duck Pond CA bird 70-300mm HDR Photomatix 0809
Have I mentioned lately how I LOVE my new 70-300m lens ????
Took it for a ride at the Baylands Nature Preserve during my lunchtime walk and found a huge flock of pelicans (this is only a fraction of the population). I didn't manage to get any focused shots of them in flight, although a nice older gentleman bird photographer who was out on the marshes (and much more experienced than I) gave me some good pointers for next time.
They have a huge wing span and seeing them in flight is an awesome spectacle. I'll keep trying !
Tags: Palo Alto Baylands Preserve pelicans preening duck reflections marsh bay 70-300mm 0809 pelican bird
Pelicans queued up as if waiting to get into a summer blockbuster movie !
If you're interested, look at the large or original size - one of the pelicans (see note above) looks like he just scored a meal....
Occasionally one would break formation, soar off, make a few circles over the marshes and come back for a crash landing.
Tags: White pelicans Palo Alto marshlands Nature Preserve lined up queue Baylands 0809 Pelican bird 100+views Clear day blue sky
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One black cormorant among the large flock of pelicans; all appeared to be attending to their personal grooming which seems to be a never-ending task when you're dressed in white feathers....
I really recommend viewing the LARGE version if you have a moment to appreciate the detail of these beauties - such fascinating creatures....
www.flickr.com/photos/jillclardy/3861982227/sizes/l/
Tags: White pelican pelicans black cormorant Baylands Nature Preserve marsh marshes grass slough Palo Alto 70-300mm birds bird grooming 6WS
Happy Fence Friday!
Reflections in the pedestrian underpass below highway 101 permitting access to the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto. The sidewalk is adjacent to Adobe Creek which flows to the Bay. A plastic netting fence has been erected, probably to keep the ducks off the sidewalk.
The light and shadow play on the water is interesting, though the dark and dank passage is kind of creepy and smelly and I'm always imagining that a stalker could be lurking in the shadows so I usually don't linger long.
Tags: HIghway 101 pedestrian underpass Palo Alto Adobe Creek Baylands Nature Preserve grid net fence water reflections prison mind imagination abstract blue shimmer shimmery 0809 blur blurry