lmSA84 - Big Year 2018 (Part Deux)

[lmSA84]

163. NA. 55. Tree Swallow, Denver, May

 

[lmSA84]

164. NA. 56. Barn Swallow, Denver, May

 

[PeterHG]

Excellent Denver set, @lmSA84!

[lmSA84]

@PeterHG - thank you. There is more to come.

 

165. NA 57. Northern Flicker, Denver, May

 

[lmSA84]

166. NA. 58. Downy Woodpecker, Denver, May

 

[lmSA84]

167. NA. 58. Brewer's Sparrow, Denver, May

 

[lmSA84]

168. NA. 59. White-faced Ibis, Denver, May

 

[lmSA84]

169. NA. 60. Cinnamon Teal, Denver, May

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

170. NA. 61. Blue-winged Teal, Denver, May

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

171. NA. 62. Black-capped Chickadee, Denver, May

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

172. NA. 63. Say's Phoebe, Denver, May

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

173. NA. 64. Black-billed Magpie, Denver, May

 

This was another example of me almost deleting an image until I realised it is a distinct species. This is Pica Hudsonia vs. Pica Pica aka the Common Magpie that we see throughout Europe. 

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

174. NA 65. House Wren, Denver, May

 

Edited May 17, 2018 by lmSA84

[lmSA84]

174. NA. 66. European Starling, Denver, May

 

I double counted Barn Swallow so staying at 174.

 

[lmSA84]

175. NA. 67. Wood Duck, Denver, May

 

[Tdgraves]

Wow @lmSA84 the weather was not kind to you, but still managed a lot of new birds

as an aside, how did you manage to get large photos, mine seem very small (maybe because I uploaded them before the upgrade??)

[lmSA84]

@Tdgraves - thanks. I'm afraid that I'm not sure how / why I'm getting the larger photos incorporated. They were uploaded post upgrade which maybe the answer. Most images have been cropped and then exported from Classic Lightroom as JPEG's 60 qual and 240 resolution so I don't think the export is doing anything to them.

[lmSA84]

Around the Bluff Lake Nature Center there were numerous perch poles, all intended to attract raptors to control these guys - who were everywhere.

 

Black-tailed Prairie Dogs

 

 

Eastern Cottentail Rabbit

 

 

The result is good population of Red-tailed Hawks...

 

 

...and a new one of the me.

 

176. NA. 68. Swainson's Hawk, Denver, May

 

 

 

[lmSA84]

Finally I got a few better shots of Yellow-rumped Warbler...

 

 

...and I got to try out my BIF - in the rain.

 

Gadwall and Mallard

 

 

[Tdgraves]

prairie dogs - sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

 

[TonyQ]

Lots of great new additions- another vote for the Prairie Dog, even if it doesn't add to your score

[xelas]

5 hours ago, lmSA84 said:

@Tdgraves - thanks. I'm afraid that I'm not sure how / why I'm getting the larger photos incorporated. They were uploaded post upgrade which maybe the answer. Most images have been cropped and then exported from Classic Lightroom as JPEG's 60 qual and 240 resolution so I don't think the export is doing anything to them.

 

I have also noticed, on another thread, that uploaded photos are not anymore downsized to max 1000 pix width (and additionally compressed). The worrying is that such large photos that can be easily downloaded can also be a more probable target for those lurking around for a "free meal". I will keep my photos at 1000 pix for Big Year but will try a bit larger (1280 px) for trip reports.

[Kitsafari]

wow on the TOF (takeoff) shot too.

 

that Northern flicker is a beauty with stripes and polka dots. 

[elefromoz]

@lmSA84, your "business" is taking you to some terrific spots around the globe, half your luck!  So many gorgeous US birds, oh I wish I had been more "into" Birds on my previous visits. The Red Tailed Hawk is beautiful and the good thing about that particular bird is that its so easy to see around New York city too. I love the Northern Flicker, and you got a great photo it. There certainly are some beautiful Pelicans around the world, all a little different, country to country. 

[lmSA84]

@elefromoz - thank you! It's been a lucky year work wise. Although I also wish I had been more into bird photography when I was younger - I used to work in Korea, Malaysia and across the Middle East - I could have racked up some impressive numbers but oh well. There is always retirement!