[tduell]

A pair of Tawny Frogmouths, keeping a close eye on me.
K-3 II, DFA 150-450 + 1.4x TC, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

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[Mikesul]

With k-3ii.

[tduell]

A pair of Laughing Kookaburras.
The youngster is having laughing lessons.
K-1, DFA 150-450 + 1.4x TC, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

[joehenryd]

Was at Nisqually Wild Life Refuge yesterday. Was out on the boardwalk over the tidal water. Juvenal Bald Eagle circling close buy. Go several shots off. Not the best but though. Joe

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[gaweidert]

Female yellow headed blackbird.

[pete-tarmigan]

Nice! I've been to North America several times but so far I haven't seen a bear in the wild. In Yellowstone we saw Elk and Bison. Mind you, I was glad I never had to follow the instructions of the park rangers at Mount Ranier for a close up bear encounter; "If you come around a corner and there's a bear you can't back away from, drop on the ground, curl up in a ball and wait. The bear may come up and poke at you - if you make any noise, he might decide you're fun to play with..." I've seen first-hand evidence of bears in Yosemite - a car with the rear passenger window broken and the metal frame folded against the side of the car. Someone ignored the warning not to leave food in their car...
PS Looks like the adult is wearing a tracking collar.

I wouldn't worry too much about American black bears. Every black bear I've encountered while on foot has run away (except at garbage dumps and in Canada's national parks before the mid-1970s when they had poor waste management). However, Steve Herrero's (University of Calgary) examinations of bear attack data reveals an exception to that rule. Fatal black bear attacks involve large male bears that have had no prior contact with people, and these attacks are acts of predation on lone, small people (small women or children). I`m an adult male who is average-sized for a man of European descent. The oft told warning that a sow with a cub will attack is largely a myth. They will make noise and charge, but rarely make physical contact. Brown bears in North America (grizzlies), on the other hand, are larger and are less predictable. If they do attack, it may be an act of territoriality or predation. Polar bears, which are bigger yet, are quite predictable. They will try to make a meal of you. I`ve never had the opportunity to test these predictions for grizzlies and polar bears in-person, although I`ve seen plenty from aircraft and ships.

[RobG]

I wouldn't worry too much about American black bears. Every black bear I've encountered while on foot has run away (except at garbage dumps and in Canada's national parks before the mid-1970s when they had poor waste management). However, Steve Herrero's (University of Calgary) examinations of bear attack data reveals an exception to that rule. Fatal black bear attacks involve large male bears that have had no prior contact with people, and these attacks are acts of predation on lone, small people (small women or children). I`m an adult male who is average-sized for a man of European descent. The oft told warning that a sow with a cub will attack is largely a myth. They will make noise and charge, but rarely make physical contact. Brown bears in North America (grizzlies), on the other hand, are larger and are less predictable. If they do attack, it may be an act of territoriality or predation. Polar bears, which are bigger yet, are quite predictable. They will try to make a meal of you. I`ve never had the opportunity to test these predictions for grizzlies and polar bears in-person, although I`ve seen plenty from aircraft and ships.

People are advised to put bells on their packs so the bears hear them coming and avoid them.
"How do you tell the difference between black bear droppings and Grizzly bear droppings?"
"Grizzly bear droppings are the ones with little bells in them."

Thanks for the info. I'm still glad that I don't have to deal with the large dangerous animals in North America. Mind you, folks from North America tend to be paranoid about Australia's venomous animals. It's natural to be over-cautious about things you're not familiar with.

[gaweidert]

I was out in Yellowstone last year and heard a harrowing story from one of the visitors. The mom and dad and their 4 young children were hiking in a part of Grand Teton National Park (just south of Yellowstone) the day before. A deer started following them up the trail. It followed them for several hundred yard which they thought was kind of neat. All of a sudden a grizzly bear cub popped out on the trail about 20 yards in front of them. They beat a guarded retreat down the trail.

[tduell]

"Skippy", one of the many at Woodlands Historic Park.
K-3 II, DFA 150-450 + 1.4x TC, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

[tduell]

Juvenile Sacred Kingfisher.
K-3 II, DFA 150-450, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

[tduell]

Red-browed Finch.

K-3 II, DFA 150-450 handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

[tduell]

Laughing Kookaburra, having a cackle.

K-3 II, DFA 150-450, handheld. See exif for shot details.

Cheers,
Terry

[RobG]

A Latham's Snipe, feeding at Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Canberra, southern Australia. Soon they will fly back to Hokkaido in Japan.


Latham's Snipe by RobGeraghty, on Flickr

[Mike.P®]

K-3II, 150-450mm, 1.4xHD


Gull by Mike.Pursey, on Flickr

[tduell]

Black-winged/White-headed Stilt.
You've seen these blokes before, but I keep trying...they are a real challenge to get any detail in both the blacks and the whites.
K-3 II, DFA 150-450 handheld. See exif for shot details.