Winter of 2019 was a mess for any outdoor photographer. It had it all, with rain, sleet, wind, and of course, the snow. I did venture out a few times in the snowy conditions, only to find most wildlife hunkered down for the duration. I was able to get some great snow shots of the Kinzua Creek near Westline. I drove into the valley early one sunny morning after an all-night snowfall had coated all the trees in the valley. The trip was worth it, with the snow hanging on every tree with the blue sky background. In doing winter scenics it is not often when you can get a nice blue sky with a fresh snowfall. The curious thing about that morning was the lack of any wildlife or birdlife. I would have thought that such a day would have produced some great bird shots, or even a deer covered in snow. I was lucky that morning only for the fresh snowfall and beautiful blue sky. When a photographer works in the field, they are always at the mercy of Mother Nature, as I soon found out!
When spring finally arrived in our area, my luck didn’t change a whole lot. Lots of rain and cold weather, but at least it was finally spring.
Spring meant a trip to my favorite birding spot, Magee Marsh, Ohio for the “Biggest Week of Birding” festival. The bad weather continued in Ohio with two rainy and cold days, followed by our last day with some sun. This brought out many more birds, and people, to make it not a total flop! There will always be next year for this worthwhile trip. We are now into June, and the weather situation hasn’t changed a whole lot. Could this be a wash-out year for nature photography?
In May I missed the arrival of many of the spring nesters to our area. I spent a few days in Oregon, and then flew to Hawaii. I had always wanted to photograph someplace that would be something I wouldn’t normally see in Pennsylvania. I found it!
For a scenic photographer, Hawaii is your place, but for wildlife, and being on a cruise ship, it’s tough going. Don’t get me wrong on Hawaii, it is amazingly beautiful, with photo opts at every turn. Sunsets are beautiful, with cascading waterfalls around every bend. I turned into a tourist photographer for a week with hundreds of beautiful island shots to bring back home. Vacations can be a nature photographer’s dream if you are patient and choose your subjects wisely.
Back in Pennsylvania, I have been watching closely for newborn fawns, spotting only one so far. It seems the leaves popped out very quickly this year. The two weeks that I was out of the area the landscape definitely changed. My tip for late season bird photography is to find a trail or back road and just walk it.
Always scan the bushes low to the ground. Many warblers nest in low bush with dense cover close to the ground. Your chances of finding a colorful warbler will increase with a little patience and slow walking. The larger birds such as eagles, hawks and owls will be close to leaving the nest by mid-June. Birds of prey are usually early nesters. Ospreys will have young on the nest until the end of June or longer. If you are lucky, you might catch a young hawk learning to hunt. Approach these spring hunters with caution and you might get a great shot. Remember, they are learning and are probably hungry. Treat them with caution.
I really hope we have a nice dry summer season. The rainy conditions are not good for our outdoor adventures. There’s still a lot to see and do with your cameras during the summer months. Be patient and be on the lookout for young birds and mammals during early summer. If you are in the Kane area on Saturday or Sunday, visit “Art in the Wilds” juried art show in Evergreen Park.
It is a fantastic show with not only photography, but many unique items, and people, displaying and selling their beautiful and unique crafts. Did I mention food? Lots of that also! It’s worth a trip to Kane- “A Star in the Forest” – for an unforgettable day with the arts. See you at my booth! Until my next adventure…… Sightings or questions email me – at – rocky.holland1@verizon.net
