Category Archives: Photographs: Birds

Two Cranes, Reflection

Sandhill cranes have the remarkable ability to look both comically clumsy (watch them land!) and remarkably graceful. This pair managed to produce the latter impression as they crossed paths in a shallow wetland pond. It helped that they were between me and the sun, placing their reflection in the water in front of them.

Sandhill cranes are remarkable birds and have become my favorites among the migratory birds I photograph . They are here between autumn and late winter in large numbers. Their characteristic cry is one of the defining features of my winter photography experience. One of the best moments comes when they return at dusk. I hear their cries before I see them, but soon hundreds arrive and land for the night.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Two Cranes, Morning Sky

If you follow my photographs, it is possible that you recall another photograph of these two cranes in morning sky a few weeks ago. Sometimes I use burst mode to photograph birds as they fly past. One advantage is that you have a better chance of getting that perfect moment when things happen quickly. However, a disadvantage is that you end up with a lot of photographs to review! When this pair flew over, out of perhaps a dozen frames there were two that I liked.

The photograph, and its near-twin, are slightly unusual for me. For one thing, I tend to include some landscape or foliage with the birds. But here it is just birds and sky, albeit with some lovely, fluffy clouds. The angle and color of the light were just about ideal. It was coming at a low angle from my right, where the sun was just over the horizon. As a result the warm, early light shone upwards onto the undersides of the birds.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Meadowlark Song #2

As I recently posted, I am not a classic “birder.” I’m just a photographer who counts birds among the many subjects that fascinate me. Years ago I was originally drawn to flocks of birds — often consisting of thousands of geese — but over time I’ve become more interested in individuals. The meadowlark is a beautiful bird, not just visually, but also for its exuberant song.

This one posed on a fencepost near me back on a New Year’s Day adventure with the birds. I had been photographing geese and cranes, and was taking a break from that later in the day. I turned my attention to some of the smaller birds hanging out in brush and alongside the roadway I was using. I came slowly up to this meadowlark, hoping to avoid spooking it. It stuck around, posing and singing its song from its perch.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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European Starling

You may already know this, but I’m not really the “birder” type. I love photographing birds, and by doing so I’ve learned more about them than I would otherwise know. But I have never had the same passion for identifying them or keeping track of which I’ve seen that characterize the birders I know. I’ve learned to understand their passion, but it is different than mine. Perhaps because I’m not that knowledgable about birds, I often get the joy of “discovering” a bird that turns out to be somewhat ordinary!

When I photographed this bird I wasn’t paying a lot of attention to what it is. I had been photographing red-winged blackbirds in these plants. I think I just assumed that it was some variation on that kind of bird. (I probably should be embarrassed to admit this!) But when I looked at the photograph I was fascinated by the color pattern on the feathers. I looked it up and “discovered” that it is a pretty common (though no less attractive) European starling.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | PostEmail

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.