Images in the Backcountry Blog » White-crowned Sparrow

Mourning Dove, Black Phoebe and a Red Admiral Butterfly

Mike Matenkosky — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:59:12 +0000

I’ve been lazy in posting some of my new “finds”. Since the weather is nasty today, I thought I’d catch up with my latest photos.

This Mourning Dove was kind enough to land close by, a bit too close to frame the whole body.

Last year I saw one Black Phoebe in the trees and never saw it again. This year I saw a pair, a bit closer, but never landed in my “studio”. This was the best I could do.

Black Phoebe

I’m not a Butterfly Photographer, but I saw this Red Admiral Butterfly in my blind a thought I’d capture him…just because.

Red Admiral Butterfly

The White-crowned Sparrows are still here….

My First Lawrence’s Goldfinch!

Mike Matenkosky — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:42:30 +0000

I had a two hours to kill until I had to pick up the kids at Awana. I got my camera, tripod and cushion an headed to the Matenkosky NWR….my backyard. I was hoping to capture a better photo of one of the Yellow-rumped Warblers that I’ve been seeing, but no luck. Instead, I saw a pair (male & female) of Lawrence’s Goldfinches….my first!

I was able to get two great poses of a White-crowned Sparrow this afternoon too.

He’s having a bad hair day, but I love that I got him with his beak open and in the water!

This American Goldfinch was a bit upset….

Scared by a Robin?

Mike Matenkosky — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:34:42 +0000

Yep, it’s true. I’m so used to seeing the smaller songbirds in my backyard blind that I got startled by a Robin! This is my first Robbin of the season and I wasn’t used to seeing them. Needless to say I missed that shot…so what else is new.

Saw this poor White-crowned Sparrow with an apparent broken or injured leg. He seems to be well-fed for now, so hopefully he’ll survive.

My backyard pond is working out great!!

Got a Dark-eyed Junco as the sun went down.

Merced NWR with Dave

Mike Matenkosky — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:01:05 +0000

This post is a bit late, but that night I started to get chills/sick, so I went to bed. Anyway, I’m still ‘kicking’, other than a nagging cough (again). Dave Miller wanted to visit the Merced NWR and since I practically live there, well maybe just once a week, I was the unofficial guide for the day. We met at Denny’s in Atwater under a blanket of fog….go figure. We drove out to the refuge and I hopped in to his car and made the loop. The conditions could be better, so as we ended the loop we made another loop, this time I drove. By that time the fog was starting to burn off and we got some better photos, at least he did. We decided to not drive over to the San Luis NWR so we parted. I went back home and set up my ‘Matenkosky NWR’ and Dave drove the loop again!

Dave

Black-necked Stilt

Cooper’s Hawk – My first!

Back at the ‘Matenkosky NWR’ – Dark-eyed Junco

White-crowned Sparrow

Orange-crowned Warbler and Friends

Mike Matenkosky — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:46:44 +0000

I finished my new photography blind and pond/waterfall a few days ago. I’m going to take some pictures and post them at a later time, but I just had to try it out! I was able to capture an Orange-crowned Warbler flying around our Orange tree. They look like a hummingbird at first. It’s not the best image, but I at least got a decent shot for ID purposes….now it’s time to get a better photo!

Orange-crowned Warbler

I changed my pond a bit and the Lincoln’s Sparrow still enjoys taking a drink.

White-crowned Sparrow

A Nuttall’s Woodpecker and More

Mike Matenkosky — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:43:54 +0000

Went out to my studio this afternoon even though the skies threatened rain. It never did and I got a few photos of a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Junco in my new waterfall, a juvenile White-crowned Sparrow and a male House Finch.

If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I plan on making a new photography blind. Stay tuned!

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Dark-eyed Junco

White-crowned Sparrow

House Finch

Goldfinch and White-crowned Sparrow

Mike Matenkosky — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:13:11 +0000

I’m still refining my new backyard pond. I added another 12″ to the left and back side. It should be big enough now. This week I’m going to run up to the hills to find a bunch of rocks. Here’s a few more captures from Saturday afternoon.

American Goldfinch – Drinking!

White-crowned Sparrow – Loves our old Christmas Tree

New Year 2010!

Mike Matenkosky — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:52:14 +0000

Well Happy New Year! I think I’m finally getting rid of my Pneumonia that Santa gave me this Christmas. To celebrate, I spent some time in the backyard this afternoon to see what the birds were up to. Saw most of the usual birds and managed to capture some. Saw one Dark-eyed Junco, but he was too fast for me today.

White-crowned Sparrow

Male House Finch

A Yellow Variety Male House Finch

DIY Photography Blind

Mike Matenkosky — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:27:30 +0000

I wanted to make a photography blind that didn’t cost a fortune. Originally I was going to make it out of PVC and fabric. One afternoon I saw my kid’s old plastic playhouse and I thought, “I can use this and it’s free”!

I selected a spot near the back fence…

I bought a $2.99 shower liner from Target to cover the top and part of the window…

Using an old towel and two heavy-duty clamps from the local hardware store, I fastened the towel and shower liner together creating the blind…

Add my Manfrotto 3011BN tripod, 488 ballhead to attach my 300mm f/4L IS and 1.4x II extender…

Its a little cramped, but it does the job! I added my cushion from my wheelchair for comfort…

Here’s the business end. You can see my DIY bird bath, feeder (stump) and stick…

Within 5 minutes I had visitor. This was the first time that I was able to photograph a Lesser Goldfinch, so I was pretty happy with the results. Took less then 5 minutes and about $10!

Here’s a male House Finch…

An Dark-eyed Junco AKA ‘Oregon’…

A White-crowned Sparrow

I hope I’ve given you some ideas to build your own backyard blind!

UPDATE: A photo of my improved set-up.