• Thursday-What'sUP November 12 - 09:25 pm

It was a good week for birding when Paul Nelson spotted today's fowl friends. First he saw this female Cardinal fly off when he was outside, but it happened so quickly, he wasn't sure what he'd seen. When it flew by again later, he was able to ID her for sure. So he set up inside the back door, with his big telephoto lens and waited. Eventually she came back and that's when Paul snapped today's shots. It certainly is a beautiful bird with a unique coloring. The male is pretty and striking with the bold red hue it wears, but the female sure has beautiful coloring that makes it just as striking, just more subtle than bold.

Then Paul had the pleasure of photographing a snowy owl. He heard that is was spotted around Marquette, so he grabbed his camera and went in search of it, finding it perched up high on the wire in the first of the owl shots here today. I love its eyes in this photo; they seem to be staring right at Paul and the yellow stands out so well against the white feathers.
The bottom two photos were snapped on another day, but in a more natural environment. The owl seems to be oblivious to Paul's picture taking in the one shot, then it perks up and takes notice after that.

Paul remarked what a treat it was to photograph these birds that are both uncommon to the area, which makes it special when you do get to see them, let alone capture them with your camera.

If you'd like to check out more of Paul's work, you can visit his Facebook photography page here: The Creators Hand Photography.

I love those snowy owls. In my eyes they win the beauty contest of the owl contingent.
Isn't this a bit far North for a cardinal? I've never seen one here.

Very nice shots of the birds! They better hold on ~ hear there's some blustery weather headed their way!

Wow...clarity, detail, clarity! Did I mention clarity?
Incredible photography!

What beauties! We have male and female cardinals around my area all year long. Now snowy owls are a different subject, have never seen one anywhere and especially this far south.
Great shots, Paul.

Holy smokes!! These pictures are great! I think
I would frame them. They'd be great hanging on my
wall. Love cardinals AND snowy owls. My hubby
says that seeing them this early may mean a bad
winter. Hope he's wrong.

The best photos I've ever seen

You know what....I think Paul has stunned all of us with his magnificent photography! Keep 'em coming Paul, and Mary. :)

My Hawthorne tree is always filled with Cardinals
in the Fall. They love the berries. Other than
that, it is a terrible tree with needle sharp
thorns that seem to have a poisonous tip and the
Spring blossoms smell like urine.

It looks like one of my oak leaves blew all the
way to the U.P.

Stunning! (especially the first 2)

Have seen Snow Owls a few times on our U.P. snowmobile vacations.

Absolutely beautiful photos! I also think they
should be framed. Great job, Paul!

FABULOUS photos.....I've seen a female cardinal in
Baraga TWICE..never the male...there's a gal I know
that has a nesting pair in her yard in
Baraga..they've been there for a few years.

The Snowy Owl is fabulous...I had one almost come
through my windshield one autumn evening. At first I
thought it was a plastic shopping bag floating
through the night w/the wind. Nope. Owl. Holy wha!

These photos took my breath away when I opened them up. They are beautiful. I usually see cardinals in the spring and fall in Marquette Township (on their way out of town?) at my feeders and then they are gone. Same with one Indigo Bunting. I have yet to see a snowy owl. Beautiful creatures formed by a beautiful Creator. I love this website - I check it every day and it always makes me smile. Such positive and caring comments. How refreshing. The Keweenaw surely is a special place. Thank you so much for the photos.

Whoa Paul!! What incredible photos!! Especially the first two - the clarity and depth are amazing!
How I'd love to have your camera & lens!!
Excellent work!

Your first picture became my screen saver. Beautiful. Thank you for your "eye." Also "Liked" your page.

Speaking of owls:

From Cam Notes - 2015: September: Sep 08-15:

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Quote:

Watching the transition-to-approach and slow-flight dynamics in this video is just amazing. As a Pilot myself (though inactive for over 20 years), it's interesting to watch the owl leave cruise flight, go through flaps extension and gear extension (though performed somewhat out of order compared to how a flier with metal wings would do it), and finally at the end be operating at very high angle of attack, low airspeed, and close to the stall.

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That is fabulous, FRNash!!


t

Have no idea why that 't' is on my last post.:-/