Nature Photography by Richard L. Bowman

April 15, 2015

In Barcelona Amid the Birds

We were in Barcelona, Spain, from April 6-10. While there I did find a few birds that I have not seen here in Albania but which probably exist here. I hope you enjoy seeing the photos.

First are four photos of pigeons, but unlike in Lezhe where they are on rooftops and wires, these were in trees and on grass.

four pigeons in a tree

Four Pigeons Captured in a Tree (7-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

one pigeon by itself in a tree

A Pigeon in a Tree (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

a pigeon finding food in the grass (I)

Pigeon Checking Grass for Food (I) (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

a pigeon finding food in the grass (II)

Pigeon Checking Grass for Food (II) (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

Among the new birds was a black and white one. Only as I worked on the photos and cropped them tighter did I finallyy see what my eye had not seen. While I enjoyed seeing this Eurasian Magpie, the local residents may not have appreciated its apparent noisy calls.

front view of a Eurasian Magpie

Front View of Eurasian Magpie (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

back view of a Eurasian Magpie

Back View of Eurasian Magpie (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

Given my poor eyesight, when I heard a bird in the tree, I aimed my camera and took some pictures. As I post-processed them, I discovered that I had captured a shy bird (or a very wise one) who never left me see its head neither from the front nor the back. However, compare these two with the next two, I'm pretty sure all four are of the Eurasian Blackbird (or just Blackbird)..

front view of a hiding black bird

Front View of Blackbird in a Tree (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

back view of a hiding black bird

Back View of Blackbird in a Tree (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

Eurasian Blackbird (I)

Eurasian Blackbird on the Ground (I) (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

Eurasian Blackbird (II)

Eurasian Blackbird on the Ground (II) (9-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

When it comes to me taking nature photos, particularly of birds, I am always trying to push the limits of my camera. In Belize in 1970-74, it was my Argus C-4 35-mm film camera. When I would show people my slides later, I would point to a dot and say that was a bird! Now I have a Canon SX30 IS supper-zoom digital camera, and I am still having to say that is a bird, but I do not know which kind. So enjoy these for what they are, unless of course, you can identify which water bird is flying over my head.

flying water bird (i)

Flying Water Bird (I) (6-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

flying water bird (iI)

Flying Water Bird (II) (6-Apr-15; © Richard L. Bowman)

flying water bird (iII)

flying water bird (iV)

So, now we are back in Albania, and I dearly want to find some other birds here and not just sparrows and pigeons. Wish me good hunting.

April 5, 2015

In Lezhë It Is Sparrows and Pigeons

It has now been a few days more than a month since we returned to Lezhë, Albania. And as usual, I see house sparrows and pigeons quite regularly. The first two photos were taken from our apartment window and the last from a a couple of blocks away. I thought they were some interesting poses. See what you think.

five male house sparrows on a wire

a pigeon on a tile roof ridge

a singgle pigeon on a wire

Early tomorrow morning (like 2:30 a.m.), we leave here for nearly a week in Barcelona, Spain. Maybe I'll see other types of birds there. But we will be back in Lezhë by late Friday, so I keep hoping to find some other birds here in Albania.

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