Snowy Owl In Flight Glance

I was photographing this Snowy Owl out the window of my car while scouting for my Winter Owl Workshops last week when a snowplow scared it off the fence post it was perched on. Although I followed it as it took flight, I hadn’t pressed the trigger because it wasn’t looking at me. I would have missed this, as it glanced back for a fraction of a second, but the pre-capture function in my camera saved me.

Snowy Owl In Flight Glance (Bubo scandiacus, Harfang des neiges, SNOW) Ontario, Canada. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @8400mm ISO 3,200, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Sandhill Crane flying in golden light

A Sandhill Crane landing at dusk against the golden backdrop of blurred Cottonwood trees during my recent Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico.

This year, we were fortunate to enjoy golden light and ideal wind direction for most of my Better than Bosque workshop. The Cottonwoods displayed their autumn foliage, creating stunning backgrounds when the light became perfect - smile.

Sandhill Crane flying in golden light (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my recently concluded Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area (Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex), Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 8,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Wood Duck in flight

Another Wood Duck from my recent Better than Bosque workshop in New Mexico. There was no shortage of Wood Ducks this year, and the wind and light were favourable for photographing them in flight. It is hard not to point your lens at them when they fly past!

Wood Duck in flight (Aix sponsa, Canard branchu, WODU) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm ISO 1,250, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.

Hooded (Hoodie) Merganser in flight

A Hooded Merganser in flight over the duck ponds from my recent Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico.

Slim and swift on the wing, mergansers are unique among ducks in that they have slender, saw-toothed bills to grab fish and other prey in underwater dives. The most petite and elegant of the three merganser species is the Hooded Merganser, which has a fan-shaped white crest bordered with black (tucked back in this flight image). Unlike the other mergansers, “hoodies” rarely gather in flocks and usually winter on small ponds.

Hooded Merganser In Flight (Lophodytes cucullatus, Harle couronné, HOME) from my Better than Bosque workshop . Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Northern Shoveler in flight in golden light

A hen (hen = female) Northern Shoveler prepares to land over golden corn fields while bathed in golden morning light during my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico earlier this month.

As the sun rose, the wind raged in the wrong direction as we drove the North loop in Bosque del Apache NWR. We came upon a mixed flock of ducks and decided to stop and see if any were banking around and posing at a light angle that worked. A few obliged the determined photographer.

Northern Shoveler (hen = female) in flight in golden light (Spatula clypeata, Canard souchet, NSHO) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Western Meadowlark in flight head on

On our first afternoon at Bernardo Wildlife Area during my Better than Bosque Workshop in New Mexico, there were impressive numbers of Western Meadowlarks flying back and forth along the road over the corn fields. Most were high, with the occasional bird flying past at eye level. I watched this individual head straight at me and was thrilled with my results - but I must admit two things:

1. The auto-focus of the Sony a9 Mark III is mind-blowing. You still have to “drive” the camera, but it won’t fail you when things line up!

2. Shooting at 120fps meant having the best possible wing positions and not settling for a mistimed image.

Western Meadowlark in flight head-on(Sturnella neglecta, Sturnelle de l'Ouest, WEME) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. 95% full-frame image.

Belted Kingfisher in flight against amber autumn foliage

This is another Belted Kingfisher (female) image from my recently concluded Better than Bosque Workshop. There were great opportunities over the duck pond as they flew back & forth from a garbage can to a signpost.

Belted Kingfisher Flying (Megaceryle alcyon, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, BEKI) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha Alpha 9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Northern Harrier in flight

There were plenty of Northern Harriers during my Better than Bosque Workshop this year. This image was made on the first day of the workshop while we were stopped and “focused” on hundreds of ducks landing in the ditch along the road.

Northern Harrier in flight (Circus hudsonius, busard Saint-Martin, NOHA) from the first day of my Better than Bosque workshop (Dec. 5, 2024) Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 6,400, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Belted Kingfisher in flight against autumn colors

This female Belted Kingfisher put on quite a show during my recently concluded Better than Bosque Workshop. (Females are blue-gray with a chestnut belly band and flanks.) This image is courtesy of the Sony a9 III pre-capture feature. I was tracking her as she flew away from me, and she suddenly banked and landed on a sign over a garbage can.

Belted Kingfisher Flying Head On (Megaceryle alcyon, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, BEKI) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha Alpha 9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 16,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Hooded Merganser Top-side flight

It seemed like this Hooded Merganser came out of nowhere and flip-flopped to lose altitude quickly right before me. I was lucky to get a few frames, and I especially love this one with the autumn colours in the background courtesy of the cottonwood tree.

Hooded Merganser Top-side Flight (Lophodytes cucullatus, Harle couronné, HOME) from my Better than Bosque workshop . Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,500, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Western Meadowlark in flight

There have been impressive numbers of Western Meadowlarks in and around the corn fields where we photograph the Cranes, Geese and Raptors during my Better than Bosque Workshop. This is a full-frame image made as this bird changed direction while I followed it through my lens. 120fps makes getting the wing position right, but I had to keep the erratic flyer in the viewfinder - smile!

Western Meadowlark in flight (Sturnella neglecta, Sturnelle de l'Ouest, WEME) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bernardo Wildlife Area, Bernardo, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Cooper's Hawk with prey

Only moments after photographing the White-crowned Sparrow Flying (Dorsal view) from my Nov. 28, 2024 post HERE, I was surprised by this Cooper’s Hawk as it swooped down and grabbed the Sparrow as it flew away from me. Luckily, my instinct was to point the lens at the bird and follow it. I got off a few frames as it banked around and flew towards me.

Cooper’s Hawk with prey in flight (Accipiter cooperii, Épervier de Cooper, COHA) from November 28, 2024, while scouting for my Better than Bosque workshop. Near Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a9 III Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 3,200, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.

White-crowned Sparrow flying (dorsal view)

I am still in Albuquerque scouting for my Better than Bosque Workshop. This morning started with another go at the Belted Kingfisher in terrible light and a beautiful Drake Bufflehead that stayed too far away for a nice image. While scanning for raptors, I spotted an enormous flock of White-crowned Sparrows and decided to walk to the other side of the field to get the right light angle. This is an immature White-crowned Sparrow that I managed to get on; call me lucky (or get yourself a Sony a9 III - smile).

White-crowned Sparrow Flying (Dorsal view). (Zonotrichia leucophrys, Bruant à couronne blanche, WCSP) From this morning (Nov. 28, 2024) while scouting for my Better than Bosque workshop. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha Alpha 9 II Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Belted Kingfisher (male) in flight

This male Belted Kingfisher interrupted our Wood Duck shoot during my Best of Bosque Workshop last December, chasing another male Kingfisher around the ponds for a few minutes. It was a ton of fun tracking this tiny speedster as it flew as fast and erratically as it did.

Due to an unfortunate medical emergency, one spot is still available for my Dec. 5-9, 2024, Best of Bosque Workshop.

Belted Kingfisher male in flight (Megaceryle alcyon, Martin-pêcheur d'Amérique, BEKI) during my Better than Bosque workshop. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Short-eared Owl banking in flight

A Short-eared Owl banking in flight from last winter’s Owl Workshops. While I love cloudy, bright conditions for bird photography, there was no shortage of white sky days last winter. Lake Ontario never froze, which meant a lot of lake effect clouds and light snow.

Lake Effect clouds and snow occur when cold air moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes. As the cold air passes over the unfrozen and relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes, warmth and moisture are transferred into the lowest portion of the atmosphere. As the air rises, clouds form and grow into a narrow band that can produce snow, which can be heavy at times.

Short-eared Owl Banking in Flight (Asio flammeus, Hibou des marais, SEOW). From my first Winter Owls Galore workshop that concluded on Friday. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 10,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure.

Bosque Bald Eagle

Among the many raptors we see during my Best of Bosque Workshop, the Bald Eagle is always a hit. This Bald Eagle spent most of the nice light far away in the “Eagle Tree” and finally decided to put on a show by harassing a Northern Shoveller. It must have dove on it at least a dozen times before giving up and flying away.

Bald Eagle (Hailiaeetus leucocephalus, Pygarge a tête blanche, BAEA) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 1,600, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Manual exposure.

Sandhill Crane and Bosque Workshop Openings.

A Sandhill Crane calls to announce its arrival as it lands in front of us during my Best of Bosque workshop last December.

Due to an unfortunate medical emergency, I have two spots open for the previously sold-out Dec. 5-9, 2024 Best of Bosque workshop. Join me for five full days of EPIC imagery and learning.

Sandhill Crane Calling in flight. Landing Loud. (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 5,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Northern Harrier in flight

A Northern Harrier from my Best of Bosque workshop at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. A regular hunter over the corn and alfalfa fields, Northern Harriers are a pretty reliable raptor during my Best of Bosque workshop every December.

Northern Harrier in flightt (Circus hudsonius, busard Saint-Martin, NOHA) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 2,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s. Full frame image. Manual exposure.

Sandhill Crane

This Sandhill Crane was photographed during my Best of Bosque Workshop last December. When I checked the weather forecast the night before, it threatened some nastiness, but it amounted to only a light sprinkle of rain during the night. The saturated colours of the desert the next morning were a treat! Knowing exactly where the birds are is only part of the formula for a successful shoot; knowing where the best backgrounds are makes all the difference!

Only a couple of spots remain for my December 5-9, 2024 Best-of-Bosque Workshop!

Sandhill Crane in flight (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony a1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 1.4X Teleconverter @840mm ISO 4,000, f/5.6 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.

Sandhill Crane Landing in Golden Light

A Sandhill Crane banks as it lands during my Best of Bosque workshop in New Mexico.

The wind was completely wrong when we set up, but it started to shift as the sun started to set and the high desert light started to warm, and we had a pretty epic session.

Sandhill Crane Landing in Golden Light (Grus canadenis, Grue du Canada, SACR) from my Better than Bosque workshop. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico, USA. Image Copyright ©Christopher Dodds. Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless camera & Sony FE 600mm f/4 G Master OSS Lens with Sony FE 2X Teleconverter @1,200mm ISO 4,000, f/8 @ 1/5,000s Manual exposure. Full frame image.