We don’t often get a contribution by photographer Colin Franks, but when we do we’re in for a visual treat. Here’s a selection of lovely bird photos. (Colin’s photography website is here, his Instagram page is here, and his Facebook page is here.) His IDs are indented.
Northern Pintail (Anas acuta):
Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii):
Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa):
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis):
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus):
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii):
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens):
Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta):
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola):
The last photo is Aix sponsa, not Bucephala. But beautiful photos anyway !
My mistake: I copied the name of the Bufflehead twice. I’ve corrected it now, thanks.
Whatever its name it’s still a mean looking duck
Beautiful! Simply amazing in all ways possible.
Hard to believe photography in the wild can be this good.
These photos are soooo outstanding, I have no words.
Also note that the face photographs of the ducks show that birds have a good eyesight in front, despite their eyes pointing sideways. They do have 2 maculas per eye indeed, one at the ‘normal’ position, opposite the central cornea, and one at the back of the eye,opposite the beak.
I’m sure if you projected some keratometer light on these corneas, the left and right combined would be close to a perfect circle.
Two maculas per eye? I didn’t know.
Is that also the case in squirrels? I see grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) daily in and around my garden, and I was wondering a couple of days ago about the accuracy of their jumping between branches with their eyes on the sides of their heads.
Superb pics.
Wonderful!
Best Merganser photo ever!
Magnificent images all….but the wren, a favorite of mine, is wonderful. I have spent hours amongst the cattails in marshes around Florida. I have learned to appreciate the wrens but still do not have an image as good. I suppose the appreciation is most important but I am jealous.
Thanks for making these images available here,
Paul Peed
Wow!
Wonderfully sharp and detailed photos.
For some reason, perhaps the eyes, the frontal pictures of the wood duck and merganser seem far more Jurassic Park threatening than the hawk’s semi-frontal photo.
Even common species like the chickadee and meadow lark are stunning portraits of beauty in these magnificent photos.
Mr. Franks, you are truly a treasure. Your work takes my breath away.
Amazing photos as always from Colin!
Fantastic Images!
Thanks for posting these.
-evan
Splendid! Great poses, lighting. Z
Beautiful! Thanks Colin and Jerry!
Gorgeous!