Mike Umscheid Photography & Storm Chase Blog
* *  Mike Umscheid PHOTOGRAPHY & STORM CHASE BLOG   * *


Navigate Other Shoots (by year)
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
Navigate Other Shoots (by month)
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
November 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
February 2019
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
November 2015
October 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
December 2011
October 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
February 2010
January 2010

<<  Previous Page        Next Page  >>    Top Page

Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:36:21 -0600
Texas Bird Photography Trip. Departure tomorrow!
Well, tomorrow after work (about 2pm or so), I will be hitting the road for my 10-day photography trip. The plan tomorrow is to get about 7 or 8 hours worth of driving in (which should leave me somewhere alond I-35 in North Texas). I will then get up very early Friday morning and set off for Houston-Galveston. While I do not have anything set in stone yet for Friday afternoon (given the foul weather forecast), I am thinking about starting my shoot off familiarizing myself with Brazos Bend State Park (southwest of Houston). After I am done there, I plan to meet up with my friends Mitch and Candice for dinner in Houston. I will spend all day Saturday shooting in the area (Brazos Bend SP in the morning then Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary later in the day). I met a wildlife photographer on one of the forums I=20contribute on who lives in the Houston area, and I plan to meet up with him on Saturday. After another Sunday morning shoot at Brazos Bend SP (most likely), I will drive south to Aransas wildlife refuge for an afternoon shoot in the area. More later on this leg of the trip as it approaches!



Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:16:23 -0600
Wood Duck portrait and preening pose at Richardson Zoo duck pond.

#1

#2
(click on thumbnails for pop-up of larger images)

Thu, 02 Jan 2014 21:14:12 -0600
Snow Goose banking on landing approach at Bosque del Apache. 22 January 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

Wed, 01 Jan 2014 19:44:09 -0600
Mallard drake wing flap action at Lee Richardson Zoo duck pond. 30 December 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

Tue, 31 Dec 2013 14:56:00 -0600
Wood Duck stroll on ice at the duck pond at Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City. 30 December 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

Sat, 28 Dec 2013 16:49:12 -0600
Bald Eagle vs. Mallard drama on the ice at Squaw Creek NWR (21 images)
The following is a 21-image sequence of a Bald Eagle attack on a Mallard hen over the span of under two minutes. There were actually two Mallards that were attacked in the overall kill. This sequence of of images shows the attack of the Mallard hen. There were multiple times the Mallard escaped the talons of one of the immature Bald Eagles, but unfortunately (for the Mallard), the escape was short-lived and would eventually suffer the ultimate fate. This is the sort of action that plays out multiple times every day on the ice in the dead of winter across many mostly frozen lakes across northern Kansas and Missouri where a lot of waterfowl decide to overwinter (especially Snow Goose, Canada/Cackling Goose, and Mallard).

Immature Bald Eagle (BE) in control of the Mallard drake as the hen tries to flee

Immature BE decides, instead, to go after the hen. The drake is free for the time being

Both the Mallard hen and drake struggle to escape, severely injured to the point they cannot take flight

An adult BE joins the immature BE, surrounding the Mallard hen

Both BEs compete for position while the Mallard hen still tries to get away

Some intimidation tactics by both the immature and adult BE, as if they are toying with the incapacitated Mallard

The Mallard sees an opening and tries to escape by running, since it cannot take flight

After allowing the Mallard to get a certain amount of distance away, the immature BE goes after it...

...but only to change its direction putting the Mallard in between both the immature and adult BE

The immature BE descending again on the Mallard (note: the Mallard's head is not gone, just hidden behind the wings)

immature BE closing in on the Mallard as the adult BE looks on.

The crippled Mallard is attacked again by the immature BE

Another take down by the immature BE as the adult BE looks on.

The Mallard hen appears lifeless now...

...yet for a third time breaks free. Another immature BE joins in.

The second immature BE comes in to finish the job once and for all.

As the other two original BEs look on, the new immature BE makes the final kill.

The final attack on the Mallard hen

Securing the prey

The immature BE guards its kill

An announcement by the immature BE of its fresh kill as the other two original BEs continue to observe.
(click on thumbnails for pop-up of larger images)

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 19:43:54 -0600
New Mexico monsoon storm from near the town of Animas, NM. 26 July 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 10:33:31 -0600
Early spring Kansas supercell at sunset, near Great Bend. 7 April 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

Sun, 22 Dec 2013 12:22:45 -0600
-The Last Run- A compelling image showing the final moments of a Mallard hen as it tries to escape a pair of Bald Eagles. 16 December 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

Fri, 20 Dec 2013 12:51:54 -0600
Adult Bald Eagle action at the breakfast table, Squaw Creek NWR. 16 December 2013
  
(click on thumbnail for pop-up of larger image)

<<  Previous Page        Next Page  >>    Top Page