banjon's Photos : Popular Photos : Day 258 - Snowy Owl I heard of some owls in the area, so I traveled to Hartlen Point this afternoon. I was walking along the cobble beach checking out the coral and soft shell crabs stranded from low tide and watching the tide come in smashing huge waves on the shore of Devil's Island. I was just about ready to head back when I noticed what looked like a new piece of driftwood on the beach. Something out of place from the last time I was here a few months ago (I have a photographic memory that makes me notice this stuff). I was about 1000 feet away, so I zoomed in the best I could, and then I saw it move, adjusting its wings. My mouth dropped! :) It took me a while to work my way through the bushes and briers to get within 50 feet. The owl knew I was there and allowed me to continue observing for about a half hour. He was really amazing to watch. Then I heard some dogs barking in the background, off he went to some pine trees in the distance. I spoke to a birder in the area and he said everyone is excited because there are going to be a lot of owls headed South this year. It was a very successful breeding year and there are hundreds headed our way from the Arctic. This owl is most likely a male, as it's been reported that most young males have already begun heading South. So we should start to see more in the upcoming weeks. He said there are already two or three in the area now, with more expected soon. Nov 27 2008

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banjon > Day 205 - The Little Wanderer

The day started out dreary and rainy. Pat and I debated whether to head out to Conrad Beach for the 5:30am sunrise, but it was pouring rain, so we left a little later. When we arrived at the beach the sun was coming out and it was beautiful. We were lucky enough to spot and photograph our first Piping Plover (a very rare little bird that is only found in one or two pairs on a few beaches in Nova Scotia - placed on the endangered list) mixed in with a lot of Sanderlings and Sandpipers.

Later on we met up with Melanie and Barb and headed out to Canning and Medford (Bay of Fundy shore). We spotted a few Bald Eagles and hawks along the way. At Canning, we met a gentlemen walking with his two white dogs who showed us the way along the paths to the grassy mud flats (clay-like soil) and beach. I think the dogs just came along to show how well they can play in the mud... white plus red mud clay = not a pretty sight.. hehe

On our way back this little girl passed us by. Only a quick hello and a shy smile and she was on her way - all the while having a wonderful discussion with and singing to her little lamb doll . You see she had places to go, people to see, and things to do.

The late afternoon sun lit up the sea grass and red mud flats. On the far shore is Blomidon's North Mountain.

Sept 10 2008

banjon > Day 22 - Windy Day at Prospect Bay

Well, weatherman called for snow, then it turned to torrential rain, first with the deluges, then with near hurricane winds. I didn't hear any hurricane warnings!!! The wind gusts were hitting 80MPH or more last night. The windows were bouncing and doors were shaking.

So I expected more of the same today. Nope! Remember that saying, don't like the weather wait 10 minutes. Well, it was sunny and blue skies with 40mph winds. I knew where I was headed! Prospect Bay.

The bay is one of the farthest tips into the Atlantic Ocean and it sees a lot of wave action. These waves are so unpredictable, I don't think surfers even bother with this area. As you can see, this wave is viewed from upon a hilltop - the average spray heights today had to be in the 50 to 60 ft range when they smashed into the granite rocks. I bet the town is grateful for those granite rocks, they act as a natural break water.

Notice the white rock how smooth it is. This is the same type of rock formations found at Peggys Cove, which about 20 miles south from here.

The wind was so strong and bitterly cold - I could only take small exposures for roughly 15 minutes at a time. I still feel the chill in my bones. I had to hold the tripod with one hand, trying to keep my foot near one of the legs, and I left the camera strapped around my neck. For a few moments, the wind was so strong, I had to turn around to breathe. :)

I had so many awesome shots today! The sun was battling a massive snow storm over the Atlantic. Half the sky was dark grey and dark blue, the other was all puffy white and powder blue. When the Sun was over taken by the thick dark clouds, within moments the temp dropped roughly 10 or more degrees - you could actually feel the blast of cold air. Next thing I know, ice pellets were stinging me in the face, and snow - the sky was full of snow. Thick white puffy snow. That lasted for about an hour, then it was all gone. The sun came out and showcased some awesome rays of light which cast spot lights on the rocks and lit up the ocean. Pretty cool.

I could have stayed there all day! I ran out of space on the memory card and batteries died. :(
When it gets very cold I notice the camera starts to act a bit odd. Oh well.. next time. I keep telling Barb we should get a house down there. :)

PS ... and Barb says NO WAY!!! (signed Barb :).

Mar 09 2008

banjon > Day 244 (1/2) - Lost In Time

An old dory slowly withers away in the thick fog in West Lawrencetown. I can imagine the tons of cod it hauled in its day.

Since the cod stocks were nearly depleted by commercial trawlers, the small local fishermen had to abide by a 10-year moratorium on cod. This really hurt the Maritimes as many families had to pursue other means of employment or move away and leave everything behind. Governments can be cruel, allowing the commercial fisheries to continue fishing (unofficially looking the other way), meanwhile, the small guy thinks everyone is playing fair only to get shafted once again. The cod stocks were suppose to replenish, but now every one fears they may be lost forever due to some greedy politicians.

Nov 09 2008

banjon > Day 196 - The Field of Three Doors

Wasn't that a Moody Blues tune... Timothy Leary...

Thanks to a creative artist in Grand Pre who placed three doors in their field. When I saw them I was totally taken back, and said WOW! I can imagine with a blue sky what it must look like.

The image is a composite of two images I took today. The clouds are from a nasty wicked storm that moved in earlier today. Wicked lightning and wind. Pouring cats and dogs. The color of the clouds is the original color, no desaturation.

The second image, the three doors, I removed the pale white sky and overlayed onto the clouds. I added a blue tint to the door on the right, and inverted the sky on the middle door.

The middle door has me thinking... whats with #9... maybe a Beatles reference.

Just moments earlier we saw three bald eagles in the corn fields looking for pheasants. I was trying to get closer and setup my tripod, but before I could even setup the tripod he was in the air. I think he was waiting for the other younger eagle to finish his fly by.. sort of like a parent watching if the kid did okay. :)

Very few shorebirds today, I think they flew out of harms way prior to the nasty storm.

Aug 31 2008

banjon > Day 236 - Morning Mist at Kearney Lake

I visited Kearney Lake early this morning. The mist was rising off the with Autumn colors in the background. As I was walking the along the lake, I sat on a rock to watch the trees get brighter, and brighter. When three ducks landed behind me, and then came within a foot of the shore where I sat. Eventually, coming round, right in front of me and to my surprise started to come on shore about 2 feet away from me. I never thought I'd say, backup you're too close for my 300mm.. :)

I was hoping to see one of the beavers in the mist, they were there. I usually would hear them after they submerged. Checking me out I guess. Saw lots of Chick-a-dees, Finches, and Sparrows. A sparrow just about walked into me before realizing I wasn't a tree. :)

I added some more photos from the morning out. (here)

Oct 12 2008

banjon > Day 263 - Lighthouse Silhouette

I was trying different compositions of Peggy's Cove lighthouse. This was one of my favorites that day.

Dec 04 2008

banjon > Day 362 - Lemonata

The only soft drink I like to treat myself to every now and then.

Setup: Blue dishpan behind the bottle, fill the bottle with water then use a pitcher to pour into the spout. Make sure the pitcher is white or clear, it will cast colors. Its in an aluminum sink, so that adds as a foil reflector on all three sides and bottom. Out cabinets and backsplash are white, so I bounce the flash off the backsplash and underside of the cabinets to add light from above. I use a 1/8 flash setting and position the flash about the start of the dish pan - just beyond the edge (towards the back splash), this way the flash wont light the dish pan but will bounce the light very well. You won't get any glare either, but you never know what water droplets will reflect. Keep a towel handy for around the sink, yourself, and any spray back onto the lens (it happens, so don't get too close). Then take about 200 photos. :)

Apr 06 2009

banjon > Day 258 - Snowy Owl

I heard of some owls in the area, so I traveled to Hartlen Point this afternoon. I was walking along the cobble beach checking out the coral and soft shell crabs stranded from low tide and watching the tide come in smashing huge waves on the shore of Devil's Island.

I was just about ready to head back when I noticed what looked like a new piece of driftwood on the beach. Something out of place from the last time I was here a few months ago (I have a photographic memory that makes me notice this stuff). I was about 1000 feet away, so I zoomed in the best I could, and then I saw it move, adjusting its wings. My mouth dropped! :)

It took me a while to work my way through the bushes and briers to get within 50 feet. The owl knew I was there and allowed me to continue observing for about a half hour. He was really amazing to watch. Then I heard some dogs barking in the background, off he went to some pine trees in the distance.

I spoke to a birder in the area and he said everyone is excited because there are going to be a lot of owls headed South this year. It was a very successful breeding year and there are hundreds headed our way from the Arctic.

This owl is most likely a male, as it's been reported that most young males have already begun heading South. So we should start to see more in the upcoming weeks. He said there are already two or three in the area now, with more expected soon.

Nov 27 2008

Day 258 - Snowy Owl

I heard of some owls in the area, so I traveled to Hartlen Point this afternoon. I was walking along the cobble beach checking out the coral and soft shell crabs stranded from low tide and watching the tide come in smashing huge waves on the shore of Devil's Island.

I was just about ready to head back when I noticed what looked like a new piece of driftwood on the beach. Something out of place from the last time I was here a few months ago (I have a photographic memory that makes me notice this stuff). I was about 1000 feet away, so I zoomed in the best I could, and then I saw it move, adjusting its wings. My mouth dropped! :)

It took me a while to work my way through the bushes and briers to get within 50 feet. The owl knew I was there and allowed me to continue observing for about a half hour. He was really amazing to watch. Then I heard some dogs barking in the background, off he went to some pine trees in the distance.

I spoke to a birder in the area and he said everyone is excited because there are going to be a lot of owls headed South this year. It was a very successful breeding year and there are hundreds headed our way from the Arctic.

This owl is most likely a male, as it's been reported that most young males have already begun heading South. So we should start to see more in the upcoming weeks. He said there are already two or three in the area now, with more expected soon.

Nov 27 2008