"Cozy Perch" just took Best of Class in a recent Professional Photographer of Los Angeles competion.  This Barred Owl (stix varia) was photographed at Muir National Park.
"The Lookout"  this is a Western Scrub Jay.  the shot is taken at the Palisades Park in Santa Monica.  I have walked this park for over 10 years almost on a daily basis and have never seen a Scrub Jay in the park.  this beauty held his ground and just allowed me to take photo after photo.
Green Heron- Los Angeles Arboretum
"Cautious Look"  Malibu Lagoon, Malibu, CA.  I crawled 20 feet in the sand and seaweed to get this shot close to the ground.   I learned something interesting.  When I crawled the birds were weary but stood their ground.  When I stood up they ran.  The moral to the story crawl, stay low and make yourself smaller to the prey you are going to photograph.  I am thinking of getting a Gilly suit to assist me with this endeavor. These are Western Sandpipers.
My photo associates always say "is that it" where is the blood and guts, the story, the impact etc.  How about a decapitated salamander in the beak of a great white Egert.  I came about the action and could not believe the struggle that occured between fowl and reptile.  The fowl won as you can see.
I watch this young Coopers hawk and squirrel play cat and mouse for a good 30 minutes or more.  The squirrel seemed to know just how far he could wander into the open before the hawk would swoop down and try to pounce on him.  I used a 70-200 2.8 IS canon lens with a 1.4 extender.
Magnificent winged predator of the forest and meadow.  Silent, deadly and bows to few.  I watched this youngster hunt squirrels to a draw.  I suspect that mom and dad still needed to teach the youngster a trick or two.  I used a 70x200 mm 2.8 IS with a 1.4 extender.  This shot was in color but the Black and White seems to be more dramatic.
"Quite Time"  just passing by
"shall we dance"?  The Great Blue Herons were in mating mode. I took this shot with a Canon 500mm IS using a sturdy tripod and remote switch.  Bolsa Chica State Park Huntington Beach, CA
"Cozy Perch" just took Best of Class in a recent Professional Photographer of Los Angeles competion. This Barred Owl (stix varia) was photographed at Muir National Park.
"Cozy Perch" just took Best of Class in a recent Professional Photographer of Los Angeles competion.  This Barred Owl (stix varia) was photographed at Muir National Park.
"Cozy Perch" just took Best of Class in a recent Professional Photographer of Los Angeles competion. This Barred Owl (stix varia) was photographed at Muir National Park.
See photo in original gallery.