by Lanny McDowell on January 10, 2010
Martha’s Vineyard, her rocky shores and the rich marine ecology that surrounds her, is very attractive to Common Eiders looking to winter in a place that grows and gives up enough tonnage of food resources to keep the feathered thousands alive through the coldest months. The patterns of major sea duck concentration have changed this winter, presumably moving with the food resource. There are almost always a smaller number of eiders that congregate near the jetties at Menemsha. What they were doing when I was there yesterday is what they often do at sea, just in a more confined space: riding the current and feeding, then flying back to take another pass on the current. They were riding on the incoming tide ripping south between the stone jetties, with the wind at their backs, to enter the broadening waters of the tidal pond. On cue, on a whim or reacting to an ambulatory threat they pattered into flight north against the wind between the walls of rock to settle on the sea just outside the harbor, eventually funneling back to repeat the circuit.
This show is there for anyone to watch. [click to continue...]
by Lanny McDowell on January 4, 2010
They were also the first in quite a while on Martha’s Vineyard. They sort of had to be the first of the year, since it was the first of the year, about ten thirty in the morning.
The checklist for the Martha’s Vineyard Christmas Bird Count, which takes place tomorrow, on January fifth, due to a weather delay, says the CBC has recorded one Tundra Swan since 1999. Soo Whiting’s book, Vineyard Birds II, says tundras were seen more frequently and more regularly on CBCs up until ‘92 and then, for the most part, not seen after that. She writes, “Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are the two best places in Massachusetts where an observer might expect to see this rare visitor.” It’s only a guess, but I would be quite surprised if [click to continue...]
by Lanny McDowell on August 1, 2009
Soo and Bob and I went out to Quansoo, parking at Crab Creek and hoofing out toward the Tisbury Great Pond opening. Shorebirds of all sizes were scattered broadly over extensive exposed tidal flats inside the the cut to the sea.
Those two guys were on scopes and I was stalking feeding birds with my Canon rig. The best moments for me were hearing the Whimbrel in my sights talk to three others winging by, then lofting to meet them. [click to continue...]
by Lanny McDowell on July 31, 2009
My Avian Art bird photos just came down yesterday at the Christina Gallery in Edgartown. This coming Sunday, August 2nd, Peter and Ronni Simon’s gallery in Vineyard Haven is kindly hosting a selection from my bird photography prints. Their gallery features his great iconic rock & roll and Reggae star photos and her innovative and artful jewelry pieces. I am appearing there as their first visiting artist and the show runs for a week.
There will be framed prints on the walls and a lot of unframed, mounted and shrink-wrapped items in the bins. The price range goes from $95 for a simple print up to $775 for a beautifully printed and framed 16″ X 24″ shot. The overall dimensions of the large framed prints are 27″ X 34.75″.
Here is a sampling of the smaller prints available unframed, typically in a 11″ X 17″ image size, including the really BIG oystercatcher at the end:
Birds are that cool! And hope to see you all at the show this Sunday. Lanny
