Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal is one of the most stunning birds of color in North America. The male Cardinal is a beautiful solid red. The Cardinal is plentiful in the Eastern and Central portions of the USA. On any given day or time I can spot a Cardinal in or around my yard. This abundance makes it seem common. On the West Coast of the US this is not the case. Many people there have never seen this beautiful bird as it has not yielded to the call of the West.

American Avocet

One of my favorite birds is the American Avocet. I took this image on a trip to Kansas this year. I made a visit to the Quivira National wildlife Refuge near Hays Kansas. This was my first opportunity to take a picture at close range of an Avocet in breeding plummage. The Avocets were very photo friendly. I captured them in several unusual poses. This was one of my favorite. Quivira is a most unusual Refuge. There are many species of birds to see and I was succesful in capturing images of several. There is also other wildlife. Deer were plentiful. I would highly recommend a visit to Quivira at any time of the year. Fall is probably the best time for ducks. Avocets, Black-Necked Stilts and a variety of herons and egrets are plentiful in the spring and summer. If you haven't visited a wildlife refuge it could be one of the best outings you will ever make. There are many spread out over the whole country.