Ryan Wilkes
Victoria, CA
Member since June 18, 2020
Most Viewed
Elk Crossing
An Elk crosses one of the main pathways along the river in Banff town.
Surprised to see me
I was out for a walk one summer evening when I noticed this Osprey in a tree above the river. It turned to look at me from its perch with a seemingly surprised look on its face! After a few seconds, it returned to scanning the river for its next meal and didn't pay much attention to me.
Busy as Usual
I enjoyed many hours of sitting and watching the goings-on in my backyard this past summer. The bees were especially challenging to photograph, as they are always hard at work. As I observed them, I gained a new appreciation for the important role they play in our ecosystems as pollinators. I love this shot in particular because I was able to freeze the bee's head, while still capturing the motion of the wings.
Black Kite
The Harlan’s subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk pass through southern Canada in the fall on the way from their Arctic breeding grounds to their winter ranges in the Southern United States. This individual’s migration was interrupted by a blizzard that moved through central Alberta in mid-October. I spent over three hours watching this hawk hover and exhibit “kiting” behavior over the cliffs as it searched for a meal to refuel for the long migration ahead. The combination of wing position that hid the hawks head and extreme weather made this frame a favorite image for the sense of mystery it evokes. For me, the bird truly resembles a kite in a blizzard.
Blizzard Kite
The Harlan’s subspecies of Red-tailed Hawk pass through southern Canada in the fall on the way from their Arctic breeding grounds to their winter ranges in the Southern United States. This individual’s migration was interrupted by a blizzard that moved through central Alberta in mid-October. I spent over three hours watching this hawk hover and exhibit “kiting” behavior over the cliffs as it searched for a meal to refuel for the long migration ahead. The combination of wing position that hid the hawks head and extreme weather made this frame a favorite image for the sense of mystery it evokes. For me, the bird truly resembles a kite in a blizzard.