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Godwit Days
Friday: Day One
This is the 11th Godwit Days Festival in Arcata, California. Field trips were out today, but no palagic (gale force winds), but my view of the festival was strictly "internal". Set up. Then the opening festivities/reception with words from the mayor, and the awards in the student art competion. Always a good feeling in the air.
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Early days: set up in the exhibit area
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The Zeiss booth in all its glory.
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Reception crowd
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The award hopefulls and families.
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Saturday: Day Two
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The vendor area at Godwit days doesn't open until 10am, which gave me enough time to visit what is rapidly becoming one of my favorite "all time" birding, and especially digiscoping, spots: Arcata Nature Center Marsh.
The Marsh combines ease of access with some really interesting and cooperative birds. Starting with the deck behind the Interpretive Center, and following the trails out through the marsh toward the bay, you come upon Song and Swamp Sparrows, Black-crowned Nightherons, Wood Ducks, Buffleheads and Ruddy Ducks, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Goldfinches, and, of course, at least in the spring when I am visiting, a host of Marsh Wrens singing on territory and building nests. (If you click on
any of the bird photos in this piece, a larger version will open.)
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Belted Kingfisher
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Black-crowned Nightheron
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Marsh Wren
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catching a Marsh Wren's image
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The Habitat
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Saltmarsh Song Sparrow
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Meanwhile back at the ranch: well, actually, I made it back to the Civic Center in time to open at 10am.
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Vending Zeiss
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Birds from Wildlife Images Rehab Center
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Drawing from Life
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Sunday: a glorious day! Sunny. No breeze to speak of. Back to the marsh before the vendor fair opens. And there were Godwits! Of course, not before my digiscoping battery died. I had to handhold my scenery camera behind the eyepiece.
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Green Winged Teal
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Against the sun
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Golden-crowned Sparrow
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yet another Marsh Wren
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Another Song Sparrow
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Closer
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And, just to prove there are Godwits! These were taken by handholding my Sony DSC S600...which I carry for scenery, documenting festivals, and family shots...behind the eyepiece (my N1, of course, had run out of battery just as the Godwits showed up). Though I have little faith in handholding, these prove that, in a pinch, anything is possible. Notice how the camera captured the water clinging to the beak of the Godwit below as it attempted to break
the surface tension. (You will probably have to enlarge the image by clicking on it.)
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cropped from 6mp image
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