Newcomer Kyle Callahan Captures Photo of the Month with Stunning Snow Geese Images
Lens: 600 mm | Exposure: 1/2500 sec | Aperture: f/11 | ISO: 2500
A flock of thousands of geese lifts off from a field with individual birds simultaneously moving in all directions. The crisp winter air fills with their loud flurry of activity. Photo taken at Frenchman’s Bar.
Kyle Callahan was the winner of the Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month contest in March for a stunning series of photos he shot of a flock of snow geese taking off.
Kyle, who joined the group last summer, shot the flock photos at Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park in Vancouver, Washington. The close-up photos were taken at Padilla Bay in Skagit County.
“We estimated 6,000 – 8,000 snow geese were feeding in the fields of the park that day,” he says of the flock. “From the slightly elevated vantage from the trail between bay and fields, it was the perfect opportunity to practice the challenge of photographing birds in flight.”
Kyle and his wife took up birding in 2021 using the Merlin app to help them learn how to identify species by sight and sound.
You can see more of Kyle’s work at:
Photo Details
All photos were taken with a Canon EOS Rebel T3i and Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 Contemporary lens.
Lens: 150 mm | Exposure: 1/1000 sec | Aperture: f/11 | ISO: 1000
A murmuration of thousands of snow geese circle and stretch across the sky, some briefly touching back down to the ground only to quickly take flight again. The geese continued creating mesmerizing shapes as they danced through the air for what felt like 10 minutes before settling in an adjacent field. Photo taken at Frenchman’s Bar.
Lens: 600 mm | Exposure: 1/2500 sec | Aperture: f/6.3 | ISO: 640
The Padilla Bay Shore Trail provided the perfect elevated vantage to photograph a flock of snow geese in flight. It was incredible to be in such close proximity to these geese as they flew by.
Lens: 600 mm | Exposure: 1/2000 sec | Aperture: f/9 | ISO: 2500
A pair of snow geese fly briefly over the shore trail at Padilla Bay as they move back and forth between sections of fields where the flock is feeding. The white feathers around their faces brown from the mud.
Lens: 600 mm | Exposure: 1/2000 sec | Aperture: f/9 | ISO: 1250
A snow goose prepares for landing with its feet out in front and its wings stretched behind, showing off stunning black primary wingtips. Not all snow geese are white. A darker-colored intermediate morph can be seen on the ground within the flock. Photo taken at Padilla Bay.
About the Eastside Audubon Photograph of the Month Award
The Photo of the Month award was instituted to recognize the work of the Photo Group Members. The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos as well as share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meetings, please join the group’s announcement list.