"Arizona's Anna's" This male Anna's Hummingbird was one of several hummingbirds that were truly a delight to photograph on 12/30/2011 in Gilbert, Arizona. Did you know that this bird is only as big as a ping-pong ball and weighs no more than a nickel (coin)? Incredible (and tough, but beautiful to photograph!). This was taken in natural light. The background is a bush in the distance with dead leaves--giving it the warm, uniform tone. The blur is caused by the distance between the bird and the bush--and the low aperture setting (f/6.3, 1/1000sec, ISO 200, 700mm focal distance). ©2011 Langell Photography, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

"River Raptor" While birdwatching in the Tucson, Arizona area, I came upon this beautiful Cooper's Hawk as it sat perfectly still, hunting in a small, marshy area. It was hunting from the ground and stalking prey from above. At one point, it actually shot straight up and caught a bird from a nearby palm tree! Incredible! This image is one of several of this bird that I captured as it hunted and bathed in the marsh. To see a raptor sitting in cold water for at least 15-20 minutes was a most incredible sight. This was absolutely a highlight of the day for me and a bird behavior I have never witnessed prior to this moment. It was a gorgeous sight in the wild. You may also watch a brief video of this bird here: http://youtu.be/acMNsB6iCX4 (Thankfully, the bird moved into a clearer area for photographing it after I filmed this clip!) ©2011 Langell Photography, LLC. All Rights Reserved.