Picture Of The Week 03-08-10

Where: Chesapeake, VA • Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel • Island #1

Notes: Despite the numbing coldness of the sustained winds, I could not refuse the opportunity to photograph this delicate water fowl. Fortunately that day the skies had just enough overcast to them to knock off the harshness of the afternoon light. This kept the highlights from bleaching out in the photos, but provided enough brightness to allow good sharpness, shutter speed and detail. The first island on the Bay Bridge has been a bird-watching stopover point for for me since I was a young teenager. This was usually on the way to Kiptopeke State Park for bird-banding or on a Virginia Society of Ornithology field trip to the Eastern Shore. I was blessed enough to have been connected with some generous people in the Lynchburg Bird Club, that carried me to many such events and locations in my youth. I am reminded of the influence they made on my life and what a gift it was to have such mentors support my interests and passions. Remenbering this motovates me to promote conservation through the attraction of these beautiful creatures and to give back to that community when ever possible.