New year, new (old) blog?

Hello!

Well it's a full 7 months since I last posted here - in fact I let pretty much all of my social-media-type things go in the latter half of 2014.  Just needed a break I suppose, and a bit of a re-think.  But with the onset of 2015 I'm diving back into the mix, and there are many changes and updates to annouce!

First and foremost, about a month back I published a new website!  The old one was long overdue for an upgrade, and I'm excited to have something new, simple and clean.  You can see it in the same bat-place:

www.kylehorner.com

Secondly, I have taken yet a third reluctant plunge (Facebook and Twitter being long under the belt) into a social medium, and gotten an Instagram account.  Do you Instagram?  If so, you can find me here:

http://instagram.com/khornernature/

Thirdly, I'm excited to be guiding a trip to Florida for Eagle Eye Tours in about a month's time.  If you have some spare cash and nothing to do mid-Feb, you can find the details here:

http://www.eagle-eye.com/florida-birding-tour

And finally, with photography and other activities being slow in the winter, I have been working hard to process as many photos as I can, and finally get my collection up-to-date!  Here's a whole bunch of shiny new edits from the last few months:

Definite Tussock Moth (Orgyia definata)

:















Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris)

Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

Long-tailed Salamander (Eurycea longicauda)

Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)


American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)


Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)


Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus)

Mississippi Green Water Snake (Nerodia cyclopion)

Masked Treefrog (Smilisca phaeota)

Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)

Fingers crossed for more to come (New Years resolutions being what they will)!

Kyle

Long Lost Photos

Sorting and editing photos is perhaps the most tedious task there is, and as I photographer I find that unfortunate.  I have been having some difficulty getting motivated on that front recently, and really haven't touched a photo all winter.  The "to sort" pile has been building as always (albeit slowly because of the winter season) and finally I got so tired of it that I actually did some work!

Rather than start with photos from last fall, I figured I'd start recent and work back.  I didn't take a lot of photos on my recent trip to Florida (it was dominated by conference activities) but I did manage a few.  Here are 3 randoms:

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Willet (Tringa semipalmata)

Mangrove Skipper (Phocides pigmalion)

That's all for now, hopefully my momentum keeps up!

Kyle

Weekend Owling!

I have just arrived in Kingston, and am prepared for two days of owl photography outings on Amherst Island with Natura Tours Inc.  Fingers crossed for some good birds and good shots!

In order to increase my chances while on the island, I decided it was finally time to try a service I've been eyeing for a while: Lens Rentals Canada.  Yesterday I received my rental lens, the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L.  I've been wanting a crack at this lens for a while as it may be the hole into which I pour my next available $1700, so I thought this would be a great try-before-you-buy.

I'm off to bed so that I'm well rested tomorrow, but I will be sure to post next week with any winning photos!

Kyle

Presentation This Week

It has been a busy bird-count (and holiday) season, so I haven't had much time to edit photos or post to the blog recently.  All told I have done 3 Christmas Bird Counts, one Christmas Bird Count for Kids and the Guelph Arboretum Winter Bird Count.  Counting birds is just so much fun!  Highlights of the counts were as follows:

-one Common Raven on the Port Hope count (this was a very slow day, so highlights were hard to come by!)
-two Iceland Gulls on the Guelph count (both gorgeous adults)
-one Merlin on the Guelph CBC4Kids (mostly notable because the participants got excellent looks!)
-one Great Black Back x Herring Gull hybrid on the CBC4Kids (this was less exciting for the children)
-one Ring-necked Pheasant on the Rice Lake Plains count (almost certainly a game-farm escapee, but still cool!)
-one Brown Thrasher and one Barred Owl on the Arb Winter Bird Count (thrasher in winter...WEIRD!)
-good numbers of Common Redpolls and Bohemian Waxwings all round

If you didn't count this year, be sure to do it next year - even a slow day of bird-counting is tons of fun!

On a more tropical note, I will be delivering my Madagascar presentation this coming Thursday for the Guelph Field Naturalists.  The meeting is at 7:30 at the Arboretum Centre and it is open to the public, so come on by!  Here are a couple of teasers:

Perinet Chameleon (Calumma gastrotaenia)

Unnamed Frog (Platypelis barbouri)

Hope to see you there!
Kyle

Madagascar Presentation

Had an awesome time at last week's visit to the Ingersoll District Nature Club, so I thought I'd post a few photos from the presentation.  Here are some of my favourites:

Have you ever seen such an impressive butt-snorkel?

Giant Water Bug (Family: Belostomatidae)

We found this impressive water bug in a puddle, and fished him out for a closer look.  We have these creatures here in Canada (sometimes known as toe-biters or electric light bugs), but this one was exceptional in two ways: his raptorial arms are especially large compared to his body size, and he has a butt-snorkel longer than his entire body.  Here it is in use:

Giant Water Bug (Family: Belostomatidae)

We had the good fortune to find quite a few chameleons, but this one is probably my favourite.  Mostly because of the name.

Big-nosed Chameleon (Calumma nasutum)

One of the coolest birds in Mad is probably the Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher.  He is only about the size of the sparrow, lives in the dense forest and as our guide told us in broken English "fishes for lizards."

Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher (Ceyx madagascariensis)

And lastly, one of the most incredible spiders in the world.

Net-casting Spider (Family: Deinopidae)

To understand just how amazing this creature is, watch this video: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/18990161.  Have you every seen anything so freakin cool???

That's all for now!
Kyle

Photo Editing - Behind the screens?

Hello!

So I was doing some re-sorting and editing some old photos today, and found myself working on some Barred Owl shots from a couple of years ago.  Usually I try to keep my editing to a minimum - I'd really rather nail the shot in-camera than spend hours at the computer - but things don't always go as planned, and I found myself performing an unusually large number of adjustments to these photos.

Although I'm not terribly fond of Photoshopping, I often like to open the original and edited photos side-by-side and see the difference a bit of touching up can make.  I am by no means a Photoshop expert, but I thought it might be fun to post some comparisons just for interest's sake.  So here they are!

The following three shots are of Barred Owls (Strix varia) at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in 2009.  Originals on the left, edits on the right.

The main correction applied to these photos is the digital removal of a colour cast.  A colour cast is sort of what it sounds like - a wash of incorrect colour, which may be caused by odd lighting conditions or incorrect camera settings (or filters, I suppose, if the photographer was seeking such an effect).  In this case it was a slip-up in the white-balance setting, which left all the photos with a blue-green hue.  Many post-processing programs can correct this by having the user re-define white (or black) and calibrating the image from there.  After that it's just a bit of brightening, contrast and saturation adjustment, sharpening and cropping as desired.  Quick and dirty!

:)
Kyle

Ontario big

In case you've missed all the buzz, Josh Vandermeulen just broke the record for an Ontario big year!  This is an attempt to see as many species of bird in Ontario as possible in one calendar year.  The existing record was 338, and Josh just crashed through on a crazy trip to Netitishi Point in northern Ontario.  Currently sitting at 342 and almost 2 months to go - every additional species now is incredibly difficult, but there are still possibilities!

To see what Josh is up to, visit www.joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca.

Can't help but be a little jealous...

Kyle

Algonquin Weekend

I had the good fortune to merit an invitation to the Camp Arowhon Nature Weekend  last weekend, and had a blast!  Arowhon is nestled neatly into Algonquin Park, which is always an exciting place to spend some time.  Spent much of the time leading walks and socializing, but I did manage to grab a few photos here and there.

Algonquin Park - Teepee Lake morning

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipter striatus)

Spruce Grouse (Falcipennis canadensis)

Spruce Grouse was an awesome surprise, as although I have seen it in Newfoundland, I have tried for this bird in Ontario many times without success!  Always nice to conquer a longtime nemesis.

Kyle

Reptiles! (mostly)

Finally back to the blog!  Starting a new job and moving in to a new apartment have proven hectic, and I have been away from the editing table for some time.  Somehow the computer stuff always gets put off.  Adding to the delay, I have spent the last few weekends looking for reptiles and birds in some of my favourite parts of the province.  The results have been great!  Here are a few photos from these recent excursions...

Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) - southwestern Ontario

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) - southwestern Ontario

Eastern Fox Snake - (Pantherophis gloydi) - southwestern Ontario

Raccoon (Procyon lotor) - southwestern Ontario

Eastern Fox Snake (Pantherophis gloydi) - Georgian Bay area

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) - Georgian Bay area

Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) - Georgian Bay area

More to come (hopefully)!
Kyle

Workshops!

Hello!

I am excited to announce a series of new workshops that I will be offering in conjunction with Natura Tours Inc.!  They cover birds, butterflies and dragonflies, and run from summer 2012 through winter 2013.  You can see them on my Workshops page, or directly on Natura's website.  Be sure to take a look and see if any of them interest you!

Got an exciting weekend planned and will hopefully have some photos to show for it soon!  Also I have not forgotten about Africa photos, but have been temporarily stalled :(.

Cheers!
Kyle

Pelagic Birding

Got the internet for a brief period - just long enough to post a couple of quick picks from today's pelagic birding trip with Zest For Birds.  What an amazing day!  Literally thousands of seabirds, many within only metres of the boat!  Personal highlights were definitely 4 species of albatross, and also Subantarctic Skua so close I could almost touch it!  Awesome!!

I spent most of the time staring awestruck at the birds, but I did manage to grab a few photos as well.  I've never shot pelagic before, so it was a bit of an experiment!  All in all, fairly pleased with the preliminary results.

Shy Albatross (Thallasarche cauta)

White-chinned Petrel (Procellaria aequinoctialis)

That's all for now - on the plane to Nelspruit tomorrow then into Kruger for 9 days.  I expect to have no internet there, so it may be a while before next communication.

Until then!
Kyle

First South Africa Photos

Hello!

After a week in the Capetown area, I finally have some internet access and can get some photos up!  It has been an interesting and whirlwind journey around the area, and I've seen lots of amazing things!  I've just had time to get a few photos together, and they're all quick selections hastily edited, so be kind!

Some scenery typical of the Western Cape:

Cape Scenery

One of our first stops was Betty's Bay, the site of an African Penguin colony!

African or Jackass Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

Upon arriving at Table Mountain National Park, we were treated to a troop of baboons ripping the mirror off a truck in the parking lot.  The occupant of the truck - sleeping at the time - was surprisingly unperturbed.  It was a work truck after all...

Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus)

While on the mammal train, we picked up some zebras near the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra zebra)

In West Coast National Park, Bryna spotted the snake of the trip!  Not an award-winning photo, but what an animal!

Cape Cobra (Naja nivea)

And finally a bird with fewer than 5000 individuals in the worldwide population!

African Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus moquini)

Headed out pelagic-birding tomorrow, then up to Kruger and the surrounding area for the next few weeks!  Will update when possible!

:)
Kyle

Still Alive in MG!!

Hello!

I have finally returned to the internet after a month-long absence (how did I survive??).  Last full day in Madagascar, flying to South Africa tomorrow.  Internet access in SA should be slightly more frequent than it has been here (none), but probably not significantly.  I will try to update when I can.

In the meantime, prepare for the longest post ever.  To make up for my absence, I have prepped a bunch of photos (quickly, and on a tiny computer, so I hope they're ok!).  I haven't had time to research the IDs yet, so apologize where they are lacking or incorrect!

We've managed about a half-a-dozen snakes in MG, mostly small and terrestrial.  Apparently the Malagasy name of this species means "many snakes in one hole."  Garter Snake anyone? (thanks to Bryna for excellent snake-wrangling!).

Lateral Water Snake (Bibilava lateralis)

Frog diversity here is stunning, and there are more frog species than birds!

Greater Madagascan Green Treefrog (Boophis luteus)

We've seen about a dozen chameleon species in the country, some very big and some very small!

Thiel's Pygmy Chameleon (Brookesia thieli)

Short-horned Chameleon (Calumma brevicorne)

One of my favourite bird species here:

Collared Nightjar (Caprimulgus enarratus)

Another cham!

Jewel Chameleon (Furcifer lateralis)

Truly one of the most bizarre (and among stiff competition) species that MG has to offer:

Giraffe-necked Weevil (Trachelophorus giraffa)

More frogs...

Betsileo Reed Frog (Heterixalus betsileo)

Largest lemur in the world!

Indri (Indri indri)

Sneaky kingfisher photo...

Madagascar Kingfisher (Alcedo vintsioides)

One of the most sought-after frogs in the country!

Baron's Mantella (Mantella baroni)

Total guess on the ID here, but it certainly appears to be a Nephila spider to me.  Check out the male (fully grown) on her back.  Careful little fella!  (not a joke - she would be quite happy to eat him before or after mating).

Giant Orb-Weaver (Nephila sp?)

Frequently shared breakfast with our little friend Larry (well, until we realized that Larry was actually Larries...).  Day-Geckos eat fruit and nectar, so a little jam or honey was not to be passed up.  Apparently chocolate cake is just as good.  (sad to note that although Day-Geckos enjoy chocolate cake, they do not posses a mechanism to ingest it effectively - Larry basically pressed his tongue against it for a while and hoped it would absorb).

Lined Day-Gecko (Phelsuma lineata)

One of my most-wanted Madagascar creatures!

Pill Millipede (Family: Arthrosphaeridae)

Tons of great butterflies, no way to identify them...

Butterfly (Species Unknown)

Craziest thing ever!  Total length about 3 inches.  Start researching turbellarians, prepare to be dumbfounded.

Turbellarian Flatworm (Species Unknown)

Lots of crazy phasmids!

Stick Insect (Species Unknown)

All credit goes to Bryna for this amazing find!  Note the epic common, and latin, names!

Satanic Leaftail Gecko (Uroplatus phantasticus)

A member of one of the endemic bird families - found this lady on a pendulous nest in the middle of a trail!

Velvet Asity (Philepitta castanea)

That is all for now!  Will try to update when possible from SA!

Kyle