Bird's Eye Gallery
Fine Art Photography of the Natural World
Micah "Doc" Daugherty
Journey into the world of...
BIRDS
From their vibrant colors to the exotic landscapes where they dwell, the beauty of birds has no boundaries. I can only imagine what it would be like to see the world through the eyes of a bird. What a feeling it would be to soar the skies, looking over the earth below! This collection of fine art photography is just a snapshot of that beauty as seen through my lens.
Dance Moves
"Dance Moves" is one of my favorite bird photos. I captured this mating pair of Waved Albatrosses going through their mating dance on Española Island in the Galapagos. These birds come to the island to mate... and once a mate is chosen, they will stay together until one of the mates die.
This protected species has seen their numbers decline over the years. Today, less than 35,000 exist.
Pink Perfection
Here's another inhabitant of the Galapagos, the Galapagos Flamingo. "Pink Perfection" was taken on the island of Santa Cruz, where these beautiful birds can be found in the lagoons and shallow areas of water on the island.
Like all flamingoes, the pink coloration is derived from their diet on small crustaceans (shrimp) that contain carotene.
Bald Eagles
Alaska is probably one of the best places in the world to witness an abundance of Bald Eagles. During a trip to Ketchikan, Alaska, I had the opportunity to photograph these majestic birds of prey up close and personal. This series of images highlights America's greatest natural symbol captured through the lens of my camera.
Determination
Focused
The Bald Eagle is one of the most beautiful and majestic birds that I have had the opportunity to observe in the wild. Watching their grace in flight and "Power" when they strike is a spectacle to witness. With 20/5 vision (4 times better than the average human), it's easy to see how "Focused" they are when zeroing in on their prey.
This series of images are some of my personal favorites in my fine art photography collection of birds.
Power
Majestic Beauty
Old Blue Eyes
"Old Blue Eyes" is one of my classic photos... and it's my signature photo that I use as the logo for my business. This Cormorant would hang out on the railings of the boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida. He was MORE than cooperative in providing some great poses.
Blue-Footed Booby
The Blue-Footed Booby is a marine bird found predominantly in the Pacific Ocean. About half of the breeding pairs find their way to the Galapagos Islands to breed. This photo was taken in the Galapagos.
This is another favorite photo of mine. "Teenage Dream" is a juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird. I captured this scene while watching this young bird napping in its favorite spot in the Galapagos Islands.
Magnificent Frigatebirds are widespread throughout tropical waters and coastal areas of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Teenage Dream
Elegance
This is another classic and personal favorite of mine.
The Great Egret is a common bird found almost anywhere. I see them frequently wading in the shallow waters of wetlands and hanging out around canals. Mating season is always a joy with these birds, as the male egrets' orbital rings turn bright green, creating a beautiful contrast to their snowy white plumage.
I Got My Eye On You
Burrowing Owls have always been a favorite of mine. These little owls don't have a lot of fear of humans, and they can be shot during daylight hours. In South Florida, their nesting areas are protected so they are easy to find and make great subjects to shoot. This little guy allowed me to get pretty close and I was able to get this fantastic photo.
Water Dance
Capturing this Mottled Duck splashing around was an awesome sequence. "Water Dance" has been a standard photo featured on my site, as well others, for quite some time now. It was appropriate to keep its streak going with the relaunch of my website.
This photo was created at Tomlinson Run State Park near New Cumberland, West Virginia.
Walk This Way
"Walk This Way" is a beautiful low-light photo taken of a Little Blue Heron at Warner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in Port Richey, Florida. This little bird was wading in the water as I watched it from my kayak. It took a sudden turn just as I decided to make a few shots. The pose was perfect!
Landing Gear
Our trip to Dry Tortugas National Park didn't disappoint. Aside from the fact that the scenery of clear blue waters and Fort Jefferson were amazing, the Tortugas islands are a bird sanctuary that features the Sooty Tern, Magnificent Frigatebirds, and Brown Noddies. "Landing Gear" is a beautiful shot of a Sooty Tern coming in for a landing.
Lovin' Spoonbills
There was NO way that I wasn't going to feature my favorite bird on my site. The Roseate Spoonbill, like the Flamingo gets its vibrant pink plumage from its diet of small crustaceans that are full of carotenoids. This "group photo" of juvenile Spoonbills hanging out on a dead tree was taken at Myakka River State Park near Sarasota, Florida.
Field of Dreams
The Northern Crested Caracara is a beautiful raptor. It's hard to believe that like the Vulture, they feed on carrion... but they serve their purpose in the "circle of life", and death. I captured this handsome bird hanging out in a field just outside of Fort Pierce, Florida as I was on my way to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve.
Let's Go Crazy
This pair of Herring Gulls were putting on quite the show in this shallow stream at the edge of East Machias, Maine. After shooting a long sequence of this pair, this photo was the one that made the cut.
Hello World
Breeding season at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida never fails to disappoint. I followed this Green Heron nest for weeks waiting for the eggs to hatch. When they did, this weeks-old hatchling (fuzz and all) looked directly at me as if to say "Hello World, I have arrived!"
Naz-Ca Booby!
Another resident of the Galápagos Islands is the Nazca Booby. An adventure in the Galápagos is like taking a step back in time. Most birds of the islands have NO real fear of humans, they have no real natural predators, and it is rather easy to get close enough to them to take some amazing photos. I stood only a few feet from this Nazca as it was preening when I made this shot.
Survival
Nature is raw and unscripted. I followed this Lava Heron through the bushes on the beach of Floreana Island in the Galápagos when suddenly it grabbed a Lava Lizard for its lunch. I captured this shot of the two creatures looking at each other before the inevitable happened.
A Gathering
Wood Ducks eluded me for a long time, until we visited Yosemite National Park in California. Near the Visitor Center at Yosemite, I stumbled upon a nice group of these beautiful birds hanging out in the stream. I crouched on the shore of the stream shooting away as they paid me little mind in what I was doing. What a joy to watch these wonderful water fowl!
Showing Off
Staying on the theme of "gatherings" of birds, the Roseate Spoonbill makes its second appearance on the website. The centerpiece of this shot is a male Spoonbill "Showing Off" his skills to the audience around him. He pranced about, spreading his wings for all to see in one of the main lakes at Black Point Wildlife Drive, part of the Canaveral National Seashore in Titusville, Florida.
Snow Birds
Every year the White Pelican finds its way to the Canaveral National Seashore's Black Point Wildlife Drive in Titusville as part of their migration from the cold winter of Canada. These beautiful birds always create a spectacle. I decided to shoot this photo in black and white to create contrast for the photo.
Proud Parents
During a trip to San Diego, we lucked into mating season for the Brandt's Cormorant. These birds flocked to the cliffs and rocks along the shores in La Jolla, California to breed and raise their young. This mating couple stood proudly for their photo opportunity through the lens of my camera.
During breeding season the male Brandt's Cormorant performs a dance to attract its mate. If the female likes his dance, she will choose him to be hers for the season. They will choose a spot in the rugged cliffs for the nest and take turns flying out to sea to gather seaweed and sticks to make a comfortable nest where they will breed and the female will lay her eggs.
Praise
Lunch Time
The Great Egret will typically lay 2-4 eggs during breeding season. Typically only 1/3 of the hatchlings will survive. Some fall from the nest and become a meal for predators lurking the water below. While some starve as instinct kicks in and it's a battle of survival of the fittest amongst the chicks. Many times the strongest chick will kill the weaker ones in the nest. It's a sad reality, but it's all part of the "circle of life."
Bad Hair Day
Nature isn't void of its comedians. This male Anhinga, donned with his mating mask, was having a "Bad Hair Day" at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida. Maybe he should consider a bit of grooming before trying to attract a mate. LOL!
The Eyes Have It
This male peacock flared his fan as I sat at close range shooting him and a host of females and peachicks. I was close enough to fill the frame with this beautiful display.