Cuzner in Nature - Marblehead Current

25 Feb

CUZNER IN NATURE: Owl in a box

Submitted ContentColumns, Cuzner in Nature, Local News

By Rick Cuzner Owl boxes Some friends and I have put up several owl boxes over the years. Sometimes the owls find them and come back year after year and sometimes they do not. This photo is from a friend's backyard. The box had an inhabitant almost immediately after putting the box up. This will be the third year of watching owls "winter" in the box. Hopefully some owlets will emerge in the spring. Hooded mergansers I spend a lot of time around Forest River…

11 Feb

CUZNER IN NATURE: Snowies

Submitted ContentColumns, Cuzner in Nature, Local News

By Rick Cuzner I ventured out in the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 24 to explore the coast for owls. When I arrived on the coast of New Hampshire, it was a balmy 2 degrees, negative 18 with the windchill. I walked the coast a bit and found this snowy owl tucked into the dunes. I took a few photos as the sun came up, then left it to rest as I retreated to the warmth of my car. "Snowies,’ as they’re affectionately called, typically arrive…

03 Feb

CUZNER IN NATURE: No two are the same: Capturing snowflakes

Submitted ContentColumns, Cuzner in Nature, Local News

By Rick Cuzner I took these snowflake photos during our last two snowstorms. I set my camera up outside and then I walk around and “catch” snowflakes on a small, felt-covered plate. When I get a few well-defined snowflakes on the plate, I place them on my camera set-up and take a few photos before they melt or blow away. My neighbors think I’m crazy! The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner, who has been photographing local wildlife for nearly 20…

24 Dec

CUZNER IN NATURE: Hooded merganser looks majestic in Joe Brown’s Pond

Cheryl ByrneAnimals, Columns, Cuzner in Nature

By Rick Cuzner The fall and winter months are a great time to search for ducks and water fowl. I see a lot of hooded mergansers in both local ponds and estuaries. The marsh down in Forest River is an excellent place to see them. Along with the Hoodies, I often see harlequin ducks, pintails, longtails and an assortment of others.spiders for protein, often catching them in mid-air or plucking them from spider webs. The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner,…

14 Dec

Spotting a snowy owl on a snowy day

Leigh BlanderCuzner in Nature, Top Stories

Marblehead photographer Rick Cuzner: "I headed out in the snow this morning (Sunday) with the intention of finding a barred owl I had seen. After not being able to find it, I decided to take a drive and see what else I could find. I was driving down the Nahant Causeway and happened to catch something sitting on a light pole. A snowy owl! What a surprise." Snowy owl on a snowy day. COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER According to Mass Audubon, snowy owls “typically…

08 Oct

‘An amazing spectacle to witness’

khthomsonCuzner in Nature

I was out last month looking for tuna several miles off Marblehead when I spotted this humpback whale feeding on pogies. I saw for probably 45 minutes watching it feed — an amazing spectacle to witness. These whales migrate to the region to feed on fish and krill and are known for their acrobatic behaviors like breaching and tail-slapping, making them a favorite among whale watchers.

30 Jul

CUZNER IN NATURE: Ruby-throated hummingbird visits summer garden

Will DowdColumns, Cuzner in Nature, Opinion

One of my favorite subjects to photograph during the summer months are the hummingbirds. A ruby-throated hummingbird hovers near a feeder in a Marblehead backyard garden. COURTESY PHOTO / RICK CUZNER I set up a little “bird studio” in my backyard, consisting of a hummingbird feeder hanging in the middle of a garden full of bee balm flowers. This area is frequented all summer by various ruby-throated hummingbirds. On rare occasions, I may see a hummingbird moth or two. In order to photograph these birds…

12 Feb

CUZNER IN NATURE: Stunning images of star incubators

Will DowdColumns, Cuzner in Nature, Opinion

With the cold weather, we usually get some crystal-clear nights. The clear nights are perfect for backyard deep space photography. The setup can be simple to very complex, depending on the images you are trying to capture. The Orion Nebula is situated 1,344 light years away in the Orion Constellation. The Rosette Nebula is located 5,000 light years away in the Milky Way Galaxy. COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER I usually use a digital camera with up to a 500mm lens mounted on a device…

08 Jan

CUZNER IN HIS BASEMENT: The art of water droplet photography

Will DowdCuzner in Nature, Opinion

When the weather isn’t so nice, I often look toward other forms of photography to keep me busy. Photographing water droplet collisions turns me into a bit of a mad scientist, but it also reminds me of the beauty and complexity of nature. A water droplet forms a mushroom-like shape, set against a bright blue background. COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER Just as raindrops collide and create intricate patterns on the surface of a pond, I have a fairly elaborate setup that I have cobbled…

31 Jul

CUZNER IN NATURE: Gentle giant spotted in Marblehead waters

Will DowdCuzner in Nature, Local News

Aerial view of a basking shark swimming just beneath the surface of the water, showcasing its massive size and distinctive gill slits. The dorsal fin of a basking shark breaks the surface of the water. COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER The basking shark, seen just recently off Halfway Rock, presents a striking and serene image in these photos. Known as the second-largest fish in the ocean, the basking shark can grow up to 40 feet in length. Despite its imposing size and formidable dorsal fin,…