Cuzner in Nature - Marblehead Current

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,…

19 Jun

CUZNER IN NATURE: The Milky Way’s galactic core as seen from Goldthwait Beach

Will Dowd0 CommentsCuzner in Nature, Local News

This photo captures the Milky Way Galaxy from Goldthwait Beach. The image reveals the galactic core of our galaxy, which is one of the brightest and most photogenic parts of the galaxy. The galactic core is located in the constellation Sagittarius and is best viewed during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 16 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs.

30 May

CUZNER IN NATURE: Sun storm paints the town’s night sky

Will Dowd0 CommentsCuzner in Nature

I had forgotten about the possibility of seeing the aurora. I happened to be in the backyard photographing the moon and got a decent glimpse of the amazing colors in the sky. The aurora borealis creates a stunning display over Redd’s Pond. I grabbed a camera and tripod, jumped in the car, driving all around town taking photos. Old Burial Hill, Fountain Park, Redd’s Pond, and Grace Oliver’s Beach all provided excellent viewing. The photos were taken during a dramatic solar blast in May, sparking…

16 May

CUZNER IN NATURE: Yellow-crowned night herons come to town

Will Dowd0 CommentsCuzner in Nature, Environment, Local News

A couple weeks back, a friend of mine alerted me to a yellow-crowned night heron in his yard near Naugus Head. I found this interesting as I do not often see them in Marblehead. I see the black-crowned night herons often, but not so much the yellow-crowned night herons. Now it appears a pair have taken up residency in the bird sanctuary on Marblehead Neck. I was able to get a few photos, but they continue to be fairly well hidden. Two yellow-crowned night herons…