Four Photographers Share October Photo of the Month Honors

The Eastside Audubon Photo of the Month award for October was presented to four photographers—Mick Thompson, Michael Hoefgen, Sam Wilder, and Amanda Buse.

Mick Thompson, a five-time award winner, captured a striking shot of American Coots making a swift exit from Lake Sammamish State Park. “They are reacting to a Bald Eagle that was hunting for a meal, and which did capture one of them,” Mick explains.

See more of Mick’s work on Instagram.

American Coots by Mick Thompson
**Photo details**
Shot with an OM-1 Mark II and an Olympus 150-400mm lens.
**Focal Length:** 1000mm | **Exposure:** 1/4000 sec | **Aperture:** f/5.6 | **ISO:** 1600

Michael Hoefgen Wins for Stunning Kingfisher in Action Over Lake Sammamish

Michael Hoefgen, a new photography group member and first-time winner, was honored for his captivating image of a flying Kingfisher at Lake Sammamish.

“I was walking at Sammamish State Park when I heard the distinctive rattling sound of a kingfisher,” he says. “I saw it has just perched on a tree about 30 feet from me. I started to point my camera lens at the bird and it started flying again. I was able to get a burst of shots and the featured photo is one of them.”

See more of Michael’s photos on Instagram.

Kingfisher by Michael Hoefgen
**Photo details**
The photo was captured with an OM-1 Mark II.
**Focal Length:** 473mm | **Exposure:** 1/500 sec | **Aperture:** f/8 | **ISO:** 200

Sam Wilder Captures Mother Bear and Cub on Mount Rainier as well as a Striking Osprey on the Snohomish River

Sam Wilder, a recent member of the photography group, won for a powerful shot of a mother bear near Paradise on Mount Rainier. “This is a mom bear who was grazing a field with her baby,” Sam says. “She was fully aware of the folks watching her in the distance, but everyone respectfully kept their distance.”

She was also honored for a second image of an osprey along the Snohomish River in Everett.

See more of Sam’s work on Instagram.

Bear by Sam Wilder
**Photo Details**
Shot on a Nikon P1000.
**Focal Length:** 359 mm | **Exposure:** 1/500 sec | **Aperture:** f/6.3 | **ISO:** 200

Osprey by Sam Wilder
**Photo Details**
Shot on a Nikon P1000.
**Focal Length:** 970 mm | **Exposure:** 1/500 sec | **Aperture:** f/8 | **ISO:** 280

Amanda Buse Highlights Close-Up Moments with a Coyote and a Red-Tailed-Hawk at the Ridgefield Refuge

Amanda Buse, a three-time honoree, received recognition for her images of a coyote and a Red-Tailed Hawk taken at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. Both images were taken with a Sony A1 and a 200-600 mm lens.

See more of Amanda’s photography on Instagram.

Coyote by Amanda Buse
**Photo Details**
Shot with a Sony A1 and a 200-600 mm lens
**Focal Length:** 400 mm | **Exposure:** 1/1000 sec | **Aperture:** f/6.3 | **ISO:** 3200

Red-Tailed Hawk by Amanda Buse
**Photo Details**
Shot with a Sony A1 and a 200-600 mm lens
**Focal Length:** 600 mm | **Exposure:** 1/3200 sec | **Aperture:** f/8 | **ISO:** 2500

About the Eastside Audubon Photograph of the Month Award

The Photo of the Month award was instituted to recognize the work of the Photo Group Members. The group members meet monthly to show their latest photos and videos as well as share their knowledge of photography and wildlife. To attend the meetings, please join the group’s announcement list.