Reddish Egret Up Close
This Reddish Egret landed near by and ended up walked around me. Makes lying around in the wet sand worth it. These are close to full frame shots cropped to vertical.
Had to crank up the ISO to 5000 to get up to 1/500 sec shutter speed. Helps to justify the price tag (to me but not my wife) on the 1DX as I wouldn’t have gotten this shot with my 7D as the noise would have been too bad at these settings.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 5000, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 5000, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
A Tri-Colored First at Bolivar
Another successful trip to Bolivar Flats yesterday left me some photos that I’ve never taken there before, a Tricolored Heron. I’ve never seen one on the flats before and was very surprised when this one showed up. First spotted him when he literally tried to land on top of me. Was lying on a sandbar when he had to make a quick aborted landing when he finally spotted me. I was disappointed that he didn’t stick around. As luck would have it, he returned later and landed right in front of me. Must have picked a good spot.
Had to shift from +1 exposure compensation to +1/3 to keep from blowing out the whites on his chest. Very minor cropping on this shot to get a vertical photo.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
B&W Splash
While walking back to my car, saw this Redding Egret fishing near the shoreline. Almost kept walking as I was worn out from an active early morning shoot but decided to lay down one more time. Glad that I did as he cooperated with some good feeding shots.
One way to get action shots with shorebirds is to start shooting a burst of shots when their head starts moving down towards the water. Was able to capture a nice see-through splash as his head dove into the water. The high shutter speed froze the action when the splash was at its peak.
With the light being harsh around 9:00 a.m., the colors were very muted so decided to use B&W on this one.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/2000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Long Billed Silhouettes
Another quick trip to the Gulf coast yesterday found several Long Billed Curlews at sunrise that were prime time for some silhouette shots. Was hoping for some more Skimmers but didn’t see any on this trip. The randomness keeps me going back as you never know what you are going to see.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500 F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 Sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/2500 Sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
In the Skimmer Lane
Calm winds and low tide equaled some good low-level photo op’s at Bolivar Flats yesterday. Met up with a couple of other photographers, Matt & Susan, and hit the sand bars. Started out getting some Avocet silhouette shots and then moved west. Picked a good spot and ended up directly in the flight path of more Black Skimmers than I’ve seen for a long time. They kept coming flying right towards us in waves. My camera did a good job of keeping the birds in focus for the head-on shots.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/400 sec @ F5.6, ISO 4000, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
My 2014 Favorites
As 2014 comes to a close, I wanted to share some of my favorite photos from this year. It was challenging for me to get out and shoot on a routine basis but ended up with some photos that made it worth while.
Highlights in 2014 included seeing the Sand Hill Crane migration in Nebraska, leading successful workshops and field trips at Galveston’s FeatherFest, getting published again and finally upgrading to a pro series camera. Now that I have all of the tools, just need some more trigger time to further develop my skills.
Thanks to everyone around the world that checked out my blog and especially to those who left some comments along the way. Appreciate your support. Looking forward to more wildlife photography in 2015.
Great Egret from High Island’s rookery
Sandhill Crane from Nebraska
White Morph Reddish Egret from Bolivar Flats
American Oystercatcher from Texas City Dike
Reddish Egret from Bolivar Flats
American Avocet from Bolivar Flats
Graphic of where people were from that visited my blog in 2014
Shifting Positions
Getting close to a flock of feeding Avocets is always exciting but the photo op’s can be limited if there isn’t any action besides the feeding. You can only take so many photos of birds with their heads in the water. They feed by moving their long curved beaks back and forth to stir up the bugs and crustaceans. The good thing about a flock of feeding Avocets is that there is a constant shifting of positions as the birds move for better access to the food. Focused on these birds as they were landing, just after sunrise.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/640 sec @ F8, ISO 4000, evaluative metering, +1 1/3 exposure compensation
Yours Truly – Down & Dirty
Made another trek to Bolivar Flats yesterday and had the chance to meet a couple of photographers, Jim Stevens and Willem deGroot. It was nice to see some other local photographers taking advantage of the photo op’s out there. They got some excellent sunrise photos as I headed to my favorite spot and found a large flock of Avocets. Jim took this photo of me while I was playing in the muck. It was almost too warm for my neoprene waders but you can see why I like to wear them in these conditions.
Yellow Legs in Flight
I’ve seen an abundance of Yellow Legs lately and caught this one taking off and flying away at close range. My camera did a very good job of keeping the focus locked on.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1600 sec @ F14, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
1/1600 sec @ F14, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
Standing Alone
This Willet was hanging out by himself near one of the sand bars at Bolivar Flats. Some side lighting and nice depth of field helped to make him stand out.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/2500 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
1/2500 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Dance of the White Morph Reddish Egret
Being the rarest of the American herons/egrets, Reddish Egrets are listed as a threatened species in Texas. Total population is estimated at about 2,000 nesting pairs with 5 to 10% being White Morph’s in the US. From my experience, they are much better at fishing than Great Egrets so hopefully they will continue to make a comeback from being hunted for their plumage. They are very active when feeding and will jump around and use their wings to help find their prey.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III telconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/3200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Focused Stare Down
This White Morph Reddish Egret was very focused as he was searching for breakfast. Had to widen the depth of field to F11 to get his head in focus with being so close. No noise reduction on this shot.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/800 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, + 1 2/3 exposure compensation
A Very Good Day
Bolivar Flats along the Gulf of Mexico in SE Texas continues to amaze me. Made my second trip over the long holiday weekend yesterday and this one was special. My typical goals at Bolivar include trying to find and photograph Avocets and Reddish Egrets. All other birds are icing on the cake. It was a target rich environment and had the opportunity to have my cake with lots of icing on top.
In my FeatherFest workshops, I stress to the participants to keep your head on a swivel and look behind you as the best shot may be there. Took my own advice and it paid off big time on this outing.
All photos were taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head. Very little cropping on most of these photos.
Got up at 3:30 a.m. and made it to Bolivar before the sun came up. Hiked along the beach to check out where the birds were located and saw this Great Blue Heron flying by. Picked up my rig, including the ground pod, and got a series of blurred flight shots. Got a nice blurred wing spread when he landed.
1/20 sec @ F16, ISO 1600, +2/3 exposure compensation, evaluative metering, handheld
Worked my way down the beach and saw a group of White Pelicans, Gulls and Avocets in the distance. Didn’t see a practical way to get close to them so headed to one of my favorite spots and settled on a small sandbar just off shore within reach of a Reddish Egret. Got a few shots of him dancing around when the tide came in and the sand bar went under water. Decided to stay put and laid in the water waiting for some more bird action. Patience paid off as I heard a group of three American Oystercatchers coming in for a landing near by. Got off my first shot as this one was landing and he gave me a very nice wing spread. They only hung around for a couple of minutes and took off.
1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 4000, +1 1/3 exposure compensation, evaluative metering
Looked behind me and saw a Reddish Egret dancing in the distance so headed back in that direction. Saw what I thought was a Snowy Egret and decided to lay down and get a few silhouette shots. Discovered that he was actually a White Morph Reddish Egret, which ended up providing some great shots over the next hour.
1/4000 sec @ F9, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Followed this White Morph back to near my original location when a Reddish Egret flew in and scared him off. After the Reddish Egret didn’t do anything but stand there, turned around to see that the White Morph had landed back in the area where I first spotted him. Moved my position again and ended up working his way back towards me. Got some of my best White Morph shots as he danced around. I’ll post some more shots of him later.
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 800, +1 exposure compensation, evaluative metering
After the White Morph walked passed me, heard a familiar bird and looked behind me to see a single Avocet starting to feed along side a Yellow Legs and a Willet. The challenge at this point was to rotate around in the wet sand without spooking him. The Avocet kept moving back and forth and got close enough for some head shots. This one is uncropped.
1/400 sec @ F16, ISO 800, evaluative metering
A very good day indeed.
Snowy Launching
Caught this Snowy Egret as he was getting ready to take-off with wings extended, leaning into the wind and some catch light in his eye. Looking at the bird in the distance helped to give the photo some more interest.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/2000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, +1 exposure compensation
Reddish Wing Stretch
This Reddish Egret was getting some stretching exercises in at Bolivar Flats. Always a good time. Hope to get back there soon over the holidays.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/800 sec @ F9, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
B&W Lift-Off
From the my last trip to Bolivar Flats, this White Morph Reddish Egret landed nearby and then suddenly took off. The colors were muted as the sun was behind the clouds so I tried using B&W on this one.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F7.1, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Reddish Egret in Golden Light
Made another trip to Bolivar Flats on Saturday. The wind was supposed to be fairly calm on Sat. and got confirmation of that when heading into the Texas City area and could see the steam coming off the of refineries going straight up. Always a good sign. Was hoping for completely calm, like glass, water but didn’t get that lucky. Arrived at the Flats around 6:30 a.m. and had plenty of time to head down the beach and set up on the ground before the sun came up. Picked a location on a sandbar with water on both sides of me and the sun at my back. Turned out to be a good location with an abundant amount of bird activity, i.e. a target rich environment.
Was getting shots of a Marbled Godwit to my right when I looked around and saw this Reddish Egret to my left. He gave me a nice pose when the sun popped out above the clouds. Nothing like seeing a gorgeous sunrise over the Gulf of Mexico and having birds like this to photograph. I’m very luck to live in this neck of the woods.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
Aperture priority, 1/800 sec @ F9, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
BIF Practice with 1DX
Finally getting back in the saddle, so to speak, with wildlife photography after taking a few weekends off to help my daughter move into her new apartment. Family comes first but it felt great to be back out at Bolivar Flats yesterday. Got the opportunity to get some BIF practice with my 1DX. It works much better than my 7D with maintaining focus on flying birds.
This shot of a Long Billed Curlew was taken from my ground pod, which is always a challenge with the short-range of motion while lying down. He gave me a nice wing spread and catch light in his eye.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X teleconverter
1/1000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 1/3 exposure compensation
The Black Skimmer experience was a first for me as I got buzzed and circled by two Skimmers. While walking back to my car, heard the distinctive barking of incoming Skimmers. Took my camera off of the ground pod and got ready for some flight shots. Was surprised when the skimmers flew towards me and then circled very close three times before flying further down the beach and landing. Apparently they like me lying down better.
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
This photo of a Common Nighthawk was taken after getting back to my car. Spotted the Night Hawk flying around in a field as I was putting my gear away. Grabbed my camera and got several minutes of flight shot practice as he circled around the field. They fly very erratically catching bugs so it was a challenge to keep him in the view finder. Used all focus points, which helped with this shot as he was flying towards me.
1/2000 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Squawking about the Seaweed
I wasn’t the only one complaining about the build up of seaweed at Bolivar Flats. This Willet was voicing his opinion as well.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1600 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1/3 exposure compensation
Rejection
No matter how hard you try, no matter what gifts that you bring, rejection can be a very hard thing…so just fly away, to try again, another day
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/1600 sec @ F9, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F9, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F9, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F9, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
American Oystercatcher
After a not overly productive morning at Bolivar Flats, started to head back to the car but the large amount of seaweed on the beach made me take a detour back off shore to walk along a sandbar, which turned out to be the best decision of the day. Ended up lying down to take photos of a couple of Willets when I heard a non-typical bird for this area and looked up to see this American Oystercatcher circle above me as he was coming in for a landing. Luckily he landed close off to my right. Had to carefully rotate my ‘ol body around without spooking him to get into shooting position. He looked around and then walked away, which allowed enough time to squeeze off several shots. A great end to a good day at Bolivar Flats.
Taken with Canon 1DX with Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens and 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/640 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/640 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
1/1000 sec @ F10, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, aperture priority
Morning Light Gaze
This Willet was gazing into the sunrise while giving it a little leg action. Full frame shot without any cropping from last Saturday at Bolivar Flats in SE Texas.
Taken with Canon 1DX with Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens and 1.4x teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/2000 sec @ F9, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Hiking in Seaweed
This little shorebird was quickly working its way through a patch of seaweed along the beach at Bolivar Flats. Appears to be a Dunlin with breeding plumage.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4X teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/640 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Avocet Close-up’s
Here are a couple of close-up shots of an American Avocet from Bolivar Flats as he was walking towards me. The darker colors around his head/neck are breeding plumage. Only minor cropping and no sharpening.
Taken with Canon 1DX and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation (due to bright background)
1/1000 sec @ F11, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation
Tim Timmis Photography 
