Sandhill’s in Love
These two Nebraska Sandhill Cranes were staying close together, which made for a good photo op. They mate for life and put on quite a show with their mating dance, which I’ll share more photos of that ritual in my next post.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III teleconverter out the car window
Aperture priority, 1/800 sec @ F5.6, evaluative metering, 700mm
Sandhill Wingspan
Spent several hours driving the dirt roads paralleling the Platt River in Nebraska where the Sandhill Cranes were feeding in the surrounding corn fields. With about 175,000 Sandhills in the area, there were plenty of photo op’s. This one had his full wingspan on display. Had some clouds which ended up being a blessing with the color in his feathers coming out. This nearly full framed shot is one of my favorites. Taken handheld out the car window. Some were too close and I should have taken off the teleconverter but didn’t want to take the time to do it.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter, handheld
1/400 Sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation.
Sandhill Crane Migration
I’ve always heard about the great photo op’s of Sandhill Cranes in New Mexico in Nov/Dec but never much about the migration back to the great white north in the spring in Nebraska. From Feb through April, 80% of the Sandhill Cranes in the world migrate through Nebraska and forage along the Platt River between Grand Island and Lexington, Nebraska. They feed on the waste grain in the corn fields to increase their body weight by about 20% before heading north to breed. They migrate to Canada, Alaska and even as far as Siberia based on tracking devices placed on some of the birds in Nebraska.
From seeing thousands of Sandhill’s feeding and dancing in the corn fields to tens of thousands of them landing and taking off from the river, it was an amazing time to be in Nebraska. The sights and sounds were incredible. More photos to follow. I’ll have to figure out how to post a video so that you can hear them talking off at sunrise.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens and 1.4x III teleconverter
1/640 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, handheld out the car window
1/400 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, handheld out the car window
1/250 sec @ F10, ISO 800, evaluative metering
Leggy Reflection
This group of Avocets were showing off their legs and reflections at Bolivar Flats.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/1000 sec @ F9, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Silent Scream
This Great Horned Owl chick was intently tracking something and trying to scream but to no avail. Nary a peek could be heard. Silence can be golden or deadly, if you are trying to call momma back to the nest.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on tripod with Wimberley II head, 580 EX II flash with better beamer
1/160 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, fill flash at -3 stops
Great Horned Owl Chick
With being in a major rut lately due to no photography, decided around 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning (jet lag + normal brain damage) to head out to Brazos Bend State Park. My normal modus operandi would have kept me home with cloudy weather and the chance for rain but I really needed to get out and shoot for my own sanity. Encountered some light rain on the hour drive to the park but blew it off as scattered early morning fog/dew/wet stuff, anything but rain. Of course I believed the weather channel’s radar, at 3:00 a.m. Needless to say, turned out not to be a bright sunny day.
Got there about 1/2 hr before sunrise, which was a little too early on a cloudy day. Made my way around 40 acre lake when it started to sprinkle. Took off my jacket, covered the camera and kept on hiking. Not much activity except some Coots and distant Great Egrets. Headed back up the trail to find the owl nest after installing the 1.4x teleconverter. Found a few decent photo op’s along the way including a Northern Shoveler and a Great Blue Heron building a nest in a tree.
Got a little more rain as I neared the parking lot and decided to put my camera in the trunk to keep it dry. Walked down the trail to find the owl’s nest. Had to stop under a large tree to keep out of the rain when it started to come down with more intensity. Finally spotted the nest and started to walk back to get my camera when I turned around and saw the chick staring at me. Began to wonder if momma was in the nest or ready to attack from another tree. Got my gear and confirmed that the parent wasn’t in the nest, which provided some cool photo op’s of the chick. He was very attentive and would watch everyone that came walking by, including a few nearby squirrels.
Sandy showed up and we had a good talk while waiting for the mother to come back. Saw a glimpse of her flying back into the tree but she didn’t return to the nest. She ended up falling asleep in the tree so I headed home. A potentially crappy day turned out to be a good one. A very cool experience was had by all, well at least me. Thanks again Doug for the tips about the owl.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on tripod with Wimberley II head
1/160 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, fill flash with better beamer at – 3 stops
1/320 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, fill flash with better beamer at – 3 stops
Willet Catches a Fish
I’ve seen a few Willets catching fish but it’s fairly rare from my experience. Got some nice side lighting at sunrise on this shot along with an open beak as he was facing in my direction. Bolivar Flats rarely fails to provide some good photo op’s.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/640 sec @ F5.6, ISO 500, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
Head-on Skimmer
The normal flight path of Black Skimmers at Bolivar Flats is parallel with the shore line. Got lucky with this one as he was flying directly at me. My 7D did a good job of tracking the focus. Had to crank the ISO up to 800 to get the shutter speed above 1/100 sec. Taken just before sunrise while lying on a sand bar with my gound pod.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/160 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/200 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Willet Posing
This Willet was giving me his best head-on pose with some good eye contact. Had to use a little negative exposure compensation after the histogram showed some over exposed “blinkies” on his chest.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4xIII teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/500 sec @ F9, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation
Willet vs. Crab
The Willet won.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Avocet Halo Affect
One way to get action shots of shorebirds is to shoot a burst of shots when their head starts going towards the water. You can catch some interesting splashing photos. In this case, the Avocet ended up with a water “halo” around his head.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/500 sec @ F11, ISO 500, evaluative metering, – 1/3 exposure compensation
1/400 sec @ F11, ISO 500, evaluative metering, – 1/3 exposure compensation
Flock O’ Snowy’s
My first trip in 2014 led me back to my favorite location, Bolivar Flats. Along the gulf coast, Bolivar is a premier location for shorebird photography, especially if you like to get down and dirty with a ground pod. The tide was going out at sunrise with several exposed sandbars.
My favorite targets, American Avocets, were all bunched up near the jetty behind a group of white pelicans. Didn’t want to spook the pelicans while trying to get to the Avocets so decided to divert to a favorite spot closer to the shoreline around the bend. This area is usually very muddy and it didn’t disappoint. Laid down to see what would come my way when a flock of Snowy Egrets flew in to feed further away from me. Didn’t want to scare them away with standing up and contemplated the best way to get to them. The terrain looked almost like a moonscape with holes in the muck like craters filled with water and higher flat areas like plateaus. Decided that crawling wasn’t a great idea so ended up walking on my knees using my flash bracket as a cane for balance. Went about 30 yards and laid down again to shoot and rest. The muck was smoothed out at this point and then belly crawled the rest of the way. The muck was so slick I was almost gliding. Got fairly close to the flock and a single Snowy off to the left feeding. Was getting some decent shots when the flock suddenly flew away. Looked to my right and another photographer had walked up along the shoreline and spooked the birds. Goes with the territory sometimes. Stayed put and some of the birds came back to finish off the session.
When I got up, I couldn’t see the camo pattern on my waders as the mud/muck was caked on so thick. Good times.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation
1/800 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation
1/1250 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -2/3 exposure compensation
Long Billed Curlew in Silhouette
Here are a couple more silhouette shots from Bolivar Flats. This time, Long Billed Curlew’s. Just can’t resist silhouette shots before the sun comes up. A guilty pleasure of mine.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head.
1/125 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation
1/125 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, + 2/3 exposure compensation
Skimming into 2014
My last outing in 2013 was filled with silhouettes of Black Skimmers on the Gulf of Mexico at Bolivar Flats. Calm winds and calm water had the skimmers out in force. Took these before the sun came up in aperture priority with ISO cranked up to 800 to get some decent shutter speeds.
It was a great ending to 2013. It has been a very challenging and rewarding year for me. Photography highlights included a great trip to California to photograph sea otters, leading workshops at Galveston’s FeatherFest, teaching private lessons, getting some future opportunities and spending quality time in nature along the gulf coast. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to check out my blog. Hope that everyone has a fun/safe new year and a great 2014.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/800 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
1/640 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
1/640 sec @ F5.6, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
Strutting Avocets
These Avocets were strutting their stuff along the gulf coast. Used negative exposure compensation to keep the white highlights from blowing out after checking for “blinkies”, i.e. flashing highlights.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation
1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation
Peregrine Falcon
I’ve been looking for the Peregrine Falcon that hangs out at Bolivar during the winter months but hadn’t seen him until this trip. Found him sitting on a fence post as I was driving away from the beach. Didn’t recognize him at first and thought that he was a small hawk as I drove past him and made eye contact. Stopped the car and drove backwards to keep him on my left side. I’ve learned to keep my camera handy on the way out just for such occasions. Was able to get a few shots before a car came by and scared him off.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter, handheld
1/800 sec @ F9, ISO 400, evaluative metering
1/800 sec @ F9, ISO 400, evaluative metering
Avocet Posing
Found almost perfect conditions yesterday along the gulf coast with low tide, 36 deg F temperature, calm winds and sunshine. Was hoping for still as glass water but it wasn’t quite there. Found several flocks of American Avocets just off shore. Good opportunity to try out my repaired camera by getting sand all over it. Was successful at that, along with getting very close to some Avocets. Laid down on a sandbar with water on both sides of me and waited for the Avocets to walk closer. Got some shots looking towards the gulf and remembered one of my golden rules, look behind you. Turned around and found several Avocets walking in the water right behind me. Slowly pivoted on my stomach and got lots of close-up shots as they kept walking in front of me along the narrow stretch of water between my sand bar and the next one. Can’t wait to go out again.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
Aperture priority, 1/640 sec @ F11, ISO 400, evaluative metering, -1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Blurred Wings over Waves
Caught these Black Skimmers as they went behind some waves in the Gulf of Mexico.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4X III mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head.
1/80 sec @ F5.6, ISO 500, +2/3 exposure compensation
7D Repaired/Returned
Got may camera back today via my friends at Fed Ex. Here is what Canon said about the repairs: “Your product has been examined and it was found that the internal component was broken causing the error to be displayed. The mirror box assembly and shutter assembly were replaced. Further, it was found that the top cover assembly has been submerged in liquid causing one or more buttons or controls to operate improperly. The top cover was replaced. Product functions were confirmed”.
To clarify, it wasn’t submerged in liquid but probably had some salt water dripped on it on a few/many occasions, for some odd reason. They replaced the back cover last time it was repaired so I’ve almost got a new camera at this point. I use a raincoat to protect the lens but the camera isn’t totally covered and it’s easy to have water drip off of my sleeves when I get up from lying on the water laden sand bars.
Now I have to reprogram all of the custom function settings. Good thing that I wrote them down.
While waiting for my camera to return, I ended up upgrading to Photoshop CC/Lightroom while the special deal was on for $10/month. Haven’t tried Lightroom yet but I like Photoshop CC so far. Also got the NIK software package since my old version of Noise Ninja wouldn’t work with Photoshop CC. I really like NIK Dfine for noise reduction. Color Efex Pro 4 looks very interesting as well. New toys to play with.
Here is another photo of a Long Billed Curlew from my last outing to Bolivar. More to come.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/200 sec @ F 9, ISO 500, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation
Success + Camera Failure
Spent Friday and Saturday mornings enjoying low tide at Bolivar Flats. It was a nice chilly 38 deg. F on Friday at sunrise but the high winds kept the bird activity low. Saturday had less wind and more cooperative birds. Found a flock of Avocets hanging out near a sand bar off shore in the Gulf. Waded out to an adjacent sandbar and slowly made my way towards them. Didn’t want to spook them so I laid down a distance from their location and crawled towards them while pushing my ground pod along. Ended up moving +/- 40 yards on my elbows/knees, which I’m still feeling today. Had to stop along the way to rest and take photos of other shore birds in the area, including this cooperative Long Billed Curlew. Only minor cropping on this one to get him off-center in the photo.
Finally got fairly close to the Avocets and spent about an hour watching and taking photos of them. Right before I was going to leave, my camera locked up showing ERR 22 with instructions to remove/reinstall the battery. Did this several times without any luck. Packed my gear up and headed home. Ended up shipping my 7D to Canon repair service in California. Will hopefully get it back soon as I’ve got more birds to shoot before the year is done. This one doesn’t sound like a shutter so not sure what the issue is.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/125 sec @ F 7.1, ISO 500, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Stop! said the Avocet
This Avocet appears to be yelling at the waves to stop them from coming in. Didn’t work but added some interest to the shot.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II head
1/250 sec @ F8, ISO 500, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, fill flash with better beamer set at -3 stops
Avocet just Chillin
The last few weeks have been a challenge so it was good to get out again to take some shorebird photos, although the alignment of the stars must have been off yesterday.
While driving to Galveston, an electronic sign along the interstate showed that the ferry to Bolivar was going to be shutdown from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., which meant that I could get to Bolivar but couldn’t return on the ferry. A two-hour drive home going around Galveston Bay was the alternative. Turning around wasn’t an option as it was going to be low tide at Bolivar and the shorebirds were calling. Although I had spent quite a bit of time the night before getting prepared for this excursion, I decided at the last moment in my infinite wisdom not to take my camera bag. It’s too small to hold my 500mm lens when the 1.4x is attached. Bad decision as my supply of CF memory cards were in that bag. Luckily there was one 32 gig card in my camera that was enough to get me through the mornings shoot. Arrived at Bolivar before sunrise and geared up. Another glitch in the system was a hole in my rubber boot. Beginning to wonder if someone was trying to give me a major hint. Ended up ignoring the pending signs of doom and had a good time with capturing photos of Avocets, Willets, Marbled Godwits and Snowy Egrets.
There were hundreds if not a few thousand Avocets feeding just off shore. This lone Avocet landed nearby just after sunrise and rested on one leg with its beak nestled in his feathers. Got close to him by crawling on hands and knees and got this nearly full framed shot. He kept his eye on me but didn’t spook.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4x teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
Aperture priority, 1/500 sec @ F8, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Northern Harrier
Found this Northern Harrier at Bolivar Flats while taking shorebird photos. Tracked him from my prone position as he flew along the shoreline for a good series of shots. This photo is my favorite pose but sometimes you can’t control the backgrounds.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
Reddish Egret Stare Down
Here are a couple of Reddish Egret photo’s from last weekend at Bolivar Flats. Found this bird while walking along the beach back to my car. Wasn’t really in the mood to lay down again as my neck was hurting but am glad that I did. He was waiting patiently for fish to swim by with his neck retracted close to his body. He stuck it out a couple of times which made for a more interesting photo. In the first shot, he was probably wondering who the idiot was lying on the ground taking his picture. That would be me…
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4X III teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/400 sec @ F10, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/400 sec @ F10, ISO 400, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Tim Timmis Photography 