Reddish Egret + Sunrise + Mud
Made another trip to the local mudflats yesterday and the third time was the charm for last week. On my last trip, missed a spectacular sunrise that was already up by the time that I drove onto the beach. This time, decided to get up at 3:00 a.m. to make it onto the 5:00 a.m. ferry, which turned out to be a very good move.
Found a reddish egret in the same location as previous visits, along with the mud being exposed at low tide. Went down on my knees in the mud to confirm the best spot to lay down. There were some wade fishermen walking behind me on the beach that reacted when I laid down in the mud.
Before the sun came up, this white morph reddish egret landed right in front of me. He ended up walking to my left near where the sun was going to rise.
Once the sun started to pop, had to shift my position to the right to get the sun directly behind the egret, which was easier said than done. Didn’t want to get up as it could spook the bird, so did a shuffle with my elbows and knees.
Ended up being an amazing time with lots of great photo ops with this egret, some of which might be contest worthy.
Had to take a couple of cell phone shots of my mud bogging experience. It’s a dirty job but somebody has to do it.
Bolivar Flats Trip
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope that you have a great day and get plenty of food to eat.
Had a great couple of days taking shorebird photos this week at Bolivar Flats on the Texas gulf coast. Went with Lisa and Catherine on Sunday and by myself on Monday with sunshine and low winds.
On Sunday, we found a good spot to lay down with our ground pods and a huge flock of avocets made their way in our direction. Was able to turn to my left to get some back-lit shots, which if always my goal with bird photography.
1/2500 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +2/3 exposure compensation
We moved locations and the avocets were walking right in front of us. They were so close that I couldn’t get some of them in the frame. A very good problem to have. This is one of the main advantages of using a ground pod as the birds don’t recognize you as a person when you are laying down. They will walk right up to you.
1/2500 sec @ F10, ISO 800, evaluative metering, no exposure compensation
Also got this shot that I really like of a dowitcher as he fed in front of us. It pays to watch all of the birds as the small ones can provide some great photo op’s.
1/1600 sec @ F6.3, ISO 800, evaluative metering, + 1 1/3 exposure compensation
A highlight on this trip was this lone black-necked stilt that was walking amongst the hundred of avocets. It was a challenge to get him isolated from the rest of the birds but was able to get a few shots. Love their long legs, tux looking feathers and red eyes.
1/2000 sec @ F10, ISO 800, evaluative metering, no exposure compensation
Osprey Carrying a Fish
Here are some shots of an Osprey carrying a fish on the way back to his nest. I was too far away from the next to get a decent landing shot but he was very cooperative on the way there.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens, hand-held
AV, 1/2000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation
AV, 1/1250 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation
AV, 1/1600 sec @ F5.6, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation
Tim Timmis Photography 