Peregrine Patience
Made another trip to Bolivar Flats on Friday with Sheldon to see if we would have any better luck with finding birds than on our last trip. It was very low tide again with some wind but not too bad. While walking out to the sandbars just before the sun came up, I spotted what looked like something sitting on a piece of PVC pipe that was sticking out of the sand. Taking a look through my camera revealed a Peregrine Falcon perched on the piece of pipe.
We slowly walked towards him and laid down on the sand. We were very patient with this Falcon in order to not spook him before we got closer. We ended up spending 2 hrs watching him and crawling closer. He faked us out several times by stretching his wings and doing his duty but he never took off. He may have spent the night sitting on that pipe by the way that he was acting.
It was challenging to keep focused on him for that long and my neck/back/arm got very sore along with my right hand falling asleep. Ended up rolling on my side several times to rest my neck and stomach.
We knew that the photos of him sitting on the pipe wouldn’t be very good with the unnatural perch so we waited very patiently until he took off. He was facing into the wind and we were laying in front of him hoping that he would fly towards us, however he took off in the opposite direction. It was disappointing but it’s always cool to see one of these birds and sometimes you have to take what you can get. My old body is still paying the price from that outing with a very sore back/neck.
Luckily we found a more cooperative Reddish Egret on our way back to our cars. I’ll post some photos of him later.
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
All photos are aperture priority, 1/1250 sec @ F8, ISO 800, evaluative metering, +1 exposure compensation, 700mm
End of 2015 = Peregrine Falcon + Avocets
2015 ended on a high note with my last trip this year to Bolivar Flats in Texas. The sun hasn’t been out much lately in this part of Texas so it was time to shoot in cloudy conditions. It was great weather to be lying on the wet sandbars at 44 deg F (with waders on of course). The Avocets were out in mass with several hundred of them hanging out off shore near sandbars. Found a decent location and ended up crawling closer to a flock of Avocets. Several more came in to land, which provided some action shots.
Just before getting up to leave, all of the birds took off, which usually means that a raptor is in the area. Turned to my right and saw that a Peregrine Falcon had landed on a sandbar. I’ve never seen one land that far from the shoreline before. Didn’t think that he was going to stick around long so I stayed in place focusing on him while anticipating some lift-off and flight shots. He obliged soon after and it was a great way to end this outing.
Also it was nice to meet Hal on this trip, a follower of this blog.
Have a great new year everyone!!
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, 1/1600 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600 + 1 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Aperture priority, 1/800 sec @ F5.6, ISO 2500, + 1 exposure compensation, 700mm
Aperture priority, 1/2000 sec @ F5.6, ISO 1600 + 1 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
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
Peregrine Falcon
Searched far and wide along the beach for the Peregrine Falcon at Bolivar during this outing with no avail. Had a great day with the Avocets so it wasn’t a total loss. I have learned over the years to keep my camera in the front seat just in case some photo ops present themselves while driving off of the beach. It paid off this time as the Falcon was perched on a fence post on the road to the beach. Slowed down to get a shot and he took off. Turned the car around and following him as he landed on another post. He was on the opposite side of the road from me so I decided to drive fast by him and then turn around. That didn’t spook him and was able to get some photos. Didn’t like the light so I went by him again and turned my car and blocked the road to the beach to get shots from the other side.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II with 1.4xIII teleconverter, handheld out the car window.
AV mode, 1/640 sec @ F6.3, ISO 400, evaulative metering, +1 exposure compensation
The Year of the Falcon
2012 started and ended with Peregrine Falcons at Bolivar Flats in Texas. Got some take-off shots of a Falcon back in January and had the opportunity again in late Dec. After spending some quality time shooting shore birds, headed back to my car when I spotted something out of the ordinary further down on the beach. Looked like a small post sticking up from my vantage point. Raised my camera and saw that it was my old buddy, the Peregrine Falcon. He was perched on top of a plastic bin that was sticking out of the sand.
Made my way towards him and ended up laying down to get a few photos. Wasn’t satisfied with my first position so I got up and moved to my right to get a better angle if he took off. They don’t shift their perched position much and tend to take off in the direction that they are facing. They also like to stretch out their wings right before they take off which can give you a good opportunity for a wings-up position. This one stretched, but did it with his wings down by his side. Shortly afterwards, he took off and flew towards me. Got several shots that I liked with the best of them shown below.
Taken with Canon 7D and Canon 500mm F4 IS II lens with 1.4x teleconverter mounted on Skimmer ground pod with Wimberley II gimbal head
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
1/1600 sec @ F7.1, ISO 400, evaluative metering, + 1/3 exposure compensation, 700mm
Peregrine Falcon Take-Off
Another Trip to Bolivar found the tide going out, calm water, no wind and 39 deg before sunrise. I ended up over dressing and got a little toasty except for when my boot started leaking while wading through the water. It was a beautiful morning at the gulf but very few birds were within shooting distance except for a large flock of white pelicans. All of the Avocets were along the jetty. Spent most of my time during the pre-dawn and golden hour time frame shooting flight shots.
While walking along the beach on my way back to the car, two Peregrine Falcons flew by and landed near me. Made my way over near them and laid down to shoot. The smaller one didn’t stick around very long and flew off. The other one was much more cooperative. My initial shots weren’t any good as I was too low compared to his position and the bottom of his tail was cut off in my shots with the sand on the beach. Raised up on my elbows to try that perspective and it still wasn’t high enough. Decided to move my position to get a better shot. Ended up walking back along the beach a few yards and then up to his level in front of him. Luckily he didn’t spook and he let me lay down again. After preening, they typically stretch out their wings out for a few seconds before taking off. This time he took off without warning in my direction. Luckily I was focused on him and ready to shoot. Got off several shots before the buffer filled up and he was going past me. Good times again at Bolivar.
Taken with Canon 7D and 100-400 lens on Skimmer ground pod.
1/1000 sec @ F6.3, Iso 400, spot metering with +1 exposure compensation, no flash
1/1000 sec @ F6.3, Iso 400, spot metering with +1 exposure compensation, no flash
1/1600 sec @ F6.3, Iso 400, spot metering with +1 exposure compensation, no flash
1/1250 sec @ F6.3, Iso 400, spot metering with +1 exposure compensation, no flash
1/1250 sec @ F6.3, Iso 400, spot metering with +1 exposure compensation, no flash
Tim Timmis Photography 