Practicing following a flying duck traveling at upwards of 65 MPH is challenging, frustrating and fun at the same time. Patents and learning their habits is a definite plus. I've made several trips out to the refuge at different times of the day to try and observe the different waterfowl habits. ie. which direction do they typically come from in the morning, evening? Do they spend most of the day sitting/swimming around on a pond or river? Or do they consistently fly from spot to spot?
Learning the habits of the different species is a definite plus. Otherwise you're just running from place to place hoping to find something. Asking locals, hunters, fishermen, rangers is a great way to quickly find information. Most are more than willing to exchange information and talk with you.
Here are some shots from todays trip. Approximately 4 hours at 2 different ponds in the refuge.
All photos were taken with a Canon 7D Mark II on a Manfoto travel tripod.
3 Ducks coming in for a landing
Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 1/1000, f/7.1, iso 1600
Same 3 ducks having landed at the end of the pond.
Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 1/1000, f/5.6, iso 1250
Hunters scared an owl out of it's resting spot. Caught it gliding above the brush.
Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 1/1000, f/8.0, iso 6400
Just as I was considering packing up 2 flocks of white swans came flying towards me.
Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 400mm, 1/1000, f/8.0, iso 6400
Flock of ducks heading for a new place to lay down.
Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 1/1000, f/8.0, iso 2000
Mud hen looking for some vitals
Canon EF 400mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, iso 2000
This Alder Flycatcher spent about and hour hopping from limb to limb in 2 trees about 12 feet from me.
Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 1/2000, f/5.6, iso 2000
Him again Canon EF 400mm, 400mm, 1/1250, f/5.6, iso 1250
I have to say that to date I feel that this is the best sharp focus of any bird that I've taken since shooting birds in the refuge. Canon EF 400mm f5.6, 400mm, 1/1000, f/7.1, iso 500
Final look at him just before packing up for the evening.
Canon EF400mm f5.6, 400mm, 1/1000, f/7.1, iso 160
It's not all wildlife. Here are a couple of Landscape from my hike between the ponds. Water to the right is the pond that the 3 ducks were landing in. Shot from this location 160° to the right.
Canon EFS10-22mm, 14mm, 1/13, f/25, iso 100
Stand of Birch trees across the pond from my setup.
Canon 400mm 5.6L, 400mm, 1/1000, f/7.1, iso 800
Lone cattail along the waters edge of pond 2.
Canon 400mm F/5.6L, 400mm, 1/1000, f/8.0, iso 6400
I took this as I am amazed that people can come and make use of a beautiful place and leave their trash laying around. I picked up 5 shotgun shells and 2 beer cans along my walk, but noticed much more. I will be going back out in the next couple of days with several trash bags to start cleaning up Mother Nature. Please do your part and pick up your trash and maybe some extra as well.
All in all a very productive, educational and fun 4 hours this afternoon. Hope to be back out there again next week.
Have a enjoyable week and don't forget your camera. You never know what will pop up right in front of you.
Aloha,
Aaron
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