Seeing nature through eyes of a 500mm lens

great shots ,lens envy here !!!

Excellent captures, all of them. So crisp and clear not to mention the colors.

Beautiful, Methodical

Wow! I like them. And I mean ALL of them.

Just beautiful! Lens envy here too!!!

Superb Cardinal Set Met!! Would love to have your gear, but would rather have your talent. lol

Gorgeous!

Very nice Cardinal photos, Met. Hope you were able to get some decent shots of the Red-headed Woodpecker. That's one that has eluded me, to date.

Thanks everyone for taking time to view my photos.

As promised, I have some photos of the Red-headed WP. I visited Sky Meadows Park twice as was able to come away with some decent photos of several species of WPs, but by far these are the most unique one's I've seen. I learned of this park via a blog from a gentleman I met at another park in VA...Monticello Park, which is know for many different species of warblers during migration. I plan to return to try for some more closeup shots and possibly better shots. I purchased the Kwik Camo which I hope will afford me closer photos of these and other birds. For the 1st few shots, I was in the right place at the right time. Me and couple other gentlemen were looking in one direction, but so happen to look behind us and this one popped up in the tree behind us.

Anyway, here are a few shots I got of the Red-headed WP.

2nd photo of the Red-head

3rd photo. He's still in the same spot

last one from my 1st visit

These next few photos were from my 2nd visit to the park. I just received my Kwik Camo and wanted to give it a try. The WPs were coming pretty close ignoring me under the Camo hide but because the weather was gloomy, cloudy and at times rainy, I was not able to get better shots but they are pretty decent but my quest is to get better shots.

2nd photo from 2nd visit. You can see the rain in this photo

This message was edited Apr 3, 2010 9:50 PM

last one for now

This is a crop of the 3rd photo in the 1st set...the one I meant to post

Here's a few Junco photos from this past winter. They are pretty much gone, but I did see one today to my surprise.

Mistake...this one was taken with the 300mm lens. I can't remove it.



This message was edited Apr 3, 2010 10:51 PM

2nd Junco shot

3rd Junco photo

4th Junco shot

last Junco shot

Thanks Burd. You'd be amazed at how folks don't see you when you wear camo. I've had people walk up on me and didn't know I was there until I moved. Here's some pictures of the Kwik Camo. You can sit or stand with it.

http://www.michigannature.com/KwikCamoPics.html

This message was edited Apr 3, 2010 11:01 PM

Thanks for the link Met, will be taking a run to one of the out-fitter stores to see if they have something similar or less on the pocket...those pics in the link now have me wondering about the big flash unit sticking out the camo. lol Think I'll just start out with the camo for now.

Fantastic shots of the Redheaded Woodpecker, Met. Glad you were able to get such nice shots.

Great pictures

Wow Met, Those shots of the Red-headed Woodpecker are incredible!!!!! The Junco ones are great too, love the female with her back to you.

I'll have to give that camo a try once I'm mobile.

Great job!!!

What kind of 500mm lens do you have? Your pics are fantastic! VERY NICE!
THANKS EVERYONE FOR SHARING!

Wow, I'm amazed at your photos once again. That Red-headed is just breathtaking but then all of your photos are too.

Really nice...that camo is cool!

Yes I like that too. Maybe a future purchase for me. :-)

Just found your thread Met! Absolutely gorgeous photos! You have every right to be proud! Nice work indeed!!!

Thanks Linthicum, Burd, Huggergirl, Duc, Nanny, Raven, Pelletory and VA wildlife.

Raven it's the Canon 500mm f4 IS lens.

I plan to return to this park on a better day

Another option to the Kwik Camo is to get some Camo net and make a blind. I've used that method this past fall but I like this Kwik Camo better.

This message was edited Apr 7, 2010 12:09 PM

I've seen a couple interesting options, most of which are in hunting departments :(. One is just like that, a big camo net for deer. The other was a chair with the camo draping and a window. It was only about 30$. BOY could i get close to those Hummers THEN! lol.

Really nice pictures, thank you for the lens info!

I need the camo and lens !!!!

Thanks again everyone for looking. Here's a series on the Osprey families.

I visited the Osprey on Sunday and last weekend to see where they were in the nest building stage. I took pictures of the nest to see if any one can tell if they are going to house the family in it.

The 1st nest (photos) is one just off of the drive that can be seen from the bridge but to get the angle of view I have, you must go into the woods. I visited briefly, captured a photo of the nest, and left. Are they close to laying eggs in this one? I won’t go back for another couple weeks so not to disturb them or spook them from the nest site.

The 2nd nest photo is just off the same drive and in the same location from last year. One of the photographers told me it was move further out into the river. I did notice the platform looked newly built but didn’t realize it was further out. Today I saw the Osprey bringing in sticks so hopefully they take up residence here again. I visited a short while then left as they were pretty much out doing what Ospreys do. I was able to get a few photos though then left…don’t want to disturb them.

The 3rd nest is just around the corner from the 2nd nest but a little further out in the river but you can get some images from off the boardwalk. They seem content with the nest out there.

As you can see from the photos, they were checking me out just as well.

Thanks for any input


First up is Nest #1...I have no photos of the Osprey on this nest but they are there and building

This is the 2nd nest. This is the same one I got my photos from last season. They have been taking sticks to the nest and sitting on it for very short periods of time

Here's a photo of one sitting on the 2nd nest...taking a break I guess

Here's the 3rd nest with both the male and female. This one is further out in the river so I had to crop a little.