Quote Originally Posted by bob williams View Post
A day NOT for birding: Hopefully, I am not the only absent minded birder out there . So let me tell you my story.

The day after Christmas, not much going on,
My wife and I packed up just after dawn.
The roads were clear and the snow was deep
I thought this could offer some photos to keep

After 70 miles of ice and snow
The man at the gate said "sorry, were closed"
Disappointed I was, no entry today
after all of this driving and nowhere to play

I soon realized with all of my load
I could pull over and shoot from the road
So I slowed my truck and pulled to the right
When I saw a Redtail Hawk in perfect light

I quietly exited so not to disturb
pulled out my tripod and walked to the curb
I opened my box and to my dismay
I realized the camera, in my house still lay

Not all is lost as I thought to my self
my back-up is here and not on the shelf
So I mounted my lens and prepared to do battle
with this bird in the tree I have yet to rattle

As I held my camera with the settings just right
I aimed at the bird in the perfect light
with the view before me, I was enthralled
until I realized... NO CARD INSTALLED

I have lots of cards and memory and such
but not in this box and not in this truck.
so I packed up my stuff and headed to town
with nothing to show but a grimacing frown

My wife kept quiet so no to offend
but I could see her smirking deep within.
I knew my loving wife couldn't leave it alone
She called all her friends on the long ride home

So take it from me, these lessons learned
take all your gear but leave your wife at home.
Wow, awesome prose....an all too familiar theme, it is very difficult to keep up with all the small pieces of stuff required for digital photography. This has probably happened to all of us at some time or another.

I was in my blind a few days ago and a Red Tailed Hawk landed in a tree about 60 yards away but in a perfect spot. The first time I have ever seen one land in the back yard! I was set up with my 500 and the 1.4 converter but I had the focus range set to the middle setting....of course I couldn't auto focus at 60 yds...so I quickly manually focused to get it close then I reached to change the focus range switch but turned off the Auto focus instead....so I got a perfectly posed Red Tailed Hawk in good light that is blurry.