Good day of shooting with Neuroanatomist

[Bill W]

John and I met up yesterday (5-23) at Plum Island, MA.


The day was dismal, the ticks were tolerable, but we (hopefully I'm not putting words into Neuro's mouth[] ) had a good day shooting.


We walked some of the PI trails and came away w/some OK (my) shots.


Parula....my first viewing; member of the Warbler family


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/24/4478.Parula-2.jpg[/img]


The only shot I got of an Eastern Towhee


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/24/7384.towhee-copy.jpg[/img]


This Tom was trying to seduce my Subie


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/24/7723.turkey-and-subie.jpg[/img]


Great Egret


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/24/1614.snowy-in-flight.jpg[/img]


After lunch we headed over to the Rookery to view the twin owlets, but when we got there the nest was empty. There were plenty of GBHs and their chicks to shoot so we hung around. While the weather was quickly deteriorating around us, John spotted one of the owlets on a downed tree.


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/700x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/24/2656.far-owlet-copy.jpg[/img]


It wasn't long after I spotted the 2nd owlet that was being beleaguered by grackles.


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All in all it was a good day....hooking up w/John for some shooting and shooting some birds (songbirds) I normally don't seek out.


Thanks John and thank you for looking folks


Bill

[Jon Ruyle]

Did he try to shoot your brain?


I really like #

[Steve U]

Sounds like it was a great day, congrats on meeting up and for the shots.


You must be very proud of your little owlets.

[Bill W]

Thanks Steve......it

[DavidEccleston]

Wait, John, if your last shot was @800mm, what was Bill shooting? Was he lugging around a 1200mm?

[ddt0725]

VERY nice photos considering the conditions and it

[Bill W]

You know Jon....now that you mention it....he did bump me couple of times w/his lens.


Thanks for the kind words.


Bill

[neuroanatomist]

All in all it was a good day....

Agreed! Thanks again, Bill. []


Here are a few shots from the day (some similar, since we were standing next to each other, and a few different).


First bird of the day, a female ruby-throated HB (the only HB I've ever shot, because she was extraordinarily patient, and sat on that branch for several minutes!):



[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Ruby_2D00_throated-HB.jpg[/img]
EOS 7D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L II IS USM + EF 2x II Extender @ 400mm, 1/250 s, f/5.6, ISO 3200


My first shot (and sighting) of the Eastern Towhee (thanks, Bill, for the on-the-spot ID!):



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/5756281302/in/set-72157624462563459/lightbox/][/url]
EOS 7D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L II IS USM + EF 2x II Extender @ 400mm, 1/160 s, f/5.6, ISO 3200


The two shots above were my first use of the70-200 II with a 2x II extender - it does a decent job as a weather-sealed alternative to the 100-400 (the towhee is uncropped).


These black-throated green warblers were common but elusive, thanks to the local birders for the ID):



[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Black_2D00_throated-green-warbler.jpg[/img]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 400mm, 1/500 s, f/5.6, ISO 200


The obligatory great egret fly-by shot:



[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Egret.jpg[/img]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]LIS USM @ 400mm, 1/1600 s, f/6.3, ISO 2500


Our Northern Parula, also a first for me:



[url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr_brain/5755738045/in/set-72157624462563459/lightbox/][/url]
EOS 7D, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]L IS USM @ 400mm, 1/500 s, f/5.6, ISO 1600


Finally, off to Bill's local GBH rookery and owlet refuge. This one was an attempt with the 2x extender on the 100-400, in dim light and through a lot of mist:



[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer-Components-UserFiles/00-00-00-35-15/Owlet-vs-Grackle.jpg[/img]
EOS 7D, EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6<span style="color: #ff0000;"]LIS USM+ EF 2x II Extender @ 800mm, 1/400 s, f/11, ISO 3200


Thanks for looking!


--John

[Kayaker72]

Nice photos, especially considering thedreary conditions. I enjoyed seeing the the dualing shots of the same subject.[]

[Bill W]

Arrrrrrrrgh......you got a relatively clean shot of the Towhee....I knew I should have pushed you out of the way John. []


Your f RTHB came out really nice....and I've never seen one sit that long.


But you missed this one.......it was hovering off to the left, but I wasn't going to point it out to you.


[img]/resized-image.ashx/__size/550x0/__key/CommunityServer-Discussions-Components-Files/24/3482.m-RTHB.jpg[/img]


[]