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Tim Kuhn wrote:
IMO, early in the day is usually the most productive. For the most part if you get somewhere at noon, bring a cot! The few hours before sunset can also be productive but not as productive as early morning.
Tim
Tapeman,
Ditto Tim's info here. In the early morning the birds are hungry and foraging. Some species of waterfowl are moving from overnight roosting areas to daytime feeding areas--good flight shots. Territories are being defended against interlopers. Scope out good shooting areas the day(s) before, then arrive in the early morning dark and be ready to shoot as soon as you have enough light. This has several advantages: (1) you catch the first morning bird action, (2) if you don't make any aggressive moves, the waking birds may see you as part of the landscape and will be more trusting, and (3) as you mentioned, you get that great early morning, frontal light.
You probably already know there are several good apps and websites that will give you info on the time of beginning twilight and and compass directions for the rising sun at your location--so you know when to arrive and where to position yourself to get the best light angles. Use these same sources of information to position yourself at roosting sites in the late afternoon. (Get there before the birds do.)
---John
Examples:
1. Sandhill cranes leaving their roosting pond in the first morning light.
http://cubit.smugmug.com/Nature/Salton-Sea-1/i-8ZddTt2/2/L/_DSC7118-L.jpg
2. Sandhill cranes returning to their roosting pond in the late evening.
http://cubit.smugmug.com/Nature/Salton-Sea-1/i-cqfJV2T/1/L/_DSC1427-L.jpg
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