Matt Shetzer Offline Upload & Sell: On
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Richard,
I've been going up there for years and love Haines and will be up there all this November. Here are my thoughts.
#1 - Not much difference in the weeks. You might have a little more snow later, but last year it was opposite as we had great snow the first week. Eagle numbers are the same. Could be bear sightings first week.
#2 - 500 is perfect. I wouldn't bother renting one. The 1.4 will be nice on bright days. Every year they are in difference locations as the winter run-off changes where the salmon spawn. One year 800mm was too close, and the 300mm was perfect. Most years a 500mm is a good balance.
#3 - Absolutely. The 70-200 can be nice if the bears are still out (first week there is a chance), and 300mm can be used for nice landscapes with the eagles, or that odd close-up.
Here are some samples I have produced from the area. Mostly with a 500m, and some with a 600mm.
http://www.shetzers.com/pictures/bald-eagle-pictures/
Good luck, and have a lot of fun there. Besides the eagles, you will probably see Moose, Trumpeter Swans, and some Mergansers. I'll be running around both weeks you are considering, so please say hi !
Matt Shetzer
Sometimes you get lucky with bears and eagles.
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http://www.shetzers.com/shetzers_v5/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/A-Grizzly-Bear-Attacks-Bald-Eagle-in-Alaska-Haines-Alaska.jpg |
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I shot this on November 17th a couple of years ago.
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http://www.shetzers.com/shetzers_v5/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/C-Hundreds-of-Bald-Eagles-in-the-Trees-Haines-Alaska.jpg |
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This image was taken on November the 6. The 3rd week it rained and all the snow melted.
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http://www.shetzers.com/shetzers_v5/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/A-Five-Bald-eagles-in-a-snowstorm-Haines-Alaska.jpg |
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