Is Conowingo good now?
/forum/topic/709479/0

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dc9mm
Registered: May 12, 2003
Total Posts: 267
Country: United States

I see alot of pictures popping up at Conowingo0 Dam. How is the eagle population now. I go once a year as its 8 hours away and was wondering if its good now? Last year i was there at Nov 29 and 30. But if its good now i would go this weekend. I counted about 35 eagles on one day last year.



Sean Bellay
Registered: Feb 22, 2007
Total Posts: 573
Country: United States

Ive been there a couple times so far and you will see at least 35 eagles. The problem is timing the weather right and hoping the dam is generating electricity that day (no electricity means no water running through the dam which means less fish for the eagles to get).



dc9mm
Registered: May 12, 2003
Total Posts: 267
Country: United States

Thanks for the info. The weather looks good for both saturday and sunday so i think i will head down. Lets hope the dam is running. No idea how to predict that.



mdbassman
Registered: Jan 03, 2004
Total Posts: 8400
Country: United States

I was there Tuesday shooting with a few regulars on FM. It was sunny(at sunrise-10am), very windy and very cold. The action was continuous for the eagles. Lots of fishing, lots of group playing, and the "eagle chatter" was continuous. The trees behind the parking lot were full of resting/eating eagles. Just tons of activity! It appears to be a great time. The power transmission towers on "Eagle Island" were loaded! Most I had seen in a few years!
Dan



dc9mm
Registered: May 12, 2003
Total Posts: 267
Country: United States

GREAT Iam leaving tommaroow. I will be there all day saturday and half the day sunday. Great news !!!!! Thanks



Duane N
Registered: Aug 17, 2008
Total Posts: 2216
Country: United States

Question for the regulars that go there (I hope you don't mind me asking in your topic dc9mm).....what would be the minimum size lens you would attempt to use out there? I have never been, I own a Canon 400mm f/5.6 and use a 40D body. It's a 4 hour trip for me...or should I wait until I get a 500mm and use an extender?



dc9mm
Registered: May 12, 2003
Total Posts: 267
Country: United States

iam not a regular but have been there twice in the past 2 years. Yes longer is better but i saw allot of nice shots taken using a 100-400. If an eagle lands on one of the trees along the bank of the river there smaller trees and when that happens 400mm is plenty. You wil have an effective 640mm compared to me with a sigma 300-800 and a FF 1dsmk2. You have enough reach i would certainly go with what you have.



mdbassman
Registered: Jan 03, 2004
Total Posts: 8400
Country: United States

Duane N wrote:
Question for the regulars that go there (I hope you don't mind me asking in your topic dc9mm).....what would be the minimum size lens you would attempt to use out there? I have never been, I own a Canon 400mm f/5.6 and use a 40D body. It's a 4 hour trip for me...or should I wait until I get a 500mm and use an extender?


I use my 400mm f5.6 often and with a 1.4xTC with good results. I use my 300mm f2.8 IS most often. It takes the 1.4x and 2x extremely well. I use my 5D, 20D and sMKII. You should be fine. Bring your TC with you.
Good Luck!
Dan



Bill Gorton
Registered: Dec 25, 2006
Total Posts: 34
Country: United States

Was there on Wed, very cold and windy. In the three hours there, only had one eagle fishing. There were a couple in the trees behind us. But, will go again, in talking to others it is a hit or miss day. I have been twice in the last two weeks and they have both not lived up to my expectation.



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