(Also posted on the Nature & Wildlife presentation board)
I saw four hawks in close proximity yesterday all trying (and failing) to catch one of many squirrels that seemed to be openly mocking their hunting abilities with their brazen behavior (either that, or they really are dumb little critters). At least two of the hawks seemed to be juveniles so were probably still practicing -- including this one:
A few days ago I was at another spot in the park and a hawk damn near took my head off as it swooped past my shoulder in pursuit of a squirrel about 12 feet in front of me (I suspect I was used as cover by the incoming hawk). Squirrel just escaped into the hollow log, but the hawk hung out another few minutes trying to figure out how to get to it, peering into the log and waiting on each side, before giving up.
All taken with Sony A9 and 100-400mm (and cropped)
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken yesterday at 4:11 PM.
Looking at a swimming Female Mallard Duck.
Heavily Cropped, tripod mounted (Gitzo 1257LVL tripod with Fotopro E-6H Gimbal head) Sony f5.6-6.3 G set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 400, f9, 1/500 second.
February 24, 2021
Along Jordan Creek not far from the Pedestrian Bridge and Ford, Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, PA.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 7:46 AM.
Looking at a Cattle Egret in Breeding Plumage.
Cropped from the left and the right; tripod mounted 100-400mm GM lens set to 352mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/200 second.
Exposure corrected +1.47 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Echoes of Costa Rica: Fiery-Throated Hummingbird
Cross-posted in Nature/Wildlife Forum with different image set.
Continuing to process past captures especially now that new (birding) cameras from Canon and Sony (released/announced) gave me some insecurities on what would I be missing from now on. To me, usable birding (especially BIFs) factors other than gears, skills/experience are also in terms of attitude, luck and opportunities.
Almost seven years ago, found myself (and my wife) in Costa Rica courtesy of mileage and hotel rewards. Hired local guides (to be on the cheaper side) for limited birding tours with opportunity for some picture taking with entry level gears (Sony A77 and Sigma 50-500 DG a.k.a. Bigma). Some sites gave me an opportunity (together with some luck and persistence - economies of scale) to capture some web usable captures of Fiery-Throated Hummingbirds. Sample captures below. TIA for looking.
Disclosures: Backgrounds were original but some were blurred. Using the golden ratio as my default cropping area, some included parts of other birds and the feeder/s were edited out. Captures were around the feeders.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 10:30 AM.
Looking at a Snowy Egret in Breeding Plumage standing on one leg and reflection.
Full Frame, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f6.3, 1/2000 second.
December 6, 2020
Along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 1:59 PM.
Looking at a Limpkin with what looks like a clam in its beak and reflection.
Cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f6.3, 1/320 second.
Exposure corrected +0.20 Stops.
January 6, 2020
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 9:12 AM.
Looking at a wading Great Egret in breeding plumage.
Full Frame, tripod mounted FE 100-400mm GM set to 297mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f5.6 1/50 second.
Exposure Corrected -0.20 Stops.
May 11, 2019
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 10:46 AM.
Looking at an American Coot and Reflection.
Heavily cropped, tripod mounted 200-600mm G zoom set to 600mm and A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 200, f6.3, 1/400 second.
December 6, 2020
Along Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL.
Photo cross posted in the Sony FE Image Thread and taken at 1:06 PM.
Looking at a Wood Stork in Breeding Plumage.
Cropped from left and right, tripod mounted 200-600mm G set to 220mm and Sony A7rIII; silent shutter.
ISO 100, f6.3, 1/250 second.
Exposure corrected -0.29 Stops.
January 6, 2020
At Gatorland, Orlando or Kissimmee, FL.
