p.17 #1 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
bs kite wrote:
I wish I had that tree around my house. What is it... a crab apple variety?
Thanks for keeping the DSLR Images thread alive Gary, and with some outstanding images.
Sure thing. Probably some type of crabapple. Full disclosure though, I've cheated. The branches in those images are cutoffs strategically placed around feeders
p.17 #3 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
sum1sgrampa wrote:
Sure thing. Probably some type of crabapple. Full disclosure though, I've cheated. The branches in those images are cutoffs strategically placed around feeders
.... instant laughter from me. .
"Strategically placed around the feeders":....I am still laughing.
p.17 #5 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
I went out yesterday with my DSLR/long lens and photographed at an estuary here. It was the day after a blizzard along the North Atlantic coast. I was tempted to go out in the storm to shoot through the heavy, falling snow. In the end, I guess I chickened out, suspecting the waterbirds stayed hunkered down anyway, in the lee of coves. When it gets brutally cold, they disappear.
So, yesterday, after the storm, it was so beautiful. There were two young loons (I think they were siblings) that were catching eels at will. I have a few shots I want to post here, hopefully if I get to it today.
Would enjoy seeing more of yours. I know you've got them.
p.17 #7 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
bs kite wrote:
I went out yesterday with my DSLR/long lens and photographed at an estuary here. It was the day after a blizzard along the North Atlantic coast. I was tempted to go out in the storm to shoot through the heavy, falling snow. In the end, I guess I chickened out, suspecting the waterbirds stayed hunkered down anyway, in the lee of coves. When it gets brutally cold, they disappear.
So, yesterday, after the storm, it was so beautiful. There were two young loons (I think they were siblings) that were catching eels at will. I have a few shots I want to post here, hopefully if I get to it today.
Would enjoy seeing more of yours. I know you've got them. ...Show more →
I went out this morning looking for hawks. I know it's futile around here but I still like to try. Saw three Red-tails. Best opportunity was one on a kill about 30-40 feet off the road. Gone as soon as I slowed down, same with the other two. I live in a very rural area so there's lots of them around but they will not tolerate humans at all. Since I've been spending time in California visiting my daughter I'm pretty much just biding my time until my next trip there. I've found it's a whole new world of opportunity as far as raptors go. That's why I fall back on my yardbirds Really appreciate the input. Looking forward to the Loons.
Gary
p.17 #9 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
January 28, 2022
These images were taken the day following a blizzard in northern New England. I am amazed that these animals are able to tolerate the brutally cold winter temperatures. They are in the open, with the coastal winds, 24/7, throughout the winter. Somehow, they were able to find shelter from the blizzard.
p.17 #10 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
This is the same wintering loon. I am new to videos too. This focusing was done manually with the Focus Peaking feature. Of course, it is not anything close to what the Z9 will do for me. Still, I want to show what this new loon looks like, in late January, in the North Atlantic....... brrrr!
Who among us has Wondershare and likes it? I cannot take iMovie anymore.... too convoluted for me.
I do not know what happened to the quality of the above video. It was recorded at 1080 HD.
p.17 #12 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
Regarding the Z9, I am not sure yet.
Went out again yesterday afternoon with the D850/500PF. Hoping to do it again this afternoon. I like the outgoing tide.
For me, the ecology is the fascination.
Gear comes and gear goes. The newest gear starts at the top of the thread....and then gradually sinks, when the next craze comes along.
When out in it, the ever-present winter problem is aching fingers. As you know, there are several ways to keep the fingers warm, but it slows reaction-time. If my right hand (focusing, shutter fingers) are in a warm pouch, I will usually miss the action of a gull, stealing from the ducks. Thinking about switching to quicker AF of the D500.
p.17 #13 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
January 31, 2022. from a Gulf of Maine estuary.
The following is a deep crop of a Herring Gull at sunset, with what I believe to be a Green Crab (gravid), an invasive from the Northeast Atlantic (Western Europe).
And the link below, discusses the damage the Green Crab has done to the clamming fishery in Maine waters. One point that is made is that the Green Crab has no predators in the western side of the North Atlantic. But it does.
In at least one recent winter, the waterbirds in this estuary subsisted almost exclusively on Green Crabs. I have many images of this relationship between the Green Crab and the waterbirds. I do not believe predation can extirpate the Green Crab from the western side of the North Atlantic. But there is a reason I have not yet (a few outings this month) seen crabs brought to the surface by the wintering loons. It has been all eels so far.
p.17 #16 · Official Nikon DSLR images, videos and discussion thread
and closer
_______
Listen to this bird's call in the link below. It is the one that was recorded in Connecticut (3rd one down from the top). This is a raft of Long-tails, fairly close the microphone, talking to each other.
I love this sound, as another of nature's fascinations, oddities. I'll hear this sound, several hundred yards out on a Maine estuary, and only then will I begin to search for the Long-tailed duck. It is a wonderful experience in nature!
.... instant laughter from me. 
