Your Fave?
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? Please leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice.
What’s Up?
When I left Gatorland after the Saturday morning session, I thought that it had been a bad one. When I saw my images, I changed my mind. Working several Great Egret nests at close to point-blank range with the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 II and the 2X TC with the a1 I made many excellent photos of small chicks. All were pleasant surprises. It was great seeing UK and BPN friend Mike Poole at GL. He recently switched to the Sony A1/200-600 G lens after decades with Canon. He did lots of great stuff underwater with his Nikon gear. I stopped for a great salad bar lunch with Anita North at Jason’s Deli, 25 W Crystal Lake St., Orlando. Getting to my AirBnB in Jacksonville took a lot longer than expected as I encountered several Armageddon-like thunderstorms on I-4. I had to pull off the highway several times.
Today is Sunday 3 April 2022. With clear skies and NW winds from Jacksonville to Jekyll Island, I will be staying in the morning and getting some work done. Why not even try? NW winds with cool temps and sunny skies are the death knell for bird photography. You gotta know when to fold em …I will likely try to make it to Jekyll Point on Sunday afternoon for a walk-about. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes twenty-four days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn …
Wanted to Buy
I have a serious buyer looking for a Sony a9 II and a Sony 200-600 G lens. Please contact me via e-mail if you have one or both of those items sitting on a shelf unused.
Great Flight Photography Experience and Tips with Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Enjoy this short (3:16) video and learn a ton on one of my best flight photography sessions ever. To learn to be a better bird photographer, sign up for an Instructional Photo-Tour here.
Did I pick the best White Ibis image?
|
|
This image was created on 30 March 2022 at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay aboard James Shadle’s customized pontoon boat, the Hooptie Deux. I used the no-longer-available Induro GIT 304L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1000. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the image was about 1/3 stop too dark. That knowledge helped me to properly adjust the Exposure slider during the raw conversion in ACR. AWB at 8:13:11am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version. Image #1: Brown Pelican returning to nest with bill pouch distended. image |
Always Looking for Something Special
It is possible that when a pelican approaches its nest with the bill pouch distended it is some sort of display. The bird in the nest will usually look up and open their bill pouch, seemingly as a greeting.
Comments on the vegetation in the lower right corner are welcome.
|
|
This image was created on 30 March 2022 at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay aboard James Shadle’s customized pontoon boat, the Hooptie Deux. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 353mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/3200 second at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 9:46:20 on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Face-Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version. Image #2: White Ibis in max breeding plumage with prominent gular sac
|
Vulchinnian
Many years ago, Captain James “Froggie” Shadle coined the term vulchinnian for the red gular sacs of White Ibises at the height of breeding plumage. I believe that both the males and females develop the sacs during the breeding season. We had some good chances on these birds on our Saturday morning trip, but Sunday was beyond the beyond. It took me a few minutes to find the best spot on the relatively small island. Following my instinct, I discovered a group of about 40 birds bathing just around a corner. With the wind and sun right behind me, the birds were taking off one after another and flying right at me. I quickly called James and Brendan to the spot. From there on, it was an absolute slaughter.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Love the Ibis! Almost time for us to go to Jeykll Point. See you soon!
Eric and I killed at Jekyll Point last night and Monday morning. Hurry!
with love, artie
The Ibis is my favorite. Rich red color of the sac against the white of the bird and the blue sky. Well done.
Thanks, Jim. Mine too. I did however, once miss a pelican in flight at Alafia doing a head throw in mid-air!
with love, artie
Thanks for the video Artie !
YAW: lots more coming.
with love, artie
The IBIS is my favorite of today’s images though I only see two and not the three you referenced. It’s captured beautifully and the clouds add nice framing. I wish they were on the trailing side of the frame rather on the leading side, but that’s how they were. To your other question about the vegetation in the prior image, I would leave it. It provides nice depth and perspective and solidifies that the pelican was coming in for a landing.
Thanks Jon all counts, and yes, two images 🙂
with love, artie
Glad to see you emerge from retirement, Art.
Me too 🙂
a