What’s Up?
I had been hoping to have my laptop back before this was published. Not. They told me by phone that the part had arrived and that “they were working on it,” but that has not been reflected
on the My Support page. I guess my best hope now might be Tuesday …
As I never look at or work my images on a desktop computer, I have been keeping all the images from my morning shooting sessions on Delkin Devices 960GB BLACK CFexpress Type A 4.0 Memory Cards, one in each of my two Sony bodies. When I finally get to download and view the images, it will be like X-mas and Chanukah combined as despite the summer doldrums, I have had one or two very good opportunities every morning. Last week I had a first-ever July kingfisher and my second ever for ILE Black-crowned Night Heron. I spotted the latter bird on the pier railing just before sunset on a cloudy afternoon.
As I have access to webmail on one of the two office computers (mega-annoying!), you can get in touch as always via e-mail. Or call or shoot me a text: 863-221-2372. Huge thanks to multiple IPT veterans Pat Fishburne and Sandra Calderbank for getting an a-1 ii from Bedford, and new-comer Alvin “Red” Stevens for getting his from B&H. All using my affiliate links of course. The world’s lightest and best ever for bird photography camera body has been in stock at both places for about a week or more. Both Pat and Red opted to have their new bodies shipped to me so that I can set up their camera bodies. Sandra will be dealing with the .DAT file on her own. There will be lots more on Red at some point. All will receive the a-1 ii Buttons and Dials Guide and the INFO sheets via e-mail so that they can begin using their cameras that same day and start making great images.
Today is Saturday 26 July 2025 and I will of course be heading down to the lake early to see if I can make a good image or two. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. Do remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com.
If an item — a Delkin flash card or reader, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro, or a Wimberley lens plate or low foot — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match or beat any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are — out of ignorance — using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads. And the same is true in spades when ordering new camera bodies or lenses. My advice will often save you some serious money and may help you avoid making a seriously bad choice. Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Don’t Just Shoot: Learn
If you are interested in changing your life and becoming a better photographer by joining me on an Extended IPT at Sebastian Inlet for Ospreys and more (SEPT 25 to NOV 24, 2025) in San Diego for Pacific-race Brown Pelicans and more (JAN 6 to FEB 2, 2026), for Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh mid-March 2026, please e-mail for dates, rates, terms, and additional information. Or shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Some offerings include options for shared AirBnB lodging and meals. Ground transportation during your stay is a possibility at times.
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This image was created on 15 July down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Crouching low, I used the handheld Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel — ISO 2000: 1/80 second at f/16 (stopped down 5 stops) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was 1/6 stop short of perfect. AWB at 7:46:15am on a then cloudy morning. Tracking Spot XS (moved toward the bottom of the frame)/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: Mayflies on sand beach |
Long Time No Use
I brought the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM lens to Jacksonville in hopes of a mega sunrise or some incredibly huge thunderheads. No dice there. When I turned onto the sand beach south of the pier on Tuesday morning past, my SUV was enveloped by clouds of mayflies. There had been a large hatch just before dawn. I am not sure why I grabbed the 12-24 but I did and made several dozen images with it. I made lots of quasi macro images like the one above and tried some wider images as well. None of them thrilled me. But Image #1 at least does a decent job of telling the story of the hatch.
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This image was also created on 15 July down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the driver’s seat of my SUV, I used the the handheld Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 800mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel — ISO 2000: 1/1600 second at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect. AWB at 9:08:15am on a then partly cloudy morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed well. Click on the image to enjoy an inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #2: Snowy Egret swallowing mayfly |
The Plan
Seeing a grackle and a crow on the railing of the pier chowing down on mayflies, I grabbed the 400-800 in hopes of getting some images of the birds gobbling down the juicy winged insects. I got one decent frame of the crow with two mayflies in its bill but a less than ideal head angle. Seeing a Snowy Egret foraging for breakfast along the shoreline, I got back in my vehicle and approached the year-old wading bird. I moved my SUV several dozen times up and back on the beach trying to stay on sun angle as the sun peeked in and out.
After more than a half hour. I finally had a few good close chances as the egret’s slender bill snatched mayfly after mayfly. I was hoping for one good one.
In addition to the crows and grackles, a handsome pair of Crested Caracaras along with numerous cranes chowed down on the decaying and some more recently hatched mayflies for more than a week.
A Two-Frame Stitched Pano
I had gotten a few. In my very favorite frame, Wide AF had failed to track the snowy’s eye and focused on the middle of the upper mandible instead. I noticed that two frames back ( _DSC5181), the bird’s head was in a similar position with sharp focus on the eyes. After painting a Quick Mask of the sharp eyes and the top of the lores I moved the new layer into position on the base image (_DSC5183). First I warped the selection so that the position of the eyes matched and then refined the mask with Regular Layer Mask. That done, I did some extensive cleanup on lores and the proximal upper surface of the bill.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Loved the snowy egret swallowing the mayfly!