What’s Up?
My flights to Seattle (5 hours, 59 minutes) and to Anchorage (3 hours, 22 minutes) were blessedly uneventful. I picked up a Jeep Wagoner, checked into the Coast Inn at Lake Hood, and returned to the airport at 7:15pm to pick up Kevin Hice. Brian “The Mailman” Bower’s flight got in way early and he nestled down on the couch in our room before 3:00am. Kevin and I shared the driving down to Homer. It snowed pretty good on the last half of our journey and we arrived at Land’s End just after 2:00pm.
Today is Wednesday 11 February 2026. As the snow gets the birds hungry, we are very excited about our two upcoming days of songbird photography. I hope that you too choose to have a wonderful and productive day and that you have fun too. And please remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie, The Work.Com (and as discussed in depth here recently).
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 Bedford 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 BirdPhotographer’s.Net, 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.
B&H Simplified
To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here. The tracking is invisible but using my affiliate links is greatly appreciated. And, with B&H, you can use your PayBoo card. You must use the website to order. You cannot get your free guides if you make a phone order. Once you have an item in your cart, you must complete the order within two hours. Huge thanks!
B&H
Many folks have written recently stating that they purchased a Sony a1 from B&H and would like their free membership in the Sony 1 Info and Updates Group, a $150.00 value. But when I check my affiliate account, their orders have not been there. When I let them know that they get credit for B&H purchases only if they use one of the many B&H affiliate links on the blog or begin their searches with this link, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.
Bedfords Simplified
Click here to start your search. Choose standard shipping, and when you get to the payment page, enter BIRDSASART in the discount code box and hit apply. You will be upgraded to free second day air Fed-Ex and receive 3% cash back on your credit card once your stuff ships. Using either my affiliate links is greatly appreciated and will often earn you free guides or discounts. To receive a free guide or free entry into a Sony Set-up and Info Notes e-Mail group, you need to shoot me your receipt via e-mail. The B&H receipts need to include the order number.
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can always use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase when your product ships. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or prior purchases.
You can visit the Bedfords website here, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592.
|
|
This image was created on 7 February 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing halfway down the slope of the small hill just north of the parking circle by the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 400mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000. 1/3200 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:21:23am on a variably sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #1: “Stumpy,” the male Sandhill Crane with a club foot
|
Stumpy
Stumpy is my name for an adult male Sandhill Cranet at Indian Lake Estates. After having the toes on his left leg messed up several years ago, he is left with what I can only describe as a club foot. He has no problem feeding or attracting a mate. He flies well and seems to be doing just fine.
Club Foot in Birds
Club foot in birds may result from a congenital defect or an acquired deformity. It leads to severely misshapen feet, difficulty perching, and an inability to walk normally. Causes range from genetic issues and nutritional deficiencies in the egg to injuries, infections like bumblefoot, or strangulation by debris such as string, discarded fishing line, or other plastic trash.
Softening Background Detail
I used both an ACR background mask and an Inverse (Black or Hide-All) mask in Photoshop to soften the background detail. All as detailed in Digital Basics II, the Digital Basics III Video Series, and the now complete Digital Basics IV Video Series.
|
|
This image was created on 31 January 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing halfway down the slope of the small hill just north of the parking circle by the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. ISO 2000. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel; 1/2000 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 9:01:51am on a cloudy morning. Tracking Zone/AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #2: Sandhill Cranes, pre-copulatory stand |
The Small Hill
There is a small hill just north of the parking circle near the base of the pier at Indian Lake Estates. For reasons unknown to me, Stumpy and his mate spend a lot of time atop the hill most mornings. On a cloudy morning, I grabbed my 300mm f/2.8 GM lens while my slower, super-telephoto zoom lenses, the 200-600 and the 400-800, remained on the passenger seat or mu SUV.
After approaching the pair closely on foot, the female began to walk toward me and spread her wings, inviting Stumpy to copulate with her. So, like Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bears did in a recent NFL game, I turned and ran directly away from the action so that I could fit both birds in the frame without clipping any wings, feet, or heads. It proved to be the right move.
Photographing birds on this small hill in the morning sometimes offer pleasingly distant backgrounds. Silhouettes at this location are possible at sunset.
|
|
This image was created on 3 February 2025 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated in the front seat of my X5, I used the BLUBB-supported Robus RCM-439 4-Section Carbon Fiber Monopod, 65/Wimberley MonoGimbal Head-supported Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS lens (Sony E) (at 450mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/2000 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:31:18am on a variably cloudy morning. Wide/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #3: Sandhill Crane female running start/taking flight |
Shooting Flight Off the BLUBB.
Shooting flight off the BLUBB is a huge challenge. When I saw Stumpy’s lady lean forward and begin to take flight right at me, I zoomed out frantically and trusted the AF system. I got lucky with shutter speed by making a sharp image at a relatively slow 1/2000 second.
|
|
This image was created on 7 February 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing on the small hill just north of the parking circle by the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000. 1/2000 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:32:30am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #4: Sandhill Crane head portrait/blue background
|
The Lake Background
On the morning of the 7th, I remember feeling incredibly privileged to be standing scant yards away as my favorite pair of cranes preened for nearly an hour completely oblivious to my presence. With both birds near the crest of the small hill, I was able to work slightly off sun angle in order to get a blue lake background. This one actually had a strip of light gray sky at the top of the frame and part of me wishes that I had left that …
|
|
This image was also created on 7 February 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing on the small hill just north of the parking circle by the pier, I used the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The Latest Greatest Sony Flagship Body, the a1 II Mirrorless Camera. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/1250 second at f/11 (stopped down 1 2/3 stops) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:46:53am on a sunny morning. Tracking: Zone/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the larger, inexplicably sharper high-res version. Image #5: Sandhill Crane face portrait
|
Getting to the MFD just for Fun
The Minimum Focusing Distance (MFD) of the Sony 200-600 is a very impressive 7′ 10.4″ at the long end. Feeling really connected to my two friends that morning, I slowly approached them to within 8 feet. You can tell when you are within the MFD as the little AF tracking icons will disappear. Anyhoo, I wanted a tight face shot and that is just what I got.
|
Image #5A: 200% crop of the Sandhill Crane face portrait image
|
A 200% Crop
I stopped down 1 2/3 stops in hope of producing just a bit of extra detail. How did I do?
Lens Choice
With my 600mm f/4 still in the shop, I head out each morning with the 300mm f/2.8 GM, the 200-600 G and the 400-800 G lens on two pillows, one on the passenger seat and the other in the footwell.
In low light and cloudy conditions I will usually grab the 300.
On cloudy bright days and/or when I need to get out of the vehicle and handhold, the 200-600 is almost always my first choice.
On sunny days, I will usually work with the 400-800 either from the vehicle or by getting out, getting down on the ground, and working low using either with the knee-pod or the toe-pod technique.
|
Composite #1: All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body.
|
The a-1 ii for General Bird Photography
I have found that eye-tracking for general bird photography with the a-1 ii is far, far better than with the original Sony a-1. It grabs the eye and tracks it faster and far more consistently and focus is rarely lost, even with backgrounds other than sky.
|
Composite #2: All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body.
|
The a-1 ii for Birds in Flight
For birds in flight, the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body has no equal. As Arash Hazeghi says, “It is better than the a-1.” When I am late getting on a bird in flight, I have consistently been amazed at how often the AF system of the a-1 ii finds and tracks the bird’s eye.
|
Composite #3: All the result of using Pre-Capture with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body.
|
Pre-Capture with the Sony a-1 ii
When it comes to Pre-Capture with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body, Arash and I agree 100%. And with my slower reflexes, Pre-Capture is more important for me than it is for Arash. Understand that in each of the images in Composite #3, I did not push the shutter button until after the bird took flight!
|
All with the a-1 ii Mirrorless Camera body.
|
Purchasing or Upgrading to a Sony a-1 ii
The Sony a-1 ii e-Mail Set-up and Info Guide
I now own and use two Sony a-1 ii bodies. Every day that I use them, the more I am amazed by speed and accuracy of the Bird Face-Eye tracking in AF-C and the overall performance of the camera.
Aside from the improved ergonomics as compared to the a-1, other nice features include the fact that the rear screen tilts both ways — the lack of a tilting rear screen on the original a-1 always ticked me off. Pre-capture has proven to be a huge plus almost exclusively for take-off flight images. In my opinion, the Speed Boost feature is a total waste for bird photography because you should always be utilizing the maximum frame rate. In addition, the resolution on the rear monitor has been improved dramatically. I must mention again that Bird Face-Eye tracking on the a-1 ii is vastly improved as compared to both the a-1 and the a9 iii and that the 51MP files are to die for.
So, the big question is, is the a-1 ii “worth” a gear upgrade. Remembering that I can never know whether or not something is worth it to you, I can say that I was not floored when first using my a-1 ii. The differences between the a-1 ii and the original a-1, seemed to be neither huge nor eye-opening. But over time, I have come to realize that I was 100% wrong. The huge difference between the new camera body and the a9 iii is, of course, the 51MP a-1 raw files (as compared to the 24MP files rendered by the a9 iii).
The price of a new a-1 is $5,898.00. The price of a new a-1 ii is $1,100.00 more: $6,998.00. As the a-1 ii is clearly far superior for bird photography to the original a-1, the choice for folks new to Sony or for those upgrading from lesser Sony camera bodies is an easy one. Prices for used a-1 bodies has not dropped drastically as I anticipated. At this point, a-1 folks who like showing flight and action and can afford an a-1 ii, are advised to purchase an a-1 ii. Please remember that life is short; we only get one ride on the merry-go-round.
If you do purchase an a-1 ii, be sure to use one of my two affiliate links so that you will receive my a-1 ii settings (in the form of a CAMSEa1ii.DAT file), the Buttons and Dials Guide, and an Info Sheet for free. Using my links will never cost you one penny and may actually save you some money. Folks who do not purchase their new a-i using my B&H link or from Bedfords here and entering the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout will be able to purchase the a-1 ii guide for $244.93. If you are at all confused and do not want to screw up your order, please get in touch via e-mail. If you would like to chat about upgrading, shoot me a text to 863-221-2372 and LMK a good time to call you.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Re the copulation shot, I’ll simply copy/paste from our conversation about it last week: Two perfect HAs on the cop shot. The male’s head clearing the horizon and the female’s body within the water background…chef’s kiss.
Have fun in Alaska — I can’t wait to see you images!
Amazing detail. I think you did well! What does the tip of the beak in #5 look like as compared to #4 with the greater stop down?