You Call?
Which of today’s three featured images is your favorite? Why did you make your choice?
What’s Up?
Photography at Indian Lake Estates (ILE) has been fabulous recently. We have five baby cranes of varying sizes from week-old chicks to a single small colt. And at least one more sandhill nest with two eggs. The two-small-chicks family trusts us completely; they act as if we were invisible. Black and Turkey Vultures have been all over the perches (thanks to Bob collecting road-killed Wild Boars!) and the Barred Owl has returned several times to Bob Eastman’s (newly erected) North Perch.
Today is Monday 23 March 2026. Can you believe how fast this year is flying by? Kevin Hice and Colleen are stopping by ILE this afternoon and then they, along with Bob Eastman and I, will be heading over to Vero Lake Estates for the second Stick Marsh IPT. We will be meeting up with Nora and Doug Kane and Steve Shore. All are multiple IPT veterans so I am expecting a ton of great images to be made. Kevin and Colleen are going to return to ILE with us after the IPT for a few days of photography.
This just in: we got back from our morning photography session at about 9:30am. The chicks were as cute and cooperative as ever. Ever-ready Bob got some more amazing images with his trusty 200-600: a killer image of an Osprey attacked a Black Vulture in flight, both Barred Owls on his North Perch, and another killer Barred Owl take-off right at him.
I was thrilled to learn yesterday that Stick Marsh IPT participant Drew Salmon signed up for the first Homer 2027 IPT and both songbird days as well. Seven of the ten slots are filled already.
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.
IPT Updates
I was thrilled to learn that multiple Homer IPT veteran Chris Loffredo will be joining the second 2027 San Diego IPT and that long-ago IPT veteran Jon Sostarich and multiple IPT veteran Mike De Rosa will be attending the first 2027 Homer IPT and both songbird days. See the complete details here.
San Diego IPT #1: 4 1/2 DAYS: WED 6 JAN thru the morning session on SUN 10 JAN 2027: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 5 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2: 4 1/2 DAYS: TEUS 19 JAN thru the morning session on SAT 23 JAN 2027: $2699.00. Limit: 5 photographers/Openings: 4.
Anchor Point Songbird Days: WED 10 FEB & TUES 11 FEB 2027. Full day: $500/day.
Homer IPT #1: FRI 12 FEB 2027 through the full day on TUES 16 FEB 2027. Five days/20 hours on the boat: $5900.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 1
Homer IPT #2: WED 17 FEB 2027 through the full day on SUN 21 FEB 2027. Five days/20 hours on the boat: $5900.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 2
Dates for the three 2027 Stick Marsh IPTs will be announced here soon.
B&H Simplified
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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.
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This image was created on 20 March 2026 by yours truly at PhotoCon KC. Standing well back from one of the two Westcott Lighting lighting set-ups 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. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1600: 1/250 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 2:15:44. Wide AF-C with Human Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #1: Model at Lighting Set-up |
What Can I Say?
I love to photograph. A chick is a chick. For my Kansas City trip, I brought a bunch of gear to display at my program. I was thrilled (and a bit surprised) to get everything into the smaller of my two my Think Tank rollers, the Airport InternationalTM V3.0 rolling bag, with a bit of room to spare. The Sony 600mm f/4 GM, 400-800 G, 300mm f/2.8 GM, two camera bodies, a 1.4X TC, and a 2X TC, 33 pounds in all, fit easily into the bag. Anyhoo, after my nap, I grabbed the 300 and an a-1 ii body and walked around the tradeshow looking for something to photograph. Westcott is a leader in producing durable lighting equipment for photography and filmmaking along with a ton of impressive and versatile accessories.
Most folks photographing at the lighting set-up were using short lenses. So, with the 300mm in hand, I stood well back and poached as other folks were photographing the model. I shared this particular image with her and she said that she loved the image, especially the candid approach (with her not looking directly at the camera) and the super soft- f/2.8 background (bokeh).
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This image was created on 22 March 2026 by yours truly at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on damp sand, I used the knee-pod technique with 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. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 2000: 1/640 sec. at f/2.8 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:37:22. Wide AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #2: Sandhill Crane week-old chick striding |
Cute, Incredibly Tame, and Confiding
I would not be surprised if the parents of this chick are the same birds that I photographed in May 2020 (and every year since then) as the birds are totally accepting of my presence (and the presence of others). They leave the marsh well before sunrise and, after walking and swimming right at us, have been spending most of their mornings on the beach just south of the pier. Though they are very active now, they are rarely squabbling anymore. Since they are moving up and down the beach so quickly and often, the 300mm f/2.8 GM lens with or without the 1.4X TC is the tool of choice as it allows me to move quickly and to get into position while getting up and down off the ground. It will be my number one weapon next week with the incoming Roseate Spoonbills at Stick Marsh.
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This image was created by yours truly on 22 March 2026 at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Standing outside my SUV, 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. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. ISO 1000: 1/5000 sec. at f/4 (stopped down 1 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 7:37:22. Wide AF-C with Bird Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Image #3: Northern Mockingbird harassing Barred Owl |
More Mobbing Behavior and a Plane of Focus Miracle
When one or both of the Barred Owls land on Bob’s new North Perch, they are usually soon mobbed by crows, grackles, and mockingbirds. The Northern Mockingbird in this frame was moved from below left of the perch to above right. The miracle was that though the focus was on the closed right eye of the owl, the mockingbird was razor sharp at the wide open aperture. That means that by good fortune, they were on the exact same plane at the instant the exposure was made.
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For those who did not use my link to purchase their Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens, you can order your a copy here for $209.93. Click on the image to enlarge and to be able to read the fine print. |
The BAA Sony 300mm f/2.8 Lens Guide
Impressed by my (or Pat’s) Sony FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens (Sony E) images? Use either my Bedfords or B&H affiliate link to purchase your Sony 300mm f/2.8 GM lens and shoot me your receipt via e-mail and request a copy of the first-ever BAA Lens Guide. I thought that it would take only minutes to create this guide, but I was dead wrong. In the process of creating it, I learned a ton about the lens. And even better, I discovered a simple yet potentially fatal flaw that was resulting in sporadically unsharp flight images. The set-up fix is simple. Just be sure to use one of my affiliate links and get the guide for free.
If not, you can purchase a copy here for $209.93. Yes, it never hurts to use my links and it never costs you one penny more. And if you contact me via e-mail before you make a major purchase, I can often save you some money.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
My favorite is #2, the sand hill crane chick. I love this action shot with the chick raising his foot (which looks to be as big as it’s head!)