Photographing a species and then checking it off your list is not something that I strive to do. The idea is to create interesting images. Though each of today’s photos is of the same subject, juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs, each is distinctly different. There are a variety of behaviors, poses, habitats, and image formats and designs. <\/p>\n
Which of today’s seven featured images is the strongest? Please be so kind as to leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice. <\/p>\n
Please note that there are several additional questions below; each is designed to make you think and hopefully, to help you become a better bird photographer. <\/p>\n
With high tide at 7:20am and cloudy skies and a southeast wind forecast for Friday past, I set my alarm for 5:15am and arrived at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge just after 6:15am. I had planned on visiting the East Pond on the Combo IPT on the previous set of morning high tides but things were so good at Nickerson Beach that Geri and I never made it. <\/p>\n
As I walked out onto the pond, I was delighted to note the low water level. Kudos to the refuge management for getting the gate valve at the north end of the pond repaired and keeping the water down despite lots of recent rain. What struck me the most, were the huge stands of blossoming saltmarsh fleabane (Pluchea odorata<\/em>) that covered acres and acres of shoreline. On 46 years of previous visits, you might see a few plants blossoming at the end of August. <\/p>\n I was feeling quite nostalgic as I traversed the pond. Forty-eight years ago, on my first visit to the East Pond, I saw a Marbled Godwit that wound up changing the remainder of my adult life. I thought of the late Thomas H. Davis Jr, all 145 pounds, 6′ 9″ of him. He taught me to identify and age the shorebirds that visit the pond every season. I thought of my late wife Elaine picking up a dying Forster’s Tern and comforting it. Memories of rare birds and two Jewish high holiday screw-ups flooded my mind and left me feeling quite emotional at times. <\/p>\n I was glad to see lots of shorebirds on the pond. I began on the South Flats and made my way up to the Raunt stopping several times to photograph. I left quite satisfied at about 11:00am. I hit the sack early on Saturday night and woke completely refreshed at 4:45am. I had not planned on returning to the pond but figured what the heck. After making some raspberry tea, I headed back to the East pond leaving at 5:45am. <\/p>\n With the wind having switched to the southwest, I was not feeling stoked. The morning began slowly but then things got better and better. I had lots of birds posing on the weathered boards at the Raunt and right before I headed home at 11:30am, I got my best ever, heck, probably my first ever, images of a Sora, a small usually secretive rail. <\/p>\n Today is Monday September 2, 2024. With a cold northwest wind in the forecast, I opted to stay home and begin packing up for my trip home. I see Dr. Pop tomorrow to have the seven stitches removed from the back of my right thumb. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you choose to have fun. <\/p>\n Please remember to use the B&H links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords to get 3% back on your credit card and enjoy free second-day air FedEx. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT<\/a>. You will be amazed at how much you will learn! <\/p>\n If an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head \u2014 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 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.<\/p>\n If you enjoy and learn from the blog, please consider using one of my affiliate links when purchasing new gear. It will never cost you a single penny. To support my effort here, please order from B&H by beginning your search here.<\/a> Or, click here<\/a>, to order from Bedfords and enter the discount code BIRDSASART at checkout to receive 3% cash back to your credit card and enjoy free Second-Day Air Fed-Ex shipping. It is always best to write for advice via e-mail<\/a><\/center>.<\/p>\n In many cases, I can help you save some serious dollars. And\/or prevent you from purchasing the wrong gear. <\/p>\n This image was created on 31 August 2024 at the East Pond, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Queens, NY. Seated on damp grass and mud behind my flattened Robus RC-5570 Vantage Series 3 Carbon Fiber Tripod<\/a>\/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro<\/a>-mounted Sony FE 600mm f\/4 GM OSS lens<\/a> with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter<\/a>, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.<\/a>. ISO 1600. The exposure was determined by Zebras with ISO on the rear wheel: 1\/500 second at f\/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger<\/a> showed the raw file brightness to be dead solid perfect. AWB at 8:12:30am on a very cloudy morning. <\/p>\n Tracking: Expand Spot\/AF-C with Bird-Eye\/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.<\/p>\nSupporting My Efforts Here<\/h3>\n
\n
\n \n \n \n Image #1: Lesser Yellowlegs — worn juvenal plumage lying flat in the water