Thanks for all the wonderful comments on Carolyn Johnson’s six images in the last blog post. If you would like to be like CJ and join me at Nickerson Beach this August or in San Diego next January, shoot me a text to 863-221-2372. Same if you’d like to learn about switching to Sony. <\/p>\n
Note: CJ will be in San Diego for a few days!<\/p>\n
While handholding the Sony 400-800mm at effective focal lengths that seem totally ridiculous, I came away from Nickerson Beach last week with one extraordinary family jewel image. Two preventable mistakes, however, cost me dearly \u2014 resulting in a heartbreak that nearly made a grown bird photographer cry. Watch the quick 4.5-minute video at the end of this post to see the results of my blunders, learn from my errors, and check out the shots that got away. Scroll down to see the pretty darned good family jewel photo and the astounding 100% crop. <\/p>\n
Note: Copy editing, re-crafting, technical refinement, and formatting for this blog post were assisted by Gemini AI.<\/p>\n
I left the house in pouring rain at 5:20 AM on Monday morning. It was pitch-black and still raining when I arrived at Nickerson, so I opened up my MacBook Pro to work on a few images. The rain eventually eased, but with low light holding back shooting, I kept working until an idea took shape: with an easterly wind, I could set up the tripod inside the car and shoot the gulls bathing in the large puddle just northwest of the pay booths. Naturally, the rain picked up again right as I stepped outside to set up, leaving me soaked. As I was enjoying the bathing gulls \u2014 mostly great black-backeds \u2014 I noticed dozens of southbound migrant shorebirds feeding on the soaked field and in the surrounding puddles. Most were Semipalmated Plovers, alongside two additional species of peeps, a few Lesser Yellowlegs, several Killdeer, an adult Short-billed Dowitcher, and an adult Stilt Sandpiper. When the rain quit, I sat on my Rubbermaid Roughneck Step-Stool<\/a> and worked the shorebirds off the rear monitor with the 600mm f\/4 on my flattened tripod. As light levels were very low and the birds never stopped moving, I made only a very few good ones. <\/p>\n Tuesday morning dawned completely overcast and calm, so we headed down to the beach hoping for Black Skimmer blast-offs. The FE 100-400mm f\/4.5-5.6 GM was the obvious lens choice for me. As far as blast-offs go, the first hour and a half was D-E-A-D dead. Then, it happened: both large flocks of skimmers took to the air simultaneously, sweeping out over the ocean, twisting, turning, crisscrossing, merging into a single large flock, and splitting apart again before returning to the sand. That sequence repeated on and off for nearly two hours. Before and after the dramatic blast-offs, we enjoyed some good flight shooting, juvenile Common Terns on the beach waiting to get fed, newborn skimmer chicks, and several gull\/skimmer predations. All in all, a fabulous morning! I created 6473 yet to be edited images. I am considering doing a YouTube video on the culling … <\/p>\n Having used the 100-400mm f\/4.5 bare and with the 1.4X TC for flock blurs, with the 1.4X TC for single birds and a long gull\/fledged skimmer predation sequence, and with the 2X on a tiny skimmer chick about three days old, I have come to realize that the new Sony 100-400 f\/4.5 fixed aperture zoom is indeed the bird photographer’s Swiss army knife lens — it does everything. Be sure to use one of my two affiliate links to earn a free copy of the BAA lens guide that will be published before the end of September 2026. <\/p>\n Today is Wednesday 19 August 2026. The forecast is calling for a NW breeze at 4mph with partly cloudy skies. We will head out early\/Shirley and see what develops. Whatever you opt to do, I hope that you choose to have fun and enjoy life. Please remember that happiness is a choice — Byron Katie – The Work.Com<\/a> <\/p>\n If an item \u2014 a Delkin flash card or reader<\/a>, a Levered-clamp FlexShooter Pro<\/a>, or a Wimberley lens plate <\/a> or low foot<\/a> — 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. <\/p>\n Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BirdPhotographer’s.Net<\/a>, 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.<\/a> 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.<\/p>\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n To ensure that I get credit for your B&H purchases, you can always click here.<\/a> The tracking is invisible. 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! <\/p>\n 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 <\/em><\/strong> or begin their searches with this link<\/a>, they are always disappointed. If in doubt, please contact me via e-mail<\/a> and request a BH link. I am always glad to help and to guide you to the right gear.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You can visit the Bedfords website here<\/a>, shoot Steve Elkins an e-mail<\/a>, or text him on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592. <\/p>\nGear Questions and Advice<\/strong><\/h2>\n
B&H Simplified<\/h3>\n
B&H<\/h3>\n
Bedfords Simplified<\/h3>\n
Bedfords Amazing BAA Discount Policy <\/h3>\n