Consumnes Birds

[bolden]

A large variety of birds were out once again, including a first, two short eared owls.

The Devil Bird, as many photographers call them, as they are nearly impossible to get close to.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_4966.jpg

Northern Harrier

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_4988.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_4994.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_5176.jpg

White-Tailed Kite

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_5161.jpg

Kestral with mouse and then cleaning his beak after dinner.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_5182.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_5210.jpg

Finally, the owls. It was getting late so they ended up being at high iso's, in the 1600-3200 range. This one turned out the best.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_5274.jpg

[davkrat]

Nice Bolden,
I used to live down the road in Thronton. That place is areal jewel. The Sandhill cranes used to circle over my house as they flew into the preserve. What lens were you using? A 300mm with a 2X converter? It seems like that was what you said you had in an earlier post. Do you use a Wimberley/Gimble head? Very nice. Keep them comming.

[bolden]

What lens were you using? A 300mm with a 2X converter? It seems like that was what you said you had in an earlier post. Do you use a Wimberley/Gimble head? Very nice. Keep them comming.

I have a 300mm f/4 and a kenko 1.4tc. I have a decent tripod and a ballhead, but i mostly shoot handheld. In fact, all of these shots from today were handheld. I am hoping to one day own a 500mm f/4 (do dreams really come true?).

[davkrat]

I used to have a 500mm lens but it was lost when I got robbed a few years a go. That has been a tough one to replace. They just cost so much. My uncle has a 600mm Canon and it is too big he says. I think the ligther 500mm are definately the way to go. One of these days. I remember a few years ago my uncle had his EOS 1Ds I think they were like $4-6,000 at the time, can't remember, and his 600mm lens $6-7,000. I was sitting there thinking the several pounds of electronics sitting on top of his tripod cost more than my first car!

Where were you shooting those birds? Did you stick to the autop route or were you out on the trail. I have seen the short eared owls out there several times. They are pretty cool birds. Sometimes the marshhawks will make little faux charges on the ducks. One tip I got from another photog out there is to stay in your car. It's amazing how close you can get to wildlife in a car (that's why it's illegal to hunt from one) but the second you open the door they are gone. I rigged up a platform that sat on the door of my jeep and had a ballhead mounted on it. If you have a fairly tall vehicle they can be very good blinds to shoot from. Unfortunately I haven't done any bird photography in a long time.

[bolden]

Where were you shooting those birds? Did you stick to the autop route or were you out on the trail. I have seen the short eared owls out there several times. They are pretty cool birds. Sometimes the marshhawks will make little faux charges on the ducks. One tip I got from another photog out there is to stay in your car. It's amazing how close you can get to wildlife in a car (that's why it's illegal to hunt from one) but the second you open the door they are gone. I rigged up a platform that sat on the door of my jeep and had a ballhead mounted on it. If you have a fairly tall vehicle they can be very good blinds to shoot from. Unfortunately I haven't done any bird photography in a long time.

At consumnes i usually focus on the auto loop part, that first left before the boardwalk parking lot. Sometimes i will check out the boardwalk area, as sometimes the harriers hunt the patches of land between the water and get close to the walking area. I have done the trail a few times, but there was much more wildlife around the roads.

That part about staying in the car is definitely something i stick to, i rarely even get out of the car.

[Steve Cali]

Bolden,

While this is not a great shot it does show what Picture Control can do on a D300 when Vivid is customized with Saturation pumped up...it's not very natural but geeze the colors, especially primary colors, pop. Notice the feet on this Sharp Skinned Hawk. At least I think that's what it is...

http://www.califlies.com/SharpSkinnedHawkStill3.html

Steve Cali

[k.hanley]

Say hey Steve,
Boy does that baby pop! Looks like a fine speciman for the "Sharp-shinned" juvenile (IMHO). Small head, light brown markings on the chest and beyond, white edge on the tip of the tail feathers all indicate the appropriate identifiers. Last but certainly not least... those y-e-l-l-o-w legs. Dang they make a statement in your pic. We have a sharp-shinned that frequents my backyard while chasing morning doves. Thanks for sharing the image. Where did you capture the shot?
Cheers, Ken

[Steve Cali]

Ken,

The shot was taken today after a business meeting I had in Santa Cruz right next to the Santa Cruz harbor.

I was shooting in Aperature Priority and forgot to check my Aperature after another shot I was taking and left it wide open at 2.8. So, if you blow up the picture the eyes of the hawk are a bit soft where as the chest is almost TACK sharp...well not TACK but....always trying....

Anyways, I was messing around with vivid settings, under picture control, on my D 300 at the time and was compaing the photos to Bolden's shots here because he uses a D 300 as well...

Steve Cali

[bolden]

Bolden,

While this is not a great shot it does show what Picture Control can do on a D300 when Vivid is customized with Saturation pumped up...it's not very natural but geeze the colors, especially primary colors, pop. Notice the feet on this Sharp Skinned Hawk. At least I think that's what it is...

http://www.califlies.com/SharpSkinnedHawkStill3.html

Steve Cali

I have played with the Picture Control Settings, but i shoot all raw and usually change it to neutral with no sharpening when i bring it in to NX. I like to have more control over how the picture comes out, although it usually doesn't look that much different than converting it in cam with the Picture Control Settings.

That is a nice picture by the way, what lens?

[Steve Cali]

Bolden,

You have posted some amazing photos here...I love viewing your posts.

I have not shot my d 300 in raw yet. I too like the control you will have with raw...expecially white balance. With raw you do not have to nail the picture but you do have to know your way around photoshop.

Anyway, the lens I was using was a Nikon 2.8 70-200 VR.

Bolden, I should have never said compairing my photos to yours in the above post...there is no comparison, your photos are way beyond my grasp and you are truely a great photographer. I am still finding my way around...but slowly getting the shots I want.

Again, I love your images you post here...thanks!