American Bittern

[bolden]

I found this guy yesterday at Yolo Bypass wildlife area, which just fully reopened recently after a month of flooding. He was very cool to watch hunt, and did not seem to mind me at all. The rest of the pictures can be seen here. http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8500.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8600.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8651.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8655.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8740.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8745.jpg

I also found these guys when i just entered the wildlife area.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a31/bolden916/Photography/Wildlife/DSD_8382.jpg

[Steve Cali]

Bolden,

Absolutely stunning!

That new lens of yours is incredibly sharp!

Are you handheld, shoulder mount, monopod, or tripod...?

For me to get pictures that sharp I would need a tripod, mirror up and remote...grin...

Love the shots.

Steve Cali

[Ed Wahl]

Thanks Ben, I love seeing pics of my old friends. Only you get them in a lot closer. Ed

[bolden]

Steve,

The last picture of the stilts in flight was handheld, but all of the bittern were on a tripod. Most of the shots were from 1/50 to 1/200 of a second, so a tripod was crucial.

#2 was the only one i posted that i used MLU and remote, mostly because he was perfectly still and i had a 1.4 tc on, so it helped get it as sharp as i wanted.

With no tc i can get sharp shots without MLU or remote down to about 1/100 of a second, which was the case for the last two bittern pictures i posted.

The long glass is very tough to use, and i have realized that my tripod is not entirely up to the ask when fully extended. It vibrates so much when fully extended that its hard to get sharp shots at slower shutter speeds. Luckily i mostly shoot out of my car, so it is stuck in between my door and seat without any extention, which seems to be stable enough.

[Steve Cali]

Bolden,

Thanks.

I just bought a Gitzo 3540LS and a Markins M 20 Ball head that should be in my mail box on Monday. I hope this set up makes my ratio of keeper shots go up.

Steve Cali