7/14: Birds, Lizards, Turtle, Owl & BIFs (still here!)

zackiedawg

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Been having a brutally busy week, and have been almost completely absent from the site and most of the web for the past week or so - other than popping in. I realized it's been about a week since I posted any wildlife stuff, so I wanted to take the opportunity while I had it to post up some more selections with the A6300 & Fe70-300mm combo, around the South Florida wetlands areas. Things should be returning to normal by this weekend, and then next weekend I'm on vacation for 5 days...well needed after covering for a co-worker while she's been on vacation all this week.

All shots posted at 1400 pixels on the long side if you click the original size - some good detail in there and worth looking at the originals.

Sorry for the gap in posts, after confirming that more wildlife posts were OK and then disappearing for a week and not posting any!

A lovely green heron, wading through the shallow waters on the hunt for an unwary fish (20 feet)

A lovely green heron, wading through the shallow waters on the hunt for an unwary fish (20 feet)

A roseate spoonbill, doing the ol' one-legged stand on a tree limb. When you're standing around for long periods of time, it's nice to stand on alternating legs so the other can rest up a bit! (40 feet)

A roseate spoonbill, doing the ol' one-legged stand on a tree limb. When you're standing around for long periods of time, it's nice to stand on alternating legs so the other can rest up a bit! (40 feet)

Not the world's greatest shot, but it's a rarity so well worth the effort. I've only spotted this type of bird twice, and only photographed (very badly) once before - so it was a treat to get a clean ID of him - a black-whiskered vireo (50-60 feet)

Not the world's greatest shot, but it's a rarity so well worth the effort. I've only spotted this type of bird twice, and only photographed (very badly) once before - so it was a treat to get a clean ID of him - a black-whiskered vireo (50-60 feet)

This pretty and inquisitive duck is a black-bellied whistling duck...walking through the tall grasses and stopping to see what I was up to (15-20 feet)

This pretty and inquisitive duck is a black-bellied whistling duck...walking through the tall grasses and stopping to see what I was up to (15-20 feet)

A partner came along, and I was no longer interesting. I liked their browns and orange colors standing out against all the green foliage

A partner came along, and I was no longer interesting. I liked their browns and orange colors standing out against all the green foliage

Nothing like a showoff...this brown anole was flexing his dewlap on his neck, flashing that colorful patch of red - either to attract a mate, or to intimidate me as a competitor for his ladies (3-4 feet)

Nothing like a showoff...this brown anole was flexing his dewlap on his neck, flashing that colorful patch of red - either to attract a mate, or to intimidate me as a competitor for his ladies (3-4 feet)

Yep - I think it was for me. He looked my way, started doing push-ups, and flexing that dewlap even more

Yep - I think it was for me. He looked my way, started doing push-ups, and flexing that dewlap even more

A baby green heron, growing a bit larger and learning to flex those wings to prepare for flight. The peach-fuzz white feathers were not all gone yet - still a few sticking up around the head and back. (20 feet)

A baby green heron, growing a bit larger and learning to flex those wings to prepare for flight. The peach-fuzz white feathers were not all gone yet - still a few sticking up around the head and back. (20 feet)

Yep - Mr. eastern screech owl is still around...and still intensely watching anyone who passes by his territory. He was partially hidden up in a palm tree, but the 300mm zoom was enough to get in there tighter and get his angry little face (15 feet)

Yep - Mr. eastern screech owl is still around...and still intensely watching anyone who passes by his territory. He was partially hidden up in a palm tree, but the 300mm zoom was enough to get in there tighter and get his angry little face (15 feet)

A great egret, wings full-spread, flying over in the very clear skies that day (60-80 feet)

A great egret, wings full-spread, flying over in the very clear skies that day (60-80 feet)

A very tiny and very cute baby turtle, sitting on a partially submerged root, with the blue-sky reflections in the waters (20-25 feet)

A very tiny and very cute baby turtle, sitting on a partially submerged root, with the blue-sky reflections in the waters (20-25 feet)

Rough distance of each subject noted in the description. Weather - stupid-hot, 90-ish degrees F, 80-85% humidity.

All shots of non-flying animals were taken using my usual MR1 bank of settings: Flex Spot - Med, AF-S, Center-weight metering, 3fps burst mode, Stabilization on, Auto ISO 100-6400. JPG Extra fine.

All BIF shots taken using my usual MR2 bank of settings: wide focus area, AF-C, Center weight metering, 6fps burst mode, Stabilization off, Auto ISO 100-6400. JPG Extra fine, S Priority defaulted to 1/1000 shutter, adjusted as needed.

Comments, questions, and critique welcomed as always!

--
Justin
galleries: www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
 
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Do you use any tripod collar? The 70-300 is very heavy for a tiny body like A6300.
 
Very nice!

Marie
 
Sorry for the gap in posts, after confirming that more wildlife posts were OK and then disappearing for a week and not posting any!
Don't be sorry for anything! We ALL await your weekly thread with all the great pictures you share with us, especially the settings you capture them with.
Rough distance of each subject noted in the description. Weather - stupid-hot, 90-ish degrees F, 80-85% humidity.
I agree, I'm only 40 minutes away from where you take pictures and the heat is crazy hot!

Even if you do not get as many replies or comments as you should, there are many of us that truly appreciate your threads, I hope you continue to post them. Here are a few back at you since you inspire me to take more pictures.


Do you know what kind of bird this is? I call it a shell cracker, they are always eating clams by the bank.


That is one ugly bird (Stork), but they do let you get pretty close to them.


This is a Heron, not sure what kind it is.

Again, thanks for sharing your extremely good pictures. There are more people than you know who appreciate them, including me!

BTW, all taken with my a6300 & 55-210 at f8.0 in AF-S mode, JPEG extra fine using Capture One to post process.

--
Life is short, make the best of it while you can!
http://grob.smugmug.com/
 
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Particularly love the Owl shot.
 
Nothing like a showoff...this brown anole was flexing his dewlap on his neck, flashing that colorful patch of red - either to attract a mate, or to intimidate me as a competitor for his ladies (3-4 feet)

Nothing like a showoff...this brown anole was flexing his dewlap on his neck, flashing that colorful patch of red - either to attract a mate, or to intimidate me as a competitor for his ladies (3-4 feet)

Yep - I think it was for me. He looked my way, started doing push-ups, and flexing that dewlap even more

Yep - I think it was for me. He looked my way, started doing push-ups, and flexing that dewlap even more

--
Justin
galleries: www.pbase.com/zackiedawg
So, Justin, let's see some shots of you flexing back to show him you're the king of the swamp!

(Love your shots as always! Wish I had such an interesting area to shot in, too, although we've sure got the high temperatures and humidity here in Missouri!)

--
Karen
 
original.jpg
A roseate spoonbill, doing the ol' one-legged stand on a tree limb. When you're standing around for long periods of time, it's nice to stand on alternating legs so the other can rest up a bit! (40 feet)
I'd really love to see this bird some day, and in the wild.
original.jpg
A partner came along, and I was no longer interesting. I liked their browns and orange colors standing out against all the green foliage
I like the colour of their beaks.
Yep - I think it was for me. He looked my way, started doing push-ups, and flexing that dewlap even more

Yep - I think it was for me. He looked my way, started doing push-ups, and flexing that dewlap even more
My thoughts precisely - though more like posing for you.

original.jpg
Yep - Mr. eastern screech owl is still around...and still intensely watching anyone who passes by his territory. He was partially hidden up in a palm tree, but the 300mm zoom was enough to get in there tighter and get his angry little face (15 feet)
It's been decades since I saw an owl "in the wild".

The last one I remember was a huge owl sitting on our backyard wall. Might have been 30 years ago, or more. I know there are some barn owls to be found in the city, but the roads here are more painful than rocky forest trails up a mountain.
 
Very nice shots! :)
 
Good to see you back Justin, with lots to share, Love those ducks too.

I am getting to know the wonderful 70-300mm as well, could be better if I did not get the overheating issue with my copy of the A6300.

enjoy your vacation, hope to see more upon your return.

Cheers!
 
Do you use any tripod collar? The 70-300 is very heavy for a tiny body like A6300.
I don't use any collars, tripods, or supports...just handheld.

I actually consider the 70-300mm to be pretty light and quite small. It's all relative of course - my other camera is a big-bodied DSLR and I use it with a 150-600mm Tamron lens also handheld - that kit runs 3 times the weight and 3 times the size of the A6300 and FE70-300mm, so when I am using the e-mount kit, it feels like a feather by comparison!

I keep the neck strap on my A6300, and just wrap it twice around my right wrist when walking with the camera, holding onto the grip - it gives me a little more security. Mostly when I'm just carrying the kit, I hold it by the lens barrel rather than the grip...or cradle the lens in my left arm while holding with the right.
 
Don't be sorry for anything! We ALL await your weekly thread with all the great pictures you share with us, especially the settings you capture them with.
Many thanks. I just was far too busy this week to get any chance to post - still a little crazy so I can't wait for the weekend...and late next week a vacation!

I agree, I'm only 40 minutes away from where you take pictures and the heat is crazy hot!
It's been broiling lately. Especially when you go out to the wetlands and stand over the water...or when it rains and then stops and the sun comes out full - the boardwalks with the wet wood actually steam - all that moisture makes for near 100% humidity at that spot!

Even if you do not get as many replies or comments as you should, there are many of us that truly appreciate your threads, I hope you continue to post them.
Indeed - My worries were abated. I certainly don't need the comments - I just needed to make sure posting was still good etiquette. Sounds like enough of us still enjoy having the photos to look at, so I'll keep it up myself...and I'll comment on others' photos too whenever I can!

Here are a few back at you since you inspire me to take more pictures.
Nice birds - that first ibis really has some lovely color - I like when their bill gets that vivid red color - they get a little dull during the fall and early winter.

Your third bird is a younger great blue heron...probably only been out of the nest and on its own for a month or two.

Thank you kindly on the comments!
 
I guess I am not used to that kind of weight connected to the mirrorless cameras. :)
 
Justin, I have that lens and am really pleased with it. I still have my a6000 camera, in your experience is it worth the upgrade for still pictures to the a6300 ?

i sure enjoy your work, thank you.
 
Great stuff. You are lucky to have such an abundant resource.

Same kit here. Been shooting ravens this week from a hide. They are just too smart to allow for many shots..

Keep it up



Raven in Vt
Raven in Vt
 
Great stuff. You are lucky to have such an abundant resource.

Same kit here. Been shooting ravens this week from a hide. They are just too smart to allow for many shots..

Keep it up

Raven in Vt
Raven in Vt
Nice shot of a Raven in VT! I took one not too long ago that looks similar to yours, but I have always called them Black birds.


It looks very similar to the bird you took a picture of. Is there a difference between a 'Black Bird' vs a 'Raven'? I think Ravens may be a bit larger, but I'm not sure. I was on my bike riding across a bridge and this one flew in front of me, took s dump as if to say, here, take a picture of this :/

It is a bit over saturated, but the original is in my gallery almost next to it. I tried to put the colors in the wings to show how it looked when I shot it. He must have been eating some red berries that day :-)

If you can't answer the question, I'm sure Justin probably can.

--
Life is short, make the best of it while you can!
 
So, Justin, let's see some shots of you flexing back to show him you're the king of the swamp!
I gave into him right away - I couldn't compete with his display - he was 'The Man!'

(Love your shots as always! Wish I had such an interesting area to shot in, too, although we've sure got the high temperatures and humidity here in Missouri!)
Thank you Karen...much appreciated!

 
It's been decades since I saw an owl "in the wild".

The last one I remember was a huge owl sitting on our backyard wall. Might have been 30 years ago, or more. I know there are some barn owls to be found in the city, but the roads here are more painful than rocky forest trails up a mountain.
Thanks for the look-through and the play by play on some of the shot comments.

We aren't usually too lucky with owls - these eastern screech owls are very small, and I have gone years without seeing them - but the past few months this one has been staking out a home in one spot where I've been routinely seeing him every day I go out there. We also only get a few weeks out of the year where we might be lucky to find one of the giant Great Horned Owls when they come to nest. And we have our burrowing owls too...but I don't always get the chance to go to where they hang out - the closest ones to me are just a few miles from my house, but on a college campus where I can't park so I'd have to walk a few miles over then hunt around trying to find burrows!
 

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