choices, choices

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited September 17, 2005 in Wildlife
Hi you'll,

There have been some who have said that I have it too easy living so close to the Viera Wetlands. They , especially Ben, don't know how tough it can be. Here's a scene that I ran into recently.

35504149-L.jpg

On the tree on the left there's an osprey and on The Tree there's a crested caracara. I'm in the middle and pretty soon I'm running from tree to tree carrying my tripod and camera like a ball in a pinball game.

First the osprey
35504077-L.jpg

next the caracara
35504133-L.jpg

back to the osprey
35504113-L.jpg

I run back to the caracara and to my horror I find a second caracara has arrived. Overload!!!!

35504124-L.jpg

the osprey looks on without sympathy as I slump to t e ground. i'm too old and fat for all this running around. kurt.gif

35504118-L.jpg
Harry
http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
«1

Comments

  • AndyAndy Registered Users Posts: 50,016 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    :food mmm crested caracara :D
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    Well sorry Boss if your looking for sympathy you barking up the wrong tree :lol

    Outside of providing you with wonderful photo ops, they are also giving you that needed physical activity to keep you in fighting trim :lol4

    Oh anytime you get tired of lugging the big, heavy 500 around just keep my address handy so the paramedics know where to send it rolleyes1.gif
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    My heart bleeds..................:cry

    for you of course, Harry.rolleyes1.gif

    ginger

    not even going to comment on the photos, sure do look small in the first one, though. Kind of like that kingfisher of Ben's.
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    Wow!
    No "blown highlights" or the need for "healing" here! thumb.gif

    35504077-M.jpg

    What a pose....clap.gif
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    What a wonderful problem to have. THe photo op...not the old age. eek7.gif

    Nice shots as usual, Harry. Like that realistic looking pale blue sky. thumb.gif

    What I'm wondering.....is why didn't you blast away with the machine gun setting? I'd have shot at least a burst of a few at each bird...before I played pinball. rolleyes1.gif

    Nice job.

    I have posted some flight shots in the Dgrin challenge 47 forum. Perhaps you Nikonian machine gunners could go take a looksee and comment. I could use those eagle/osprey eyes of you old guys. headscratch.gif

    Cheers

    BMP
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    andy wrote:
    :food mmm crested caracara :D
    Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. rolleyes1.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    bfjr wrote:
    Well sorry Boss if your looking for sympathy you barking up the wrong tree :lol

    Outside of providing you with wonderful photo ops, they are also giving you that needed physical activity to keep you in fighting trim :lol4

    Oh anytime you get tired of lugging the big, heavy 500 around just keep my address handy so the paramedics know where to send it rolleyes1.gif
    Geez you're a hard man. :lol


    I'm retired I don't have to be in fighting trim anymore. The 500mm goes with me when I'm buried. blbl.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    ginger_55 wrote:
    My heart bleeds..................:cry

    for you of course, Harry.rolleyes1.gif

    ginger

    not even going to comment on the photos, sure do look small in the first one, though. Kind of like that kingfisher of Ben's.
    Thanks Ginger, I need all the sympathy i can get for my plight. rolleyes1.gif

    They sure are small, that's why I got the 500mm lens. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. rolleyes1.gif
    Maybe they were trying to get you on the m enu?mwink.gifrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif :eat:cheeburga 10944573-Ti.gif :burger binge.gif
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    No "blown highlights" or the need for "healing" here! thumb.gif



    What a pose....clap.gif
    Thanks Ric. That osprey was a much better model than the caracara and he had better lighting too. :):
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Geez you're a hard man. :lol


    I'm retired I don't have to be in fighting trim anymore. The 500mm goes with me when I'm buried. blbl.gif

    Does the word exhume do anything for ya rolleyes1.gif :lol4 :lol :Dmwink.gif
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    bfjr wrote:
    Does the word exhume do anything for ya rolleyes1.gif :lol4 :lol :Dmwink.gif

    "...........no sooner had I pried his dead stiff blue hands off that marvelous 500mm lens .......and the fuzz pulled up. They quickly drew their guns on me. I was quickly tackled, handcuffed...and escorted to the big house for a lengthy stay. Needless to say the lens was snatched from my greedy cotton pickin' hands and locked away in the evidence lock up room. It was placed in a secure blue box until the trial date."


    eek7.gif

    No wonder you are so blue, Ben.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2005
    Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. rolleyes1.gifif you fall my deal is the caracaras get you the osprey my friend picks up the glass on its on it way to LA [as a good sound to it ]mmaybe andy can get you a golf cart for those out of car shots :D and it does seem odd to me that the bird is called a [car a car as] is that not how you shoot these birds in a car car :D thanks for the info today thumb.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    What a wonderful problem to have. THe photo op...not the old age. eek7.gif

    Nice shots as usual, Harry. Like that realistic looking pale blue sky. thumb.gif

    What I'm wondering.....is why didn't you blast away with the machine gun setting? I'd have shot at least a burst of a few at each bird...before I played pinball. rolleyes1.gif

    Nice job.

    I have posted some flight shots in the Dgrin challenge 47 forum. Perhaps you Nikonian machine gunners could go take a looksee and comment. I could use those eagle/osprey eyes of you old guys. headscratch.gif

    Cheers

    BMP
    Hey Mike,

    Not to worry about me blasting away. These are just a few of the over 200 shots I took. I'll be stopping the challenge later and eyeballing your pics.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    gluwater wrote:
    Maybe they were trying to get you on the m enu?mwink.gifyelrotflmao.gifyelrotflmao.gifyelrotflmao.gifDukeGirl.gifcheeburga.gif10944573-Ti.gifburger.gifbinge.gif
    You have a point Nick. The caracaras and vultures usually hang around when I shoot. They figure that a fat old man running around while's he is smoking is a good possibility for a meal. lol3.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • ehughesehughes Registered Users Posts: 1,675 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Great stuff Harry... What, no Bald Eagle??? :D

    Ed
  • KirwinKirwin Registered Users Posts: 417 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Look at all the birds... bet you got specialized "bird feeders" set up to lure them into your backyard!!:lol eek7.gifrolleyes1.gif Nice captures Harry!
    Regards,
    Kirwin
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    bfjr wrote:
    Does the word exhume do anything for ya rolleyes1.gif :lol4 :lol :Dmwink.gif
    Eeech :uhoh you won't stop as anything will ya. I may have to bequest it to Jeff. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    jwear wrote:
    Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. rolleyes1.gifif you fall my deal is the caracaras get you the osprey my friend picks up the glass on its on it way to LA [as a good sound to it ]mmaybe andy can get you a golf cart for those out of car shots :D and it does seem odd to me that the bird is called a [car a car as] is that not how you shoot these birds in a car car :D thanks for the info today thumb.gif
    These shots were from outside the car with the camera on a tripod. When The raptors are on The Tree they aren't bothered by humans on the ground. Funny that you mentioned a golf cart because Trish and I have decided a golf cart would be the perfect shooting platform for the wetlands.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited September 13, 2005
    Very nice Harry thumb.gifthumb.gif


    I'm with Ben. Try as I might, I was unable to generate any sympathetic thoughts about your dilemma rolleyes1.gif I face similar issues when I go out to eat. Let's see, should I order the steak or the lobster? lol3.gif Like with your problem, it's usually a tough choice. You seem to have found the solution. Multi-tasking....Laughing.gif


    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    ehughes wrote:
    Great stuff Harry... What, no Bald Eagle??? :D

    Ed
    Thanks Ed. The bald eagles migrated a few months ago and had not returned when I took those pics. Fortunately around a week after I took these shots I saw a pair of bald eagle son the road to the wetlands and as a added bonus I got some shots of a golden eagle on Monday. :D
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Kirwin wrote:
    Look at all the birds... bet you got specialized "bird feeders" set up to lure them into your backyard!!lol3.gifeek7.gifyelrotflmao.gif Nice captures Harry!
    Thanks Kerwin. We don't need bird feeders on the Viera Wetlands we have THE TREE. lol3.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • KhaosKhaos Registered Users Posts: 2,435 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Funny stuff Harry. That Caracara is beautiful. thumb.gif
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Very nice Harry thumb.gifthumb.gif


    I'm with Ben. Try as I might, I was unable to generate any sympathetic thoughts about your dilemma rolleyes1.gif I face similar issues when I go out to eat. Let's see, should I order the steak or the lobster? lol3.gif Like with your problem, it's usually a tough choice. You seem to have found the solution. Multi-tasking....Laughing.gif


    Steve
    Geez what a tough crowd!:uhoh I didn't retire to end up multi-tasking. :hurt
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Trish323Trish323 Registered Users Posts: 908 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Harryb wrote:

    hey HB,

    What a nice shoot you had! But...(rubbing it in) still no kingfisher??? When I am there that nasty little bird follows me aroundrolleyes1.gifI think he is afraid of your 500mm. Great shots of the caracara's! (We are supposed to be keeping track of caracara sightings, but I have not had a chance to relay the info to you...)
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited September 13, 2005
    Trish323 wrote:
    Harryb wrote:

    hey HB,

    What a nice shoot you had! But...(rubbing it in) still no kingfisher??? When I am there that nasty little bird follows me aroundrolleyes1.gifI think he is afraid of your 500mm.

    WTG Trish !!! You tell em rolleyes1.gifrolleyes1.gif
    Oh Harry I made sure Jeff changed his will :wow rolleyes1.gif
  • DixieDixie Registered Users Posts: 1,497 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2005
    Great shots Harry. With that 500 you ought to be able to setup in the middle and just turn around. 1drink.gif ...hoping that the light is right for both.
    Dixie
    Photographs by Dixie
    | Canon 1Ds | Canon 5D Mark II | Canon 5D | Canon 50D | Canon 10D | Canon EOS Elan 7 | Mamiya Pro S RB67 |
    ...and bunches of Canon lenses - I'm equipment rich and dollar poor!
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2005
    Khaos wrote:
    Funny stuff Harry. That Caracara is beautiful. thumb.gif
    Thanks. I love shooting the caracaras because they are so different from the other wildlife.
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2005
    Trish323 wrote:
    Harryb wrote:

    hey HB,

    What a nice shoot you had! But...(rubbing it in) still no kingfisher??? When I am there that nasty little bird follows me aroundrolleyes1.gifI think he is afraid of your 500mm. Great shots of the caracara's! (We are supposed to be keeping track of caracara sightings, but I have not had a chance to relay the info to you...)
    Thanks Trish. I'm gonna keep trying for that kingfisher. Who knows I just may luck out

    35086035-L.jpg
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited September 14, 2005
    Ben, I thought you and Jeff were going to take care of that "stump".

    ginger
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
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