Starting the New Year Right!

SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
edited January 3, 2007 in Wildlife
Finally, after many days of solid clouds, rain and yuk, today we had glorious sunshine...and lots of birding activity.

A Juvenile

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Eagles even

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A hawk getting closer

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Posing for the camera

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The crazy squirrel

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Mallards found a fish for lunch

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Giving me the ole eagle eye

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Ready for takeoff

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All in all....a very fun day!
Swartzy:
NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
www.daveswartz.com
Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552

Comments

  • docbelldocbell Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    Swartzy, these are all great shots in all aspects - timing, exposure, sharpness... And the one with the squirrel is a classic; the eagles seem to be looking at him with the same thought I had when I saw the photograph - 'You've got to be kidding me?!?!'
    Were these taken with your new 400 5.6?? I just got the same lens (thanx santa) and am finding it be a very sharp, fun lens.

    Again, great photos. Keep them coming. Kevin.
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    Thanks Doc!
    docbell wrote:
    Swartzy, these are all great shots in all aspects - timing, exposure, sharpness... And the one with the squirrel is a classic; the eagles seem to be looking at him with the same thought I had when I saw the photograph - 'You've got to be kidding me?!?!'
    Were these taken with your new 400 5.6?? I just got the same lens (thanx santa) and am finding it be a very sharp, fun lens.

    Again, great photos. Keep them coming. Kevin.

    Yes, the 400mm 5.6...oh how I love using that lens...if I could use it for portraits....heheh, I would..but I'd be down the block from the subject! I do try and get it on a tripod if possible but have many nice shots handheld. Thinking of going the monopod route for birding. Thanks for the kind words. It was pretty bright out there today and some shots were -1/3 EV then brought back up in post.
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • saurorasaurora Registered Users Posts: 4,320 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    All really nice shots, but that eagle and squirrel shot is a hoot!!!! rolleyes1.gif
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    clap.gifNice ones, David.thumb.gif

    That tree rat sure has his nerve! :D
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    thumb.gifclap.gif Way to go Swartzyman. Nice shootin'. Raptors to start the year off. Can't beat that with a dead soggy sea gull. :D
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • GaleGale Registered Users Posts: 1,052 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    Happy New Year
    All great shots
    But the squirrel and the Eagles is a hoot:>)))
    Best Regards
    Gale

    www.pbase.com/techwish
  • kdogkdog Administrators Posts: 11,681 moderator
    edited January 2, 2007
    Wow, I almost missed this set. You Minnesotans are killing me with all these eagle and hawk shots.

    Truly spectacular series, David. bowdown.gif

    Oh yeah, and the "crazy squirrel" shot is priceless! I love the look on the eagles faces, like "WTF? Who ordered lunch?" rolleyes1.gif

    -joel
    Moderator of Landscapes forum
    Link to my Smugmug site
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    Great shots. I envy the sharpness! bowdown.gif
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    that is a great series! Fantastic job!wings.gif
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    A fine start to the year. clap.gif It would have been perfect if you could have had an eagle chewing on a squirrel shot but there's always next time.
    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!"
  • BIG BROTHERBIG BROTHER Registered Users Posts: 268 Major grins
    edited January 2, 2007
    Eagles, Eagles everwhere! Great series of shots, they are beautiful, makes the day worthwhile. :ivar

    _____
    Jim
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2007
    Thanks everyone!
    We are fortunate to have eagles make their home here. I try to get out a few times a week. I took quite a few flight shots yesterday...some keepers..some not..you know how that goes. Anyway, this may appear as yet another typical flight shot but something about it really attracts me (sorry for image loss as it's reduced to 72 dpi). Notice the blood on his beak.

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    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • Twisted ImageTwisted Image Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2007
    great shots...
    http://des-studios.smugmug.com/
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2007
    These are excellent Swartzy! So did the squirrel get away or did he test his luck a little too much?
    Nick
    SmugMug Technical Account Manager
    Travel = good. Woo, shooting!
    nickwphoto
  • SwartzySwartzy Registered Users Posts: 3,293 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2007
    Thanks Nick
    gluwater wrote:
    These are excellent Swartzy! So did the squirrel get away or did he test his luck a little too much?
    ...nope, he got away...scurried down the tree..he did make a second pass while I was there...nutty squirrel. I have another one from today with a Juvenile....have to post that..too funny. Thanks again Nick...come on up here...we have eagles! mwink.gif
    Swartzy:
    NAPP Member | Canon Shooter
    Weddings/Portraits and anything else that catches my eye.
    www.daveswartz.com
    Model Mayhem site http://www.modelmayhem.com/686552
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2007
    just like Harry said stupid squirrel maybe next time --we have no eagles :cry
    Jeff W

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

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • davevdavev Registered Users Posts: 3,118 Major grins
    edited January 3, 2007
    Nice shots Swartzy.

    I would have liked to got a shot with the squirrel in there as well, but
    no such luck. Maybe next time. (if he hasn't been eaten yet)eek7.gif
    dave.

    Basking in the shadows of yesterday's triumphs'.
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