B.O.D. 2/2/05 + bonus pic

HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
edited February 3, 2005 in Wildlife
Hi you'll,

Today's bird is a little bit smaller than the past BODs. He's the Pied-Billed Grebe. His length is 12-15 inches with a wing span of 22 1/2 inches. I've been trying to get a decent shot of one these suckers for awhile but they are very shy and when they spot you they just duck under the water.

Harry
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!"

Comments

  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2005
    and because Dee asked so nicely here's a non-bird pic. This is the area the grebe was hanging out in.
    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!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2005
    You stumped me, Harry!
    I was trying to come up with a smartass response to the "bonus" feature and came up empty.headscratch.gif

    Two fine pics.
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2005
    Thanks Harry
    Harryb wrote:
    and because Dee asked so nicely here's a non-bird pic. This is the area the grebe was hanging out in.

    Lots of duck looking critters floating on the water :D

    I guess you have to be really patient to get some of these birds... they see you coming and duck and swim away? Almost as bad as the big white bird that used to haunt you.
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 2, 2005
    Harry - Are you shooting from shore or from a boat? Or do you do any wading the the gator tank? From your photo of the area for Dee, it seems like you cannot get very close to some of the birds.. From your other pictures you are very close at times.

    The great blue herons I have shot along the Wabash river seem to have a spook radius of almost 100 yards - get closer than that and boom- they launch and are gone. Even when you approach them slowly in a drifting boat.Makes it very hard to get nice frame filling images.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • Ann McRaeAnn McRae Registered Users Posts: 4,584 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    and because Dee asked so nicely here's a non-bird pic. This is the area the grebe was hanging out in.
    Harry - I think this is the nicest ......what is it called - all i can come up with is swamp........landscape that I've seen from you. (And that is no small feat!)Great, great color and clarity. Beautiful.clap.gif

    ann
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 2, 2005
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    I was trying to come up with a smartass response to the "bonus" feature and came up empty.headscratch.gif

    Two fine pics.
    I am so disappointed. I was counting on a smartass response. If you want PM me, I have at least 3 you can use. rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Harry
    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 February 2, 2005
    Hey Dee
    Dee wrote:
    Lots of duck looking critters floating on the water :D

    I guess you have to be really patient to get some of these birds... they see you coming and duck and swim away? Almost as bad as the big white bird that used to haunt you.
    Patience is a must. If you remember my "go dunk your head" pic, I hung out with that egret for close to an hour waiting for him to do something that would make a good shot.

    Sometimes you just luck out and they are so engaged in looking for food that you can get a few shots off before they notice you and head for the exits. A lot of the fun in this kind of photography is in the "hunt".

    Harry
    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 February 2, 2005
    pathfinder wrote:
    Harry - Are you shooting from shore or from a boat? Or do you do any wading the the gator tank? From your photo of the area for Dee, it seems like you cannot get very close to some of the birds.. From your other pictures you are very close at times.

    The great blue herons I have shot along the Wabash river seem to have a spook radius of almost 100 yards - get closer than that and boom- they launch and are gone. Even when you approach them slowly in a drifting boat.Makes it very hard to get nice frame filling images.
    Hey PF,

    The Viera Wetlands are a series of connected man made ponds created to treat waste Between the ponds are raised dikes with an unpaved one way road. I get most of my shots from my car window. The birds will feed and hunt along the shores of the ponds and you shoot down at them from a few yards away (if they tolerate your presence).

    The different birds have different reactions to your presence. The Little Blue, Green and Tricolor herons are very shy and will take off as soon as they notice you in the immediate area. The egrets are much less shy and will usually hang around until they see you getting out of the car. The most tolerant are the Great Blue Herons. The problem I had yesterday was them being too close. I just got my Nikon 1.4 tc so I was shooting with it and my 300mm/f4. This one Great Blue was just a few feet from my car and I had too much reach. I got this shot by leaning all the way back in the car and shooting from the passenger side through the driver's window. As soon as I got out of the car to step back he fllew off.
    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!"
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited February 2, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Hey PF,

    The Viera Wetlands are a series of connected man made ponds created to treat waste Between the ponds are raised dikes with an unpaved one way road. I get most of my shots from my car window. The birds will feed and hunt along the shores of the ponds and you shoot down at them from a few yards away (if they tolerate your presence).

    The different birds have different reactions to your presence. The Little Blue, Green and Tricolor herons are very shy and will take off as soon as they notice you in the immediate area. The egrets are much less shy and will usually hang around until they see you getting out of the car. The most tolerant are the Great Blue Herons. The problem I had yesterday was them being too close. I just got my Nikon 1.4 tc so I was shooting with it and my 300mm/f4. This one Great Blue was just a few feet from my car and I had too much reach. I got this shot by leaning all the way back in the car and shooting from the passenger side through the driver's window. As soon as I got out of the car to step back he fllew off.


    I understand using your vehicle as a blind. That's too easy. Lots of wildlife has figured out that cars are not worth worrying about, but the moment you open the door - bingo "I'm outa here!"

    Makes me wonder if an old used beat up van with a side door or window might make a useful tool. You could even use a tripod on the floor of the van perhaps. A cheaper accessory than some long telephotos!!
    I have thought about covering my boat like a duck hunter for floating on the Wabash just for this reason.
    Thanks for your response, Harry.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2005
    Ann McRae wrote:
    Harry - I think this is the nicest ......what is it called - all i can come up with is swamp........landscape that I've seen from you. (And that is no small feat!)Great, great color and clarity. Beautiful.clap.gif

    ann
    Thank you Ann. Its a little bit different from shooting in the NYC subways but I'm enjoying my swamp photography. :D

    Harry
    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!"
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2005
    Harryb wrote:
    Thank you Ann. Its a little bit different from shooting in the NYC subways but I'm enjoying my swamp photography. :D

    Harry
    Harry I always look forward to your bird shots.. do you wear camo and a head net? just wondrin..clap.gif
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2005
    Harry, I was too busy last night to comment on your photos. The little bird is a good capture, but I really like the shot for Dee, the trees in the water with the reflections. I love the space you left at the right with the little ducks in them.

    Where I took those photos yesterday, they are very difficult. You all are right, cars drive by, kids ride their bikes, but I walk up with a camera, ONTO the grassy area, and fly away, fly away bird.

    The great thing about that camera, which I must say makes a loud klunk, I thought it would spook the bird, but it didn't. Maybe it is a noise in a decibel range I hear well. But the great thing is that I can catch the flying bird with the camera. Just too exciting there. Then I had problems as it got dark and I really didn't know how to set my camera. Got some great shots. Too bad they are all black. That dog don't hunt, as I think they say somewhere around here, and it was my worst lens.

    I changed the first photo. I was tired, having trouble in every way with the PC, and I put up the wrong one. I wish I had been closer to that bird, he had a fish that made some photos just look gross. But he did wash it before "trying" to eat it. I think he did, too.

    But, Harry, I am sorry for talking all about myself. I really like the "wetland" shot, I would take more of them, while waiting for birds. How many, how big and how fast are your CF cards.

    ginger (I can't use the car as a blind, it is a paved rd with traffic, not fast, but constant, and there is a distance factor. I can't drive up on the grass, this is not that type of place. I have other people's driveways I park in, set my camera, then try to sneak in at least one shot. Yesterday, I think that fish was just too good for the bird to give up. Besides, I sat as low on the wet ground as I could.)
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • Steve CaviglianoSteve Cavigliano Super Moderators Posts: 3,599 moderator
    edited February 3, 2005
    Love the grebe, Harry. Those little guys are shy. If I'm not mistaken, they also paddle around with much of their body submerged, on occassion. Making it tough to shoot anything but their neck and head...lol


    Your marsh is awesome. Hang a hammock between a couple of those trees and you've got yourself a Florida shooting blind :lol


    Thanks for sharing these,
    Steve
    SmugMug Support Hero
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 3, 2005
    lynnma wrote:
    Harry I always look forward to your bird shots.. do you wear camo and a head net? just wondrin..clap.gif
    Thanks Lynn, gald you enjoy them. No camo or hair net but I'm working on a Great Blue Egret costume that's just about ready. mwink.gif

    Harry
    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 February 3, 2005
    Ginger
    Hey Ginger,

    I've been pretty busy too today. I like the wetland shot better too but its so much easier to take, The wetlands just stay in place.

    Enjoy your new camera, just don't get flustered by the learing curve. I'm lucky because the wetlands are just a perfect place to take bird shots. Its a lot easier than what you have to contend with. I only have 2 one gig CF cards (40x speed) but I also have a Wolverine tahts a 40 gig portable hard drive. When one CF card gets filled up I put it in the Wloverine and download the files while I shoot with the other card. When the second card gets filled up it goes in the Wolverine and I go back to the first card.

    Harry
    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 February 3, 2005
    Steve
    Love the grebe, Harry. Those little guys are shy. If I'm not mistaken, they also paddle around with much of their body submerged, on occassion. Making it tough to shoot anything but their neck and head...lol


    Your marsh is awesome. Hang a hammock between a couple of those trees and you've got yourself a Florida shooting blind :lol


    Thanks for sharing these,
    Steve
    Hey Steve,

    Glad you liked the pics. I've been taking pics of those darn grebes for months now and this is the first one I didn't delete. They are tough buggers to shoot. As soon as they spot you the go under and you can't guess where they will surface.

    Harry
    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!"
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