Our phone and DSL lines are out since the huge rainstorm on Sunday. Please accept our apologies if your order is delayed. Frontier is supposed to be coming to the house on Wednesday … I an extreme emergency, please text me complete details to 863-221-2372 and I will do my best.
What’s Up?
Despite the cloudy-with-thunderstorms forecast, Monday morning at Jekyll Point was still and fabulous. And clear and sunny. We arrived in the dark to shoot the pre-down orange glow. I re-learned an lesson that I had learned many years ago — and had forgotten … Image and lesson here soon. With breeze against sun at sunrise, we killed on incoming backlit gulls and tern landing right at us. As the wind shifted lightly to the south we had a gorgeous Snowy Egret and some Willets in a tidal creek. After our morning session, Eric and I headed to Brunswick to do some grocery shopping. With wind against sun on a beautiful afternoon, we opted not to make the walk out to Jekyll Point and instead, visited several other spots on the island with the expected results. As Meatloaf says, Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.
Today is Tuesday 5 April 2022. Eric and I will likely be headed to Harris Neck NWR in Richmond County, GA. The forecast for the morning is for partly cloudy with a gentle SE breeze followed by severe thunderstorms for the entire afternoon. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes twenty-six days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn …
This image was created on 3 April 2022 at Jekyll Point, Jekyll Island, GA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/1600 second at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 6:34:39pm on a sunny afternoon.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Face-Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Dunlin in surf
Back of the Left Hand on the Beach!
To work at ground level, behind by sitting down.On clear days you need to try to get on sun angle. Then place the back of your left hand on the beach with your palm facing the sky and supporting the lens. You will work the tilted rear screen. Reading glasses are a must for me. It is a good idea to keep the monitor level activated so that you at least have a clue as to what level is. Handling the lens and framing the subject is awkward, and zooming in or out is difficult at best. I clipped lots of tails, and missed on tons of action and take-off chances. But getting a few good ones right at water level makes the risk worthwhile for me. As with many images made using this technique, this one needed to be leveled.
This image was also created on 3 April 2022 at Jekyll Point, Jekyll Island, GA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/640 second at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 7:01:21pm on a sunny afternoon.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Face-Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Laughing Gull in surf calling
Trusting AF
When working at ground level, it is necessary to trust your camera’s AF system implicitly. Having the level activated clutters the viewfinder and makes it difficult to see how well the autofocus system is performing. That’s where the trust comes in. And as always, you can get to Carnegie Hall by practicing, practicing, and practicing some more.
This image was created on 3 April 2022 at Jekyll Point, Jekyll Island, GA. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 524mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000. 1/1600 second at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 7:26:55pm on a sunny afternoon.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Face-Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Laughing Gull screaming at fly-by
Sony 200-600 Lethality
It has become obvious to me that the Sony 200-600/Alpha 1 combo is the best-ever by far walk around super-telephoto rig for bird photography, zoom or otherwise. To be able to take a walk on the beach without a huge heavy lens and a tripod and make images like those featured here today is a blessing. In addition you have a deadly flight photography lens and a rig that does very well with the 1.4X TC on sunny days getting you out to 840mm. If you can hand hold this less-than six pound combo, you need to seriously think about switching to Sony …
If you cannot afford the a1, the 200-600 with an a9 II is a close second, and still better than anything else out there.
High Level Questions
1- Which of today’s three images was the most difficult to create? Why?
2- Which of today’s three image succeeded in part because of sheer luck?
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
I got tons of work done in my Jacksonville AirBnb on Sunday morning and then headed to Jekyll Island. I arrived at Villas by the Sea at about 2:00pm. Check-in is at four, but they mercifully got me into my unit at 3:05. I unpacked the car for my ten-night stay and rested a bit. I headed out to check out the fishing pier at the north end of the island but wound up at the south end instead. Oops. I met Eric Bowles of GNPA at the St. Andrews Picnic Area at 5:45pm and we headed to Jekyll Point, 1.3 miles there and 1.3 mile back. We had lots of gorgeous Laughing Gulls, some Royal Terns, a few assorted gulls, more than 500 Black Skimmers, several dozen Sanderling and a dozen Dunlin, several fly-by flocks of Double-crested Cormorants and a single fly-by flock of about 20 Blue-winged Teal. The beach itself is beautiful. I worked exclusively with the 200-600 shooting at close to ground level.
The strange thing about today’s post is that I still have many more good images from what I originally thought was a poor morning.
Today is Monday 4 April 2022. The forecast for the morning is for partly cloudy skies with a southeast wind with thunderstorms developing at about 10:00am. Eric and I are headed back to Jekyll Point for sunrise. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes twenty-five days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn …
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 2 April 2022 at Gatorland, Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 1250: 1/500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was perfect. AWB at 9:12:22am on a very overcast morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Two tiny Great Egret chicks in the nest
The Situation
Most of the photographers at Gatorland were dismayed that Saturday past dawned very foggy and that the sun never appeared. I was thrilled. Rookeries are difficult enough to photograph on cloudy days and when the sun is out and up, things can be borderline impossible. With no harsh shadows to deal with, at least you have a chance.
Looking at today’s three featured images, you will quickly realize that I had to choose my perspectives very carefully to find a slot through the twigs and branches, all the while using out-of-focus leaves in the foreground to pleasingly frame the images. As there are several nests very close to the boardwalk, the 600mm f/4 was completely worthless. I loaned it to BPN/UK friend Mike Poole. When I ran IPTs to Bempton Cliffs, Mike was always a huge help. Anyhoo, the new Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the FE 2x Teleconverter and a1, proved to be deadly once again. AF is super-fast and accurate, the zoom is fast and smooth, and at 400mm, the lens focuses inside of four feet! When working in tight quarters, this combo is remarkable. As I have said here before and often, the new 70-200 II obsoletes the Sony FE 100-400 GM lens.
You can learn more this great lens in several blog posts including the New Kid on the Block: Versatile, & Deadlier Than Ever post here and the In Memoriam: Not! More on the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 II GM post here.
This image was also created on 2 April 2022 at Gatorland, Kissimmee, FL. Again, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 800: 1/400 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was perfect. AWB at 8:40:47am on a very overcast morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Great Egret chick looking like a cobra
A Single Tip that is Worth the Price of Admission …
There is a single tip in the Gatorland section of The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide that is immensely helpful for photographing the point-blank Great Egret nests. You can find it in the section on photographing the nests near the small shelter and in the Gatorland 3 April 2022 Short Update. If you own the guide, please shoot me an e-mail that includes proof of purchase with the words Gatorland 3 April 2022 Short Update Please in the Subject line.
This image was also created on 2 April 2022 at Gatorland, Kissimmee, FL. Again, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 1000: 1/500 sec. at f/6.3 (stopped down 1/3-stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness to be dead-solid perfect. AWB at 9:34:24am on a very overcast morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection enabled performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Great Egret chick thinking about begging
No Idea How I Made This One
I am not sure how I made such a clean image here. It’s as if the bird were floating in some sort of nest heaven. I did execute a small crop from our right and below. Images #2 and #3 show a different large chick from the same nest. I guess that perspective is everything.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back-and-forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? Please leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice.
What’s Up?
When I left Gatorland after the Saturday morning session, I thought that it had been a bad one. When I saw my images, I changed my mind. Working several Great Egret nests at close to point-blank range with the Sony 70-200 f/2.8 II and the 2X TC with the a1 I made many excellent photos of small chicks. All were pleasant surprises. It was great seeing UK and BPN friend Mike Poole at GL. He recently switched to the Sony A1/200-600 G lens after decades with Canon. He did lots of great stuff underwater with his Nikon gear. I stopped for a great salad bar lunch with Anita North at Jason’s Deli, 25 W Crystal Lake St., Orlando. Getting to my AirBnB in Jacksonville took a lot longer than expected as I encountered several Armageddon-like thunderstorms on I-4. I had to pull off the highway several times.
Today is Sunday 3 April 2022. With clear skies and NW winds from Jacksonville to Jekyll Island, I will be staying in the morning and getting some work done. Why not even try? NW winds with cool temps and sunny skies are the death knell for bird photography. You gotta know when to fold em …I will likely try to make it to Jekyll Point on Sunday afternoon for a walk-about. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes twenty-four days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn …
Wanted to Buy
I have a serious buyer looking for a Sony a9 II and a Sony 200-600 G lens. Please contact me via e-mail if you have one or both of those items sitting on a shelf unused.
Great Flight Photography Experience and Tips with Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Enjoy this short (3:16) video and learn a ton on one of my best flight photography sessions ever. To learn to be a better bird photographer, sign up for an Instructional Photo-Tour here.
Did I pick the best White Ibis image?
This image was created on 30 March 2022 at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay aboard James Shadle’s customized pontoon boat, the Hooptie Deux. I used the no-longer-available Induro GIT 304L/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1000. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the thumb dial: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the image was about 1/3 stop too dark. That knowledge helped me to properly adjust the Exposure slider during the raw conversion in ACR. AWB at 8:13:11am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Brown Pelican returning to nest with bill pouch distended. image
Always Looking for Something Special
It is possible that when a pelican approaches its nest with the bill pouch distended it is some sort of display. The bird in the nest will usually look up and open their bill pouch, seemingly as a greeting.
Comments on the vegetation in the lower right corner are welcome.
This image was created on 30 March 2022 at Alafia Banks in Tampa Bay aboard James Shadle’s customized pontoon boat, the Hooptie Deux. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 353mm), and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 500. 1/3200 second at f/6.3 (wide open). AWB at 9:46:20 on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Face-Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: White Ibis in max breeding plumage with prominent gular sac
Vulchinnian
Many years ago, Captain James “Froggie” Shadle coined the term vulchinnian for the red gular sacs of White Ibises at the height of breeding plumage. I believe that both the males and females develop the sacs during the breeding season. We had some good chances on these birds on our Saturday morning trip, but Sunday was beyond the beyond. It took me a few minutes to find the best spot on the relatively small island. Following my instinct, I discovered a group of about 40 birds bathing just around a corner. With the wind and sun right behind me, the birds were taking off one after another and flying right at me. I quickly called James and Brendan to the spot. From there on, it was an absolute slaughter.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
