Outdoor Ontario

Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Anonymous on May 21, 2009, 01:16:19 AM

Title: Shorebird Symphony
Post by: Anonymous on May 21, 2009, 01:16:19 AM

Enjoy...

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/DunkingDunlins.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Assorted1.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/SemipalmatedSandpiper2.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/ShortBilledDowitcher3.jpg)

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/ShortBilledDowitcher4.jpg)

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Post by: Kin Lau on May 21, 2009, 08:29:22 AM

Nice Short-billed Dowitchers, #2, 4 & 5.

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Post by: Anonymous on May 21, 2009, 08:48:57 AM

Thanks Kin, it was a fun day out watching these birds for sure.

Hoping to get more shorebirds this week, maybe spice it up a bit.

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Post by: Bird Brain on May 21, 2009, 10:45:36 AM

Attila, great photos!  I especially enjoyed your second photo.  

Re: photo 4 ... synchronized wading?  :lol:
Re: photo 5 ... solo artist?  hehe.  

Jo-Anne  :)

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Post by: Greg Schneider on May 21, 2009, 01:23:55 PM

Lovely breeding plumage. Where'd you go for these? Generally, if you can get a lower angle for shorebird or waterfowl shots your images will be more effective.

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Post by: Anonymous on May 21, 2009, 01:52:56 PM

Hey there everyone,

Jo-Anne - yep, syncro wading for sure in #4, whereas the solo bird in #5 was moving towards a patch of what could only be described as sludge.  :lol:

Greg - yes, I was lucky to get them as they migrate back up to their original ranges.  However, there was no breeding activity going on at the location.  The photos were taken at the Reesor Rd. drainage pond, located just north of Hwy. 407 on the western side.  You have to park on the shoulder of the road, and there is a walkway going around the pond.  If you choose to take the path that winds to the right, you will have to cross a bog/sewer culvert via rocks so watch your step.  

With regards to positioning, I think you'll find that when the birds are located on either of the 2 fingers that extend into the pond, you can lie flat on your gut and SLOWLY move towards them.  I would suggest not moving too far out on the finger as the birds will feel cornered and eventually take off and fly to the other finger on the pond.  The 2nd shot above was taken from about 30 feet away with my 300mm lens as I was lying on my gut.  I braced with my elbows so that I could raise the camera about a foot to include the plovers in the shot.  With regards to the other shots, I was about 20 feet away from the birds hiding out behind some bushes waiting for them to come by.  In that particular situation, it was impossible to get lower to the ground as there was tall grass/weeds/bushes that were between myself and the subjects, so I just chose my openings and did my best to shoot the birds without disturbing them as they fed.

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Post by: Greg Schneider on May 21, 2009, 02:46:04 PM

Atilla,

I appreciate the explanation. I will have to try Reesor pond sometime, thinking of trying the Townsend/Jarvis/Smithville lagoons this weekend.