More Scenes, Critters, and Birds At the Vermilon River

 The photos were taken over a period of three days on the west side of the River, and on the abandoned railway line known as the east track that leads to the beaver pond and the Moose Lake wetland. Boom is not with me as it's also hunting season, and way too dangerous for him. Sun rise is a little after seven a.m. I would be at the start of the trail around seven thirty. Again that accounts for the lack of light. Heavy mist/fog, and overcast conditions compound the lighting problem.

 I'm not shooting with the 150-500 mm lens currently as there is just not enough light. I'm using the 70-300 mm lens and an ISO of 800. Even then the AF has real trouble with the mist or fog. So here's what I do: I turn the lens to the 70MM and use AF to focus, gradually turning to the 300 mm using AF to focus all the time. It seems to work for me. This applies to the wildlife photos only. I know you're thinking why not go out later, but the four legged critters are nocturnal and more likely to be available in the early morning.

 All the initial photos were taken at the east track. REMEMBER CLICK ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE, AND VIEW THE SLIDESHOW.

A post to Sky Watch Friday, and Camera Critters. Just click to be redirected.

Beaver pond reflection early morning.

River reflection later in the day.

Mist in the tundra.

Sky further to the east.

Beaver lodge.

 This Great Blue was hunting in the east track wetland where the water level is low. I think the low water level made for easy pickings as he has been there for three days. These photos are all shot with the 70-300mm on 800 ISO in bad light at F8 He would be about 100 plus feet away. I'm standing on the track well above him. I used  the system I mentioned above to focus. And yes, there is a fog or at least,a mist.

Down goes the head after prey

Preening.

Still preening

Posing

This even hurts to look at.

Posing

Posing again

With reflection

Actually walking.

Ducks on the beaver pond.

Teals on the west side of the River in the wetland.

Wood Ducks in the big wetland.

Wood Ducks again.

Sparrow 

Same Sparrow

 At my feeders the 10-12 female Purple Finch have remained, and are visited by males from time to time.

Raven in flight.

 I used the same focusing methods to get these shots.

 Yes we have pigeons also. They feed on the droppings from the grain railway cars passing through. The flock is probably continually culled by the wildlife.

Pigeons in flight.

Beaver

Same

 The River Otters were in the wetland on the west side of the River. There are three of them. I found the trail they use to get into the wetland. If the trail is wet they're there.

Otter tail

Close up.

The other two.

Pin Cherry trees turning red.

Blueberry plants turning red.

Maple tree turning red.