Thursday, September 20, 2012

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.

50 comments:

  1. lovely skies and reflections. i really liked the series on the GBH!

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  2. Lovley pictures of your life over there ,Nette

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  3. Wonderful colorful skies, plants and reflections. The great blue preening is quite a treat to see.

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  4. Wonderful, dramatic skies, great reflections and the GBH is terrific! Wonderful captures as always, Gary!

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  5. The dramatic clouds makes the skyphoto so good!
    Perfect post for SkyWatch!

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  6. So nice photos from the sky, birds.
    Great job!
    From Hilda

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  7. Nice series, Gary, I like those aquatic mammals, they can be hard to photograph.

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  8. Wow, some of those are breathtaking! I especially like the river reflections.

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  9. There all so great! I loke the first one the best though! :):)

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  10. You found some beautiful skies and I love the red leaves of the blueberry plant.

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  11. The morning sky, and the sparrow. my favourites. But all are super, and thanks for giving us the settings details, so much appreciated. Cheers from Jean ( from Hugh's laptop)

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  12. Delicious reflexes precious photos, all photos are spectacular. I like a lot. Greetings.

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  13. Early fall is looking good in your neck of the woods! We will have duck/goose hunting season soon in the areas where we walk and that scares me. (Although I don't think anyone could mistake a people for a goose, at least by appearance!)...but I just don't like the idea of all those guns out there.

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  14. Great series!! Especially the great blue!!

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  15. Lovely shots, another great hike. I'm going to try to see some fall colors this weekend.

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  16. As always your post is full of wonderful photos and the details of how you captured them is most appreciated, Gary.

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  17. So many beautiful things to see. That's really a wonderful place with lots of critters live inside. Love the way you captured them all.
    Thanks for your kind visit, happy Friday :)

    www.womenandperspectives.com

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  18. First I thought the river reflection pic as uploaded upside down..wonderful clicks!! always enjoy your colourful and nature fresh photos..

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  19. Beautiful series of pictures, love the scenery and reflection, and all the birds are beautiful but the heron shots are particularly wonderful.

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  20. The dawn shots--gorgeous! The reflections in the river--gorgeous! I particularly love the raven in flight, the blue heron walking with his wings bent forward and outstretched (like he's sneaking around) and the beavers! Just gorgeous early morning photos, Gary! Love them all!

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  21. Super shots of the Great Blue Herons. I didn't know they nested that far north.

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  22. They are really good shots, thanks for sharing:)

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  23. Beautiful shots of the sky! Love the Gb heron and the pretty reflections. Hunting season has started here too. Wonderful post!

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  24. Stunning selection of images Gary! The sky shots are spectacular, and I love the otters and herons too!

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  25. Hi there - the focus and zoom trick is one I use as well in low light - and I thought i'd invented it!

    I think a good deal of the colour in my Dubai skies comes from dust from the desert rather than pollution - but there was some of that as well!

    Stewart M

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    1. Actually, Stewart the Emirates have about 10 percent of the known world oil reserves. The air pollution is incredible, and is responsible for several hundred deaths per year. The bad air is a collection of refinery pollutants, dust from quarry, and cement production to build those skyscrapers, and desert conditions.

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  26. You have such a wonderful location for wildlife critters. I hsve enjoyed your wonderful Great blue Heron photos as I have seen very few of that species this summer past ( Yes I guess that that season has unfortunately gone and by tomorrow will be past. Also your photo tips are most interesting and welcome. Recently I hve been focusing more on my camera settings rather than hoping upon point and shoot luck which has often been my style.

    Wonderful photos and sky! Ann in New Brunswick

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  27. Great collection of skies and reflections and critters.

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  28. Amazing clicks! Loved your technique of shooting!

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  29. This is a wonderful series once again.
    The shots of the blue heron and those cute otters are my favourites today.
    Thanks for sharing and enjoy your weekend.

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  30. Very nice varied picture series showing.
    Beautiful autumn colors in the last pictures.
    Wish you a good weekend :)
    Hanne Bente

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  31. awesome pictures. By the way, your models are very cooperative. They posed to you in different angles:)
    Thanks again for wonderful pictures. I mentioned you in my first anniversary blog in joysnotepad.blohgspot.com as one of the photoblogs I love to visit because of the wonderful pictures:)

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  32. The reflection picture is amazing I first thought you had put it the wrong way :) !

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  33. Beautiful Pin Cherry trees in bright autumn colors. Have a nice weekend!

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  34. Beautiful photos, especially the purple finch and cherry trees!

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  35. Extra super shots. Love the reflections, too. Great shots of the Heron. MB

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  36. Great shots at lo light. And, I love those reflection shots.

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  37. Lovely birds and some great shots..I enjoy a bit of birding and its a pleasure to see your post

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  38. Fabulous shots - as usual! I wish I could get that close to the herons on our lake!

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  39. Beautiful bird photos. Love teh sky shots too.

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  40. Great post! Love the great big heron shots a lot. I get to see amazing photos as well as tips on photography. Thanks.

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  41. I like the shots, but mostly those with vertical lines because of the reflection of the grasses, and the other reflections with other patterns in the water.

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  42. Thanks everyone for your visit and kind words. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  43. I love these images of our wild friends.

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