[M_Six]

Today I went out to a local "marsh" to check out the migrating birds. This used to be a water treatment plant many years ago and when they shut it down they turned the ponds into a wetland area. There are three ponds. One is fairly large and is ringed by hundreds of feet of reeds. The other two are much smaller and more accessible, but the birds know this and tend to stay at the large pond. I was stunned by the hundreds of birds there today. This is a narrow FOV as I only had my 400 and 1.4x TC mounted today.



As I approached the small ponds the birds there all took off. There's just no way to approach unheard with all the dry leaves and grass around the pond. But I settled in under a tree and stayed quiet and eventually they came back. Still, distance was my enemy again today.

A ring necked duck takes flight.





Some northern shovelers.







And a red winged blackbird who performed a song and dance routine for me.







After the marsh I went down to Lake Charleston and immediately witnessed an eagle flyover. I also saw some great blue herons and a horned grebe.

[IRide]

It looks as though you had a thoroughly successful day.

[M_Six]

Not bad, all in all. Light could have been better. And I really need to make the jump to the 500mm f4 IS.

[druu]

Nice shots! It might just be me, but the bokeh looks a little 'busy' for some of them.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by druu

Nice shots! It might just be me, but the bokeh looks a little 'busy' for some of them.

The 1.4x TC III tends to do that.

[Itsed65]

Great stuff Mark. Gotta love BE's! I'm loving my 500f4, but I'm still impressed with the Tamron as well. You might wanna rent one to check it out. It might surprise you.

[druu]

ahh gotcha, didn't know it had that effect sometimes.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by druu

ahh gotcha, didn't know it had that effect sometimes.

Only on long distance shots that are heavily cropped. On closer shots with little or not cropping, the bokeh is sweet.

[druu]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Only on long distance shots that are heavily cropped. On closer shots with little or not cropping, the bokeh is sweet.

oh yeah, look at those bokeh balls.