May 7, 2014 – Ridgefield NWR and Port of Ridgefield – 28 Images

Home » May 7, 2014 – Ridgefield NWR and Port of Ridgefield – 28 Images

May 7, 2014 – Ridgefield NWR and Port of Ridgefield – 28 Images

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Today, May 7, I had a great time shooting an Osprey nest at the Port of Ridgefield on the Lake River.   I visited here for the first time a few days before this shoot in the afternoon and the sun was not where I wanted it to be.  So I came back on May 7 at sun up when the sun was directly behind me while facing the nest.  So today’s shoot consists of basically Osprey and Yellowthroats, the latter of which I shot at the Ridgefield NWR, a couple of miles away.  I took hundreds of frames of the Ospreys and attempted to choose the best ones for the blog post today.  I hope you don’t get tired of so many shots of the same species.

All shots of the Ospreys were done at 500mm.

I’m posting this to my site on May 19: This was a wonderful day for me and my wonderful wife and family, as a weight was lifted from our shoulders today when we found out that my wife’s biopsy results (the 2nd in 6 months) came back benign.  We’re taught in life to not take anything for granted, and these last 10 days have really brought this home to us.  We are eternally thankful!

Time to get to the May 7 pictures.  As I noted above, I arrived at the Osprey nest site at sun up and stayed about 2 1/2 hours.  There were some pretty long waits between action events but it was well worth it for me.  For the Osprey photos, I am set up about 150-160 feet from the nest, a few feet below nest level.  For the fastest auto focus and best optics I chose to shoot the 500 bare, without any extenders.  I placed my lens on my tripod which only has the basic ball head.  I now know from experience why the Wimberly Gimbal tripod head would have been very nice to have.  I needed smoother motion and a more sturdy head for my big lens.

When I arrived, the female (with the ‘necklace’) was perched on a tree to my right, such that me, the female, and the male on the nest formed a near equilateral triangle.

To view the first 4 photos below without the sidebar getting in the way, please click on the pictures once.  Hit your browser back button to get back to the post where you left off.

Here’s the female on the tree branch.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 1250, 500mm.     (6:44 a.m.)

_X5A1722-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

A head on shot.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 1250, 500mm.     (6:44 a.m.)

_X5A1723-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

After about 20 minutes, the female made the flight to the nest to relieve the male.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 1250, 500mm.     (7:04 a.m.)

_X5A1782-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

Same shot but different wing position.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:04 a.m.)

_X5A1785-Edit20140507RNWR    Osprey

 

And the male takes off.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:04 a.m.)

_X5A1799-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey flight

 

A kayaker passes by on Lake River.       Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:09 a.m.)

_X5A1807-Edit20140507RNWR  kayaker

 

Now the male returns 7 minutes later with what looks like grass or mud in his talons.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1813-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey flight

 

Approach.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1818-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

Landing.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1825-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

“How did I do?”     Very well, sir!      Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1827-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

Surprisingly, the female now on the nest decided to leave it for a few minutes and check out a couple other ospreys nearby that were circling.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1833-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

It wasn’t long and she was back to continue her duties.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:13 a.m.)

_X5A1853-Edit20140507RNWR    osprey flight

 

And, a later approach.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 320, 500mm.     (7:25 a.m.)

_X5A1883-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

All of a sudden, two mature Bald Eagles fly very close to the osprey nest but continue on without incident.  Here’s one of the pair.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 320, 500mm.     (7:29 a.m.)

_X5A1922-Edit220140507RNWR  Bald Eagle flight

 

Here’s the female landing again about an hour later.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f5, ISO 500, 500mm.     (8:23 a.m.)

_X5A1991-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey flight

 

This is my view through the lens, uncropped.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2036-Edit20140507RNWR    osprey nest

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2038-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

Leaving the nest.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2039-Edit20140507RNWR  Osprey flight

 

“Who put this here?!”       Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2064-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

“This place is a pigsty!”      Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:02 a.m.)

_X5A2080-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey

 

That concludes the osprey shots.  Now I’m back at the Ridgefield NWR.

A Western Scrub Jay poses on a post for me.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:31 a.m.)

_X5A2104-Edit20140507RNWR   western scrub jay

 

And a Black-tailed doe was munching on some grass.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:39 a.m.)

_X5A2110-Edit20140507RNWR   black-tailed deer

 

Common Yellowthroats are one of my favorite warblers.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (10:14 a.m.)

_X5A2125-Edit20140507RNWR   common yellowthroat

 

Savannah Sparrows are all over the place.  It’s hard to find a sign without one perched on it.  Here’s one on the road.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f6.3, ISO 640, 500mm.     (10:24 a.m.)

_X5A2199-Edit20140507RNWR  savannah sparrow

 

A Wood Duck out of water, often seen in trees this time of year.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f5.6, ISO 640, 700mm.     (10:53 a.m.)

_X5A2240-Edit20140507RNWR  wood duck

 

Back in the water.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f5.6, ISO 640, 700mm.     (10:54 a.m.)

_X5A2254-Edit20140507RNWR  wood duck

 

Here a Common Yellowthroat poses for me on a post and wire.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f5.6, ISO 640, 700mm.     (11:31 a.m.)

_X5A2262-Edit20140507RNWR  common yellowthroat

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f7.1, ISO 640, 700mm.     (11:34 a.m.)

_X5A2275-Edit20140507RNWR  common yellowthroat

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my photos today!  Hope to see you again soon.   Take care!

Posted in

Today, May 7, I had a great time shooting an Osprey nest at the Port of Ridgefield on the Lake River.   I visited here for the first time a few days before this shoot in the afternoon and the sun was not where I wanted it to be.  So I came back on May 7 at sun up when the sun was directly behind me while facing the nest.  So today’s shoot consists of basically Osprey and Yellowthroats, the latter of which I shot at the Ridgefield NWR, a couple of miles away.  I took hundreds of frames of the Ospreys and attempted to choose the best ones for the blog post today.  I hope you don’t get tired of so many shots of the same species.

All shots of the Ospreys were done at 500mm.

I’m posting this to my site on May 19: This was a wonderful day for me and my wonderful wife and family, as a weight was lifted from our shoulders today when we found out that my wife’s biopsy results (the 2nd in 6 months) came back benign.  We’re taught in life to not take anything for granted, and these last 10 days have really brought this home to us.  We are eternally thankful!

Time to get to the May 7 pictures.  As I noted above, I arrived at the Osprey nest site at sun up and stayed about 2 1/2 hours.  There were some pretty long waits between action events but it was well worth it for me.  For the Osprey photos, I am set up about 150-160 feet from the nest, a few feet below nest level.  For the fastest auto focus and best optics I chose to shoot the 500 bare, without any extenders.  I placed my lens on my tripod which only has the basic ball head.  I now know from experience why the Wimberly Gimbal tripod head would have been very nice to have.  I needed smoother motion and a more sturdy head for my big lens.

When I arrived, the female (with the ‘necklace’) was perched on a tree to my right, such that me, the female, and the male on the nest formed a near equilateral triangle.

To view the first 4 photos below without the sidebar getting in the way, please click on the pictures once.  Hit your browser back button to get back to the post where you left off.

Here’s the female on the tree branch.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 1250, 500mm.     (6:44 a.m.)

_X5A1722-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

A head on shot.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 1250, 500mm.     (6:44 a.m.)

_X5A1723-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

After about 20 minutes, the female made the flight to the nest to relieve the male.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 1250, 500mm.     (7:04 a.m.)

_X5A1782-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

Same shot but different wing position.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:04 a.m.)

_X5A1785-Edit20140507RNWR    Osprey

 

And the male takes off.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:04 a.m.)

_X5A1799-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey flight

 

A kayaker passes by on Lake River.       Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f4.5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:09 a.m.)

_X5A1807-Edit20140507RNWR  kayaker

 

Now the male returns 7 minutes later with what looks like grass or mud in his talons.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1813-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey flight

 

Approach.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1818-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

Landing.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1825-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

“How did I do?”     Very well, sir!      Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1827-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

Surprisingly, the female now on the nest decided to leave it for a few minutes and check out a couple other ospreys nearby that were circling.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:11 a.m.)

_X5A1833-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

It wasn’t long and she was back to continue her duties.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f5, ISO 400, 500mm.     (7:13 a.m.)

_X5A1853-Edit20140507RNWR    osprey flight

 

And, a later approach.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 320, 500mm.     (7:25 a.m.)

_X5A1883-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

All of a sudden, two mature Bald Eagles fly very close to the osprey nest but continue on without incident.  Here’s one of the pair.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f5, ISO 320, 500mm.     (7:29 a.m.)

_X5A1922-Edit220140507RNWR  Bald Eagle flight

 

Here’s the female landing again about an hour later.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1600, f5, ISO 500, 500mm.     (8:23 a.m.)

_X5A1991-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey flight

 

This is my view through the lens, uncropped.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2036-Edit20140507RNWR    osprey nest

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2038-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey flight

 

Leaving the nest.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2039-Edit20140507RNWR  Osprey flight

 

“Who put this here?!”       Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:01 a.m.)

_X5A2064-Edit20140507RNWR   osprey

 

“This place is a pigsty!”      Canon 5D Mark III, 1/2000, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:02 a.m.)

_X5A2080-Edit20140507RNWR  osprey

 

That concludes the osprey shots.  Now I’m back at the Ridgefield NWR.

A Western Scrub Jay poses on a post for me.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:31 a.m.)

_X5A2104-Edit20140507RNWR   western scrub jay

 

And a Black-tailed doe was munching on some grass.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4.5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (9:39 a.m.)

_X5A2110-Edit20140507RNWR   black-tailed deer

 

Common Yellowthroats are one of my favorite warblers.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f5, ISO 640, 500mm.     (10:14 a.m.)

_X5A2125-Edit20140507RNWR   common yellowthroat

 

Savannah Sparrows are all over the place.  It’s hard to find a sign without one perched on it.  Here’s one on the road.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f6.3, ISO 640, 500mm.     (10:24 a.m.)

_X5A2199-Edit20140507RNWR  savannah sparrow

 

A Wood Duck out of water, often seen in trees this time of year.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f5.6, ISO 640, 700mm.     (10:53 a.m.)

_X5A2240-Edit20140507RNWR  wood duck

 

Back in the water.     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f5.6, ISO 640, 700mm.     (10:54 a.m.)

_X5A2254-Edit20140507RNWR  wood duck

 

Here a Common Yellowthroat poses for me on a post and wire.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f5.6, ISO 640, 700mm.     (11:31 a.m.)

_X5A2262-Edit20140507RNWR  common yellowthroat

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f7.1, ISO 640, 700mm.     (11:34 a.m.)

_X5A2275-Edit20140507RNWR  common yellowthroat

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and viewing my photos today!  Hope to see you again soon.   Take care!

2 thoughts on “May 7, 2014 – Ridgefield NWR and Port of Ridgefield – 28 Images”

  1. FABULOUS!!! I LOVE getting Dennis Davenport emails in my inbox! You are truly a gifted photographer!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!! Love all of them!

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My Gear:

  • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV & Grip
  • Canon EOS 7D Mark II
  • Canon EF 500mm f4L IS II
  • Canon EF 24-105mm f4L
  • Canon EF 50mm f1.8
  • Canon 1.4X III Extender
  • Canon 2x III Extender
  • Canon 580EX Flash
  • Zoom H1 Recorder
  • Better Beamer
  • Manfrotto tripod/monopod
  • Manfrotto Gimbal Head
  • Sandisk Compact Flash Cards
  • The Molar Bean Bag by Vertex
  • Joby Gorillapod Focus & Ballhead
  • Canon EG200 Backpack
  • Storm Jacket Camera Cover
  • Kinesis Safari Sack
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Software:

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  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
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  • Nik Sharpener 3
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  • Nik Viveza 2
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