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

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.)

 

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

 

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.)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.)

 

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.)

 

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

 

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.)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.)

 

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.)

 

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

 

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.)

 

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.)

 

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

 

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.)

 

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

 

 

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