Oct. 10, 2013 – Salish Ponds Wetland Park, Fairview, OR – 13 Images

Home » Oct. 10, 2013 – Salish Ponds Wetland Park, Fairview, OR – 13 Images

Oct. 10, 2013 – Salish Ponds Wetland Park, Fairview, OR – 13 Images

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It’s October 10, and my ‘home’ wildlife refuge is still closed to the public.  I couldn’t go any longer without getting out and shooting, so I asked my daughter, Kimi, if she would go shooting with me at a wildlife area that is just minutes from my home, Salish Ponds Wetland Park.  It’s a 70 acre park in Fairview, Oregon and boasts two man-made lakes (ponds), and a nice trail system that winds through fields, wetlands, and wooded areas.  We walked the trails and captured what we could.  Below are some of the shots I captured, some better than others.  I used the 500mm lens with and without the 2x converter mounted on a monopod.

Carrying this set up was a new experience for me since I’m used to shooting from my vehicle.  It was worth the effort just to get out and try and it was also fun to be out with Kimi, stretching her a little from her normal routine of shooting kids, families, graduates, etc.   Check out her wonderful work here if you’re local to the Portland area.  Kimi tries to get out and shoot wildlife when she can — we both love the feeling we get when out among the wild creatures. And it’s a bonus to be able to capture some of that feeling in pictures and to bring it home.

So here are some of the shots I took on our walk around Salish Wetlands.  I started the walk with the 500 + 2x giving me 1000 mm.  On a monopod, holding the focus point on a bird is quite a challenge.  This American Robin was far enough away that I didn’t even realize it was eating berries until post processing time.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1250, 1000 mm, monopod.

 

_X5A2998-Edit20131010SALISH  american robin

 

A Red-tailed Hawk suddenly flew right over us so I made an attempt at the flight shot using the long focal length.  Not my best but it’s a beautiful bird!    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1250, 1000 mm, monopod.

 

_X5A3011-Edit20131010SALISH  red-tailed hawk

 

On the trail, as luck would have it, a Hermit Thrush landed on a bush at camera level about 30-40 feet away.  Again, I didn’t notice the leaf was in front of the bird when I took this but I don’t think it ruined the photo because the lighting was wonderfully diffused through a thin layer of clouds, producing a soft, feathered edge to the shadow.  By the way, this is a lifer bird for me.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1250, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3031-Edit20131010SALISH  swainson's thrush

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3045-Edit20131010SALISH  swainson's thrush

 

This Northern Flicker was a long distance away and you can tell.  But I was shooting everything that moved and I need the practice!     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3055-Edit20131010SALISH  northern flicker

 

At a more respectable distance of about 30 feet were several American Goldfinches nibbling on the ends of the long grasses.  It was rare that they would actually light high enough above the grass to get an open shot of them. This one finally settled in on a low tree branch.  Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3072-Edit20131010SALISH  american goldfinch

 

At this point, I decided to take the converter off and shoot at a straight 500mm.  Here’s a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle variety).   It might be a young bird.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4, ISO 1250, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3089-Edit20131010SALISH

 

Kimi and I decided to check out one of the ‘lakes’ where the ducks, coots, and geese are somewhat tame and would swim toward us rather than away from us (hoping for a bite of food).  As we sat on a bench, a Mallard was preening and taking a bath in front of us.  We were almost ready to head home so we took some last shots of this bird before packing it in.

I didn’t realize ducks had eyelashes!  Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3122-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3124-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

A few shots of water rolling off this bathing duck.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3130-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3140-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Here you can barely make out the bird’s head under all that water.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3150-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3158-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

Here’s hoping I’ll be back out at an open Ridgefield NWR by my next shoot!  Until then, take care and thanks for stopping by!

 

Posted in

It’s October 10, and my ‘home’ wildlife refuge is still closed to the public.  I couldn’t go any longer without getting out and shooting, so I asked my daughter, Kimi, if she would go shooting with me at a wildlife area that is just minutes from my home, Salish Ponds Wetland Park.  It’s a 70 acre park in Fairview, Oregon and boasts two man-made lakes (ponds), and a nice trail system that winds through fields, wetlands, and wooded areas.  We walked the trails and captured what we could.  Below are some of the shots I captured, some better than others.  I used the 500mm lens with and without the 2x converter mounted on a monopod.

Carrying this set up was a new experience for me since I’m used to shooting from my vehicle.  It was worth the effort just to get out and try and it was also fun to be out with Kimi, stretching her a little from her normal routine of shooting kids, families, graduates, etc.   Check out her wonderful work here if you’re local to the Portland area.  Kimi tries to get out and shoot wildlife when she can — we both love the feeling we get when out among the wild creatures. And it’s a bonus to be able to capture some of that feeling in pictures and to bring it home.

So here are some of the shots I took on our walk around Salish Wetlands.  I started the walk with the 500 + 2x giving me 1000 mm.  On a monopod, holding the focus point on a bird is quite a challenge.  This American Robin was far enough away that I didn’t even realize it was eating berries until post processing time.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1250, 1000 mm, monopod.

 

_X5A2998-Edit20131010SALISH  american robin

 

A Red-tailed Hawk suddenly flew right over us so I made an attempt at the flight shot using the long focal length.  Not my best but it’s a beautiful bird!    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1250, 1000 mm, monopod.

 

_X5A3011-Edit20131010SALISH  red-tailed hawk

 

On the trail, as luck would have it, a Hermit Thrush landed on a bush at camera level about 30-40 feet away.  Again, I didn’t notice the leaf was in front of the bird when I took this but I don’t think it ruined the photo because the lighting was wonderfully diffused through a thin layer of clouds, producing a soft, feathered edge to the shadow.  By the way, this is a lifer bird for me.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 1250, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3031-Edit20131010SALISH  swainson's thrush

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3045-Edit20131010SALISH  swainson's thrush

 

This Northern Flicker was a long distance away and you can tell.  But I was shooting everything that moved and I need the practice!     Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3055-Edit20131010SALISH  northern flicker

 

At a more respectable distance of about 30 feet were several American Goldfinches nibbling on the ends of the long grasses.  It was rare that they would actually light high enough above the grass to get an open shot of them. This one finally settled in on a low tree branch.  Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f8, ISO 2000, 1000 mm, monopod.

_X5A3072-Edit20131010SALISH  american goldfinch

 

At this point, I decided to take the converter off and shoot at a straight 500mm.  Here’s a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle variety).   It might be a young bird.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4, ISO 1250, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3089-Edit20131010SALISH

 

Kimi and I decided to check out one of the ‘lakes’ where the ducks, coots, and geese are somewhat tame and would swim toward us rather than away from us (hoping for a bite of food).  As we sat on a bench, a Mallard was preening and taking a bath in front of us.  We were almost ready to head home so we took some last shots of this bird before packing it in.

I didn’t realize ducks had eyelashes!  Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1250, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3122-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3124-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

A few shots of water rolling off this bathing duck.   Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3130-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3140-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Here you can barely make out the bird’s head under all that water.    Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3150-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

 

Canon 5D Mark III, 1/1000, f4, ISO 1600, 500 mm, monopod.

_X5A3158-Edit20131010SALISH  mallard

Here’s hoping I’ll be back out at an open Ridgefield NWR by my next shoot!  Until then, take care and thanks for stopping by!

 

5 thoughts on “Oct. 10, 2013 – Salish Ponds Wetland Park, Fairview, OR – 13 Images”

  1. Daddy, where do I begin?? Well, first, I had such a good time shooting with you…been WAY too long, dang it! 🙂

    Second, WOW! Some of these shots are really fantastic! I only got a couple shots that I feel I can share, but you got some truly great ones! Love your thrush and goldfinch shots, of course (congrats on the lifer, BTW)! I REALLY liked your mallard shots too…especially the profile! It’s just BEAUTIFUL! Your shots of the mallard bathing turned out waaay better than mine! LOL! Glad you got some that turned out! And, ducks have eyelashes!?! Who knew?? Certainly not me! But I’m glad you pointed that out! Good catch!

    And, third, LET’S GO SHOOTING AGAIN!!

    Love you!

  2. Nice to see some non-Ridgefield shots- even though I know it was not by choice! The Mallard with the water is pretty cool. I am pretty sure your thrush is a Hermit though… Swainson’s should have left by now for the most part.

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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
  • Original Bug Shirt Elite Edition

Software:

  • Adobe Photoshop CC
  • Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic
  • Nik Color EFEX Pro 4
  • Nik Sharpener 3
  • Nik Dfine 2.0
  • Nik Viveza 2
  • Nik HDR Efex Pro 2
  • Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
  • Nik Analog Efex Pro