Eagle photographic adventure

[WCS]

Great shots as always Buzz. The gathering dates this December would not work for me, but I am very interested in joining you on an outing after the first of the year. Let me know if you get another date set and have room for another.

[buzzsaw]

WCS, absolutely! I'll set a date in January after our first round is completed!

[buzzsaw]

I took a day off and spent it at the rivers edge... not much action the last few days as the recent warmer temps opened the river up and gave the eagles other areas away from humans places to hunt... I concentrated on the Goldeneye that would come in close once in a while. I'm hoping this cold weather locks up the river and concentrates the eagles they way they were last week. Keep your fingers crossed.

I was -2/3 stop and shot this in raw and still toasted some of the whites....

[mmeyer]

Mike,

Nice shot. Were you standing in the water? What focal length was this shot at?

Mike

[buzzsaw]

Thanks, Mike. I was as low as I could be at the rivers edge... I shot this with my 300mm with the 1.4x TC attached and it is slightly cropped for comp. I generally won't shoot ducks anymore unless I am at their level... much more appealing.

[Dbl]

Sweet work there Mike!

[mmeyer]

Mike,

I have looked at your gallery before and noticed your being at their level. It does look very nice.

Thanks for sharing.

Mike

[buzzsaw]

Thanks Dan & Mike! I probably need to take out and add newer images to that gallery... it's all about finding the time.

Dan, see you in the AM!

[Dbl]

I'll be there!

[buzzsaw]

Dress warm brotha!

One more from today of a fish eating Mallard.

[finnbay]

Great shots, Buzz! Looks like the light had some kick for you today! Wish I hadn't seen that mallard eating the fish. Kinda grosses me out!

[mmeyer]

Buzz,

That's a really cool shot. I've never heard of a mallard eating a fish, especially that big. I see something new on this board everyday almost.

Mike

[buzzsaw]

Yeah, is crazy what they'll eat!

Heres what happens when they bank away in the wrong direction....

[mmeyer]

Now you're just showing off!

[MN Shutterbug]

Quote:

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Now you're just showing off!

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Ain't that the truth.

[jonny_redhorse]

a well kept secret....mallards in minnesota have canines ....meat eaters!

[Paul]

Buzzsaw,

Since I will be renting a decent zoom for the trip, what length would you recomend for the locattion. I will probably put in the order Sat, or Monday. Options look to be 70-200 L, 100-300, 300L, 400L.

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

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Now you're just showing off!

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True, true!

As far as the lens goes, go with one that reaches out to 400mm.

I'm off to play in the cold now, I'll report in later.

[Paul]

would a 70-200L 2.8 with a 2x converter be an ok choice?

[buzzsaw]

Paul, it wouldn't be my first choice by any means. The 2x TC slows autofocus down way to much to be used in the BIF arena IMO. You could use that setup to get some nice down low duck shots however.

[Steve Foss]

Paul, if you're going for an affordable combo out to 400mm, you're probably best off with the 300 f2.8 or f4 and 1.4 TC. Putting the 2TC on the 70-200 with degrade image quality quite a bit and, as buzz said, will slow down autofocus. The 300f4 will be quite a bit lighter and easier to handhold than the f2.8, and with the 1.4TC you will still have a max of f5.6, which should be OK.

[Dbl]

Here is your intrepid guide for your shoot hard at work. If you want the good shots be prepared to spend some time laying down on the job!

[yakfisher]

That's funny

[buzzsaw]

Daayem! That is a sweet frame grasshopper! Wearing multiple layers of coats was neccessary today.

Heres the shot I was taking while on my side/belly.

[Dbl]

Oh, you nailed that one buddy! Nicely done! See all that crawling around in the snow and ice pays off! Hey you know my specialty is catching people "in action"!