YOU LIE! That bird has no black tail! :p

I knew you'd have something smart to say. SMART ASS! Actually you can't see it, but above the tail feathers is the black tail. I wish i had more pictures, but this bird was around for all of two seconds.

those eagles shot with a 200mm have convinced me to get up to Squamish area very soon. great shots.

just watching the news and they mentioned the record amount of eagles spotted in and around Harrison. more than 2500 counted, which smashes previous records. looks like i may have a round of golf @ SandPiper GC and then have a look around afterwards.

you won't have to look far, the golf course is covered in eagles haha

So I got the 300mm f4. This is the best I got :(

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5041/...c6a6209c_z.jpg

I'm not that impressed although I didn't get much of a chance to test it comparing to my 18-200mmVR up in Brackendale. I'll be going back up there this week and testing it full blast. Hopefully I can get right in there and catch an Eagle swooping down for the kill.

This is my very first prime lens and its a bit tough for me to use I guess I have to get use to it? I find it hard for me to find the bird via view finder. I can see the bird no problem with my naked eyes but once zoomed in with my camera I'm like AAAARGH WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!!? hah.

Any tips from you pros?

Oh and where do you guys go to see these guys around Mission? I was told anywhere along the river between the Dewdney and Deroche bridges? Is this correct? Is there a dyke where I can post up like in Brackendale? Senna?

you're just dying for an uncropped full frame big bird, aren't you? haha!

Yes!:\

Yes, losing a bird in flight is something you will have to get used to with a long prime. 300mm isn't too bad...try doing it with a 500mm f4!

There is a dyke near Daroche where you can sometimes see eagles on the sandbars, but it's all timing.

Screw Brackendale & Mission for the time being. Head out to Westham Island, right where that big 90 degree corner is heading towards Reifel. There is a very rare Northern Hawk Owl that has made its home there recently. I haven't seen so many people with so many long lenses gathered all at once! I was a bit late today, but I got these shots. I'm going there around 9am tomorrow (Thursday) and I'm going to stay there for the whole day if it's still there. Apparently, it's the first time in 30 years that one has been seen in the area!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9467.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C9545-Edit.jpg

Thanks! That's crazy! I'll head out there as well! Are the Eagles still at their nest right before that bridge? I always see them there everytime I pass by.
What's in the owl's mouth? Rat? I can't tell

I saw either mommy or daddy sitting in the nest yesterday.

Yeah, it's some kind of rodent.

I'm heading out right now. I'll be the guy in the red North Face jacket with the 1DmkIV & 500mm f4.

So I headed out to Westham Island today. Bald Eagles galore, and one very rare owl.

For Boostslut - you were asking how the new 2x TC III is. Here is a sample with it mounted on a 1DmkIV & 500mm f4L:

70-200mm f2.8L IS II:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9583.jpg

500mm f4L:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9579.jpg

500mm f4L + 2x TC III:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9594.jpg

100% crop:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...EZ2C9594-2.jpg

Northern Hawk Owl:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9768.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9775.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9831.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C9900-Edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9929.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9950.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0045.jpg

It caught another rodent! Awesome!
Where is the bird exactly located? There are three big 90 degree turns before Reifel. Is it the last 90 degree turn literally right before Reifel? The blue national reserve sign is in the ditch beside a gated driveway and across from a fire hydrant and some mail boxes? or is it closer to the bridge right before the entering Westham Island. Where the large Eagles nest is?
I'll be there early Sunday morning as I'm going up to Squamish Saturday morning. I have to borrow another vehicle as my Prleude has brand new paint and I'm so paranoid of driving it anywhere!!! I shouldn't have painted it :(
I hope the bird is still there by then.

It's by the first corner as you drive towards Reifel - you can't miss it, as there will be a sea of 400mm+ lenses!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/IMG_3750.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...p/IMG_3757.jpg

Holy crow!!! How do all of these people know the bird is there? Is there some type of special bird email that goes around?! If so... I want in!

is this the location?

http://members.shaw.ca/northvanmike/fvsunday/map.jpg

great great photos senna! Thanks for the TC review- looks like a worthwhile companion with my 70-200 without adding another lens :)


I love that last picture especially- makes it look like the bird is reacting to all the people and lenses :thumbsup::D

Yep!
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Yeah, the new TC is noticeably sharper than the version II.

That owl is saying, "you no take my food!"
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Holy shit....eagles galore today at Boundary Bay! We counted 46 of them in 4 trees!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/11f778bb.jpg
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this is from my point and shoot when i was golfing @ Kinks Links last year. right at the 10th hole :

http://northvanmike.net/wp-content/u...02/eagles1.jpg

Damn guys, that's nuts!
I'm off to bed! Getting up early to see some Eagle action up at Brackendale tomorrow morning. Happy new year fellas! I'll be posting my Eagles tomorrow. I really hope they swoop down and I'm able to snap a few shots. That's my goal. Westham Island on Sunday morning!

If you want to see eagles, go to 72nd St in Ladner - the eagles are much, much closer. Also, the Hawk Owl starts to get active after noon so go see him then. If you go in the morning, he's just sitting in the tree not doing anything. He starts to hunt after 2:30ish - he gave us quite a show today too! Just make sure you stay off the lawns and respect the homeowner's property. They're fine if you stand in the field, but they will get pissed if you stand on the well manicured lawn.

You were there today? I didn't see no dude in a red NF jacket! :)
I was there from 1400-1600. Used my XSI for reach + 2x TC + 70-200mm IS I. I would post some pics but the ones you did already put mine to shame. I think my Kenko 2x TC isn't that sharp :(. Probably should have just used my Canon TC 1.4x II

I was there up to about 1:30 and then we went to Reifel. Reifel was insane today - there were two(!) Great Horned Owls, a dozen Sandhill Cranes, two Northern Saw Whet Owls, a Brown Creeper and four Black Crowned Night Herons.

Yeah, the Kenko TC's aren't very sharp unfortunately, and the 70-200 IS I coupled with any 2x TC will not be very sharp.