Kings Links, 72 Street,Delta! :p

Yea I know of 72nd and I'll be there tomorrow before I head to Reifel.

Today, Brackendale was a huge bust! Last time I was there I counted 100+ Eagles. Today there was a total of 14. One juvenile at the dyke right above that little diner place and one across the river. There were more around the gun club but that was about it. I was just hoping I could get the in real close with my 300mm f4 to some Eagles swooping down catching a fish as I know of a few places where I'm able to get in right beside/in the water. So disappointed :(

I'm thinking of setting up webcams everywhere so I can watch these birds whenever so I know in advance when to head out or not. haha.

I took this with my phone the other day. Ya I know it's cheating :haha:

Went to Boundary Bay today. So many birds. Hawk, Heron, two Owls? MANY Eagles and lots of other little birds. I took a few photos but I'm going back in the morning then Reifel after that. I lost track of time while I was there as I had to walk my dog.. aargh. He got in the way of every photo op. I knew I shouldn't have brought him but I had to walk him or else he'll cause a huge mess in the house. So I couldn't make it to Reifel today.

I'm really disappointed in Nikon and in myself for completely forgetting that the 300mm f4 I bought doesn't have VR. Which isn't that important as I can get pretty great shots but today it would have been nice as 90% of the in flight photos were semi blurry.

So many mega lenses there as well. I saw one guy with a huge white lens. Hand held. I was like whaaaaat?! No mono pod or tri pod? But SOOOOO many Eagles. Tomorrow is the day!

Is Reifel going to be open tomorrow? Just asking if anyone knows as New Years Day was on a Saturday so some places take the following work day off. I don't see any notice or anything on their website? I think I'm going to apply for their membership. $25 for the year seems better then $5 each time I go there.

Reifel is open all year. I'm going tomorrow too! Maybe I'll see you there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C9388-Edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9337.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9338.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9339.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9340.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9342.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9343.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9346.jpg

"Oh, no it's you again! Stay away from my lunch!"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9547.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9550.jpg

^^^ that's a nice sequence of flight on that hawk/eagle!

Thanks! That is either a Cooper's Hawk or a Red Tailed Hawk.

Some more from yesterday:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0372.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_3855.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2..._3843-Edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0609.jpg

The little guy is growing big!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0545.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0426.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0432.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0441.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9941.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C9955.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C0747-Edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/IMG_3785.jpg

^^^ unfortunately, what i'm noticing there are the hairy knuckles. :p

Fuckin hell amazing images everyone! Jason, those owl pictures are soo wicked! Seems like i'm missing out on the best birding time in Vancouver ever! Shit.. thanks for posting! Keep it up everyone! I need some more time to get out of town here in Melbourne. I'm going to this place called Rickets Point close to where i work outside the city. Should be fun. Will post of course when i get a chance.

I'm off to see some birds. I hope I get some great in flights shots today. I'll post once I get home around 3ish

Boundary Bay as decent but the sun was in my way and I didn't want to trespass on anybodies property but man... birding was intense today at Reifel, sooooo many folks there. I've never seen so many people there. Senna were you there? I was there from 12:19-2:51pm The parking lot guy have me a VIP parking spot, it was so sweet and he told me there were 900 people there yesterday? So insane! I saw the Great Horned Owl. Again, I'm not 100% happy with my photo but I gotta work with what I got. So many people snapping photos of the Northern Hawk Owl as well. About 20 people with atleast 500+ lenses. It was crazy. I looked like such an amateur with my tiny 300mm f4 but some smokin hot girl who also drives a 5th gen Honda Prelude walked up to me and started to chit chat so that made me feel pretty boss! ;) She looked like Emmanuelle Chriqui. That was one pretty bird! ;)

Where are the Sand Hill Cranes? I didn't see any. Just the regular little birds, Eagles, Hawks, a few Black Capped Night Herons, one Owl and thousands of ducks!

I gotta start saving $8000+ for a mega lens. Anyone wanna buy my car? :(

I friggin love those pictures of the Owls....

Man, I need a long lens. I guess even if I got a 70-200, it might not be enough....

here is my picture... hehe

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/...62602eeb_z.jpg

it's not. i'm not sure i will even bother(bird shooting) with my 70-200 anymore until i get at least 400mm.

^
unless you are able to get in really close 70-200 in my opinion doesn't cut it. Sometimes its enough other times its not. I got lucky a few times with my 18-200 VR though.

This was three feet away at one of the little flat bird feeders close to the first bird blind on the trail at Reifel. I find it really tough with my 300mm f4. I get so much vibration either from my hands or my crappy Manfrotto tripod. Whatever it is.. it sucks! I took about 30 shots of this Black Capped Chickadee until I finally got him crisp...

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5010/...d0df1403_z.jpg

I didn't go to Reifel - I was shooting the Hawk Owl starting from about 2:30 today. You must have driven by me, as I was the last one to leave at around 4:45. Pics of the chick or ban!

The Sandhill Cranes are always around the perimeter trails or in the middle section. Maybe they were hidden today.

A 70-200mm is the bare minimum for Reifel I'd say, but you'd want at the very least a 300mm for most birding.

I like that shot - try lifting the shadows a bit.

I was shooting the Hawk Owl right after Reifel. I was there from 3-3:30ish.
Red Prelude drove by... Red plaid Analog jacket with green boots. The owl was on one of the trees flew around the house across the road then back to another tree. It was funny how everyone just followed it. Someone said... "He's coming back!" I never heard an Owl make that kind of chirping sound. I thought they just hoot and some sound like Monkeys. I need a longer lens or for the bird to come closer to me. I think I'll try again on Saturday.

Sorry but I didn't snap photos of the hot girl, she was with some guy and I try not to be creepy with my camera lol. Believe me, I wanted to but couldn't do it. I'll leave it at that, the guy could be a revscene member and I don't want to start anything. All I'm saying is that he's one lucky guy :)

Okay that explains the Sandhill Cranes. I walked along the main trails and in the middle so they must have been further out. I didn't venture out too far as I still wanted to catch the Northern Hawk Owl with some sunlight left. I was contemplating offering some money to the property owners if I can walk along their property or maybe even climb up onto their roof to snap photos. haha.

Please don't ban me :o

So we were there at the same time! I was one of the guys who said, "He's coming back" LoL....

^
Then I saw you!!!!! I must have been so stealth you didn't notice me as I was right beside you when you said it! hahaha. Or you were just focused on the bird.

Not necessarily - every time the bird flew down from a tree top towards the crowd, someone would say it. :p

From today - he killed two Townsend's Voles within 45 minutes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0824.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0837.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C0846-Edit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0865.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/EZ2C0869.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...C0882-Edit.jpg

There were quite a few sandhills out there today, I think in the 12-15 range? a big group of them were flying around a few times around noon.

Not very happy with my shots today, I'm starting to suspect my 1D2 and bigma don't like each other. I swear its back focusing, which is damn annoying because its decently sharp on my 30D and 5D

too bad there's no AF Microfocus function on that camera.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/...85d8136b_z.jpg

I gotta spend some more time around the entrance of Reifel. I completely missed out on some sweet shots but I got this little guy on my way out.

I have to be more patient but I sometimes hate standing in one spot for hours. I need to bring a camping chair next time :p
I have to start using my remote shutter release as every time I touch the shutter release butter on my camera body I'll get some vibration even when mounted on my tripod.
Gonna go again on the weekend I think.