jerome_smith

From your experience is it safe to assume that the "irruption" will last at least thru Jan?

 

Thanks

For more details, see http://www.az.blm.gov/tfo/index.htm Click "News" & then "News Releases".

If you're planning a photo trip to Arizona this summer (it's

currently hotter than hell here in Tucson) better call ahead to your

destination(s.) Due to the continued drought and fire danger, access

to public outdoor places (i.e. trails, campgrounds, scenic roads,

parks, canyons, etc.) are shutting down for the summer. This is

happening throughout the State, from Page to Patagonia. The monsoon

rains start in July and we are all hoping for a particularly rainy

summer. Anyway, call ahead so as not to be disappopinted.

 

Jerry

Having recently moved to Arizona, I've spent considerable time over the past 2 months observing and photographing hummers at feeders. The answer to your question is "yes, the bees do keep the hummers away." Fortunately, I've set up at places that have multiple feeders, so there's room for all. But when a hummer lands on a spot where the bees are feeding, the bee will chase the hummer away,and the hummer offers no resistance. Even the fiesty Rufous will back away from a bee(s). The solution to the problem for many of the gracious hosts that feed hummers and welcome birders and photographers to their back yard is to put out one or two feeders specifically for the bees. These feeders have a super sugar/water ratio, much sweeter than the regular 1 sugar to 4 water used for hummers. The bees prefer it and stick to those feeders, leaving the hummer feeders and the hummers alone.

Just returned from a week in Tucson. While the Mexican Gold Poppies

are mostly gone, the Sonoran Desert is popping with cactus flowers,

i.e., Strawberry Hedgehog, many varieties of Cholla, and even some

early Suguaro bloomers. Also, lots of non-cactus bloomers. If you

look around, you can still find some Mexican Gold here and there.

 

I was told by one of the rangers at Picacho Peak that due to the

winter rains it was a great year for the Poppies. However, lots of

clouds during blooming season kept them closed for long periods,

making those great landscape shots difficult.

Bob, I think that under ordinary circumstances, one week per year would not be enough to change behavior. Hunting, however, shifts the curve in high gear. The "hunters" are not really hunting, i.e., stalking way deep in the woods. They are, like us photographers, shooting the more easily accessible moose, the ones that hang out at streams, and roadsides etc. Kill 3000 of these, and you rapidly create a more reclusive, perhaps nocturnal herd in a hurry.

 

As a side note, we were speaking with a customer service rep. from Dell the other day, who happened to be based in Maine. She reported that 700 moose were killed on day one.

 

Mark, I think my wife and I did meet you and your wife. I was the heavy set moustached guy with the Minolta 600mm. We admired your, and your wife's, patience.

 

Bob, you and I chatted.

For those interested in this thread, I received a private EMail with the following information: "The best blinds for the Pacific Flyway are on the Sacramento NWR. They used to be easy to use but are now booked all the time. They are available on a reservation basis only during winter only. Saturdays and Wednesdays. There are two blinds available. Blind number one is an intimate tule pond

blind. Blind #2 is open water in front with resting logs and open water. Both are great for frame filling shots with a 400 mm lens.

The weather is always unpredictable with rain and fog. If you get a mixed weather day it is incredible."

 

PJ, thanks for the correction...you are entirely right about Cape May and Walkill. I am not familiar with their blind situation and therefore left them out. My oversight.

 

Thanks for the responses so far; they're great. Keep the info. coming.

I would very much like to compile useful location information for

future north American bird photo trips. I would greatly appreciate it

if you could identify National Wildlife Refuges (et al) in your

area/state that have permanent photo blinds set up. When's the best

time to come?

 

For the record, NJ has 2 NWR's: Brigantine (Forsythe) and Great

Swamp. Only the latter has permanent blinds, which are not

particularly big glass friendly. They overlook bird feeders (which

are active in winter), and wetlands.

 

Thanks so much

Upper Antelope is nowhere near as dangerous as lower inasmuch as it's a walk-in, as opposed to a climb-down. Not to say that it can't be harrowing, but with an eye out on the surrounding weather you could be safe enough. I understand that conditions have improved considerably in lower due to the diligence and concern of the Navajos since the unfortunate accident.

 

Prime time is 11AM to 2PM, when the sun is overhead, so your idea of an early morning shoot may not give you the effects you want.

 

It's a great opportunity; at least check it out. Even if you decide not to go in or down, the surrounding countryside (Colorado Plateau) was made for picture taking.

 

Good luck.

Thanks for your responses--they were all really very helpful. The concensus of opinion seems to be that the Bogen 3021 (Chris...I don't know if the 055B is the Manfrotto equivalent) is too light for a 600f4 lens and needs to be upgraded. There was a difference of opinion on the minimum Gitzo CF needed; the 1325 vs. the 1348 vs. the 1548. Generally, the feeling is that the Arca B1 is adequate, although the Wimberly would be better. After steadiness, my most important consideration was total weight. For those interested, a combo/weight (in pounds) comparison is as follows:

 

****************************ArcaB1QS*********Wimberly******************

 

Bogen..3021.........................................7.5..........................9.5..........................................

...........3036.......................................11.5.........................13.5.........................................

Gitzo..1325.........................................6.2...........................8.2..........................................

..........1329.........................................7.0............................9.9..........................................

..........1548.........................................8.1..........................10.1..........................................

..........1549.......................................10.0..........................12.0..........................................

 

For the record, based upon your responses (and the above chart) I've decided to stay with the Arca B1 for now and upgrade to the 1325/1329 CF. At 6.2/7.0 lbs. it's lighter than my current rig and apparently satisfactory (though not ideal.) We'll see what happens.

 

Thanks again.

I have a question concerning my current tripod/ballhead combo.

 

I just bought a 600f4 (all 13 lbs of it) for bird photography and

wonder whether my Bogen 3021 and Arca B1 (which was great for a

300f2.8 plus TC's) is adequate. Should I consider a Gitzo 1325CF?

Change heads? Change both? Due to some back problems, total weight is

of concern. Are the Gitzo CF's, at about the same weight (but at 5X

the price) a dramatic improvement in steadiness? It would be great if

some of you who use, or have used, my combo could give hands on

experience.

 

Many thanks.

Bruce:

 

I was at B&H's used dept. recently and noticed some used Kirk gizmos. It may be worth a try to call them. Good luck.

I'm thinking about going to High Island area for bird photog. during

migration, i.e., late April/early May. Any info./tips about

locations, techniques, expectations, etc., would be greatly

appreciated. (I searched and the archives and found very little on

this.) Thanks in advance.

There's a nice state (Utah) park just outside of Kanab--Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP. That's not too far from where you'll be. It's different in that it's red rock in sand dune form. There are some good images there, especially at sunrise and sunset. Be aware that they let dune buggies into the park, so that by afternoon the dunes are pretty chewed up with tire tracks. By morning, however, the wind has smoothed them out. It's worth a shot. Enjoy

Visited Merritt Island NWR and Canaveral National Seashore in Titusville Fla. for the 1st time this past week. Just outside the entrance to the Seashore, I encountered a small flock of Florida Scrub Jays off the roadside. They were very habituated to cars and humans; I had time to get out of the car, mount my camera on a tripod and then leisurely shoot 1/2 roll of closeups while they posed for me on branches. Talk about habituated--one landed on my head while I was shooting. Also, a nice covey of Bobwhite at the same place. They also seemed habituated, so I imagine they are regulars there at the roadside in front of the Seashore entrance.

Any info. on Ft. Myers Beach? How about Myakka River SP?

 

Thanks

To reiterate, what Mark says above is valid. The front end of both Minolta TC's are designed to couple with Minolta's 200mm 2.8, 300mm 2.8 and 600mm 4 only. They will not couple with anything else.

I curse their shortsightedness every day.

I made my bag out of a canvas coin bag that the banks use. The open end seals with Velcro. I keep it filled with birdseed for "emergency"

feedings; to avoid moisture problems, the birdseed is first put into a ziploc freezer bag. When I travel, I of course empty the bag, but my first stop upon arrival is to a supermarket for general supplies and a small bag of birdseed. Believe me...the birdseed has come in handy numerous times. The bag is slightly oversized, so that if I do remove some seed, it's still viable.

Similar to Brian's query, where are the good places along the west

coast to shoot pacific puffin species, without having to travel up to

Alaska and/or the Probilofs? (Been there, done that! Talk about

"iffy" weather conditions.) (Rather than confuse Brian's thread, I

thought it best to start a new one.)

Thanks

I went 2X with Barna Norton several years ago. The advice about booking more than one trip is sound; bad weather, tides, etc. could shut you out. Try, however,to book non-consecutive days to avoid the

possibility of having the same problem on back-to-back days.

 

Since visitation on the island is limited (by the Canadian gov't), not all who sail with Norton can disembark. Some have to stay put and settle for a boat tour around the island. Call early and reserve a spot(s), making sure it's understood that you want to get onto the island.

 

Norton's son John is a good source for photo tips on shooting

the puffins, razorbills, murres and terns.

 

If you wind up 4 in a blind, howitzers and tripods can't make it. Take a beanbag and a telephoto zoom.

 

It's a great trip. Enjoy

I would rephrase the question to myself as " Which option gives me better returns? Will I enjoy the expensive trip (without the lens) more than I will enjoy the expensive lens (without the trip)? Looking at it this way, I would opt for the lens. It's the " gift that keeps on giving" so to speak.

Last May, while riding thru Yellowstone Park (a small park adjacent to Yellowstone NP at the Gardiner entrance)I came upon a Pronghorn giving birth. She was pretty tolerant of me, and with my 600mm I was able to move in and get the birthing of twins from start to finish. The whole process took about an hour, after which the twins were suckling and able to walk away with their mother. It was totally magical; I hope all you all have a similar opportunity at some time in your shooting life.

Just a word of caution. One of the posters recommended checking Smile Camera in NY. Before you mail order from them, I suggest you read the neighbor-to neighbor service in PhotoNet. Their reputation is not one of reliability and honesty...quite the opposite.

 

Neighbor-to-Neighbor is quite an illuminating and helpful service.

For many years I kept my sanity during the "dog" days of summer in NJ by shooting butterflies. Over the past couple of years, however, I have noticed a dramatic falloff in butterfly population. There are times when I go out to reliable places and (save for some cabbage whites) find little or nothing to shoot. Is this real or my imagination?

John:

 

Nice overview and very helpful. Thanks