pics from the blind this morning (eagle, harrier, other)....

[slacker]

I spent the wee hours of this morning in a blind at the Tule Lake Wildlife Refuge. I would've stayed longer but the blind was pretty cramped and my bladder demanded attention.

All the pics were taken with a dRebel/100-400mm IS. I've got a long way to go in the post processing and cropping department, all comments appreciated, thanks.

It took ~90 mins for this guy to show up...

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007256-L.jpg

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007259-L.jpg

He didn't stay long at all. It was about another hour before this guy surprised me...

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007407-L.jpg

I barely had a chance to get the pic above before he left in a hurry too.


These little guys kept me entertained inbetween the bigger birds...

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007661-L.jpg

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007659-L.jpg

[RJSorensen]

Your wait was well worth it. Nice shots. One has to go where the animals are . . . and often wait for nothing. But there are the times such as these that make it worth all the effort and boredom.

[wolverinesr1]

very nice shots. well worth the wait. i would love to try something like that here

[ayotnoms]

Great photos of a truly majestic bird.
The 90 minutes were well worth the wait right?

[Maz]

Those are very nice shots. You did real well and thank you for showing them.

Maz
http://www.homesteadsforsale.com

[slacker]

Thanks for the comments! The time in the box went quicker than I thought and yes, well worth the wait... lots going on outside when I sat quiet, listened, peeked out of the blind and sipped some coffee.

[sparker1]

Your efforts are appreciated, as we have all been rewarded (you more than the rest of us).

[ssim]

Way to go. These are great. There is certainly an increased level of satisfaction getting these types of shots in the wild.

Looking forward to seeing more.

[Mills]

They look fantastic to me. Thanks for sharing.

[rulon69]

Cool pics I really like the second one of the eagle.:)

[robertwgross]

Before I tried to go out and do any wintertime wildlife photography, I went out an got a super-duper Alaskan grade down parka.

---Bob Gross---

[slacker]

Before I tried to go out and do any wintertime wildlife photography, I went out an got a super-duper Alaskan grade down parka.

---Bob Gross---


It was thankfully 'only' in the low 30's this morning before the sun came up. Once the sun came up I was plenty warm in the blind with jeans, longsleave shirt, fleece vest, and light parka. The toes stayed cool, but no worse than a day at the slopes snowboarding.

Thanks everyone! :)

[Khaja]

Excellent pics!

Khaja

[dewmuw]

Wonderful series. Looks like you have a busy area there - is it some sort of nautree reserve?

[slacker]

Wonderful series. Looks like you have a busy area there - is it some sort of nautree reserve?

Yes, I'm fortunate enought to have a cluster of national wildlife refuges relatively nearby. The refuge where I took these pics is 35 miles from my house.

http://klamathbasinrefuges.fws.gov/

here's a link for info on photo blinds there:

http://klamathbasinrefuges.fws.gov/photoblind.html

As I said, I'm fortunate and thankful to have a lot of opportunity so close to home.

[mobilestudio1]

I envy your patience! But what a payoff!! Gorgeous captures.

[stoneylonesome]

Fantastic. the shots are wonderful

[slacker]

Thanks again!

This one of the bald eagle leaving I didn't include initially because it was blurred...
http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007262-L.jpg

Here's another one I spied on when I detoured through a refuge nearby the one I was at earlier that morning on my way home...

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007270-L.jpg

Here's him leaving...

http://slacker.smugmug.com/photos/17007265-L.jpg

I didn't crop or process these 3 pics... I need to work alot on my action shots, I've got some past threads on this forum I'm looking forward to reading through when I get some more downtime.

I've learned a ton on this forum already and look forward to learning more, Thanks everyone!!:D

[Anders Östberg]

Very nice! Those Eagles are really great birds...

[Nascar Nut]

Those are all great shots

[Reigh Higgins]

Nice shots, Killdeer and Red-winged blackbird are also nice to see. Thanks