just a rant.....

[nwyman]

nothing really anyone can do about this, but I feel the need to share.

Miserable gray rainy day, with more of the same predicted for tomorrow.
Word came through our local birding society that Chesapeake Farms (a DuPont habitat area) has drained the big pond next to their office buildings and that a large flock of shorebirds had gathered.

I went over this morning - and was met with a fantastic sight! The whole pond, now drained with just puddles remaining, was covered with shorebirds! Bunches of Killdeer, semi-palmated sandpipers, black-bellied plovers, Yellowlegs, Dowitchers, Godwits and a bunch of smaller peeps that I couldn't see well enough to i.d.

The problem?
The area is surrounded by a fence, with "Stay in your car" signs posted. The grass had not been cut, so visibility from the car was limited and all the birds were well out of range for my 400/ 5.6.

Talk about being a kid in a candy store after hours.......

thanks for listening.:(

[john-in-japan]

Rent the Bigma and a +2 extender?
John

[TooManyShots]

nothing really anyone can do about this, but I feel the need to share.

Miserable gray rainy day, with more of the same predicted for tomorrow.
Word came through our local birding society that Chesapeake Farms (a DuPont habitat area) has drained the big pond next to their office buildings and that a large flock of shorebirds had gathered.

I went over this morning - and was met with a fantastic sight! The whole pond, now drained with just puddles remaining, was covered with shorebirds! Bunches of Killdeer, semi-palmated sandpipers, black-bellied plovers, Yellowlegs, Dowitchers, Godwits and a bunch of smaller peeps that I couldn't see well enough to i.d.

The problem?
The area is surrounded by a fence, with "Stay in your car" signs posted. The grass had not been cut, so visibility from the car was limited and all the birds were well out of range for my 400/ 5.6.

Talk about being a kid in a candy store after hours.......

thanks for listening.:(

I am pretty sure someone would cut open some area of the fence. Look around. We are bird photographers. We don't watch birds. We take photos of birds. We need to get close. There you go. :)

[nwyman]

I am pretty sure someone would cut open some area of the fence. Look around. We are bird photographers. We don't watch birds. We take photos of birds. We need to get close. There you go. :)


that would be feasible except.....the pond is right across the offices of Chesapeake Farms and there are many employees working there all day. The place is closed at dusk.

And as for renting a Bigma - by the time I got it, the birds would be gone.
It's just a no win situation.

Bummer.

[canonloader]

Geta van with a roof window that slides open and a stepladder. ;)

[nwyman]

Geta van with a roof window that slides open and a stepladder. ;)


now that is a thought! Don't think the DH would go for it though....

[canonloader]

There would be lots of places you could use it though. I'd use it till they told me to get out.

[nwyman]

There would be lots of places you could use it though. I'd use it till they told me to get out.


Guess I have to start buying lottery tickets....

[scrumpy]

Did you think about asking for permission - I find it works a treat - nobody likes trespassers ;)

[MarkEvan]

I go with scrumpy, if you asked there and then about the possibility of getting closer they might have said yes....at worst no in which case your in exactly the same situation you started, so no big deal.

[Scottes]

Sneak over the fence before dawn. You'll be hidden in the grass so nobody will see you - until you hop the fence on the way out. But then who's going to yell at you to "get out of there" when you're obviously doing just that very thing? :D

[nwyman]

I go with scrumpy, if you asked there and then about the possibility of getting closer they might have said yes....at worst no in which case your in exactly the same situation you started, so no big deal.


I know someone who works there, and have tried everything I can to get permission. No luck.


you would think they might be agreeable to "renting" space to approved photographers who would agree to follow their guidelines, but no - they won't budge.