A failed Sandhill Crane field trip.

Well, yesterday I went out the the Isenberg Crane Reserve (near Stockton, CA) to take a Department of Fish & Game tour of the reserve as it's now Sandhill season. I've shot Sandhills in the Central Valley before, so I pretty much knew the drill.

Sadly, the weather on Sunday was too nice, and most of the Sandhills did their fly-in very late in the evening. There was very little light to work with.

I also, for the first time, decided to try my Canon 400mm f/5.6L lens with the cheapo Tamron 1.4X extender. Others have claimed good results with this combo, and even though I already have the Canon 1.4x, you need to tape the pins for auto-focus, and even then, it performs very poorly as far as auto-focus is concerned (on a 20D). The good news is that with the Tamron, the 400 focuses much more quickly than it does with a taped Canon 1.4x. It's not nearly as fast as without it, but decent enough to do some birds in flight (as long as they don't fly too fast ).

However, the bad news is that it really cuts the contrast of this great lens a LOT. Far too much for my tastes. Now, first 2 images below are shot with that combo, and the contrast looks fine. That's because I processed them in Photoshop to return the contrast. They were both taken in excellent, contrasty light though, making the PS treatment do-able. The images I shot with this combo in non-ideal light were not useable. That would be most of my Sandhill shots, so you're not going to see any Sandhills taken with that combo in this post.


Red-tail Hawk

For the red-tail shot, that looks almost like the power pole that is across the road and down a piece from Isenberg. Been there. Done that. Probably the same hawk.

For your orange sky shot, that is a classic. The only thing that you have to add in is the sound track. Sandhill Cranes make this funny warbling sound so photographers can know when they are coming in.

I expect to be there in a few days for the festival.

---Bob Gross---

Excellent shots, Ed. In particular, the hawk shot is outstanding.

I really like your Meadowlark shot...nice composition.

All are nice shots, I do like the sunset photo of the large birds in formation.

4 beautiful pohtographs

Nice shots. Good hawk, though looks like the shot had single-channel blue blowout since it appears to be all one value of blue - which often happens with very blue sky.

I had a pair of sandhill cranes near me this summer, but they were probably the least photogenic wildlife at the wetlands. Either pecking themselves, looking for food, just never wanted to pose. And this was over 3 different times I was there.

Thanks for all the comments folks.

Hellashot, check more carefully, the blue is not all of one value. Use a color picker tool or something and you will see that this is so. I've seen the situation you speak of though, however that has not happened here.

= Ed =

Great shots, Ed. The red tail is stunning.

Wow, beautiful shots. Normally I'm a sucker for Raptors but I have to say I really like that Meadowlark capture and the sunset shot just after it, very nice.

These are all awesome shots.

The Sandhill cranes just came in to the Pixley Wildlife Refuge about 30 minutes away..... now your photos make me think about taking a drive out there this weekend..........

Isenberg will be crawling with people this weekend, especially during 3-6 p.m. each day.

---Bob Gross---

That's why my next plan is to go to Cosumnes mid-week after it cools back down, but when there will be a clear morning. Since I live a couple of hours away from Cosumnes, I'll have to get up VERY early that morning, but if I can be alone out there for the sunrise fly-out, it will be well worth it.

I'll probably take along a small blind to use, if I can set it up quietly

= Ed =

Once last December, I had driven to Cosumnes early, but I didn't arrive until about 9 a.m. I assumed that I was too late for the daily crane departure time. However, that morning the fog had remained later, so the cranes had a delayed departure. Just as I got my camera rig out, they took off. There were two huge golden eagles playing tag below tree-top level.

I found the most cranes parked over on Twin Cities Road, north and east of Cosumnes.

I believe that sundown is a much better time for cranes.

---Bob Gross---