For Christina: pigeon guillemots

[NorthernFocus]

Last night we were on our boat down near Homer. After a day of halibut fishing, decided to spend the evening in a little bay just a few miles from the boat ramp. By chance we anchored near a rock face where a few pigeon guillemots were nesting. We were right in their flyway. All I had to do was sit in the cockpit after dinner and fire away as they came by. It's about time some critters came to me for a change

Nikon D7100, 80-400mm AF-S
1/1600, f5.6, ISO500

1)


2)


3)


4)


I started tracking this pair and couldn't believe it when they turned towards the boat. I was able to stay locked and kept shooting until the buffer choked on the 7100

5)


6)


7)


8)


9)

[deetheturk]

Lovely series Dan!

[nikon66]

Beautiful series, beautiful in color.

[bnnrcn]

Wonderful photos Dan, they are like dancers in harmony I also like #1 very much, such a pose !

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Downrigger]

Pleasant tale, Dan, and a lovely series. Thanks for sharing.

[John 2]

When I go down to my local reserve looking for BIF as I did last week but there aren't any and I get severely bitten crawling around in the long grass looking for insects instead, why is it I envy you. I take it there was also a glass of something to hand. Nice series, particularly 4 - 9.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you folks liked the shots.

When I go down to my local reserve looking for BIF as I did last week but there aren't any and I get severely bitten crawling around in the long grass looking for insects instead, why is it I envy you....

Like many say, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good
Unfortunately one can't rely on luck all the time. Or at least I can't. If it's any consolation the gnats finally did zero in on our location and I had to abandon the shooting...

[Brownbear]

Thank you Dan! These shots put a huge smile on my face. An especially visual for me to see and learn from. I too, adore these little birds - acrobatic comics with red mouths and feet.

They are back in town here and I've been out photographing them a couple of times already, so I will share a couple of shots later. It is nice to see that my chosen settings are similar to yours but I seem to need a higher ISO. And the only place I can find these birds is at a pier (about 2 meters above the water) so I hang over the pier to minimize shooting downward.

My favourite is #7 (side by side and the water droplets) followed by #5, and then the 1st for the adorable landing. Thank you for the inspiration!

[Brownbear]

If you flipped your kayak, and had your camera in a water proof bag in the dry storage section. Would your camera be okay? I ask because there is a place I can rent a kayak, no guillemots but other birds and seals.

[MarieV]

Your own private air show……great shots.

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you enjoyed the shots, Christina. I thought you would.

If you flipped your kayak, and had your camera in a water proof bag in the dry storage section. Would your camera be okay? I ask because there is a place I can rent a kayak, no guillemots but other birds and seals.

If you have your camera in a true dry bag it will be fine. However if you plan to shoot from the kayak then you have to take it out sooner or later. In which case the easier the better. If you plan to shoot from the boat, I would not put the bag in the locker. I'd let it ride in my lap. Then when you are ready to take the camera out it is easy and reduces the chance of upsetting the boat while you fiddle with it. I would tether the bag to the boat though in case you do take a dunk you can concentrate on righting the boat and getting back aboard rather than thrashing around trying to find the dry bag that is rapidly floating away

[Digital]

Nice series Dan.



Bruce

[Brownbear]

Yes, indeed. I love these and they are very helpful to see. I would love to get a shot of these birds flying side by side as a pair with the wings down. It is also nice to see the colour because although they look black sometimes they look brown depending on the light.

I forgot to say that I also love #9... Well I adore them all but #9 is another favourite.

Thank you for the letting me know about true dry bags and tethering it... I will find one of those. I've upset a kayak more than once... ocean waves and a bit of klutz at times.

Glad you enjoyed the shots, Christina. I thought you would.

If you have your camera in a true dry bag it will be fine. However if you plan to shoot from the kayak then you have to take it out sooner or later. In which case the easier the better. If you plan to shoot from the boat, I would not put the bag in the locker. I'd let it ride in my lap. Then when you are ready to take the camera out it is easy and reduces the chance of upsetting the boat while you fiddle with it. I would tether the bag to the boat though in case you do take a dunk you can concentrate on righting the boat and getting back aboard rather than thrashing around trying to find the dry bag that is rapidly floating away