Migratory Lessor Snow Geese

[Brownbear]

Photographed at the George Reifel Bird Sanctuary... Migratory Lessor Snow Geese arriving from Wrangel Island, Russia.

SS 1/1250 f/4.5 ISO 250 Focal length 300 mm



Just sharing because it is quite the spectacle to see. The first flock of birds I've ever seen and photographed. Yes, I''ll be visiting again.

I tried smaller apertures but ended up focusing 1/3 of the way in on the marsh to keep the ISO as low as possible. If anyone has some tips to share on photographing large flocks of birds I'd appreciate the input.

[Nicks Pics]

Amazing scene. Very well captured too. It would be such fun to see the snow geese migration. Did you sharpen at all? I seem to see a little sharpening artifacts in the grasses, and I might need to see it bigger to see how it is affecting the birds.

Is there a bird of a different color in there in the middle? And some ducks at the top left corner? That's funny.

[wilgk]

This is quite spectacular indeed!
Sorry no experience to share with you, but I do find myself thinking of this with the reference point of the ground cropped off altogether, so just showing the flock in the sky.

[Stagecoach]

I think you did very well here Christina and I can not spot any birds that appear obviously OOF more than others.

Grahame

[bnnrcn]

Very nice Christina, especially when viewded in the lightbox

[Bobobird]

Spectacular.

[Rita]

Nicely captured Christina. I was out there today and it sure is a spectacular site to see.

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[John 2]

That's quite a sight. Organised Chaos - I'd love to see it first hand. Well captured Christina.

[dje]

Good one Christina, very impressive.

Dave

[IzzieK]

Very very nice, Christina...one of those "I wish..." live view and photographing opportunity never to missed.

[chauncey]

Christina...I would venture to say that, based on the quality of your images, you have developed
into an accomplished photographer.

[Brownbear]

Hi Nick,

Yes, it was an amazing scene and experience. I sharpened in raw .8 radius at 25 (un-sharp mask), and again after downsizing with a mask (.3 at 65). Thank you for letting me know that you think you see sharpening artifacts. At full size I don't see this. I think what it is is my selectively erasing the sharpening on the blurry foreground and not the tips of the grass. I will revisit post processing this image.

Indeed the bird in the middle is a Great Blue Heron, and yes ducks were flying about too. In other shots there is a bald eagle flying about, indeed it looks like the eagle had a head on collision with one of the birds and was just trying to get out of there. Alas I couldn't get any closer (tons of marsh and no access allowed) so capturing these scenes within a scene was impossible.

Amazing scene. Very well captured too. It would be such fun to see the snow geese migration. Did you sharpen at all? I seem to see a little sharpening artifacts in the grasses, and I might need to see it bigger to see how it is affecting the birds.

Is there a bird of a different color in there in the middle? And some ducks at the top left corner? That's funny.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Nick, Kay,Grahame, Binnur, Bobo, Rita, John 2, John Shadowman,Dave, Izzie, and Chauncey.

Indeed it was a very special experience for me to see and photograph.

Rita...
This was my first visit here and I will be returning for sure even though it is such a long trip. My understanding is that the flocks of arriving Snow Geese only last for a few days, and that by next week they will be found on farmers fields. I plan to visit again after the rains cease. By any chance do you know where these farmers fields are located? Along the road leading there?

Chauncey...

Thank you but I still have a lot to learn. It was like being a kid in a candy store. I took far too many images - 98% to be deleted - poor light, wee specks of birds, bird butts flying away, or ten images that look the same.

I became too wrapped up in the experience and forgot everything I learned. However eventually I remembered to stop and check my histogram and look for the right light, and/or just enjoy the scene at hand.

[BrianA61]

Nice shot Christina. I have already seen/heard snow geese here in Oregon while out duck hunting this year, which seems a bit early. I'm sure while you were out shooting this scene, you were probably overwhelmed at how noisy these birds are. Listening to a big flock of these birds has the same effect on my ears as fingernails on a chalkboard. Very high pitched squealing sound. I'm sure the farmers there are dreading seeing that many geese. They can, and are, very destructive to grain fields and can clean out a field in a day or two. If you are interested in waterfowl migrations and when the best times are to go look for them, try this site: http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfo...ose#ad-image-0 It give you a lot of info on almost every species of waterfowl in N. America. BTW, these gees nest/breed in the very northern part of Canada, not Russia. So, what you are seeing is just the start of their long migration to a warmer climate. Next time, see if you can get closer and fill the entire frame with the chaos. It makes for some interesting views to try to pick out details in an individual goose or duck.

[Rita]

Christina, yes, the fields are on the way to the sanctuary. Just follow the road that goes to the sanctuary and
the fields are on the side of the road, you can't miss them. I have seen this site before but I don't remember
there being so many geese in prior years.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Brian. I actually loved the sound of the Snow Geese.

Also thank you for the informative link. I pulled the migration information from the sanctuary's web site see
http://www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com/snow.html

I couldn't get close to the arriving flocks because of the marshy wet lands but I was able to capture a few closer shots when they flew over/past me.

SS 1/1250 f/10 ISO 560



Still not close enough and shooting upwards but I do intend to return for another visit to try again!

Nice shot Christina. I have already seen/heard snow geese here in Oregon while out duck hunting this year, which seems a bit early. I'm sure while you were out shooting this scene, you were probably overwhelmed at how noisy these birds are. Listening to a big flock of these birds has the same effect on my ears as fingernails on a chalkboard. Very high pitched squealing sound. I'm sure the farmers there are dreading seeing that many geese. They can, and are, very destructive to grain fields and can clean out a field in a day or two. If you are interested in waterfowl migrations and when the best times are to go look for them, try this site: http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfo...ose#ad-image-0 It give you a lot of info on almost every species of waterfowl in N. America. BTW, these gees nest/breed in the very northern part of Canada, not Russia. So, what you are seeing is just the start of their long migration to a warmer climate. Next time, see if you can get closer and fill the entire frame with the chaos. It makes for some interesting views to try to pick out details in an individual goose or duck.

[Brownbear]

Thank you Rita!

I took a taxi in from the bus stop (10 km walk) but I didn't see any geese on those fields. However, next time around I will walk in and hopefully they will be in the fields.

Indeed I've never seen so many birds in one place so I'll be visiting again!

Christina, yes, the fields are on the way to the sanctuary. Just follow the road that goes to the sanctuary and
the fields are on the side of the road, you can't miss them. I have seen this site before but I don't remember
there being so many geese in prior years.

[Otavio]

Very nice shot, Christina! A spectacular moment, indeed. Wish I was there! Thanks for sharing and well done!

[BrianA61]

Thank you Brian. I actually loved the sound of the Snow Geese.

Also thank you for the informative link. I pulled the migration information from the sanctuary's web site see
http://www.reifelbirdsanctuary.com/snow.html

I couldn't get close to the arriving flocks because of the marshy wet lands but I was able to capture a few closer shots when they flew over/past me.

SS 1/1250 f/10 ISO 560



Still not close enough and shooting upwards but I do intend to return for another visit to try again!

WOW! This is a great shot, even with a completely white bg. Nice detail. I think it's really nice that this shot shows the birds with several different wing positions. Very cool.