Conowingo Dam (MD) Lunch Bunch
Nov 16, 2016 01:34:31 #
November is the best month to photograph hungry, competitive bald eagles dropping in on shad and other fish species. When the power company engages three or more of their generation units, the eagles hit the overdrive button. Some photo ops can be quite close-up and personal.
Occasionally, the less noticed cormorants come up with some surprises. In this case a cormorant surfaced with a wriggling American freshwater eel. It was one thing to see it hold on to the eel and quite another to watch the bird position the eel to swallow it. I witnessed this action on Monday.
Occasionally, the less noticed cormorants come up with some surprises. In this case a cormorant surfaced with a wriggling American freshwater eel. It was one thing to see it hold on to the eel and quite another to watch the bird position the eel to swallow it. I witnessed this action on Monday.
Nov 16, 2016 02:13:52 #
Nov 16, 2016 02:29:46 #
rockdog wrote:
Well done!
Phil
Phil
Thank you, Phil. The handful of photographers near me all missed that cormorant sequence. When I called out "Cormorant low", they all ignored the plea as their eyes were apparently skyward. Guess I should have said "Cormorant with eel!" They were rather sheepish about missing the eel opportunity, but at less they had a chance to see it on my LED screen.
BTW, for the last two weeks I have been photographing one of your Anna's Hummingbirds in York, PA... about 20 miles south of Harrisburg. This juvenile female Anna's is only the second time an Anna's has been documented in the state. Just a thrill to digitally capture it!
Nov 16, 2016 04:39:03 #
Will be there (Dam) next week. Cannot wait. Nice captures.📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷
Nov 16, 2016 05:28:48 #
Nov 16, 2016 06:35:46 #
Great catches, I'll bet watching that cormorant trying to get that eel down was fun.
Nov 16, 2016 08:13:06 #
Nov 16, 2016 08:48:48 #
WayneT wrote:
Great catches, I'll bet watching that cormorant trying to get that eel down was fun.
That eel was not giving up... no how, no way. After what seemed like a couple minutes of trying to subdue the eel by snaps of its bill, the cormorant snapped shut close to the eel's head. The act of swallowing the eel was a bit unsettling but that's nature.
Nov 16, 2016 08:51:31 #
avemal wrote:
Will be there (Dam) next week. Cannot wait. Nice captures.📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷📷
You are in for a treat. Weekends are a zoo down there, so I hope you will have some weekdays to enjoy the open space along the river.
Nov 16, 2016 10:58:24 #
CanonShot wrote:
November is the best month to photograph hungry, c... (show quote)
What side of the Dam were you when took shots? On the platform area ?
Nov 16, 2016 11:01:02 #
Nov 16, 2016 11:10:17 #
CanonShot wrote:
November is the best month to photograph hungry, c... (show quote)
What lens & settings did you use for these great shots?
Nov 16, 2016 11:44:05 #
avemal wrote:
What side of the Dam were you when took shots? On the platform area ?
I was up at the fence near the main port-a-potties. Believe it or not, there was room at that spot between 10 am and noon. There was plenty of activity at the location so I didn't go to my normal spot on the platform area. Surely would have missed the "eel meal" at any other location.
Eagle and fish info: Canon 7D2, 500mm f/4 II lens, f/5, 1/1600 sec., ISO 500
Cormorant & eel info: Canon 5D3, 400mm F/5.6 lens, f/8, 1600 sec., ISO 2000
At this time of year, I use two body/lens combos... wouldn't come with less... rewards are too great. Of course, an S7 smartphone... that phone camera covers everything else... crowds around a dropped fish, etc. (photojournalism ops are everywhere these days.)
Nov 16, 2016 11:48:33 #
angela k wrote:
Mike.... great catch on both!!!
Thank you, Angela. It was a jackpot three hours. There were great opportunities for any kind of camera gear... some raptors picked up quite close to the riverside fence. Thus, something for everybody PAYING attention. Not so much for the socializing crew, but then lots of folks come there to meet and greet, too.
Nov 16, 2016 11:50:37 #
CanonShot wrote:
Thank you, Angela. It was a jackpot three hours. There were great opportunities for any kind of camera gear... some raptors picked up quite close to the riverside fence. Thus, something for everybody PAYING attention. Not so much for the socializing crew, but then lots of folks come there to meet and greet, too.
That must have been amazing!! I'm so not good at BIF or anything moving, but your shots are fantastic and thanks for sharing!!
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