STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

It just doesn't seem right to drive to the middle of town to shoot waterfowl when you live only a stone's throw from the Gulf (well, you would have to have a really strong arm). Dixiegirl told me that White Pelicans could be found at Municipal Park. As she always is, she was right! Hubby and I made a detour by the park on our way home from town. It was an unplanned excursion so the only camera I had with me was the Canon SX50 which I try to always keep in the car. This is the first time I have used that camera so I shot on full auto.

The pelicans were rather distant. They pretty much just floated around on the far side of the park's lake, generally with their rumps pointed in my direction. After giving up on getting any better shots, I put the camera away and got back in the car to leave. As I put the car in reverse, I took one last look at the pelicans -- all four were flapping their wings and skimming the water as they took off in flight. They flew down the lake a bit, then turned and flew by in front of me, then disappeared beyond the trees. The photo gods still hate me.

These were the only four I spotted




Head shot of some kind of gull


Some other kind of gull

DOOK Loc: Maclean, Australia

I like these, Sherry--good pics, too. I love that speckled gull. I've never seen one that color before. :-) :thumbup:

docshark Loc: Millersville, PA

Great shots but I wouldn't get so close to that Ring-billed Gull. He looks pretty stern!
-Doc

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for looking and for your comment, Earl. I did some browsing in my bird book but didn't find Mr. Speckles -- but there are so many gulls!

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for your kind comment and for the ID, Doc. I think he was upset that I wasn't throwing food to him!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Sorry, but I have to chuckle over your sad story of missed photo ops. We've all been there :)

Next time you're using the SX50 for white birds, set to mode to P. Then you can use the exposure compensation setting on the wheel on back of camera. Move to the negative side, maybe to - 2/3 (two "tick marks" ) or -1 (a full stop) and you will get more detail in the bird's feathers.

Pierre H.J. Dumais Loc: Mississippi Mills, Ont.

I've never seen that kind of Pelican before. Thanks Sherry.
We are seeing more and more Gulls around here each year. The population is sure growing -- everywhere I think.

Pierre

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Yes, those photo gods love to mess with all of us.

Thanks for the tips on using the SX50. That camera was originally my hubby's but he replaced it with another. It sat unused, so several weeks ago I put it in the car so I would never have to miss a photo op. This was the first occasion I had to use it. As soon as I pulled it from its case, I started thinking of you and that I needed your advise. I guess if this is going to be my "security" camera, I need to spend a little time learning to use it!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I still mostly use HQ burst mode for moving subjects (SCN on top knob, then func button on back, scroll to HQ in the menu), but discovered that P mode for other stuff works just fine. This bridge camera has very little ability to control depth of field via the aperture, and P will always choose the lowest ISO it can, so that helps overall quality.

In P you can shoot in raw; in HQ burst, it's jpg only, but you can use exposure compensation.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment, Pierre.

From what I have gathered, the White Pelicans have only recently started wintering in this area. After 30 years of living here, I saw them for the first time in fall 2013 as they were migrating through. They are considerably larger than our resident brown pelicans. It is exciting to have them here and I am looking forward to more and better photo ops!

Gulls are so very plentiful! I should probably shoot them more as they are so very people friendly and would provide some good practice. And if you toss some food up in the air, you'll have hundreds swarming around you in the blink of an eye.

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thanks again, Linda. I'll have to make notes of your tips. What basic knowledge I do have of my other cameras doesn't seem to intuitively translate to the SX50 for me.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

An excellent way to state it! It took me many thousands of clicks to realize aperture priority was not my best option, lol.

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

And to think Hubby tried to tell me the pellies had left the park. Well here's proof they haven't. These are super, Sherry, and I'm so glad you found them. Mr Speckles is an immature laughing gull, and your closeup is a ring-billed. It seems to be the photo gods were in your favor that day, and now I'm going to have to show these to Hubby and take a little drive over to the park. I'm also going to tell him that Sherry says I'm always right. :-D

STVest Loc: LA - that's Lower Alabama

Thank you for your kind comment and for the IDs, Donna. Surely, by now, your Hubby knows that you are always right -- but it never hurts to remind them!

Dixiegirl Loc: Alabama gulf coast

:thumbup: :lol: