Conowingo Dam
Nov 10, 2019 19:55:19 #
Nov 11, 2019 05:01:38 #
Nov 11, 2019 05:29:32 #
eagle80 wrote:
Was anyone at "Eagle Day " at Conowingo Dam?
Going this week leaving Wednesday
Nov 11, 2019 06:55:15 #
mflowe
Loc: Port Deposit, MD
eagle80 wrote:
Was anyone at "Eagle Day " at Conowingo Dam?
Shows you how out of touch I am. I live 5 miles down river from the dam and I don't know what "eagle day" is. I see eagles every day so don't have to drive up to the dam. Two perch right behind my house everyday. It's amazing watching them dive bomb for fish. My longest focal length lens is 200mm, so I never get any decent pics.
Nov 11, 2019 07:17:13 #
Visited the dam a couple of years ago and was treated to a marvelous sight of the sixty or so eagles having breakfast/lunch. Unfortunately, my longest lens was 300 mm and that is woefully inadequate for decent pictures. It is well worth the trip just to see the eagles. If you can reach to at least 500 mm, there is a good chance for some great pictures.
Nov 11, 2019 07:22:01 #
ggab
Loc: ?
eagle80 wrote:
Was anyone at "Eagle Day " at Conowingo Dam?
I have been to Conowingo Dam, however I didn't think the activity picked up until after Thanksgiving.
When is "Eagle Day"????
Nov 11, 2019 07:38:30 #
mflowe wrote:
Shows you how out of touch I am. I live 5 miles down river from the dam and I don't know what "eagle day" is. I see eagles every day so don't have to drive up to the dam. Two perch right behind my house everyday. It's amazing watching them dive bomb for fish. My longest focal length lens is 200mm, so I never get any decent pics.
I live 10 miles south of Conowingo, but like some others, only have a 300mm lens, and most birds are the other side or too far even when they are in the middle. BUT...they often nest in the trees on the west side, where the park is, and shots are available there. Eagle day there tends to be crowded as well, but it is fun. I marvel at the thousands of $$ worth of camera equipment you see there on any day
Nov 11, 2019 08:03:41 #
Nov 11, 2019 08:17:35 #
Went several years ago and cars were parked from the entrance road to the dam, door to door on both sides. Trying to find a spot to set the tripod, if you found parking, was just as bad.
Nov 11, 2019 09:29:14 #
I visited Conowingo Dam on Eagle Day in 2016. I also visited in November 2018 although that trip was "NOT" on Eagle Day. Bottom line it the Eagles don't know the date of Eagle Day. Eagles are at Conowingo Dam year round, however, the number of Eagles varies greatly. If it is cold in Canada and the food source is diminishing the Eagles move south for more access to food.
On Eagle Day you need to get there before dawn for a parking place. It is estimated there is about $2 mil. worth of camera equipment at Conowingo on that day.
I have learned that to be effective getting a decent shot you should be packing a 600mm with a tele-extender. Dress warmly and bring water or something warm to drink. Hand warmers are handy to have as well. That was not me with the "Two Lens/Two Body setup". My conservative estimate that this was at least a $30,000 rig.
Many friendly folks attend the event. Be prepared to stay all day if you want to capture any good shots.
On Eagle Day you need to get there before dawn for a parking place. It is estimated there is about $2 mil. worth of camera equipment at Conowingo on that day.
I have learned that to be effective getting a decent shot you should be packing a 600mm with a tele-extender. Dress warmly and bring water or something warm to drink. Hand warmers are handy to have as well. That was not me with the "Two Lens/Two Body setup". My conservative estimate that this was at least a $30,000 rig.
Many friendly folks attend the event. Be prepared to stay all day if you want to capture any good shots.
Nov 11, 2019 14:32:08 #
Andiamo, thanks for those photos of the dam. I always wondered what it was like trying to get eagle shots at the dam. Your photo convinced me to stay home.
Nov 11, 2019 14:36:08 #
All that camo makes it next to impossible to see how crowded it really is ....
Nov 11, 2019 14:40:22 #
ggab
Loc: ?
Judy795 wrote:
Andiamo, thanks for those photos of the dam. I always wondered what it was like trying to get eagle shots at the dam. Your photo convinced me to stay home.
The trick is to be out before sunrise. I have been to the dam a few times.
Getting there early made it so I didn't have any issues getting a good spot. Unfortunately it meant leaving my house around 0330.
Nov 11, 2019 14:55:09 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
All that camo makes it next to impossible to see how crowded it really is ....
And the sad thing is that it’s not even that crowded in the photo. It’s usually at least 3 deep in that area. When I go, I get there well before sunrise, BACK my car into a spot, set up IMMEDIATELY, and then sit in the car and have my coffee while I wait for the sun to come up. And I stay away from the area in that photo until late afternoon when it starts to thin out.
Nov 11, 2019 15:05:15 #
BboH wrote:
Went several years ago and cars were parked from the entrance road to the dam, door to door on both sides. Trying to find a spot to set the tripod, if you found parking, was just as bad.
Last year, not even eagle day, they had a shuttle running every 15 minutes to a parking area that was up the hill and across the street. Not as convenient as having your car right there, but due to new construction a good part of visitor parking had to be given up to employee parking.
I'm hoping to go next week if no new appointments pop up.
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