It is a red-shouldered hawk (look up the exact color patterns in Wikipidea)
It is like fake news, but I prefer it that way. (With the trees)
I would not try the Southern Photo Tech service. They have taken me for a ride twice with a camera under warranty, which they claimed was not covered after they held it for 2 months. I finally sent it to Nikon and they fixed it within 2 weeks.
No. I rented it first with intentions to buy it if I liked it. I returned it with a letter explaining all the issues and all I got was an email stating that the lens was working properly. I decided not to buy it.
I rented this lens for s trip to Pantanal in Brasil, within 2 days the lens refused to go back to the 200 mm range, it would stop around 250 mm, so I could not lock it at the shortest length to carry it. Then the zoom ring started jumping out of alignment when going farther than 400 mm so I had to go back and carefully extend it past the 400 to make sure it did not jump out of alignment. You can already guess how many opportunities for pictures of BIF or other critters I missed. Conclusion, I decided not to buy it and I got myself the 500 mm which should arrive by next week.
I'd like to buy your lens. Did you get extended warranty? Is it transferable?
Use Google Lens. You take a picture of your picture and it gives you the answer. Works with practically everything.
The bulls didn't ask to be there. They didn't have a choice.
I have traveled 14 times with Natural Habitat Adventures (NHA) and they have never failed me. whatever they promise you they deliver. I went with them to Botswana and Victoria falls. Fantastic trip. Not as many animals as you could see in Kenya and Tanzania ( I went there years ago), but you will not have to deal with 10 or more other trucks trying to photograph a leopard. Most of the time we were the only ones and only 5 of us with the local guide. 5 star accommodations, small plane flights between camps and superb food everywhere. Check them out. Richard Avelino was our guide.
1/2000, F6.3 and ISO auto with a max of 1600. You can get rid of the noise later in lightroom. Shoot at the fastest rate that the camera gives you.
Flash will be useless and not allowed during the drives. It spooks the animals.
My wife and I just returned from Pantanal 2 weeks ago. We went with Natural Habitat Adventures (Our 14th trip with them) and this trip exceeded our already high expectations. We saw pumas, jaguars, ocelots, river otters, caimans, hyacinth macaws, red and blue macaws, innumerable kinds of birds, storks nesting, ant eaters, tapirs, etc. etc. etc. Bring your long lens and your fast shooting camera for the BIF. We hardly had any mosquitoes. My wife and I came back with more than 6 thousand pictures each!! Now the hard work starts. Enjoy.
I got this lens when I bought the D750 as a package deal. I took it on my trip to Botswana and I was very disappointed at the lack of reach for wildlife, having to use it at the maximum reach most of the time with resultant softness of a great percentage of the pictures. I sold it and replaced it with the Nikkor 300 prime lens which much better results and longer reach with the 1.4 teleconverter. Later on i added the D500 for even longer reach ans super fast focussing. I also have the Nikkor lenses to cover the full range from 16 mm to 600 mm when combining the D500 with the 1.4 teleconverter and the 300 prime.
Mexico is paradise for any photographer. Not taking your best gear would be a mistake and you'll regret it when that once in a lifetime shot comes up and your point and shoot messes it up. I have been to Mexico sooo many times, always with 2 DSLRs and an assortment of lenses and never had even a hint of worry there. Mexico City, Cancun, Tulum, Chiapas, Baja California, Taxco, Loreto, Puebla and more. Just be aware of your surroundings, never be alone and make friends with the locals.