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View Full Version : Living next door to an Osprey



Mad Aussie
09-29-2009, 07:43 PM
This is one of a breeding pair of Osprey's that live on a high tension wire tower about 500m from where I live. I was out for a roll on the MTB yesterday in the late arvo and saw him/her flying about and decided to try to take advantage of the backlighting.

It was well above me so my 400mm zoom was needed and I shot at 1/1600th to try to get any sharpness.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2522/3967612380_a9a3047511_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2532/3967612102_f80f1dd397_o.jpg

Bambi
09-29-2009, 10:16 PM
those are lovely!!!

Mad Aussie
09-29-2009, 10:43 PM
Thank you Bambi

Michaelaw
09-29-2009, 10:48 PM
Nice work MA, I'm always trying to get that moment when they hit the water on a fish dive :)

Mad Aussie
09-29-2009, 10:55 PM
Nice work MA, I'm always trying to get that moment when they hit the water on a fish dive :)
Yeh me too but they have such a vast area here to go fishing that being in the right spot is miracle enough without actually catching the 'catch' as well. I was in the right place at the right time once about a year ago but the bird dove from a bright sky into a very dark background and it fooled me. One day.

Michaelaw
09-29-2009, 11:08 PM
The ones near me fish in a small lake, when they dive it's sometimes quite close. They sometimes dive five or six times before the get a catch and each dive is in a different part of the lake.... It's just a matter of time :)

Mad Aussie
09-29-2009, 11:10 PM
The ones near me fish in a small lake, when they dive it's sometimes quite close. They sometimes dive five or six times before the get a catch and each dive is in a different part of the lake.... It's just a matter of time :)
Man ... you have no excuses ... go get it! ;)

Michaelaw
09-29-2009, 11:24 PM
Well...I do have an excuse. My E-3 being a four thirds sensor would double the reach of the long end of my 70-300mm to 600mm. A 70-300mm on the Nikon is, well...300mm! If I had kids I'd be selling them off for a 600mm Nikon lens because it's seven grand! The cheap route is a 80-400 strapped onto the D90 which with its sensor will give me 600mm. I asked about a 1200mm at the camera shop and was quoted 70 or eighty thousand dollars because there were only twelve of these things ever made. As it stands, I'll have to put on the hundred dollar hip waders and stroll out into the lake :D

Mad Aussie
09-30-2009, 12:19 AM
Don't you still have the E3?

Michaelaw
09-30-2009, 12:21 AM
Sold it!

Mad Aussie
09-30-2009, 12:27 AM
Well then ... can but work with what you have. 'Run what you brung' ;)

kat
09-30-2009, 12:36 AM
Nice shots! :)

Mad Aussie
09-30-2009, 12:39 AM
Thanks Kat

1putts
09-30-2009, 01:57 PM
nice shots MA!

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I wanted to share some info with michael...

Michael, if you really want osprey shots, head to the foot of Fell Avenue in North Van. From the very foot of Fell, look straight out over the water and you'll see a nest on one of the pilings. Try to get there in the afternoon, low tide and stand out on the gravel bar west of the piling. 300-400mm is more than enough reach.

The young one fledged a few weeks ago so I don't really know how active they still are, or if they're even still around, but it was definitely one of the best spots in the Lower Mainland for ospreys. Obviously you still need patience for a catch shot, but I doubt you'll find anywhere that can get you closer to the action.

Mad Aussie
09-30-2009, 03:25 PM
nice shots MA!

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I wanted to share some info with michael...
No problem at all.

Marko
09-30-2009, 05:06 PM
I really like these shots MA!:highfive:

Mad Aussie
09-30-2009, 05:36 PM
thanks Marko

AntZ
10-01-2009, 06:03 AM
Great shots MA. I love the lighting in the wings.

Mad Aussie
10-01-2009, 06:06 AM
Thanks Antz