I did a pro bono shoot for a raptor rehabilitation/training facility over the weekend. These are all captive trained birds that keep other birds away at the landfill, outdoor sports facilities, among other locations. I thought it would be a great opportunity to test out the Nikon D4 + 400mm f2.8VR.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_0566.jpg

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had my camera going onto the SeaBus:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...03/twoguys.jpg


edit:and this was on top of the building you see in the above pic. i woke him up after a few high speed clicks:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../heronroof.jpg

Phantom of the Owl-pera

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_0851.jpg

a recent few. been really cranking the ISO, these are all hand held:


http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...flicktree2.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...birdhouse3.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...03/SJtree2.jpg

a common Song Sparrow.

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...arrowgood3.jpg

a Starling:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...rlingagain.jpg

yep, the Snowy's are still around:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...othersnowy.jpg

however, i found Killdeer too, which made my day( i crawled 30 feet for this shot!) :

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...4/Killdeer.jpg

there were a lot of Harriers out again too:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...rrier1good.jpg

1 more:

i noticed a lot of juvey eagles, but no adults? anyways:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../juviapril.jpg

am not happy with the above BIF shots, so am completely immersed in improving in that area. i have so many custom settings to experiment with,and i was practicing on ANYTHING this morning, like THIS. focusing on moving targets is my new hobby.

couple of simple test shots:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../04/2gulls.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...4/pidgeon2.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../cormatest.jpg


and, my keeper rate, wow, what a difference! (even though i just went down to the Quay and shot these guys.) go figure, read the manual!( and get helpful pointers from experienced shooters)

the Heronry
 

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...2/04/trees.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...04/landing.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../04/neckup.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../04/flyer1.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../04/flyer4.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../04/flyer2.jpg

first guy at Boundary Bay, awesome sunrise too:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...12/04/owl3.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../owlshort1.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../owlshort2.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...12/04/owl4.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...12/04/owl5.jpg

couple more flying shots from today:



http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...2/04/hawk2.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...4/IMG_8772.jpg

not very good image quality, as these guys were out of my range, so i had to really crop. i saw a hawk attempt to kill a Short-eared owl, but the little guy held his own and the bigger bird changed his mind.


http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...04/attack1.jpg
http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...04/attack2.jpg
http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...04/attack4.jpg
http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...04/attack5.jpg

another Heron, coming in for a landing:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...4/landing3.jpg

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2548.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2807.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2818.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2825.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2847.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2854.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC2872.jpg
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http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC3121.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC3162.jpg
http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...s/_DSC3183.jpg

Greater Yellowlegs:


http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...012/04/yl1.jpg
http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...012/04/yl2.jpg
http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...yellowleg1.jpg

The snowy owls are still there? Thought they have gone already..

another juvey eagle:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../04/eagle8.jpg

a few from today, from Maplewood Flats:


http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...04/hummer1.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-.../housefin2.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...whitecrown.jpg

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...4/sparrow6.jpg

this is the same Hummer as up there ^^^^ , but he's awake and eating :

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...therhummer.jpg

First wildlife shoot with the D800 + 400mm f2.8VR...except for the last two images which were taken with a D7000.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_0452.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_0511.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_0554.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_0556.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_4608.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...s/DSC_4670.jpg

nice to see some lady birders out at Boundary Bay:

http://www.epicdevelopements.com/wp-...ladybirder.jpg