Birds With The Canon 500mm f4 L IS Lens - #

The Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens at work.

The camera setup I take around with me while hiking/birding, the Canon 7D with the 500 f4 lens, all attached to a BushHawk ( http://www.bushhawk.com ) shoulder mount. The cord is a shutter release so the shutter can be activated by pressing the button on the trigger grip. This setup is a big aid in stabilization, especially for birds-in-flight shots.

A juvenile Baltimore Oriole, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, January 7 2012.

Hutton's Vireo, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, January 7 2012.

Ash-throated Flycatcher, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, January 7 2012.

Western Bluebird, El Dorado Park, Long Beach, CA, February 13 2011.

White-faced Ibis closeup, El Dorado Park, Long Beach, CA, February 13 2011.

Costa's Hummingbird, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tuscon, Arizona, January 24 2011.

Bridled Titmouse, at Mary Jo Ballator's backyard (birders welcome), outside of Sierra Vista, Arizona, January 27 2011.

Sandhill Cranes, Whitewater Draw north of Bisbee, southeast Arizona, January 27 2011.

The Sandhills at Whitewater Draw were numerous -- estimated at 40,000!

Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw, January 27 2011.

Sandhill Cranes in fying formation at Whitewater Draw, AZ, January 27 2011.

Sandhill takeoff at Whitewater Draw, AZ, January 27 2011.

Red-breasted Merganser, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA, January 17 2011.

Mr and Mr Northern Shoveler, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA, January 17 2011.

A rare-for-the-area female Summer Tanager, DeForest Park along the LA River, Long Beach, CA, January 17 2011.

This juvenile Cooper's Hawk raided my balcony feeder, but came up empty-handed. He then perched on this light pole for about 5 minutes, checking out the scene. He gave me time to get many shots, including this and the following, at ISOs 200 and 100. January 11, 2011.

The raiding juvenile Cooper's Hawk right at my condo balcony, January 11 2011.

Leucistic Black Oystercatcher, Royal Palms State Beach, San Pedro, CA, December 24 2010.

A whole mess o' Cedar Waxwings, Eastivew Park, San Pedro, December 26 during the Christmas Bird Count, 2010.

Red-breasted Nuthatch, Highridge Park, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, October 24 2010.

Another look at the Red-breasted Nuthatch, Highridge Park, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA, October 24 2010.

Red-breasted Sapsucker, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, December 12 2010.

Green Heron in flight, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 24 2010.

Tracking the Green Heron from the previous photo, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 24 2010.

Here's a different use for the 500 f4 -- a long-range shot of the downtown Los Angeles highrises taken from Highway 330 out of Running Springs between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains, November 13 2010. The sunset was spectacular and the air was clear, giving views of 70 miles and more. I was taking landscape shots with the Canon 40D/17-55 f2.8 L then realized I could get an interesting shot like this using the 500 f4. ISO 400, f4 @ 1/30 sec.

Juvenile White-tailed Kite taking off in the early-morning at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, near Perris, CA, November 15 2010.

Roadrunner taking a breather along Davis Road at the Wister Unit of the Salton Sea, California, November 14 2010. Taken with the Canon 7D/500 f4 plus 1.4x TC.

Juvenile California Gnatcatcher, Shoreline Park/Ocean Trails, Palos Verdes, CA, November 10 2010.

Another juvenile California Gnatcatcher, Shoreline Park/Ocean Trails, Palos Verdes, November 10 2010.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, Ocean Trails, Palos Verdes, CA, November 10 2010.

Another look at the very cooperative Cooper's Hawk, Ocean Trails, Palos Verdes, CA, November 11 2010.

The Cactus Wren pair at Shoreline Park, Palos Verdes, CA, November 10 2010.

Orange Bishop at ISO 100, Madrona Marsh, Torrance, CA, November 1 2010.

A rare-for-the-area Black-and-white Warbler, Madrona Marsh, Torrance, CA, October 31 2010.

Another look at Madrona Marsh's Black-and-white Warbler, acting somewhat woodpecker-like, clinging to the sides of the tree in search of food.

A head portrait shot of Madrona Marsh's Black-and-white Warbler, October 31 2010.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 24 2010.

Brown Pelican plunge-diving (with Heerman's Gull watching), Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, CA, October 26 2010, using the 7D/500 f4 plus 1.4xTC.

Impact...

Red-breasted Sapsucker, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 17 2010.

Another view of Harbor Park's returning-for-winter Red-breasted Sapsucker. The lighting was tricky as there was a heavy cloud cover and I was shooting a dark bird in the shade against a bright background.

As the lens aperture was only f5 I moved the focus point up so I could focus on the Sapsucker's head yet keep the bird centered in the frame in case the shallow aperture made other parts of the body out-of-focus.

And here's a photo of the Sapsucker -- sucking sap. It's a Red Willow tree, one of only a few at the Park. It attracts not only the Red-breasted Sapsucker but also a Red-naped, both of whom have spent the past 4 winters there. Other birds such as Yellow-rumped Warblers are attracted to the fresh sap created by the Sapsuckers' holes, too.

California Gnatcatcher, Forrestal Nature Reserve, Palos Verdes, CA, October 12 2010.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Forrestal Nature Reserve, Palos Verdes, CA, October 12 2010.

Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Shoreline Park, Palos Verdes, CA, October 9 2010.

The Rufous-crowned Sparrow on a post, Shoreline Park, Palos Verdes, CA, October 9 2010.

Green Heron, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 12 2010.

Western Bluebird, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 10 2010. These Western Bluebirds are back in this urban park due to a successful placement of nesting boxes.

Green Heron, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 10 2010.

Belted Kingfisher, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Harbor City, CA, October 10 2010.

Say's Phoebe, Royal Palms, San Pedro, CA, October 10 2010.

Whimbrel, Royal Palms, San Pedro, CA, October 10 2010.

Rock Wren, Royal Palms, San Pedro, CA, October 10 2010.

The resident female Kingfisher at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA, Sept 29 2010. This and the following 5 photos were taken with the Canon 7D/500 f4/1.4xTC, using AI Focus mode.

Another look at the female Kingfisher...

She takes off...

Seconds after the last shot...I've been trying to get a shot of a Kingfisher-in-flight like this for years.

Focus still holds with the Canon 7D/500 f4 plus 1.4TC thoughout her flight.

The Kingfisher continues on her flight path.

Willet portrait on the footbridge at Bolsa Chica, Huntington Beach, CA, Sept 29 2010.

Green Heron taken with the Canon 7D and the 500 f4, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA, Sept 29 2010.

Another shot of the Bolsa Chica Green Heron.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, September 26 2010.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, Sept 26 2010.

Another view of the Shoreline Park Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

California Gnatcatcher, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, September 26 2010.

House Wren in early-morning light, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, September 25 2010.

A somewhat rare for the area Turkey Vulture, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, September 25 2010.

A head portrait of the Turkey Vulture, September 25 2010.

He was within 50 feet of me, perched in a eucalyptus tree off the foot path, so I was able to get good closeups using the Canon 7D and 500 f4 lens. Usually I only see them in the area, if at all, flying "way up thar".

Coastal Cactus Wren in evening light, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, Sept 22 2010.

Coastal Cactus Wren "calling", Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, Sept 22 2010.

Coastal Cactus Wren against ocean background, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, Sept 22 2010.

House Wren in evening light, Shoreline Park, San Pedro, CA, Sept 22 2010.

Red-necked Phalaropes, Dirty Socks Spring, near Olancha, eastern California, Sept 15 2010.

Nuttall's Woodpecker, on Mazourka Canyon Road, outside Independence, eastern California, Sept 15 2010.

Thick-billed Kingbird, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, March 28 2009.

Another view of the rare Thick-billed Kingbird, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, March 28 2009.

Peregrine Falcon, 2009.

Male Kestrel, White Point Nature Preserve, San Pedro, CA, Dec 17 2009.

House Wren, Placerita Canyon, nr Newhall, CA, April 2009.

Acorn Woodpecker portrait, Placerita Canyon, nr Newhall, CA, April 2009.

White-faced Ibis at a pond reflecting yellow mustard, San Jacinto Wildlife Area, CA, May 1 2010.

Loggerhead Shrike, Cottonwood Springs in Joshua Tree Nat'l Park, CA, Feb 28 2010.

A 2-sequence Brown Pelican in-flight, Salton Sea, CA, Feb 28 2010.

Brown Pelican in-flight, Salton Sea, Feb 28 2010.

A juvenile female Harrier set in a sea of wild mustard, San Jacinto Wildlife Area, nr Riverside, CA, May 1 2010.

The yellow mustard is given an interesting look by the 500 f4 's lens.

The Harrier at the moment of takeoff.

Nashville Warbler, nr Osoyoos on the Canadian-American border, May 2009.

Canadian in flight, Osoyoos, British Columbia, May 2009.

White-faced Ibis at Bear River Refuge, nr Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2009.

Ibis at Bear River Refuge.

Yellow Warbler, Osoyoos, Canada, May 2009.

Townsend's Solitaire, on the banks of Big Pine Creek, eastern Sierra Nevada, CA, Sept 2009.

Swainson's Hawk, Modoc Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Alturas, CA, May 2009.

Sandhill Crane, Modoc Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, Alturas, CA, May 2009.

Cinnamon Teal, Modoc Refuge, May 2009.

Another Cinnamon Teal, this time at Tule Lake Wildlife Refuge, CA, May 2009. Doing The Stretch.

Ring-necked Pheasant, Bear River Migratory Refuge, nr Salt Lake City, Utah, May 2009.

Red-naped Sapsucker, near Osoyoos, British Columbia, May 2009.

Green Heron, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA, Sept 16 2009.

Wilson's Warbler, Osoyoos, British Columbia, May 2009.

Red-tail Hawk, Angels Gate Park, San Pedro, CA, July 2009.

Bank Swallow, Bear River Migratory Refuge, Utah, May 2009.

Harris's Hawk, Placerita Canyon Park, CA.

Male American Kestrel, Placerita Canyon Park, CA.

Kildeer with the 500 f/4 on the Canon 7D, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, CA, Oct 23 2009.

Red-tail takeoff taken from my condo window, Angels Gate, San Pedro, CA, June 22 2009.

Adult Red-shouldered Hawk taken with my new Canon EOS 7D and the 500 f/4 plus 1.4TC, Madrona Marsh, Torrance, CA, Oct 17 2009.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, CA, Sept 16 2009.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk, Bolsa Chica, Sept 16 2009.

This Yellow-headed Blackbird let me get nearly within the minimum focusing distance of the 500 + 1.4TC.. San Jacinto Wildlife Area, April 1 2009.

Female Rufous Hummingbird, Osoyoos, Canada, May 2009.

A Flycatcher at the Osoyoos Golf Course, Osoyoos, Canada, May 2009.

A preening White-faced Ibis, Tule Lake, northeast California, May 23 2009.

A juvenile Red-tail, perhaps 3 months old, taken from my balcony after I heard it calling to its mother for food, July 7 2009.

And here is Mom, about a month prior to the previous photo, on the same tree.

Lewis' Woodpecker, near the Washington/Canadian border, May 16 2009.

Evening Grosbeak, Osoyoos, Canada, May 17 2009.

Eastern Kingbird, Osoyoos, Canada, May 20 2009.

Bald Eagle, Washington State near the Canadian border, May 16 2009.

Elegant Trogon, Cave Creek picnic area, Cave Creek Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona, May 8 2009.

Western Bluebird male, near Osoyoos, Britiish Columbia,which is located near the border with Washington State.

Curve-billed Thrasher, Big Morongo Preserve in the California high desert, May 9 2009.

Red-faced Warbler, seen along the Chiricahua Crest Trail near Rustler Park, Chiricahua Mountains, SE Arizona, May 6 2009.

Another look at the Red-faced Warbler.

Common Yellowthroat male, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, April 25 2009.

Common Yellowthroat female, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, April 25 2009.

Spotted Towhee, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, CA, April 25 2009.

Mr Hooded Oriole at Covington Park across from Big Morongo Preserve, CA, April 2 2009.

Bullock's Oriole, Placerita Canyon Nature Preserve, California, April 18 2009.

Western Kingbird, San Jacinto Wildlife Area, near Lake Perris, CA, April 1 2009.

Western Kingbird on-the-wing.

House Wren, Placerita Canyon Park, CA, April 11 2009.

Acorn Woodpecker, Placerita Canyon Park, April 11 2009.

Western Bluebird near the Nature Center at Placerita Canyon Park, nr Santa Clarita, CA, April 11 2009.

A male Kestrel comes in with an offering to his mate, White Point Nature Preserve, San Pedro, CA, March 28 2009.

The ensuing Courtship Food Exchange from Mr to Mrs.

Vermilion Flycatcher in-flight. The only way to catch these speedy guys is to crank the shutter speed WAY up, in this case 1/4000 sec at the 500's (without the 1.4TC this time) minimum aperture of f/4. Taken at Covington Park across from Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, April 2 2009.

This and the following 3 portraits were also taken at Covington Park on April 2, 2009. The Vermilion Flycatchers have returned after being absent for the winter.

The Western Bluebirds have returned to Covington Park, too.

A Cedar Waxwing pays an early-morning visit to the same willow tree as the Hooded Oriole and Thick-billed Kingbird, March 28 2009.

Ferruginous Hawk takeoff sequence of 4 photos, taken at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area east of Riverside, southern California, April 1 2009.

One of two returning Vermilion Flycatchers now "playing" at Covington Park across from Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, near Yucca Valley, CA, April 2 2009.

This young male Allen's hummingbird had fledged just the week before from the nest in the Bottlebrush tree just across the path from this perch. Taken at the South Coast Botanic Garden in the rural Los Angeles suburb of Palos Verdes, March 25 2009.

Yellow-rumped Warbler, aka Butter Butt, South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes, March 28 2009.

A male Bullock's Oriole in a coral tree, South Coast Botanic Garden, March 25 2009.

The male Bullock's with a stylish Carmen Miranda hat. :o)

The Bullock's male on another day in a willow tree at the botanic garden, March 28 2009.

The botanic garden has a water fountain that is a favorite for the birds to bathe in. This female Allen's hummingbird is a reliable bather around 12:30pm every day. This and the following 2 photos show her "technique". March 25, 2009.