The Long-tailed Ducks had left the port (although I did see them in the distance way offshore). The Black Scoters were still around.
And this Gadwall were at Yakumo…………a heavy crop this one.
More ducks
Category: Wildfowl
2X
Some shots with the 2X teleconverter from yesterday. I was trying to photograph distant Red-necked Grebes (in summer plumage), Stejneger’s Scoters and (another?) White-billed Diver.
Most of the shots were crap but the above diver wasn’t too bad and was actually handheld.
These shots were on the monopod…………..
One thing I’ve noticed about the R5 is a lot of the monopod/teleconverter shots are soft. I usually use the monopod when I attach a T/C and handhold without. Is it the image stablization ‘fighting’ with the monopod? I know my lens (the 500 f4M2) can sense it’s on a tripod but can it sense it’s on a monopod?
Surely the last
I doubt they’ll be around this coming weekend………………
A week later
The Long-tailed Ducks were still present and a couple of males almost in full summer plumage.
Last batch of LTDs
I spent a couple of days at the port and by the end of the second afternoon it had got rather dark.
Trans
A drake Long-tailed Duck transitioning into summer plumage………………
There were 4 pairs of them in the harbour.
Some afternoon LTDs
Some more shots from last weekend…………..
The other black one
Black Scoter are common visitors to the various ports near Yakumo and they were abundant at the weekend, their eerie calls everywhere.
Stejneger’s Scoter were also very common but were always tantalizingly out of camera range. For some reason they never seem to visit the ports.
As I trudged back to the car I noticed one in among the Scaup.
A second year male I think, maybe injured or sick?
Females
Some females for a change………………
Changing Colours
After a 2 week gap we returned to the same port to check if the Long-tailed Ducks were still there. They were and one of the males was changing into summer plumage………..
Goose steps
A quiet weekend with not much about, this lone White-fronted Goose was near Hakodate a few days ago.
I’ve done something to my achilles tendon and can only hobble about which has kept me in the flat all week too.
More LTDs
There were 8 Long-tailed Ducks in the same port as the Scoters and they were all paired up……….
