The more I try this stuff the more I admire the great shots we've seen here and sites dedicated to wildlife stuff. Some of these are in this weeks POTW as well.
So up at 4AM this morning, fresh batteries and the backpack, tripod and other junk. Living in an area surrounded by the ocean means a logical
shooting spot is often at the beach. Brackley Beach National Park PEI this time. Sunrise at 6.
Tims is closed, Phffft.
Start at the Cove Head Lighthouse which is inside the park and buried in the sand dunes. Of course the best shooting angle at this time in the morning would have been on the other side to catch the lighthouse with the rising sun. Some bureaucratic dope has a big Gov of Canada sign plastered across the front of the building. Ottawa at it's finest.
Don't you love the look of early morning light. It doesn't hurt that the sand and earth of PEI is tinted a clay red almost matching the early sunlight.
Now the sun is just coming to the edge of the horizon. If you've ever been on the ocean on a calm day, you know how incredible that sight remains time after time. The first rays hit the shoreline water.
The sun is now going into the first line of clouds creating intense reds, yellows and oranges. Frankly the sensor can't handle the dynamic range of light and colour but it does a pretty good job. it's going to be a hot day. The birds are chirping now all over the place.
Now to get further down the beach and find some of those noisy birds. The early light is still warm on a deserted and endless beach:
The first shorebird to show up (and several mates) was the rare and protected Piping Plover. Edit I've found out this isn't this bird if you read further down. it's a Semipalmated Plover. So I shot from 200 meters distance to give him space. The light and shutter speed was a little too low.
Next was something bigger and cautious but he was getting ready to do some fishing and intent on finding the right spot with the waning tides.
One of his mates was already set up nearby and looking for breakfast.
Not far from there was a flock of Sandpipers whizzing around the waters edge hunting for the buffet. They seem to burn more energy than they could possibly eat. Very nervous bunch as well.
Across from here and over a series of sand dunes is a large pond. There 3 families of ducks live. One mom and her 6 chicks were out for a swim in the warm early morning air.
They would stray from mom but only a little bit.
Then the dragonflies came out. I focused but they never landed where I wanted them. Ah well next time... Ants will have to do.
Back to the ducks...
Thanks for having a look.
Number 1 and number 5 were the DA16-45mm and the rest were with the 1000mm f10 Meade.