This Gallery contains images from a few different locations (noted in each image's annotation). The majority were taken during a trip my wife and I took over a long July 4th week-end to sites along the "Colonial Coastal Birding Trail." She had seen this mentioned in a magazine a few weeks prior, and after some internet research, we decided to explore these areas in Georgia. While the weather was hot and humid, and we were frequently dripping in sweat, with bugs often a problem (although not as bad as expected), we had a great time, with some nice photographic opportunities.

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Great Horned
    Owl Portrait (Captive)

    
Image # 00279

    
Carolina Raptor Center

    
Huntersville, NC
 

    
Canon 70-200L/f2.8 IS,
    1.4x II Teleconverter at 280 mm

    
ISO 400, f/4, 1/125 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    0, 550EX at -1 EV

    
Bogen Monopod/ArcaSwiss
    B1/Wimberley Sidekick
 



     
 

    
Male Eastern
    Bluebird

    
Image # 00318

    
My Backyard

    
Mooresville, NC
 

    
Canon 600L/f4 IS, 2x II
    Teleconverter

    
ISO 800, f/8, 1/250 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    -1/3, 550EX at -2 EV

    
Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley
    Sidekick
 

This pair of bluebirds took up residence in a Father's Day gourd/birdhouse I received. I was pleasantly surprised, as I hadn't even seen a Bluebird in our yard until this.

Female Eastern Bluebird Image # 00320 My Backyard Mooresville, NC

Canon 600L/f4 IS, 2x II Teleconverter ISO 800, f/8, 1/125 second Evaluative Metering at -1/3, 550EX at -2 EV Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

I was fascinated watching the female work hard building her nest, often carrying large amounts of nesting material in her mouth.

     
 

    
Red-shouldered
    Hawk 1

    
Image # 00347

    
Stephen C. Foster Park

    
Fargo, GA
 

    
Canon 100-400L, 1.4x II
    Teleconverter, at 560 mm

    
ISO 400, f/8, 1/250 second

    
Evaluative Metering at
    0

    
Handheld
 

We found this beautiful bird near the cottage we rented at the Park (on the Okefenokee Swamp). It must have been somewhat used to people, as it allowed me to get reasonably close.

Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Image # 00350 Stephen C. Foster Park Fargo, GA

Canon 100-400L, 1.4x II Teleconverter, at 560 mm ISO 400, f/8, 1/125 second Evaluative Metering at +1 EV Hand-held

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk Image # 00356 Stephen C. Foster Park Fargo, GA

Canon 100-400, 2x II Teleconverter, at 800 mm ISO 400, f/14, 1/125 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Bogen Monopod, ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

Great Egret enjoying a fish Image # 00366 Okefenokee NWR (East Entrance) Folkston, GA

Canon 600L/f4 IS, 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/2000 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3 EV Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

This image, and the Sandhill Crane shots, were taken on a boat tour we went on. The earliest trip was 10:15 am, so the sun was pretty harsh. It was just the tour guide and my wife and I, and he generously offered to customize the trip to accommodate my desire to photograph the birds. I was able to set up my tripod and equipment on the bow of the boat, and he maneuvered around to give us the best views of the birds. We were lucky enough to come across some beautiful birds.

Sandhill Crane 1 Image # 00371 Okefenokee NWR (East Entrance) Folkston, GA

Canon 600L/f4 IS, 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/2000 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3 EV Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

This was my first opportunity to see, let alone photograph these beautiful birds. Needless to say, we were quite excited to find them here.

Sandhill Crane 2 Image # 00378 Okefenokee NWR (East Entrance) Folkston, GA

Canon 600L/f4 IS, 1.4x II Teleconverter ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/1250 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

Sandhill Crane Dancing Image # 00388 Okefenokee NWR (East Entrance) Folkston, GA

Canon 600L/f4 IS ISO 200, f/4, 1/1600 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

We were even more fortunate to have these birds put on a nice dancing display for me, including where they toss vegetation in the air, as part of the dance.

Cattle Egret Image # 00398 Grassy lawn near a small pond St. Mary's, GA

Canon 100-400L, 2x II Teleconverter, at 800 mm ISO 400, f/11, 1/1600 second Evaluative Metering at -2/3 Tripod Collar braced on car window

We had driven into St. Mary's to have a look around this nice little seaside town, and saw a flock of Cattle Egret and other birds right off the side of the road, on a grassy field around a pond. We turned in and parked in a lot there, but I couldn't get anywhere near these birds before they flew off. There wasn't time to set up the 600L, but ironically enough, we were able to get reasonably close while driving on the road. So my wife slowly pulled up, and I shot out the window. These birds aren't that uncommon, but I just haven't come across many so far in my travels.

Black-crowned Night Heron Image # 00417 Ansley Hodges M.A.R.S.H. Project Darien, GA

Canon 600L/f4 IS, 1.4x II and 2x II Teleconverters ISO 800, f/11, 1/500 second Evaluative Metering at 0, 550EX at -1 EV Gitzo 1329/ArcaSwiss B1/Wimberley Sidekick

We only knew of this location from the Colonial Coastal website. It was as obscure and unlikely a location as any, with I-95 actually heard fairly nearby. But it turned out to be a great place to see birds (and other critters - see the next picture). There was a Viewing Platform, and we saw quite a few birds. The main problem from a photographic standpoint is that they were fairly far off, requiring the 600L with stacked converters. I saw a pair of Black-crowned Night Herons flying in the distance several times, and was shocked when they came toward me, and landed in a tree not too awfully far away.

Southeastern Lubber Grasshoppers Image # 00406 Ansley Hodges M.A.R.S.H. Project Darien, GA

Canon 100/f2.8 USM Macro ISO 400, f/11, 1/250 second Evaluative Metering at 0 Handheld

While driving slowly down the dirt road into Ansley Hodges, we saw a huge black grasshopper slowly walking across the road. I quickly got out my 100 macro lens, but had to wait about 5 or 10 minutes for it to 'unfog' (my equipment was fairly cool from the A.C. in the car, and it was quite warm/humid outside). Fortunately, this one hung around for a while, and we found a number of others, including several mating pairs. At the time I had no idea what species this was, but they were by far the largest, and most beautiful, grasshoppers I'd ever seen. My son Sam provided the identification.