Spring has sprung! (lots of pics)

I went shooting yesterday with a photog buddy. He told me about a GBH rookery which got my blood flowing. I've been suffering from cabin fever lately. Just wanted to shoot.
I was warned it might be wet so I dressed appropriately. Such a vision of loveliness! Here I am, wellies and all, checking to see how deep the swamp gets before lugging the gear through it.


This is what we were after - the rookery. Nests everywhere but in dense trees! Photographers' nightmare.

FinePix S3Pro    ---    400mm    f/9.5    1/350s    ISO 400

There was only one place to set up and get a chance of a clear shot of a nest. This is with the 80-400VR, handheld because I was stupid enough to leave the lens foot at home :frown:. Not one of my best shots but it shows you what we were after...

FinePix S3Pro    ---    400mm    f/11.0    1/1000s    ISO 400

We decided to zip down to the lake and check out the marsh. All the birds were there, singing their little hearts out. The RWBlackbirds were abundant, but shy - they were keeping their distance. This is a 100% crop, not crisp...

FinePix S3Pro    ---    280mm    f/4.0    1/750s    ISO 400

We were looking for birds to shoot, and lo and behold, right beside my foot in the dried grasses, I spy a little muskrat having a spring snooze! Nothing seemed to faze him. I even tickled his chin with a reed and he tilted his face upwards, eyes still closed, revelling in the free scratch and acted like a cat!!! It was hilarious! We were far too close to him for the lenses we had on, so I just nabbed this with my little Canon P&S. After a few minutes, he trundled off into the water.

Canon PowerShot SD300    ---    12mm    f/4.0    1/80s   

It was so nice to see the signs of Spring coming back to my neck of the woods...

FinePix S3Pro    ---    200mm    f/5.6    1/125s    ISO 400

.. and all the little critters were emerging to enjoy the new green shoots....

FinePix S3Pro    ---    50mm    f/4.8    1/500s    ISO 400

This little guy was so enthralled with his lunch, he paid no attention to us, no matter how close we inched...

FinePix S3Pro    ---    210mm    f/4.0    1/500s    ISO 800

We provided lunch for some of the critters (shameless photography baiting!  

FinePix S3Pro    ---    100mm    f/6.7    1/180s    ISO 400

)...

The birds were high in the trees, calling for their lady-loves..

FinePix S3Pro    ---    280mm    f/4.0    1/3000s    ISO 400

... and enjoying a snack or two..

FinePix S3Pro    ---    280mm    f/4.0    1/1500s    ISO 800

The chickadees enjoyed being hand-fed ....

FinePix S3Pro    ---    280mm    f/4.8    1/30s    ISO 800

The light was fading fast so time to head for home. I must admit, after the winter stretching on forever, it was nice to get out and shoot. All in all, I was not thrilled with the results. Nothing "wowwed" me, and I think I'm going to have to include flash and a BB in my gear.....

.... BUT it was so nice to immerse myself into Mother Nature's wonderful Spring display.

 

Thanks Gary. I was disappointed in the GBH nests being so deep into the woods. No clear shots available. I had Venice Rookery in my mind and found something completely different!!

Thanks for looking, Tim. I had a great time tromping through the muck, listening to all the birds, seeing little green shoots popping up.

Thanks Eric, just nice to get out in the fresh air. I was dog-tired when I got home, that's for sure. Hiking over 5 kms in rubber boots through mud is a workout!

 

Thanks for looking, Kim. It was quite breezy, very difficult to get any clear shots, heavy skies most of the time. I just needed to get out and shoot something... anything. These certainly are not my best but they are representative of the day. Hundreds of throw aways but still fun. The muskrat and the rabbit were the highlights.

 

Thanks Gale, he was so engrossed in getting his lunch/dinner, that he let us creep right up. Of course, he also had the safety of his nettle bushes close by!

Thankyou OhCorgis, it was just nice to get out, tromp through the mud, and watch all the activity. Not the best day for shooting, but at least it lifted my soul. Spring is on her way!

Thanks Bill and Chris for looking, the legs were tired, the lungs had a workout and I slept well that night! :biggrin:

Mike, please keep any nasty weather. I've really had enough here. Apparently, we're still not finished. Bad storms throughout the east but Toronto is getting a miss this time on the heavy stuff - just light rains.

Thanks Gastheer, always great to get out and shoot, or even just observe.

Bob, Spring is my favourite time of year, I revel in the glory of it all, and I think this Spring is going to be a great one! :biggrin:

Flew, sometimes as photographers we have to accept the fact that some days, we're not meant to get superb shots. It make them all sweeter when we do. It was a great hike though. The muskrat almost had us falling over laughing. He didn't give two hoots that we were there.

Thanks Brian, at least that day gave me the promise that Spring hasn't forgotten me. I too am looking forward to that first paddle. Feeling the paddle in the water, the surge forward and then just skimming along makes my heart race.