A Quartet Of Gobblers

Just a short time ago it was common, to see gobblers strutting and gobbling while courting the hens, but now it is becoming rare.  Today we will look at a few of my best gobbler photos taken this spring. In most cases I prefer to be very close to the birds, but the gobblers in the photos below are 150 yards away as measured by my Bushnell rangefinder.

Quartet Of Gobblers: Canon 5D MKIII-Canon 600mm F 4.0 IS L- ISO 400-1/250 sec - f 8.0

I began my session with the birds by using the 5D MK III camera body on the 600mm F 4.0 with 1.4X extender, but soon changed to the 7D body to take advantage of the 1.6 crop sensor. I have owned a 5D MK III since 2012 and I am still not certain if there is an advantage to  using the crop sensors for long range work or if one is better off using the full frame and cropping more in post production.  With that being said the photos shown today are not the best for comparison as they are cropped in post and  do not show what frame size and detail each camera captures at that distance. They are also cropped to different aspect ratios with two of them being 3:2 and two 4:5. In addition the sun was not out when I the 5D MK III and  it was in those that I used the 7D. Compared to the 7D, I can get sharp focus more reliably with the 5D MK III and it performs much better at higher ISO settings, but  the bottom line is that the 7D is still capable of excellent results even though it will soon have been out there for five years.

There are actually four gobblers in the photos below, but only three are plainly visible.  If one looks closer  you can see a rear view of the top of the tail of the fourth one in the first photo and a side view of the tail in the second.

Trio Of Gobblers: Canon 7D-Canon 600mm F 4.0 IS L- ISO 400-1/500 sec @ f 8.0

Attaching the 1.4x to the 600mm f 4.0 gives it a maximum aperture of 5.6 and I have found through  that sharpness is improved by stopping down to at least f 8.0.

Trio Of Gobblers-Pose 2: Canon 7D-Canon 600mm F 4.0 IS L- ISO 400-1/500 sec @ f 8.0

These photos were taken in mid-April.  I had an encounter with what I presume is the same four gobblers just eight days later--strutting and gobbling in the same spot and again I used the 7D.

Quartet Of Gobblers: Canon 5D MKIII-Canon 600mm F 4.0 IS L- ISO 400-1/400 sec - f 8.0

I have not seen the quartet for some time now, but the encounters I had with them will provide memories to treasure for years to come.

Originally published at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.

Turkey Encounters

I have been concentrating on Eastern Wild Turkey photography and filming since returning from my trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in late March.  When many think of turkeys strutting and gobbling they think of April and May, but a great deal of this happens in the winter also.  I have seen little strutting strutting or gobbling in summer or fall (except for late June). Below is a flock of turkeys photographed at around 300 yards on January 19th. This is only a portion of  mixed flock of hens, young turkeys born last spring, jakes, and mature gobblers.  It is likely these are the same gobblers featured in the other photos below.

Gobblers Strutting-Mid-January: Canon 7D-Canon 600mm f 4.0 L IS- ISO-400- 1/160 sec. f4.5

Gobblers Strutting-Mid-January: Canon 5D MK III-Canon 500mm f 4.0 L IS- ISO 1000- 1/640 sec. f4.5

It seems that most winter strutting and gobbling is not directed at the hens and is common when two or more flocks of gobblers converge on an area to feed.  The gobblers strut and gobble at each other for a time and then the opposing flocks may pitch into each other and a noisy brawl results with a lot of running about, kick-boxing, and flogging.

Attention shifts to the hens sometime in March and early April and it is common to see one or more mature gobblers putting on an impressive courtship display  for them.

It's All About The Hens: Canon 5D MK III-Canon 600mm f4.0 L  IS+ 1.4x extender-ISO 400- 1/6000 sec. f  8.0

Woodland Hen: Canon 5D MK III-Canon 600mm f4.0 L IS- ISO 640- 1/250 sec. f 5.0

One of the ultimate turkey experiences is  when a mature gobbler comes close in the woodlands. 

Mature Gobbler Approaches: Canon 7D -Canon 55-250 mm f 4-5.6- ISO 400- 1/250 sec. f 5.6

When I was younger, my heart rate increased dramatically in this type of situation and I felt under intense pressure to get the photograph. But since retirement  I have spent so much time afield and photographed so many gobblers- or  the same gobblers so many times- that I no longer get so excited. Instead I feel a deep sense of satisfaction when everything comes together and one captures an exceptional image--not to mention that it is so rewarding just  be afield at daybreak and watch the natural world come to life.

Originally published at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.

Middle Creek Part IV- Wintry Day Brings Varied Photo Opportunities

Wednesday March 26th and as I left for Middle Creek before dawn it was snowing lightly, the snow driven by a strong northwest wind.  By the time I reached Mount Joy the snow was so heavy that the reduced visibility made driving difficult.  I briefly considered turning back, but then pressed on.  In Manheim I encountered black ice at some of the stop lights, but the snow soon stopped and conditions improved a bit as I neared Middle Creek. I drove the tour loop shortly after daybreak and even though waterfowl numbers were down substantially from a few days ago, I still saw quite a few birds leaving the lake and flying north.

Waterfowl Leaving Lake In Morning: Canon 70D-Canon 70-200mm f 2.8 IS II -ISO 400-1/640 sec. f 8.0

After returning to my favorite spot along Hopeland Road, I captured a Canada Goose taking off.  The skies were mostly clear by this time, but there were periodic light snow squalls and there were snow flakes in the air when this photograph was taken.

Canada Goose In Flight: Canon 5DMKIII-Canon 600mm f 4.0 IS+1.4 extender -ISO 400-1/800 sec. f 8.0

The highlight of the morning was when I noticed three small birds busily picking away in a ditch between the road and the pothole. At one time I would have thought they were Woodcock, but now I believe they are Wilson's Snipe.

Wilson's Snipe: Canon 70D-Canon100-400mm f 4.-5.60 IS -ISO 400-1/400 sec. f 8.0

Wilson's Snipe: Canon 70D-Canon100-400mm f 4.-5.60 IS -ISO 400-1/400 sec. f 8.0

Wilson's Snipe: Canon Canon 5DMKIII-Canon 600mm f 4.0 IS+1.4 extender -ISO 400-1/4000 sec. f 5.0

 With this the trip was over and it was time to leave for Fulton County and resume photographing the deer, turkeys, and other wildlife of that mountainous County.

Originally published at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.

Middle Creek Part III A Day Of Mixed Weather

Mixed precipitation was in the forecast for Tuesday March 25th, but as I drove toward Middle Creek the stars were shining in spots and as it grew lighter one could see a few patches of clear sky scattered here and there.  As it turned out I was rewarded with a stunning sunrise, but soon after that the sun vanished to be seen no more that day.

Middle Creek Dawn: Canon 70D-Canon 70-200mm f2.8 II L @ 115 mm-ISO 400-1/640 Sec. F 10.0

Soon a light snow began. I spent the day watching the lake and potholes and periodically driving the tour road around the upper end of the lake.   One one of these trips I saw a male ring-necked peasant and on most of the trips I saw small groups of  Canada Geese in the fields alongside the road.

Male Ring-necked Pheasant: Canon 70D-Canon 100-400mm f 5.6I L @ 100 mm-ISO 400-1/500 Sec. F 5.0

I didn't feel sufficiently motivated  to get the 500mm or the 600mm into action so I shot out of the window with the old 100-400mm IS L lens. I use this lens quite a bit for video, but seldom use it for still photography anymore.  Some criticize it for being on the soft side and I agree that it isn't as sharp as the big primes or the 70-200mm L lens, but it is very versatile and is much easier to get into action than the 500mm or 600mm.  I usually use the primes when possible, but today's experience proved the 100-400mm is still a very useful lens that provides acceptable sharpness in most cases.

Canada Geese: Canon 70D-Canon 100-400mm f 5.6I L @ 190 mm-ISO 400-1/320 Sec. F 7.1

Many of the Tundra Swans left Middle Creek on Sunday and Monday, but a few remained, either swimming in the water, or resting on the patches of ice that remained.

Tundra Swans: Canon 70D-Canon 100-400mm f 5.6I L @ 400 mm-ISO 400-1/500 Sec. F 8.0

 In mid-afternoon I was watching a pothole while seated in the vehicle with the 600mm resting on the window sill, in hopes of getting some close-up photos of ducks when a man approached me and told me that two mature bald eagles were perched in trees along the edge  of the lake behind me.  It was a bit far for even the 600mm and the 2x extender, but I was still happy to have the opportunity and wish to thank the gentleman for informing me of their presence.

Mature Bald Eagles: Canon 70D-Canon 600mm F4 L IS + 2x extender-ISO 400-1/320 Sec. F 11.0

I made a final circle around the lake just after 4:30 and found turkeys feeding in a cornfield along the tour road.

Eastern Wild Turkeys : Canon 5D MK III-Canon 500mm F4 L IS + 1.4x extender-ISO 400-1/640 Sec. F 7.1

I spent the remainder of the day filming Tundra Swans and Canada Geese as they landed on the lake to spend the night.

Originally published at Pennsylvania Wildlife Photographer by Willard Hill.