Minks, birds and BIF's (large, dial-up beware)

[evil eggplant]

Greetings all,

Winter around here is supposed to be dead. Coulda fooled me, I've been having the time of my life the past few weeks. Work and photography, no time for anything else.

I hope everyone is doing well.

First, the BIF's (if for no other reason than to seek the validation of Harry..)

Canada Geese
http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/geese.jpg

Mallard drake
http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/mallard_male_bif.jpg

Muscovy duck
http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/muscovy_bif.jpg

A few non-BIF's

Redhead
http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/redhead.jpg

Starlings
http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/starlings.jpg

Double crested comorant
http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/comorant~0.jpg

I've been out the past few weekends shooting minks. Very smart, personality plus critters..

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/mink_2.jpg

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/mink_w_teeth2.jpg

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/wet_mink.jpg

http://www.iceninephotography.com/cpg1.4.10/cpg1410/albums/userpics/10001/mink_w_fish.jpg

Thanks for taking a look. Time to see what you guys have been up to.

Cheers

[Jack'll do]

These are all excellent captures! :thumb:thumb Well worth the wait to load. That mallard drake looks like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed that morning. :D

[Ann McRae]

Wow - these are great. The wing feather detail is amazing. The minks are really cool too. We had a pair move in to our garage a couple winters ago - they are not the most friendly creatures!

ann

[Tess32]

Some great shots you got, captured at just the right moment too.

[evil eggplant]

Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.

And Ann, you're right about the mink having a dark side, but I'll tellya what, I've spent a month of weekends with them. They are really quite entertaining. They know us now, so they're starting to come real close :clap

Thanks again everyone for the nice comments:bow

Cheers

[leahe]

Beautiful shots. I especially love the comorant with the ripple in the water setting off the composition. Its good to see another Nevadan on the forum and a close one at that. Thanks for sharing. :thumb

[davev]

They're all good, but I really like the first mink shot.

[coscorrosa]

They're all fantastic! Love that first mink shot, and I like how you can clearly see the water droplets on the geese and mallard. And count me as one of the rare people that actually like Starlings.

Excellent series.

[dlplumer]

These are remarkable :lust all of them. What lenses did you use for such apparently close encounters?

[evil eggplant]

My buddy and I are out almost every weekend pointing our rigs at something. If you ever want to go out shooting with us please feel free to shoot me an email.

Thanks for the kind words.

Cheers

Beautiful shots. I especially love the comorant with the ripple in the water setting off the composition. Its good to see another Nevadan on the forum and a close one at that. Thanks for sharing. :thumb

[evil eggplant]

Thanks, Dave. The photo you like is of Junior. Junior is very photogenic. The other mink, Scarface, doesn't photograph quite as well, but he is a quality mink nonetheless..

Thanks for the nice words:bow

Cheers

]
They're all good, but I really like the first mink shot.

[evil eggplant]

These are remarkable :lust all of them. What lenses did you use for such apparently close encounters?

Thanks *blush*..

All with a 40D and 100-400L.

We've been shooting the minks for a while now, they know us and they get somewhat close. That, and we encourage them by throwing sardines and mackerel on the ice.

This time of year all the action is around city duck ponds, so the birds are accostomed to people and they let us get close.

Thanks again:D

[bfjr]

dig em all

really like the mink shots and the light :super