choices, choices

[Harryb]

Hi you'll,

There have been some who have said that I have it too easy living so close to the Viera Wetlands. They , especially Ben, don't know how tough it can be. Here's a scene that I ran into recently.

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504149-L.jpg

On the tree on the left there's an osprey and on The Tree there's a crested caracara. I'm in the middle and pretty soon I'm running from tree to tree carrying my tripod and camera like a ball in a pinball game.

First the osprey
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504077-L.jpg

next the caracara
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504133-L.jpg

back to the osprey
http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504113-L.jpg

I run back to the caracara and to my horror I find a second caracara has arrived. Overload!!!!

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504124-L.jpg

the osprey looks on without sympathy as I slump to t e ground. i'm too old and fat for all this running around. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/kurt.gif

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504118-L.jpg

[Andy]

:food mmm crested caracara :D

[bfjr]

Well sorry Boss if your looking for sympathy you barking up the wrong tree :lol

Outside of providing you with wonderful photo ops, they are also giving you that needed physical activity to keep you in fighting trim :lol4

Oh anytime you get tired of lugging the big, heavy 500 around just keep my address handy so the paramedics know where to send it :rofl

[ginger_55]

My heart bleeds..................:cry

for you of course, Harry.:rolleyes

ginger

not even going to comment on the photos, sure do look small in the first one, though. Kind of like that kingfisher of Ben's.

[Ric Grupe]

No "blown highlights" or the need for "healing" here! :thumb

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35504077-M.jpg

What a pose....:clap

[Osprey Whisperer]

What a wonderful problem to have. THe photo op...not the old age. :huh

Nice shots as usual, Harry. Like that realistic looking pale blue sky. :thumb

What I'm wondering.....is why didn't you blast away with the machine gun setting? I'd have shot at least a burst of a few at each bird...before I played pinball. :rofl

Nice job.

I have posted some flight shots in the Dgrin challenge 47 forum. Perhaps you Nikonian machine gunners could go take a looksee and comment. I could use those eagle/osprey eyes of you old guys. :scratch

Cheers

BMP

[Harryb]

:food mmm crested caracara :D
Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. :rolleyes

[Harryb]

Well sorry Boss if your looking for sympathy you barking up the wrong tree :lol

Outside of providing you with wonderful photo ops, they are also giving you that needed physical activity to keep you in fighting trim :lol4

Oh anytime you get tired of lugging the big, heavy 500 around just keep my address handy so the paramedics know where to send it :rofl
Geez you're a hard man. :lol


I'm retired I don't have to be in fighting trim anymore. The 500mm goes with me when I'm buried. :bad

[Harryb]

My heart bleeds..................:cry

for you of course, Harry.:rolleyes

ginger

not even going to comment on the photos, sure do look small in the first one, though. Kind of like that kingfisher of Ben's.
Thanks Ginger, I need all the sympathy i can get for my plight. :rofl

They sure are small, that's why I got the 500mm lens. :D

[gluwater]

Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. :rolleyes
Maybe they were trying to get you on the m enu?:wink :rofl :rofl :rofl :eat:cheeburga :hotfood :burger :binge

[Harryb]

No "blown highlights" or the need for "healing" here! :thumb



What a pose....:clapThanks Ric. That osprey was a much better model than the caracara and he had better lighting too. :):

[bfjr]

Geez you're a hard man. :lol


I'm retired I don't have to be in fighting trim anymore. The 500mm goes with me when I'm buried. :bad

Does the word exhume do anything for ya :rofl :lol4 :lol :D :wink

[Osprey Whisperer]

Does the word exhume do anything for ya :rofl :lol4 :lol :D :wink

"...........no sooner had I pried his dead stiff blue hands off that marvelous 500mm lens .......and the fuzz pulled up. They quickly drew their guns on me. I was quickly tackled, handcuffed...and escorted to the big house for a lengthy stay. Needless to say the lens was snatched from my greedy cotton pickin' hands and locked away in the evidence lock up room. It was placed in a secure blue box until the trial date."


:huh

No wonder you are so blue, Ben.

[jwear]

Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. :rolleyesif you fall my deal is the caracaras get you the osprey my friend picks up the glass on its on it way to LA [as a good sound to it ]mmaybe andy can get you a golf cart for those out of car shots :D and it does seem odd to me that the bird is called a [car a car as] is that not how you shoot these birds in a car car :D thanks for the info today :thumb

[Harryb]

What a wonderful problem to have. THe photo op...not the old age. :huh

Nice shots as usual, Harry. Like that realistic looking pale blue sky. :thumb

What I'm wondering.....is why didn't you blast away with the machine gun setting? I'd have shot at least a burst of a few at each bird...before I played pinball. :rofl

Nice job.

I have posted some flight shots in the Dgrin challenge 47 forum. Perhaps you Nikonian machine gunners could go take a looksee and comment. I could use those eagle/osprey eyes of you old guys. :scratch

Cheers

BMP
Hey Mike,

Not to worry about me blasting away. These are just a few of the over 200 shots I took. I'll be stopping the challenge later and eyeballing your pics.

[Harryb]

Maybe they were trying to get you on the m enu?http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/mwink.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/DukeGirl.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/cheeburga.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/10944573-Ti.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/burger.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/binge.gifYou have a point Nick. The caracaras and vultures usually hang around when I shoot. They figure that a fat old man running around while's he is smoking is a good possibility for a meal. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/lol3.gif

[ehughes]

Great stuff Harry... What, no Bald Eagle??? :D

Ed

[Kirwin]

Look at all the birds... bet you got specialized "bird feeders" set up to lure them into your backyard!!:lol :huh :rofl Nice captures Harry!

[Harryb]

Does the word exhume do anything for ya :rofl :lol4 :lol :D :wink
Eeech :uhoh you won't stop as anything will ya. I may have to bequest it to Jeff. :D

[Harryb]

Caracaras main diet is carrion. I don't know if you would want them on the menu. :rolleyesif you fall my deal is the caracaras get you the osprey my friend picks up the glass on its on it way to LA [as a good sound to it ]mmaybe andy can get you a golf cart for those out of car shots :D and it does seem odd to me that the bird is called a [car a car as] is that not how you shoot these birds in a car car :D thanks for the info today :thumb
These shots were from outside the car with the camera on a tripod. When The raptors are on The Tree they aren't bothered by humans on the ground. Funny that you mentioned a golf cart because Trish and I have decided a golf cart would be the perfect shooting platform for the wetlands.

[Steve Cavigliano]

Very nice Harry :thumb :thumb


I'm with Ben. Try as I might, I was unable to generate any sympathetic thoughts about your dilemma :rolleyes I face similar issues when I go out to eat. Let's see, should I order the steak or the lobster? :lol3 Like with your problem, it's usually a tough choice. You seem to have found the solution. Multi-tasking....LOL


Steve

[Harryb]

Great stuff Harry... What, no Bald Eagle??? :D

Ed
Thanks Ed. The bald eagles migrated a few months ago and had not returned when I took those pics. Fortunately around a week after I took these shots I saw a pair of bald eagle son the road to the wetlands and as a added bonus I got some shots of a golden eagle on Monday. :D

[Harryb]

Look at all the birds... bet you got specialized "bird feeders" set up to lure them into your backyard!!http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/lol3.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/eek7.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/yelrotflmao.gif Nice captures Harry!Thanks Kerwin. We don't need bird feeders on the Viera Wetlands we have THE TREE. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/lol3.gif

[Khaos]

Funny stuff Harry. That Caracara is beautiful. :thumb

[Harryb]

Very nice Harry :thumb :thumb


I'm with Ben. Try as I might, I was unable to generate any sympathetic thoughts about your dilemma :rolleyes I face similar issues when I go out to eat. Let's see, should I order the steak or the lobster? :lol3 Like with your problem, it's usually a tough choice. You seem to have found the solution. Multi-tasking....LOL


Steve
Geez what a tough crowd!:uhoh I didn't retire to end up multi-tasking. :hurt

[Trish323]

[QUOTE=Harryb]

hey HB,

What a nice shoot you had! But...(rubbing it in) still no kingfisher??? When I am there that nasty little bird follows me around:roflI think he is afraid of your 500mm. Great shots of the caracara's! (We are supposed to be keeping track of caracara sightings, but I have not had a chance to relay the info to you...)

[bfjr]

[QUOTE=Harryb]

hey HB,

What a nice shoot you had! But...(rubbing it in) still no kingfisher??? When I am there that nasty little bird follows me around:roflI think he is afraid of your 500mm.

WTG Trish !!! You tell em :rofl :rofl
Oh Harry I made sure Jeff changed his will :wow :rofl

[Dixie]

Great shots Harry. With that 500 you ought to be able to setup in the middle and just turn around. :1drink ...hoping that the light is right for both.

[Harryb]

Funny stuff Harry. That Caracara is beautiful. :thumb
Thanks. I love shooting the caracaras because they are so different from the other wildlife.

[Harryb]

[QUOTE=Harryb]

hey HB,

What a nice shoot you had! But...(rubbing it in) still no kingfisher??? When I am there that nasty little bird follows me around:roflI think he is afraid of your 500mm. Great shots of the caracara's! (We are supposed to be keeping track of caracara sightings, but I have not had a chance to relay the info to you...) Thanks Trish. I'm gonna keep trying for that kingfisher. Who knows I just may luck out

http://behret.smugmug.com/photos/35086035-L.jpg

[ginger_55]

Ben, I thought you and Jeff were going to take care of that "stump".

ginger

[ginger_55]

Very nice Harry :thumb :thumb


I'm with Ben. Try as I might, I was unable to generate any sympathetic thoughts about your dilemma :rolleyes I face similar issues when I go out to eat. Let's see, should I order the steak or the lobster? :lol3 Like with your problem, it's usually a tough choice. You seem to have found the solution. Multi-tasking....LOL


Steve

I have no sympathy for either of you! Steak vs lobster. Bird vs bird.

You all have no idea of the amt of humor I see here.

ginger (no sympathy, none at all. And I like you, Steve, but I would kill for lobster. Don't know what I would do for steak.)

[Harryb]

Ben, I thought you and Jeff were going to take care of that "stump".

gingerThey can't. I'm working on having The Tree declared a national monument. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/biggrinbounce2.gif

and here's a steak for ya
http://www.pbase.com/hpb/image/4010088.jpg

[Trish323]

Thanks Trish. I'm gonna keep trying for that kingfisher. Who knows I just may luck out





Did I miss a post on this?? Congrats..:thumb :thumb :thumb

[ginger_55]

I don't know which looks better, the birds or the steak?

Declaring that tree a natl monument is a good idea: before it is declared a hazard of some sort and chopped down. (we wouldn't want you, and the other retirees there, expiring from running from one to the other, gotta chop them both down.)

A fire with my steak would be good as cool weather comes.

thanks for the pic: medium rare, charred on the outside????

ginger

[bfjr]

Well as soon as I chop the tree I'll need a good steak din din :lol4

[Harryb]

Did I miss a post on this?? Congrats..:thumb :thumb :thumb
Nah, I caught the sucker when he wasn't looking. He was still a good distance away so the shot is cropped a good bit. I not all that happy with it and I'm still hunting that SOB and will stay on his case until I get a shot I like.

[Harryb]

I don't know which looks better, the birds or the steak?

Declaring that tree a natl monument is a good idea: before it is declared a hazard of some sort and chopped down. (we wouldn't want you, and the other retirees there, expiring from running from one to the other, gotta chop them both down.)

A fire with my steak would be good as cool weather comes.

thanks for the pic: medium rare, charred on the outside????

ginger
I'm pretty sure which one Andy would say looks better but I would go with the ospreys myself.

Since the tree sits in alligator & snake infested water I think its pretty safe from any nefarious assaults from our west coast bretheren. http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/icon10.gif

[Harryb]

Well as soon as I chop the tree I'll need a good steak din din http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/roflol.gif
http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/nono.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/FLIPA.gif http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/blbl.gif :grim

[iceman17]

Wow Harry and I do mean Wow these are fantastic.Ive never seen a Caracara before and it is one cool looking bird.Its easy to see why the talons can do so much damage in the Osprey landing shot.Fantastic timing.Thanks for sharing these...ice:thumb :thumb :thumb

[Harryb]

Wow Harry and I do mean Wow these are fantastic.Ive never seen a Caracara before and it is one cool looking bird.Its easy to see why the talons can do so much damage in the Osprey landing shot.Fantastic timing.Thanks for sharing these...ice:thumb :thumb :thumb
Thanks Ice. The crested caracara hangs out mostly in Texas and we get a few here in Florida. I don't think they can be found in most of the other states. They are a membe rof the falcon family and are carrion eaters.