Clovishound
Senior Member
Swan Lake with the CNPA today. Nothing to stop the Nat Geo presses for, but a few solid shots. I was hoping to get some geese in flight shots today, but all I got was bird butts.
Clovis' Nikon Nuggets 2026
- Thread starter Clovishound
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Clovishound
Senior Member
Interesting day. The Pup and I drove up to the zoo, and got there shortly after it opened. I quickly made my way over to the otters. Tripped on some terraces and scraped my knee, shin and elbow. Looked at my left hand and the tip of my ring finger was pointing up at a 30 to 45 degree angle. Spent the rest of the morning in the ER. Fortunately, it was only dislocated. Felt so good when the doc manipulated it back in position. No anesthesia required. Went back to the zoo and shot a few images. I have a lot more to go through, but here are a couple.
The lion was mocking me and my busted up paw/finger.
It then devolved into a grooming session.
And the meerkats.
It
The lion was mocking me and my busted up paw/finger.
It then devolved into a grooming session.
And the meerkats.
It
Clovishound
Senior Member
Well, we had already used one of the Pup's passes at the zoo for the day, and driven an hour and a half to get there. Also, the Pup can't tolerate heat well, so this was likely her last chance at an outing til Sep or Oct. It wasn't too bad after the finger went back in place, so we decided to spend a couple hours there. It's fairly sore this morning, as expected, and I haven't pulled the splint off yet to see how much it has swelled, but am grateful it's not broken, as I thought immediately after it happened, and it's my left hand. I still can't shake the image of my finger tip at that disturbing upward angle.
Alternately, I could say I'm tough and powered through the pain and the blood.
Clovishound
Senior Member
I forgot the most important detail. My Z8 and 180-600 only seems to have suffered a couple minor scratches on the lens hood.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Had a decent day at Magnolia. It was supposed to rain, but didn't. I was hoping for some birds in the rain shots.
The appearance of several roseate spoonbills has all the photographers a twitter. I got a couple shots of them.
The appearance of several roseate spoonbills has all the photographers a twitter. I got a couple shots of them.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Had a visitor to my wildflower plot in the backyard this afternoon.
He seemed upset that I took his picture.
He seemed upset that I took his picture.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Went back to Magnolia this morning. Had a good time, but not as productive as Thursday.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Clovishound
Senior Member
My wildflower plot this year is finally starting to attract some insects.
The sweat bees are beginning to gather in the late afternoon and sleep over til it starts warming the next morning. Strangely, the half dozen or so only seem to like the dead stem leftover from last year. They were perching on the live ones last year. There were two that were slow fighting over the same spot, but I couldn't seem to get the right angle for a decent shot.
This was taken with my 105 micro and stacked 29mm of extension tubes at full close focusing distance. I used my AK diffuser to soften the flash. Too windy today for available light. I like the flash with diffuser for insect photography, but want to do more macro with available light for a different look.
The sweat bees are beginning to gather in the late afternoon and sleep over til it starts warming the next morning. Strangely, the half dozen or so only seem to like the dead stem leftover from last year. They were perching on the live ones last year. There were two that were slow fighting over the same spot, but I couldn't seem to get the right angle for a decent shot.
This was taken with my 105 micro and stacked 29mm of extension tubes at full close focusing distance. I used my AK diffuser to soften the flash. Too windy today for available light. I like the flash with diffuser for insect photography, but want to do more macro with available light for a different look.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Went to the Francis Beidler Forest with the CNPA today. Lots of Prothonotary warblers to be had.
Clovishound
Senior Member
They have a very active banding program at Beidler. I've seen staff setting up mist nets and calling them in. I've run across them at other swamp locations in the area, but no where that they are anywhere as numerous as at Beidler. They are a real challenge to photograph. They are quite small, quick, and don't often stay on one branch for long. I've had so many situations where I spotted one in an ideal location, and just as soon as I get a bead on them, poof they are gone to another branch.
I love their informal name: swamp canary. I like to call them PWs.
I love their informal name: swamp canary. I like to call them PWs.
Clovishound
Senior Member
Had a couple visitors to my back yard this afternoon. The light was a bit dim under the canopy, but I've leaned not to worry too much about high ISOs.
Clovishound
Senior Member
The Pup and I managed to get out to Magnolia.
This one was a first for me. Duckpile.
This one was a first for me. Duckpile.
Clovishound
Senior Member
There was so much activity on the lake. Lots of egrets flying low to the water, picking things up from the surface of the water.
