Sangan Shorebirds
Another view from the mouth of the Sangan River. These shorebirds were present in the dozens, always staying just ahead of us, and not really a subject for a 100mm lens, but I did not take a longer lens to Haida Gwaii this trip. I am not a bird photographer, but I was intrigued to try the focusing speed of my new lens on a moving subject like this, and was very pleased with the results. These are all quite heavy crops as the birds are shy of us humans and I did not have the time to sit around in one place waiting for them to come to me. In any case, that likely would have been a futile effort as a couple of kids were just down the beach, with their dog.
Other Sangan River shots can be found at this link.
As far as I can tell, these are semipalmated plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus), but I could be wrong – there are really so many of these small shorebirds that all look darned near the same. This map shows you where today’s images were taken just east of Massett on the shore of Dixon Entrance. In a couple of the images you can see a glimpse of the very south end of Alaska on the horizon.
.
To view larger, click on any thumbnail above and then navigate with the arrows and escape to return to this page.
.
Canon 5Dii with Canon 100/f2.8 Macro, ISO100. In flight: f7.1, 1/400th and 1/500th. On beach: f2.8, 1/3200th.
burnt embers 
This is stunning!
LikeLike
Thank you very much 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Sangan Shorebird Prints « burnt embers
I am loving this lens at work! I love how crisp and clear the birds are here, Ehpem, and there is so much interest in the rolling waves too! Wonderful images my friend!
LikeLike
I totally love this lens. It focuses so quickly and is optically very good. I took a series of these birds as they flew by and not a single shot was out of focus. I did not include them all as some are repetitive of what I posted, but they were all decent shots (once cropped). There is an image stabilization version of this lens which would probably answer all my needs, but I am not complaining one bit about this one. Especially since it was such a good price.
LikeLike
That first shot is excellent – great composition and those birds are captured so well.
LikeLike
Hi Andy – thanks so much! I feel like there was a big element of luck, though I did try to time the shot with the waves, there was not a lot of time to get it right with the speed at which these birds move along.
LikeLike
Love the blue and gray theme again, and that one shot of the birds on wing against the crest of the wave is simply wonderful!
LikeLike
Thank you Lynn 🙂 The birds fit into the grey part extremely well – they are nearly impossible to see when on the beach, except they are constantly running everywhere, always on the move.
LikeLike
These are great…they really make me feel as if I was there..Ahhh the coast…thank you!
LikeLike
Thanks David – that is a very good outcome for a set of photographs!
LikeLike
Man, I can’t get a bird to cooperate at all for me, much less a flock of them. Is there someone out of the frame directing them?
LikeLike
Hi Ken – normally that is me too, the lack of bird cooperation. These ones were just all over all the time and eventually they flew through my frame at a time I was thinking of photographing them. Just blind luck.
LikeLike
I can hear the waves when looking at the first one….do the birds make a similar noise to gulls?
LikeLike
Hi Paula – the waves were so gentle and soft on this day. The birds make a very high pitched repetitive squeaking noise. My partner says like a dogs chew toy which is a very good description.
LikeLike
So beautiful! Thanks! Cheers!
LikeLike
Hello lijiun and welcome to my blog 🙂 It is very nice to have you visiting, I hope to see you again 🙂
LikeLike
This is gorgeous! So refreshing on a hot day, I’d give you a hundred like its if I’d could.
🙂
Greetings from the far North
Dina
LikeLike
Hi Dina! Thanks for coming by my blog. And for your great comment 🙂 I must say that an iceberg off this coast would rather ruin it for me, but the ones on your blog are fantastic.
LikeLike