Terns
Here are a few tern images taken about a month ago.
1) X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/3500s 400 ISO +0.3 EV
2) X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/5000s 400 ISO 0.0 EV
3) X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/5000s 400 ISO 0.0 EV
Comments and suggestions welcome,
Morris
Ulrik,
Absolutely stunning use of light and isolation.
Truman
Some bee eaters photos
Taken, as usual, from a distance : in the EVF the bird has the size of the smallest green square, don't pixel peep ah! ah! :-)
FYI, you won't see too much use of the Fuji equipment in the next month or so. I can't use it much on the road (too busy driving the Big Rig); on the beach (don't want it in the blowing sand and salt); or in the boat (everything gets wet in a small sailboat in big offshore seas unless you keep it in a dry bag and never take it out). I will use the Fuji stuff for hikes, exploring, sunsets and the like. Dunno the rules here in this new place and don't want to violate them. Therefore, let me know if I'm not to post supportive images from the phone or the Sony RX100's because they are not Fuji. That said....
We headed down to Ocracoke yesterday in a little caravan with me driving the MH (you need a CDL to drive 30,000 pounds worth of vehicle) and Nancy driving the truck pulling the boat. The dogs were checked out some birds while we stopped for lunch along the road in Delaware.
Pulled off for the night in a sort of pirate camp at the Eastern Shore Virginia NWR right at the southern tip of Cape Charles. Not sure they allow camping, but it was a pretty place with no one around and the price was right. 😁 Neat place to explore - there were 16" guns in massive bunkers that were used to protect the approaches to the Chesapeake Bay from enemy shipping during WWII - apparently never fired in anger.
Waiting to board the ferry that runs from the southern end of Hatteras Island to Ocracoke Island - you can't drive to Ocracoke - must go by water, which is maybe one of the reasons it stays relatively remote and empty. I HATE cities and crowds and this is the only "beach place" I like because it is so remote. Getting the MH and the truck/boat on and off the small ferry involved some white knuckle driving initially, but we've done it often enough by now that it's no biggie anymore. Just follow the directions of the loading guys - they know what they are doing.
Bliss looking out the MH windshield while we were "at sea" on the ferry for a couple of hours.
Finally arrived and set up camp after two days on the road! Home sweet home for the rest of May - a small campground in the tiny town by the harbor. We'll put the boat in a slip in the nearby harbor when we can (don't want to have to launch it and recover it each day), but the weather right now won't permit that - VERY windy and supposed to be that way for several days. They call this area the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" for good reason - we've learned the hard way to really respect the marine weather here.
We didn't have much energy left, but we did hike out to see the first island sunset of the year. We take a hike and watch the sun go down over the Pamlico Bay just about every evening. It is different each time. I unpacked and carried the Fuji equipment for this. Which one do you like the best?
I think we'll do some hiking and beaching today in lieu of sailing. Maybe be able to get the boat launched on Thursday when they are calling for milder seas. More later, hopefully.
Greg
Some others ...
Looks like a nice trip. Speaking of nice trips I'm on one. About to post another image!
Bob
The dogs look really cute in the photo. Are they Springer Spaniels?
San x
Day 9.... the drive to Venice but first stopping in Padua!
The Church of St. Anthony was an unexpected pleasure. Well known for healing there were a number of people there to obtain a blessing. Our tour group received a "group blessing" While own free time we went back into the church and marveled at the interior. The following image is just one of the alcoves surrounding the interior of the church. It just grabbed my attention and I couldn't look away. Just wish you could see the image in its original resolution.
Bob
Gorgeous, Bob... amazing detail and colors.
Images from Monday morning at Bicentennial Park's Lake Belvedere.
A commorant with some odd behaviour on landing
A Purple Swamp Hen flying over the water. Usually I just see these birds walking around.
And a Pacific Gull just resting in the water. Not a chip in sight!
Cheers
Paul
I know, Bob! Been following your posts with great interest!! Looking forward to your images from Venice.
When I got out of the Army long ago, I found it hard to live in the US as a combat vet (to some we were "baby killers", to others "heroes"). So, I packed up my young wife (who I had not seen in nearly three years) and we went to live in southern Germany. Growing up PA Dutch, I spoke the language (sort of) and had some relatives there. My best friend from college went to medical school in Italy to avoid the draft (he was much smarter than me). We would drive over the Brenner Pass and meet him and his lady in Venice. Many good memories there from long ago.
Thanks for the leeway to post non-Fuji pics here.
Greg
Thanks! They are Brittanies. Joy and Bliss:
My dogs are easily confused for Springers, especially a liver-and-white Brittany, like my late buddy - The Chaser:
Springers are flushing dogs. Brittanies are pointing dogs - big difference in the field.
Since Springers must stay within 25 yards or so of the gunner (or the birds they flush would be out of range), they are usually thicker and stockier than Brittanies.
Like all pointing dog, a Britany will run 30-50 miles during a day afield and get a half-mile out from their gunner in their search for birds.
When they find an upland game bird, they "point" the bird, which means that, by scent alone, they get close enough to a jumpy, wild upland bird so that it is afraid to move, but not so close that it will flush. They will hold that bird or covey of birds for however long it takes the gunner to huff and puff his/her way up to the point.
The bird will flush as it hears/sees the gunner approach; and the gunner will take the shot on the wing:
If the gunner does his/her job, the dogs will retrieve the bird to hand:
The whole process is magic to watch if you've never seen it.
Greg
A few from Ocracoke today. Still too windy and seas still too high here to launch Maggie Too safely. So, we hit the beach for a while. Being still sickly white from the northern mountain winter, we were careful not to get too much sun. Today's beach camp:
To try to get our daily exercise in the absence of a gym, we worked out as best we could with some weights in camp and then took a long walk though the village. There are many very cool old homes. Big money to own one, sadly. This is a house that was built in 1883:
In order to let my daughter know that the Old Man treats Nancy properly, here is today's "POS" (Proof Of Shopping) pic:
We stopped by the harbor master's place to rent a slip for the sailboat. Not many boats in the little harbor as yet. There will be more as the weather improves in late May. Here is the ferry for Cedar Island leaving at dusk. The harbor looks glassy flat and safe, but don't be fooled! Don't ask me how I learned this!
We said goodnight to the pelicans and seagulls before trekking back to camp for the night, as a huge thunderstorm was blowing in over the island:
More later, Red Gods willin'.
Greg
Thanks, Jerry. The rest of the church is amazing. Maybe I will post another this evening...... better than a Gondola ride in Venice. 😁
Bob
Sounds like good memories.
Nice countryside in Tuscany to Padua to Venice. Rain all day today so nothing special in Venice. Hopefully it will clear in Milan.
Bob
Always great to see the dogs. AND.....No problems posting with other cams. I am certainly one who owns 5 other brands and use them all. Although my Canon sits collecting dust. 🤪
Bob
Nice sunset. For someone who posts a lot of sunset photos I've only seen one and it wasn't that great..... not enough clouds over the Isle of Capri from Sorrento.
Bob
An Artisan in Michelangelo Square
Every high density tourist area has a ton of vendors. Pompeii has trinkets that relate to volcanic devastation and excavation, Pisa has every imaginable version of a leaning tower. What I look for is that special artisan who is creating something a little unusual, something different. This "mature" woman was doing just that.
Bob
