I went looking for the Vermilion Flycatcher at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge today. As I approached marker 11, were it had been reportedly seen, there were several vehicles with huge lenses sticking out their windows clustered around the area. And sure enough, it was there, fly catching from the top of a dead tree off in the distance. Unfortunately, it was out of range of my camera to get usable photos, but I did see it!Earlier, as I made my way around the auto tour, I found a Bald Eagle sitting up in a tree at the corner where road turns into a one way. It was busy eating its catch and paid me little attention allowing me to get some decent shots. Not sure what it was eating as there wasn't much left of it.
This Bald Eagle flew overhead while I was exploring an outer trail at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. I had to wait as there were tree branches between me and it. At first I thought I wouldn't have a clear shot, but it cooperated and flew to open sky. It's really cool being able to see Bald Eagles as they were endangered when I was a kid and I never saw one until a year or two ago. Now I even occasionally see one here near Wilsonville.
This is one of the images of the Bald Eagle that I took the morning I arrived at TRNWR to use the bird blind. It was perched on top of a tall pine next to the visitor center. I used both the 400mm lens and the 1.7 teleconverter I had rented. The teleconverter added some softness, but the picture turned out pretty good. It was quite the exciting experience.
I went looking for the Vermilion Flycatcher at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge today. As I approached marker 11, were it had been reportedly seen, there were several vehicles with huge lenses sticking out their windows clustered around the area. And sure enough, it was there, fly catching from the top of a dead tree off in the distance. Unfortunately, it was out of range of my camera to get usable photos, but I did see it!
