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Boondocker · 12-17-2006, 11:25 AM

For those of you who are looking for a winter trip and enjoy wildlife, I recommend a trip to the wetlands on the Mississippi river just north of St. Louis (Wood River, Grafton area). The wetlands managed by the army corp of engineers cover a huge area and is home to many species either over the winter or year round. Yesterday, I saw bald eagles, trumpeter swans, geese, pelicans, several species of ducks, red tailed hawks, and a harrier. Late Jan through Feb is high season for eagles. Many people like the lodge at the St Park, and the campground there remains open. Additionally there are plenty of places to get good catfish if that is your thing. I have attached a couple pictures for flavor. More will go up on my website (see below) over the next week.

cosmotini · 12-17-2006, 11:30 AM

Rodney,

Great Pix!

Are these shot with digital or film?

Boondocker · 12-17-2006, 12:01 PM

Hi Dennis,
Thanks for the kind words! The images on this trip were made in digital using a Nikon D50 with a 300mm zoom. For many of the images a 2X teleconverter was also used. I had the good luck to be traveling with a good friend who is a photographer and who is familar with the area. I tacked on a couple more for you.

hendrie42 · 12-17-2006, 12:17 PM

verry nice pics,wish i was close enough to visit-------

Boondocker · 12-17-2006, 12:37 PM

Some pelicans and an a very unlucky mouse in there somewhere

. For what it is worth, I have put several of these up here before on my normal website.

jpsabourin · 12-17-2006, 02:13 PM

Really beautiful. We like birds also. Thank you for the pictures.

juel · 12-17-2006, 02:24 PM

Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures. I wish I was a better photographer with a much better camera. I see these same birds daily on my trips around Oklahoma. I just have a little digital camera, so I don't have the ability to do what you've done. We have Eagle viewing here in Oklahoma, and I have seen them several times myself. Of course the Red Tail Hawk is an everyday sight. I have a large female that hangs out in my yard, waiting for a bird snack at the feeders I believe. Thanks again, just beautiful shots.

maxandgeorgia · 12-17-2006, 06:04 PM

Missouri Conservation Department sponsors an annual Eagle Day, sometime during the winter, along the Missouri River. I don't know the date this winter, but it is probably available on line. Many eagles and other beautiful birds make this an outstanding day, worth the trip for the sights and photography. ~G

S C Streamer · 12-17-2006, 06:52 PM

Hi Rodney,

Beautiful photos, my favorite is the two geese in post #3.

Lake San Antonio CA ( site of the recent NorCal Rally ) is a great place to view eagles in the winter season.

Keep up the great work.

Boondocker · 12-18-2006, 09:41 AM

Thanks again everyone for the kind words about the images, it was tremendous fun out there with the birds, I may have a new addiction. For what its worth, the two geese in post #3 are in fact Trumpeter swans. For comparison I have posted a canada goose and a trumpeter below. Notice the difference in the head coloring, the dark feathers and less streamlined body of the goose (left) compared to the swan on the right. I was tremendously lucky in that my shooting friend is well versed in identification, he knew what everything was in a glance, whereas, I myself didnt know about half of the birds. I am strongly considering a second trip in Jan to see these magnificent birds again.

cameront120 · 12-18-2006, 10:01 AM

Great pictures! If you're ever on the West Coast of British Columbia in the winter time, I recommend the Brackendale Eagel Festival. It is an annual count that takes place and the numbers of eagles that time of year is truly awe inspiring.

Festival

cosmotini · 12-18-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

I am strongly considering a second trip in Jan to see these magnificent birds again.

Rodney,

We enjoy eating at the Fin Inn when up there. They have some huge aquariums full of different river fish local to the area. It's interesting to see and the food is pretty good too!

The Fin Inn is on the northern edge of Grafton.

Boondocker · 12-18-2006, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmotini

Rodney,

We enjoy eating at the Fin Inn when up there. They have some huge aquariums full of different river fish local to the area. It's interesting to see and the food is pretty good too!

The Fin Inn is on the northern edge of Grafton.

That is good eating, I had catfish there on sat. They sure have some ugly fish in them tanks... I havent had it but the rumor is the cheese cake is excellent.

rseagle · 12-18-2006, 03:00 PM

I have excellent eagle viewing from my office window. I work by the Potomac River next to ato the Caldon State Park in Virginia. I saw a bald eagle just this afternoon.
And I also see alot of Eagles at home.

Bob Eagle

vonkamp · 12-18-2006, 06:07 PM

Rodney,
Great pictures..Stunning actually. They look like National Geographic quality. I like to photograph as well. Been looking for a digital, do you like your D50? I have a N70 so I think I can use the same lenses.
Cheers,
Baron

myoung · 12-18-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonkamp

Been looking for a digital, do you like your D50? I have a N70 so I think I can use the same lenses.
Cheers,
Baron

I have a D70, which is now the D80, and really, really like it. However, if the budget permits, you must look at the D200 almost as good as the D2H but 1/3 the price. It's all good.

myoung · 12-18-2006, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

The images on this trip were made in digital using a Nikon D50 with a 300mm zoom. For many of the images a 2X teleconverter was also used.

Let's see 300mm with a digital multiplication factor of 1.5 and a 2X teleconverter equals a whopping 900mm 35-mm camera equivalent!!! Amazing to have the resolution you've achieved with birds on the wing. Which 300mm Nikon lense do you have? One of those super fast 2.0 or 2.8?

My longest lense is a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR which is too short for birds with just 300mm equivalent. I was thinking about getting the 1.7X teleconverter mostly because I have read that the image quality is superior to the 2X but perhaps a little inferior to the 1.4X. The 1.7X would give me the equivalent of 510mm, which still may not be enough, but it would be a heck of a lot less expensive than the $4,500+ for the 300mm f2.8 VR. I'll just dream about that beauty.

S C Streamer · 12-18-2006, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

the two geese in post #3 are in fact Trumpeter swans.

I guess it was a good idea to quit hunting.

Boondocker · 12-19-2006, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vonkamp

Rodney,
Great pictures..Stunning actually. They look like National Geographic quality. I like to photograph as well. Been looking for a digital, do you like your D50? I have a N70 so I think I can use the same lenses.
Cheers,
Baron

I have had the D50 for about a year now and I love it and can recomend it without reservation. Having said that, I agree with myoung that you ought to consider other models in the Nikon line up as well. They each have their strong points. I doubt you will go to far wrong with any of the current line up.

Boondocker · 12-19-2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myoung

Let's see 300mm with a digital multiplication factor of 1.5 and a 2X teleconverter equals a whopping 900mm 35-mm camera equivalent!!! Amazing to have the resolution you've achieved with birds on the wing. Which 300mm Nikon lense do you have? One of those super fast 2.0 or 2.8?

My longest lense is a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR which is too short for birds with just 300mm equivalent. I was thinking about getting the 1.7X teleconverter mostly because I have read that the image quality is superior to the 2X but perhaps a little inferior to the 1.4X. The 1.7X would give me the equivalent of 510mm, which still may not be enough, but it would be a heck of a lot less expensive than the $4,500+ for the 300mm f2.8 VR. I'll just dream about that beauty.

I was using a borrowed sigma I forget the fstop range (my brain isnt operational yet today). The big problem with the converters is the loss of light ( I lost 2 stops) and because it was overcast that day I wasnt able to use it all the time. There was sufficent light for exposure but not enough for the auto focus to work well. I think the Sigma I used is in the ball park of being a $1500 lens. It isnt the optimal solution maybe but it is a decent poor mans work around. Even as much as I love photography, going into that shoot I would have sworn I wouldnt consider spending that kind of money for a lens, now I dont know. A lens like that changes your options when it comes to wildlife. I just might maybe......