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Month: June 2019

My Birding Day: Testing Out New Lens

My Birding Day: Testing Out New Lens

Western Kingbird

Western Kingbird, Livermore, 2019

I’ve been wanting to upgrade my camera system. I have an old entry-level DSLR (Canon Rebel XS) and two telephoto lens (250mm and 300mm). My Canon body is well-worn and has served a long, good life. It also has lots of limitations and I now feel inhibited by its lack of features. I also want farther reach with a longer telephoto lens.

I talked to various photographers and did a lot of research. Camera equipment is expensive! I bought a lens first – the Tamron 100-400mm. It’s less than half the price of the Canon equivalent.

My first opportunity to test it was in a Home Depot parking lot, of all places. In the little leafy tree shading our car, I noticed two Western Kingbirds. Odd, I thought, as I normally don’t see them in parking lots. One kingbird flew away while the other stayed behind. I watched the stunning bird in the early morning light when I noticed a clump of sticks near it. A nest! With babies! Perfect opportunity to try out the new lens.

Western Kingbird

Hidden Western Kingbird Nest, Livermore, 2019

The angle was bad as I was lower than the adults, and the babies were well-hidden by leaves (which is a good thing to avoid predators). Still, I was impressed with the extended reach of the 400 lens.

Then the shutter stopped working. Error. Turned the camera off and on. Fixed. Hmmm…

Deer

Handsome Deer, Del Valle RP, 2019

We went to Mines Road and then Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore where I quickly shot over 100 pictures. I received the same error twice more and the pictures completely wigged out by the end, like a Photoshop filter was applied.

Blurry Ash-Throated Flycatcher

Weird Blur on the Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Del Valle RP, 2019

I’m not sure if I picked up a dud or if my camera body needs to be upgraded asap. I’ll likely return the lens for now, buy a new Canon body, and then figure out how to get that 400mm reach at a reasonable price. The adventure continues!

My Birding Day: South Lake Tahoe

My Birding Day: South Lake Tahoe

Fallen Leaf Lake, 2018

I haven’t written a post in a few weeks, partly because the Bay Area is warming up and I don’t do very well in the heat. The birds don’t particularly like the heat either. Birders mourn the summer blues where birding gets a little dull between migration and breeding seasons. It’s also straight up uncomfortable if you’re outdoors in the hottest part of the day.

This weekend I escaped to Tahoe on a whim to help cope with the heat and enjoy the 30-degree temperature difference. I love Tahoe and the mountains. The trees are different, the air is fresh, and new birds pop out here and there. I’m still trying to find the birding hotspots around the Tahoe area, but my go-to place is always Fallen Leaf Lake.

Lodgepole Chipmunk

Lodgepole Chipmunk, Fallen Leaf Lake, 2019

This lake is much smaller than Lake Tahoe, but it’s less crowded and more peaceful. Lodgepole Chipmunks are frantically running around and Mountain Chickadees are delightfully singing their bluesy tunes. I always find White-headed Woodpeckers, all three nuthatches (Red-breasted, Pygmy, and White-breasted), and Brown Creepers. This summer trip yielded plenty of Western Wood-Pewees and Warbling Vireos. Although not bursting with concentrated birding activity, Fallen Leaf Lake offers a beautiful hike. If you go early enough, you can walk quite a ways without running into people.

Western Tanager

Western Tanager, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 2019

We checked out another park for the first time that crosses state lines: Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Colorful Western Tanagers popped out against the trees, a House Wren sang its heart out despite our close presence, and Steller’s Jays were busy eating enormous ants off the ground. My favorite moment was hearing a Fox Sparrow sing. These sparrows are present in the East Bay, but only in the winter and thus they are pretty quiet. The song was so captivating that I had to capture a recording on my phone for later submission on my birding checklist. I will definitely check out this Nevada site again and venture out further than a quarter mile from the parking lot!

House Wren

House Wren, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 2019

Overall a great quick trip that gave us respite from the recording-breaking Bay Area heat.