I'm hoping to get down to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge right after Easter for my 2nd trip there, and was wondering what kind of birding I can expect this time of year. Any help is appreciated...
Also, a cousing who lives in the area has offered to be a canoe guide down the Batsto River, as he paddles and I shoot... so any info about that area is welcomed too.
One more thing, I am probably going down there with at most a D60 w/ Nikkor 55-200mm lens--a step up actually from my last trip to "The Brig". Are there any tricks of the trade to help me maximize my birding chances??
Thank you all in advance!!
Posted by Luke Ormand on March 28, 2010 at 11:00 AM
Are there any tricks of the trade to help me maximize my birding chances??
Rent a bigger lens
Posted by Bill Maile on March 28, 2010 at 11:09 AM
PERFECT!!!
How much do you want for one for two days??
Posted by Luke Ormand on March 28, 2010 at 11:30 AM
Check out LensRentals.com and BorrowLenses.com
You may be cautioned that the lenses won't have AF with the D60 as per Nikon, but from personal experience this is not true. I had AF function with my 300 f/4 + 1.7X TC on my D60. I would suggest a 300 f/4 + 1.4X TC for your trip
- Luke
Posted by Bill Maile on March 28, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Here I thought you were just busting. Wow, that's a great idea, thanks much Luke!!
Posted by David Graham on March 28, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Hey, Bill,
You just sent me on a real time-trip!
Some of the best birding of my teens (mid-to late 1950s) was on canoe float trips down the Batsto, Mullica, and Wading Rivers. None quite as early as you'll be going, but more memorable moments than there's space to recall...One amazing sight was along the east bank of the Wading river where an osprey was trying to gain elevation over some cranberry bogs in or near which she had caught a white-and-black pine snake at least a couple of feet long...maybe a bit more. The writhing snake was a pendulum below the bird and prevented her from gaining enough altitude or even in any controlled way to avoid some pine trees into which she unceremoniously crashed, dropping the snake. Disheveled, she gained a perch, and looked about as if to say "I meant to do that..." Sorry for the anthropomorphism, but I'll never forget it!
Discussion
7 repliesAlso, a cousing who lives in the area has offered to be a canoe guide down the Batsto River, as he paddles and I shoot... so any info about that area is welcomed too.
One more thing, I am probably going down there with at most a D60 w/ Nikkor 55-200mm lens--a step up actually from my last trip to "The Brig". Are there any tricks of the trade to help me maximize my birding chances??
Thank you all in advance!!
Rent a bigger lens
How much do you want for one for two days??
You may be cautioned that the lenses won't have AF with the D60 as per Nikon, but from personal experience this is not true. I had AF function with my 300 f/4 + 1.7X TC on my D60. I would suggest a 300 f/4 + 1.4X TC for your trip
- Luke
You just sent me on a real time-trip!
Some of the best birding of my teens (mid-to late 1950s) was on canoe float trips down the Batsto, Mullica, and Wading Rivers. None quite as early as you'll be going, but more memorable moments than there's space to recall...One amazing sight was along the east bank of the Wading river where an osprey was trying to gain elevation over some cranberry bogs in or near which she had caught a white-and-black pine snake at least a couple of feet long...maybe a bit more. The writhing snake was a pendulum below the bird and prevented her from gaining enough altitude or even in any controlled way to avoid some pine trees into which she unceremoniously crashed, dropping the snake. Disheveled, she gained a perch, and looked about as if to say "I meant to do that..." Sorry for the anthropomorphism, but I'll never forget it!
I can't wait to hear your report of the trip!
Dave Graham, Estelline, SD