Nikon D500

On April 21 Nikon released the D500, and I received my copy on April 22.  I already had downloaded from Nikon both of the camera manuals and did an initial read.  The D500 camera dials are similar to the D300 and the D 810, but as usual with a new camera, there are modifications, which will take a little time to be comfortable

Some of the items that I like is that it is easier to change the ISO settings, lens fine tune is simple and does not require extra equipment, the continuous frame rate is up to 10 frames per second, and the buffer has increased to 200 frames.

I mounted my Nikon 200-400 mm F/5 6 lens onto the camera and tried the lens fine tune and found that the lens did not need any calibration.  I took this combination out photographing yesterday and today and am very pleased with the results.

I am shooting manual and using auto ISO.  Today discovered a large flock of wild turkeys displaying along Horseneck Road in Westport.  One of the photos that I took was that ISO 9000 and the noise was not that disturbing.

Wild Turkeys Displaying

I have tried a few photographs today, utilizing the 1.3 X crop factor which according to the EXIF I have data doubled my focal length of the lens.  The results were pleasing.

Tree Swallow

White-breasted Nuthatch

American Robin Bringing Mud Back to the Nest That It Is Building¶

Unless something changes the D500 and the 200-500 lens will be my wildlife shooting combination.  This combination is very handholdable and much lighter than my 500 mm F/4 lens.

Double-crested Cormorants

Pairs of Greater Scaup

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

The other day, two of us went down to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, Rhode Island, not only to see what we could photograph, but also to enjoy the beautiful day.  Sachuest Point juts out in between the Sakonnet River, Atlantic Ocean and Sachuest Bay.  On this day, we decided to walk the Ocean view loop, which is a mile and a half in length.  Starting out right and Sachuest Bay, there was a large flock of mainly American (black)

scoters along with some common eiders.

American Scoter

 Continuing to walk along we came across the usual subjects, including American Robins, red-winged blackbirds, and the sometimes elusive to photograph yellow warblers.

Yellow Warbler

Female Red-Winged Blackbird

 Flitting around were spring azure, American copper and cabbage white butterflies.  Some of the cabbage white was smaller in size than what you usually expect, however, this is not uncommon in the first hatch of the year.

American Copper

Cabbage White Butterfly-Male

 Herring gulls flew overhead presenting us the opportunity to practice flight photography and get full frame photographs of a bird in flight.  A song sparrow presented a different view than usual.  Normally the song sparrow's hopping on the ground with their head down and feeding or sitting on a branch and singing.  This song sparrow while on the ground was sitting straight up and had a bit of a crest showing.

Song Sparrow

 Finally, a beautiful plumage American Goldfinch presented itself to have its photograph taken.

American Goldfinch

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Natural Grub Control

American Robin

Wednesday morning, my grandson and I took a trip to Oliver Mill Park in Middleborough to see what was happening.  We did find a water snake sunning on a rock.  At one point, I sat down on a rock and observed a natural method of grub control.  You say what is a natural method of grub control.  Well, it is the American Robin working its way through the grass and soil finding and eating grubs.  Nature does try to keep everything in a balance.  This Robbins sure does.  Observe what is happening in the world around you, because something is always happening.

American Robin Feeding on a Grub

American Robin Feeding on a Grub

Allens Pond Bird Walk to Mount Auburn, and Great Meadows

Over the weekend, I suffered a computer crash, and now that I am almost recovered from it, so I will catch up on my blog posts.
On Friday, May 18, 2012.  Paul Champlin led a birding walk for six participants, for Allens Pond Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuary, to Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge and then after we finished at Mount Auburn, we spent part of the afternoon at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Concord, Massachusetts.  For the entire trip, we saw approximately 60+ species of birds.
Mount Auburn Cemetery is and Important Bird Area, besides being an active cemetery, botanical garden and a wildlife preserve.  Mount Auburn is a wonderful place to visit, even if you are not a birder.
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Concord Unit is also an excellent place to visit and observe nature at its best.
Photos from Mount Auburn

American Robin on gravestone with food

Baltimore Oriole

Blue Jay on Nest

Blue Jay

Eastern Chipmunk on top of a burial crypt

Scarlet Tanager Female



Tiger Swallowtail

Scarlet Tanager Female

Photos from Great Meadows

Marsh Wren

Marsh Wren

Painted Turtle

Pearl Cresent

Young Common Snapping Turtle sunning itself on top of a muskrat den

Newport County, Rhode Island

Today is Thursday and it is my regular day for birding with my good friend Doug.  Today we went down to Newport County, Rhode Island, and first birded St. Mary's pond in Portsmouth.  We then went to Miantonomi Park, Newport, which is a well-known birding area.
At St. Mary's pond, an Osprey flew above us, carrying a fish in its talon. 




Yellow warblers were flitting around and singing as well, as were






house wrens. 




Cedar waxwing's did put in their appearance.  In total, for St. Mary's pond, we ended up with 36 different species of birds.
We then traveled to Miantonomi Park, Newport , where we picked up another 38 different species of birds, of course, there was duplications in the lists.
We were able to observe and photograph a 2nd year male Summer Tanager, and then a little later a Cooper's Hawk's did stay around long enough for me to obtain in its picture.




We observed a white eyed Vireo at a nest, which at first we thought that it was building, but, on further observation the Vireo was returning and taking material from that nest to add to its nest wherever it was hidden.




So ended another good day of birding, we did see some deer, rabbits, and butterflies, but that those pictures will be for later.

Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler

American Robin

Common Grackle

Northern Cardinal

Northern Paurula

Downy Woodpecker - female

White-breasted Nuthatch upside down on linb

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