Boundary Bay Birds Photos - 2012/01/14~15

Snow everywhere in Lower Mainland of Greater Vancouver on Saturday 01/14, except South Delta, Ladner & Tsawwassen, surprisinghly! However, there was little snow on the morning on Sunday 01/15.

I went to the Boundary Bay, Delta, mainly to shoot the snowy owls. However, I found many kinds of birds there. These are the shots of that weekend.

Where: Boundary Bay, Delta, BC, Canada

When : Jan 14, 2012, Saturday
Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikon AF-S TC-14E II, Nikon AF-S TC-20E II

Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF @ 70mm, ISO400, f4.5, 1/2500s (Oops! forgot to stop down)

Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF @ 70mm, ISO400, f8, 1/200s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/500s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/40s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO640, f8, 1/2000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO640, f8, 1/200s, +1.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/800s, +0.7EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/320s, +1EV

The great blue heron

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/320s, +1EV

American Robin

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/500s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO1250, f8, 1/500s, -0.7EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/80s, +0.3EV

Golden-crowned Sparrow - male

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO1250, f5.6, 1/4000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f5.6, 1/1000s, +0.3EV

Golden-crowned Sparrow - female

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO1250, f5.6, 1/4000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f5.6, 1/2000s

Where: Boundary Bay, Delta, BC, Canada

When : Jan 15, 2012, Sunday

Gears : Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED-IF, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR, Nikon AF-S TC-14E II, Nikon AF-S TC-20E II, Rokinon 14mm f2.8

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-14E II @ 420mm, ISO400, f5.6, 1/6000s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/500s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV

See the steam from its breath?

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/1000s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/800s, +0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR @ 105mm, ISO200, f5.6, 1/400s

Great Blue Heron

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/640s, -0.3EV

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO800, f8, 1/2000s, +0.7EV

European Starling

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/1000s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/500s

Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D ED-IF + Nikon AF-S TC-20E II @ 600mm, ISO400, f8, 1/640s, +0.3EV 

Full moon test shots

I planned to shoot the full moon on the evening of the Lunar Mid-Autumn on Sept 12th with the tripod set up. However, I found a great buy of a mint complete set of Nikkor AF-S VR I 70-200mm f2.8G ID-ED on that day. Because I had to rush to grab it before it was too late, I missed the great moment to shoot the full moon in yolk color while it is rising from the horizon. So, I dropped my initial plan and did a quick and simple test shots without the tripod. Testing gears: Nikon D300, Nikkor AF-S VR I 70-200mm f2.8G ID-ED, Nikkor AF-S 80-200mm f2.8D IF-ED, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f4D IF-ED, Nikon AF-S TC-20E II and Nikon AF-S TC-14E II.

All photos were taken by hand held, AF-C, ISO800 to minimize the shake. Nikkor AF-S VR I 70-200mm f2.8G ID-ED was taken with VR on. The VR does a little help at high shutter speed and I can see the image is much stable in the viewfinder. It seems a little bit sharper compares to Nikkor AF-S 80-200mm f2.8D IF-ED, but only when you blow the images 100% up to compare. I am surprise to find that at 200mm focal length at the infinity distance, the Nikkor AF-S VR I 70-200mm f2.8G ID-ED covers just a little more than the Nikkor AF-S 80-200mm f2.8D IF-ED, meaning shooting just a little bit closer. Well again, only when zooming in 100% to compare. Without measuring them, you can not tell the difference. Hey, we are talking about 100% blow up, no one would  have to bother this.