Dale Matson
Click On Photographs To Enlarge
Osprey In Nest
I have two previous stories on this
blog about the Balsam Forebay Ospreys that can be found here: http://midsierramusing.blogspot.com/2016/06/balsam-forebay-ospreys.html
If you are interested, they will provide additional photos
and information about the Ospreys and Balsam Forebay. Daily parking permits for the snow parks can be obtained in Shaver Lake for $5.00 per day. It is really too late in the season to buy the annual pass at $25.00.
I have been
going up to the forebay for years and each year, it seems I have different
equipment. This year I used a Sony A7R3 and the Sony Fe 100-400mm GM lens with
a 1.4 TC (560mm) and cropped the photos posted here for about an 800mm
equivalent. I was quite happy with the results. I set the camera to “Shutter
Priority”, 1/1800th of a second, Focus Area “Wide” auto ISO and F8
for the birds in flight. I slowed down the shutter speed for the birds on the
nest for lower ISO and better quality. I did not lug a tripod in this year
since both the camera and lens have image stabilization. The trail in from the
parking area is about a mile round trip. It was also easier to follow the birds
in flight with the camera not attached to a tripod.
The Ospreys
were initially shy but over the span of two hours they gradually picked up the
pace of their nest work, paying less attention to me, in preparation for egg
laying. It is early in Spring yet for laying eggs at this altitude (about 6,500’).
There is still snow along the trail and around the forebay. As I sat on the
ground in the shade, I was glad to have a down sweater over my long-sleeved wool
shirt.
They are more
vocal than eagles and sometimes let you know they are approaching with their
vocalizations before you see them. This day the Ospreys were refurbishing their
nest with mud and sticks in the top of the same high and healthy evergreen.
Once again it
was a treat to see this pair of Osprey going about their business of preparing
for their next brood. They are wonderful flyers and I tried to include photos
that showed different wing postures as they took off, landed and flew. Birds in
flight are difficult to photograph especially on a day when the light was
rather flat.
I was surprised
at how low the water level was at Shaver Lake below (and connected to) the
forebay. The Fresno Bee lists Shave at only about 55% capacity, while Millerton
Lake below it is at 92% capacity. Stevenson Creek flows out of Shaver Lake and
into the San Joaquin River which, in turn, eventually flows into Millerton
Lake.
As I was
leaving I noticed two fishermen along the shore on my side of the forebay. It
was time well spent.
Trail From Parking Area
Nest Tree
Osprey With Nest Material In Left Talons
Osprey With Mud For Nest
View Of The Dam--- Fisherman Can Be Seen Below Center On Rock
Fisherman On Rock Left Of Center
Shaver lake At 55% Capacity
No comments:
Post a Comment