PIF

Pigeon in Flight. I got this frame back in May in Bolsa Chica, I had been shooting at Bolsa for almost a decade and it was one of my favorite spots for shorebirds. Unfortunately starting from 2018 the shorebird population dropped from hundreds if not thousands to zero. No more least terns, elegant terns, etc. I spent an evening there this summer too and didn't see much to point my lens at. Out of boredom I grabbed a few frames of this pigeon flying around, a common abundant specie but I actually find the topside pretty. I am not sure if Bolsa will ever bounce back and become a photography spot again but here is to the good old days


shot with the D5 and 500 PF + TC-14E III ISO 1000 f/5.6 at 1/3200 sec hand held processed with C1P. unlike the D850, the D5 can still rock the focus with a max. aperture f/8 combo's such as the 500PF + 1.4X TC.

I was planning on going to Bolsa in November while in SoCal, so thanks for the update...
Nice Pidgeon....

Nice Frame. Like the two tone background.

I agree topside is beautiful.

TFS

Arash, Nice PIF, you are right about BC, it was my favorite spot, I use to go there 4 or 5 times a week but no longer. Between the auto break-ins, aholes and no birds, this place has become a place to avoid.
I also long for the years gone by.

-Tim

Irrespective how common the bird, it's great to study the fine detail in a shot like this.

Very nice frame Arash... In regards to BC, I heard from David Salem, who I think had read or heard somewhere, that the Tern habitat in BC may have been disturbed by a Coyote attack or something, and, as a result, they may have moved to somewhere on Channel Island (not accessible unfortunately). Tim -- I had also heard about auto break-ins there, though, fortunately I never had any personal experience of my own, even when I had once accidentally left a door in my rental Mercedes C300 wide open with an -empty- camera bag inside! When you shoot on the bridge, you would be pretty close to the parking lot anyway and break-ins should be less likely.

Very nice frame of this pigeon. Like the two toned background and the dorsal view.