Finally decided on a 400 F5.6L

[JohnT]

Although portraiture and events are my bread and butter, I love shooting wildlife, but my equipment has always limited me. After watching a series of training videos of Moose Peterson photographing water birds in Florida, I've decided to pull the trigger on a 400 F5.6L to use with my 50D. Please feel free to share good places for birds in the DFW area—something beyond white pond ducks. :-)

[snidow]

Congrats John, I have that lens and use it more then anything else I have in general and have found it to be a very sharp lens. We have a sticky in the wildlife section for birding sites in texas overall you can check it out. But to name a few places, the village creek drying beds can offer lots of migratory birds. White Rock lake also has many as well, and Medical city in Dallas will have egrets, yellow crowned night herrons and such breeding a few months from now. The new Trinity Audubon site should prove to be worth while in a few months too.. needs time to settle after all the construction.

[JohnT]

Thanks, Laurie! I'm definitely excited about the purchase. I'll take a look at the sticky.

[zeroendless]

Congrat John,

I think Laurie sums it well, those 3 places mentioned happen to be spots i frequent within DFW area. Right now, the best location is probably White Rock lake for White Pelicans.

[AndrewCCM]

I have been wanted to go shoot some wildlife myself. Thinking of using my 300 + either a 1.4x or 2x on the 50D. That "should" give me pretty good length at F4 / F5.6

How is Cedar Hill State Park? It's not all that far from me and I have considered trying it out...

Congrats John. That lens was on my list prior to getting the 300...

[JohnT]

Thanks, Daniel. Pelicans sound like a great subject. Hopefully, I'll make it out this weekend.

Andrew, thanks. I'd really prefer a faster lens, but I figure I'd be stopping it down anyway for some DOF. Either way, I'm looking forward to making some much better wildlife images.

[AndrewCCM]

I just want to make "some" wildlife images beside the Peacocks that frequent my neighborhood. I may try out River Legacy Park and see if I can find me a bobcat. :)

[Patti]

I saw about 100 white pelicans at White Rock Lake this past Sunday. They were hanging out close to Winfrey Point.

patti

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

I just want to make "some" wildlife images beside the Peacocks that frequent my neighborhood. I may try out River Legacy Park and see if I can find me a bobcat. :)

I saw that bobcat once, but alas I had the wrong gear for the job so I just stood there and watched him walk away.

[lhdvies]

Congrats John! You will learn to love that 400.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by lhdvies

Congrats John! You will learn to love that 400.

Thanks, Leon! I'm pretty excited about it.

[Jim Victory]

Originally Posted by AndrewCCM

I have been wanted to go shoot some wildlife myself. Thinking of using my 300 + either a 1.4x or 2x on the 50D. That "should" give me pretty good length at F4 / F5.6

How is Cedar Hill State Park? It's not all that far from me and I have considered trying it out...

Congrats John. That lens was on my list prior to getting the 300...

I have always had good luck at CHSP but I have taken the time to find the habitat of the various birds in the area. In a few months there will be a number of differemt kinds of waterfowl dropping in.

You can always find small birds and the resident ducks, GBH, and Egrets. On occasion in the evening or early morning you can see Red Tailed Hawks hunting. I also see Belted Kingfishers hunting around the marina from time to time.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Jim Victory

I have always had good luck at CHSP but I have taken the time to find the habitat of the various birds in the area. In a few months there will be a number of different kinds of waterfowl dropping in.

You can always find small birds and the resident ducks, GBH, and Egrets. On occasion in the evening or early morning you can see Red Tailed Hawks hunting. I also see Belted Kingfishers hunting around the marina from time to time.

Thanks, Jim. CHSP is on my list along with White Rock Lake.

[zeroendless]

Now is still the best time for white pelican at WRL. Morning glow with fall foliage is not to be missed. I can't say the same after the next big blow of cold front came in.

I may try out River Legacy Park and see if I can find me a bobcat. :)

My best guess is 30 plus trips to that areas and i managed to get 4-5 bobcats but zero keeper. I think i seen more coyotes around that areas than bobcat.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by zeroendless

Now is still the best time for white pelican at WRL. Morning glow with fall foliage is not to be missed. I can't say the same after the next big blow of cold front came in.





My best guess is 30 plus trips to that areas and i managed to get 4-5 bobcats but zero keeper. I think i seen more coyotes around that areas than bobcat.

That's beautiful! Now I'm getting a little impatient for my lens.