Barely Not Too Fat to Fly
Location: Roberts Island, Heisig Homestead
Created: 03/23/2015, 5:55:29 PM
Camera: EOS Canon 5D iii
Lens: EF 70-200 f2.8L IS II USM
Aperture: f/4.0 ; 1/5000 sec.; ISO 4000
This location has been a yearly favorite for the ‘Specks’ to gorge on the young wheat shoots emerging from this field during the final days before they leave and migrate thousands of miles to summer feeding grounds in Canada. I believe the two birds that have very few belly markings, in this flock, are either the only two females, or juveniles.
As geese go, this “specklebelly’ greater white-fronted goose are wary birds--more difficult to approach closely, less tolerant of human intrusions. They somehow seem "wilder" than other geese, and are thus among the most highly prized members of their clan. This particular year, I stalked the flock every night, for 6 straight days, trying to capture the ambiance and grace of this wonderful waterfowl, taunting me and at same time allowing me to vary my strategy to sneak up on them. What was so unique this year was that they returned every evening for multiple days.
So often, an opportunity to capture an image rarely avails itself more than once.
On the sixth evening, I was able to get closer than before, and the composition was perfect. Not surprisingly, on the very next day they left for that season, almost too fat to fly, and finally departed for their long arduous migration back to their springtime breeding grounds.
