I am a bit of a camera nut. I love taking pictures of people, dogs, cats, and wildlife such as frogs, rabbits, and birds. When you live in Suburban Massachusetts, far from sasquatch territory, the most dramatic wildlife to photograph on a daily basis is birds. Today was going to be a great day for birds.
Last weekend, I was hiking with my big camera and my big lens, and I came upon another hiker with her big camera and her big lens and a pair of dogs. I introduced myself to her dogs, and we chatted a bit. She mentioned that next Saturday (today) would be Eagle Fest in Newburyport. At this time of year, bald eagles congregate near the mouth of the Merrimack River to fish and have a good time. Every year at this time, the Audubon Society hosts Eagle Fest, driving tourists to good spots along the river to see eagles. Even better, a photography store had a special tour for camera buffs where experts would offer tips. I was thrilled.
I got tickets online, I rented a big, fancy zoom lens. I was so excited! Then, today, K and I drove up to Newburyport, a very quaint town on the north shore of Massachusetts. The bright, clear light of the day would be perfect for photography although it was a bit windy and chilly at 24 degrees.
After we grabbed lunch in a fine restaurant called, The Grog, we went to the town chamber of commerce to wait for the tours. K got on a little bus for the non-photography tour a half hour before mine. I hung out with the photography experts who taught me a few important things until it was time to go.
The tour started. I was well-equipped. In addition to my main camera and the giant zoom, I had a carbon fiber tripod that had a leg that could come off and be a monopod. I had an extra camera with an extra lens just in case. I had big boots over wool socks, flannel-lined jeans over long underwear, an overcoat over two sweaters over a thermal shirt over a T-shirt, my favorite Gryffindor scarf, and a wool hat over a balaclava. I was set! (And, of course, I was really sexy.)
I climbed onto one of two buses, each with 30 passengers and a guide form the Audubon Society. Everyone had fancy cameras. Some had tripods, some had monopods. There were Nikons, Canons, Sonys, and others. We all talked shop.
We first stopped next to a broad tidal marsh. Standing in the stiff wind, everyone looked for eagles. Then, the Audubon Society guide spotted a snowy owl about a mile away, a tiny white dot amongst the marsh weeds.
I fiddled and fumbled with the screw-rings on my tripod until all three legs were at full length. Then I attached my camera and the mongo zoom. I was so professional! Then, the photo expert pointed out to me that my setup was so topheavy, the wind was about to blow it over and break that fancy lens. Fair enough. I extended the zoom all the way out to 600mm, I carefully focused. I got my best picture of the day--a very grainy, indistinct shot of what looked like a tiny snowman. And on we went.
The next stop was lucky. There was fairly clean porta-potty. But there were no birds, just a cold wind that got stronger and stronger, whipping trees about and blowing off one of my gloves. (Luckily, another camera geek saved it.)
The last stop--the one where we were absolutely going to see lots of birds--was on the north point of Plum Island. The wind blasted so hard, it was difficult to walk into it. The scene was gorgeous, but devoid of birds except for a few seagulls in the distance.
As we were riding back, I took out my phone. "Seen any eagles?" I texted K.
"Lots! You?" she texted back.
I replied to her, then I said to the guide, "my wife is on the other tour. She says they saw lots of eagles."
"Oh, well she's on the Eagle Fest Tour. This is the photography tour."
All eyes went to the guide. "Wait a minute," someone said, "this was on the website for Eagle Fest, and there was big picture of a bald eagle over the link. We thought we were going to take pictures of bald eagles."
"Um, I'm sorry. Someone must have made a mistake."
It wasn't a complete loss. Newburyport is beautiful, and learned some important things from the photo experts. I also kind of enjoy fiascos (as long as no one gets hurt).
So, I present to you, an eagle picture. I didn't take it today. I took it in Alaska in 2011:
