Olango - for the first time

[Bob Kaufman]

For the first time, Cynthia and I visited the famous Olango Sanctuary. And we were not disappointed! Despite the harsh light and my inability to get down low, I still managed to get some good shots of the migrant waders.

For the story please visit my blog at ornithographer.blogspot.com

Equipment used: Canon 5DMkII, 500mm lens with 1.4X, gimbal and tripod.

Bar-tailed Godwit
f11, 1/1250, ISO-320


Grey Plover
f8, 1/500, ISO-100


Ruddy Turnstone
f10, 1/800, ISO-100


Greater Sand Plover
f9, 1/640, ISO-100


Common Redshank
f10, 1/800, ISO-320


Lesser Sand Plover
f10, 1/800, ISO-100


Thanks for looking.

[peterting]

Great Photos Bob, all first times are memorable, but this one is one of the best !

[Mick Harris]

Wonderful series of shots

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

beatiful set sir! the olango experience..

[Mark Itol]

Wonderful harvest, Bob. Great to know you had a great time.

Love the pose of the godwit.

[William Lim]

Beautiful captures, Bob.

[Bob Kaufman]

Thanks Peter, Mick, Edu, Mark and William for the nice comments. It was truly an exhilarating first time experience at Olango!

[Tateo Osawa]

Beautiful breeding plumage Bob K., all nice capture !!

[Toto Gamboa]

Wow. bountiful harvest! I am sure you had a wonderful time on this dream birding spot! I got to have this place in my list of destinations.

[Ramon Quisumbing]

Nice harvest, Bob.

[Bob Kaufman]

Thanks, Tateo-san. Too bad we missed you. We came a few days after you were there.

Thanks, Toto. Really wonderful experience seeing (and photographing) those migrants.

Thanks, Ramon, you should add Olango to your future destinations, too.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

and we will remember this thread as your "first" Olango trip. Am sure there will be another one.

[Bob Kaufman]

I hope so, Edu. And maybe together with some BirdNuts..

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Abundant harvest for your first visit in Olango. Next time we can plan a shoot with the gang. On a perfect light and tide timing it will be efforts less to nail this migrants. We'll nail those migrant like an IMMIGRATION Agent. ha ha ha

[Michael R. Anton]

Beautiful Bob! Can't wait to go next weekend. Looks like a lot of fun!

[Ely Teehankee]

We all have our own sets of limitations but being able to do what we intend to do is a feat by itself. You have a nice collection of water birds on your trip to Olango. Well done Bob & Mabuhay.

[Martin Alvendia]

Looks like you had blast at Olango Bob. Nice haul. Liked the Plover best.

[olangosteve]

If you contact me prior to visiting. I can take you to a fantastic area off the beaten track where last weekend I counted the following:
2000 Gull Billed Tern.
47 Asiatic Dowitcher
4000+ Red Necked Stint.
600-1000 Broad Billed Sandpiper
600+ Great Know
250+ Curlew Sandpiper
75-100+ Far Eastern Curlew
5-10,000 Greater & Lesser Sandplover.
50+ Chinese Egret plus more flying in from sea.
2000 Grey Tailed Tattler.
1000 Terek Sandpiper
2000 Redshank.

Most of the birds were observable down to 15-20 feet. Especially the Dowitchers, Egrets and curlew.
Great and Red Knot and Broad Billed Sandpipers were just walking around me with zero concern. Most are in breeding plumage. I guarantee you will obtain full frame pics of almost any bird species present. But you will need me to take you to off limit aras o get the best shots. You will get wet if the tide is high and it gets damned hot. Also look out for mangrove snakes and sea snakes.
Other species regularly seen are Rufous Night Heron, pied Triller, Striated Swallow, Flying Foxes and Aleutians Terns from the boat.