Bar-tailed Godwit

[Lance B]

Bar-tailed Godwit photos. Flies from Alaska to Australia for the summer months here - a non-stop flight of over 10,000kms (6200miles) across the Pacific, the longest known non-stop flight of any bird!

The 800 pf proved invaluable as these birds would not let me get too close and they were foraging for food in tha sand in an area where there are people swimming etc. I did manage to get a little closer the longer I was there and they seemed to see I was not such a big threat. However, I was still a good distance from them and these were cropped about 30%. Click on image to see them at full size.

1) Bar-tailed Godwit, female.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso640

2) Bar-tailed Godwit, female.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/2500s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso450

3) Bar-tailed Godwit, male in breeding plumage - the orange/tan feathers.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso560

4) Bar-tailed Godwit, male in breeding plumage.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso560

5) Silver Gull.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso560

 

[jfredrick]

Nice photos! Well done.

 

[SonoranDesert]

Fantastic shots! I especially love #1!! (when I grow up I want an 800PF!!!)

 

[ButlerKid]

Really excellent images, Lance! 6,200 miles non-stop???? HOW do they do that? How long does it take, I'm assuming with no rest or sleep..... I guess they can land on the water....and fish?

 

[Hobbzz]

Nice low angle perspective!

 

[Andrew Lamberson]

Well done. Shows what an excellent photographer can do with the Z9 + 800 !

 

[Lance B]

Nice photos! Well done.

Thank you very much, John. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

Fantastic shots! I especially love #1!! (when I grow up I want an 800PF!!!)

Thank you very much, Lisa. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

Really excellent images, Lance! 6,200 miles non-stop???? HOW do they do that? How long does it take, I'm assuming with no rest or sleep.....

Thank you very much, Karen. Much appreciated!
I have not read anywhere how long it takes and from what I understand it is a non-stop, no landing flight of 10,000kms!

 

[Lance B]

Nice low angle perspective!

Thank you very much, Brent.

 

[Lance B]

Well done. Shows what an excellent photographer can do with the Z9 + 800 !

Thank you very much, Andrew. Much appreciated!

 

[ButlerKid]

Thank you very much, Karen. Much appreciated!
I have not read anywhere how long it takes and from what I understand it is a non-stop, no landing flight of 10,000kms!

They don't land on the ocean? WOW!

 

[ButlerKid]

I found THIS ARTICLE on the internet....

AND THIS with more information

 

[Lance B]

I found THIS ARTICLE on the internet....

AND THIS with more information

SImply amazing and thank you for the article link!
I remember hearing something about that story but had forgotten the exact details. I do remember reading about these bird's incredible feat a number of years ago, but it never ceasing to amaze me. Whenever it is summer here (now), I try to get some photos of these amazing birds and the Z9 + 800 PF just maes it that much easier.

 

[Rookie Roy]

Nice shots Lance! There was one hanging out at Fort Desoto Park here in Florida for awhile last year (a rarity). I’m still waiting for my 800pf. I definitely could have used it then as I never got any good shots.

 

[Lance B]

Nice shots Lance! There was one hanging out at Fort Desoto Park here in Florida for awhile last year (a rarity). I’m still waiting for my 800pf. I definitely could have used it then as I never got any good shots.

Thank you very much, Roy. Much appreciated!
Interesting that you had one in Florida. Might have flown off course and went to the wrong "address", LOL. Back in 2015, we had a White-rumped Sandpiper land here just south of Sydney, the only one in Australia. It normally flies from Alaska to Sourh America but must have got caught up with the wrong flock and came here instead. Got some photos of the rarest bird in Australia, LOL, as there was only one! What a claim to fame. I hope the poor little guy made it back ok. The last recorded time this occurred was in 1977!

 

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set, Lance. Fair weather birds. They leave when summer ends here for fun and sun down there.

 

[cchuck]

Excellent photos, Lance!

 

[sh1209]

Great shots!

 

[BlackRockArt]

Bar-tailed Godwit photos. Flies from Alaska to Australia for the summer months here - a non-stop flight of over 10,000kms (6200miles) across the Pacific, the longest known non-stop flight of any bird!

The 800 pf proved invaluable as these birds would not let me get too close and they were foraging for food in tha sand in an area where there are people swimming etc. I did manage to get a little closer the longer I was there and they seemed to see I was not such a big threat. However, I was still a good distance from them and these were cropped about 30%. Click on image to see them at full size.

1) Bar-tailed Godwit, female.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso640

2) Bar-tailed Godwit, female.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/2500s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso450

3) Bar-tailed Godwit, male in breeding plumage - the orange/tan feathers.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso560

4) Bar-tailed Godwit, male in breeding plumage.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso560

5) Silver Gull.

Z9 + 800 f6.3 PF, 1/4000s f/6.3 at 800.0mm iso560

Really nice low angle shot.

Oliver

 

[Lance B]

Nice set, Lance. Fair weather birds. They leave when summer ends here for fun and sun down there.

Thank you very much, Dan. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

Excellent photos, Lance!

Thank you very much, Chuck. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

Great shots!

Thank you very much, Steven. Much appreciated!

 

[Lance B]

Really nice low angle shot.

Oliver

Thank you very much, Oliver. Much appreciated!

 

[ssheipel]

Wow those are sharp. That combo in your hands is producing some fine shots! Beautiful!