Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California ---------
One of the reasons I always like to come back to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve is the abundance of shorebirds. The Long-billed Curlew is the largest shorebird in North America. It breeds farther north and spends the winter in southern California and Mexico. The first image was made in the late afternoon, less than an hour before sunset. The other picture is from the early morning. Using the soft light in the morning (there was a slight overcast) and the low sun in the late afternoon were key for these photos.
All images: Nikon D750, Sigma 150-600mm / f5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens, tripod, Induro GHB2 gimbal head, Nikon SB 800 speed light, Better Beamer flash extender
In Bolsa Chica you are not supposed to leave the levees and the gravel trails on top of them. Yesterday I wrote about that the wetlands are still under restoration and the shores are very fragile. I usually respect and obey the rules without stretching them too far. The downside is that most of the time you shoot slightly or even greater extend from above the water level. This doesn’t always lead to a good viewing angle and perfect background.