5/31/2025 - Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Went back for another drive along Wildlife Drive hoping to see some different birds but I brought my wife along as she had never been either.  Unfortunately, it was another windy and rainy day so there were limited sightings of any birds.  I think the fact that the water was mostly drained from the main pool didn't help all that much either.

Entrance: https://w3w.co/chairing.pave.envied
Site Notes: There are accessible views from the Visitor Center but the wildlife is limited there.  All the pictures posted here were taken from the car along the dirt road that is Wildlife Drive.

Time: 12:11; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/640 sec
Bird: Red Winged Blackbird

Time: 12:21; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 420mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6; Exposure: 1/200 sec
Bird: Canadian Goose

Time: 12:33; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/250 sec
Bird: Great Blue Heron

Time: 12:41; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 210mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/5.6; Exposure: 1/250 sec
Bird: Black Turn
Note: These things are fast!  This was the best picture I could get...

Time: 12:44; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 380mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6; Exposure: 1/250 sec
Bird: Great Blue Heron

Time: 12:56; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 310mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6; Exposure: 1/250 sec
Bird: Red Winged Blackbird (female)
Note: She was quick but very close to the car...

Time: 12:56; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 310mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6; Exposure: 1/250 sec
Bird: Red Winged Blackbird (female)

Time: 12:58; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/80 sec
Bird: Marsh Wren
Note: Loud but hard to spot as they zip around...

Time: 13:10; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/250 sec
Bird: Red Winged Blackbird

Time: 13:10; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/200 sec
Bird: Red Winged Blackbird

Time: 13:11; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 220mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/7.1; Exposure: 1/200 sec
Bird: Canadian Goose Gosling

Time: 13:11; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 220mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/7.1; Exposure: 1/100 sec

Time: 13:23; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 570mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/7.1; Exposure: 1/100 sec
Bird: Red Winged Blackbird

5/26/2025 - Robert H Treman State Park

A few years ago, I went to the upper section of this park.  While the view of the falls from there is quite nice, I really like getting pictures of the entire waterfall.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do that because I'm just not physically fit enough to handle the additional climbing to do so.  I was still able to get a nice view and there were many great views along the way.  Once warning that would have been nice would have been that of the 800 foot rise in elevation, 700 feet of it is in the first 1/4 of a mile!  And it also didn't say that after the 700 feet, you go down 300 feet.  I wish I would have taken the time to go to the lower falls while I was there, I just didn't have the energy left in me.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/enzymes.faces.dignity
Site Notes: Current parking rate is $10 per car.  There is swimming in the pool under the lower falls.  These views are along the hiking trail (Gorge Trail) and are not accessible at all.

Time: 15:21; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length:24 mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/800 sec

Time: 15:23; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 56mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f/22; Exposure: 1/13 sec

Time: 15:26; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 49mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f22/; Exposure: 5 sec

Time: 15:27; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f/16; Exposure: 2.5 sec

Time: 15:42; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/125 sec

Time: 15:47; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 34.5mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/640 sec

Time: 15:50; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 24mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/250 sec

Time: 15:53; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 35mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/250 sec

Time: 15:55; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 24mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/800 sec

Time: 15:56; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 25mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/160 sec

Time: 15:59; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 24mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/200 sec

Time: 16:04; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 66mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/200 sec

Time: 16:04; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 66mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f/22; Exposure: 1/2 sec

Time: 16:09; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f/22; Exposure: 8 sec

5/25/2025 - Around the House

Nice afternoon so I decided to do a little more practicing with the focusing knowledge I learned.  Seems to me that it paid off.  Just some quick pictures...

Time: 12:41; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 180mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/5.6; Exposure: 1/40 sec

Time: 12:43; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 180mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/5.6; Exposure: 1/800 sec

Time: 12:46; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/200 sec

Time: 12:49; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/320 sec

Time: 13:23; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 250mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/5.6; Exposure: 1/125 sec

Time: 13:24; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 300mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/6; Exposure: 1/160 sec

Time: 13:24; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 360mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/6; Exposure: 1/160 sec

5/16/2025 - Delphi Falls County Park

A wonderful little county park that's been under construction for the last couple of years.  The first phase of the project was to create a path to the upper falls.  The second phase was to rebuild the lower section of the park.  It took a lot longer than they expected but it's finally completed.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/blurs.cared.seasonings

Site Notes: The redesign of this park has made the lower falls fully wheelchair accessible.  The first 3 photos are not fully accessible, the rest are.

Time: 19:57; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 24.5mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f/22; Exposure: 2.5 sec

Time: 19:58; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 47mm; ISO: 25; Aperture: f/22; Exposure: 2.5 sec

Time: 19:59; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 51mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/160 sec

Time: 20:03; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 24mm; ISO: 640; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/160 sec
Note: This view is fully accessible!

Time: 20:05; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/30 sec
Note: I like the reflection of the waterfall in the window...

Time: 20:06; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/25 sec

Time: 20:07; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/8 sec

Time: 20:08; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 100; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/15 sec

Time: 20:08; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 50mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/60 sec

Time: 400; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 70mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/100 sec

Time: 20:12; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 65mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/125 sec

Time: 20:14; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S; 
Focal Length: 24mm; ISO: 400; Aperture: f/4; Exposure: 1/80 sec

4/26/2024 - Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Got out for a drive to the south and west where the sun was supposed to come out sooner that at home.  It didn't happen but I was still able to get a few good pictures through the drizzle and high winds.  I think the high winds had a lot of birds sheltering.  The best thing was that my daughter went with me so I got to chat with her for a few hours.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/imposes.riverbank.neuter
Site Notes: The main focus of the refuge is a driving "loop" where you can see many different species of birds right from your car.  In fact, there are only a few places where you are allowed to get out of your car.

Time: 12:45; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 510mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/125sec

Time: 12:47; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/125sec

Time: 12:49; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/160sec

Time: 12:50; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/125sec

Time: 12:51; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/125sec
Note: Seemed to be struggling a bit with the wind...

Time: 12:53; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/125sec
Note: A bit of cropping on this one...

Time: 12:59; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 370mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6; Exposure: 1/125sec

Time: 12:59; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 280mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/5.6; Exposure: 1/160sec

Time: 12:59; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 350mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6; Exposure: 1/160sec

Time: 13:24; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRS; 
Focal Length: 600mm; ISO: 100; f-stop: f/6.3; Exposure: 1/60sec