Photographing Birds at Mass Audubon Sanctuaries
Nov//2009
Greater Yellowlegs (full frame as shot)
Canon Mark IIN
Canon 600mm w/1.4x
1/640 @ f8.0
For years I knew this was the place to go if you wanted to get a photo of a Kingfisher in Massachusetts and the blind was your best chance but the Phragmites had to go and somewhere for the birds to land or perch had to be put in place. With the removal of the Phragmites I was allowed to place three tree branches about 30 feet out in front of the blind. Within one hour of placing these branches a female Kingfisher landed there and spent the next month on one of these perches. Many photographers from all over Massachusetts and New England have been able to take full advantage of this opportunity over the last four years. I seen some very good photos from many photographers now taken from this blind.
However this is not the only bird to be had from this blind, you can also photograph Green Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Phoebe and later in the Summer when the water level drops and the shorebirds move in you may have Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, both Yellowlegs, and Black-bellied Plover just to name a few. Note there is only room for three people to photograph at one time from inside this blind, remember I said it was small and it is. While you do have some room, in fact there is enough space for all your gear and two or three other people could be inside. However there are only three “windows” from which to place your lens through that look out onto the pond and remember this is a morning location. Do not go there in the afternoon as the light will be straight in your face.
Do not try using a tripod inside this blind, just like the blind at DWWS be sure to bring a beanbag to place your lens on.
So there you have it a look at the Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary observation/photo blind overlooking Goose Pond. A location any wildlife photographer visiting Cape Cod should visit in the summer to take their chance at photographing a Kingfisher.
Click here to view photos of birds and observation/photo blind.
Green Heron (adult)
Full frame as shot.
Canon Mark IIN
Canon 600mm
1/200 @ f8.0
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