The departure of wild geese

Thursday, February 16, 2012 — St. Juliana of Nicomedia
More photos of the day are available in the diary.

I am at the Parco Regionale della Maremma, which is one of the areas where graylag geese pass the winter in Italy. Thousands of them are pasturing in the grasses, but I note that they are pretty restless despite the fact it is early afternoon. Many small flocks are taking off and landing, flying over the area.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/1000 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.00 EV, ISO 180, monopod.

La partenza delle oche selvatiche alle Macchiozze.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/1000 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.00 EV, ISO 180, monopod.

La partenza delle oche selvatiche alle Macchiozze.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/640 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.67 EV, ISO 100, monopod.

Oche selvatiche in volo a Marina di Alberese.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/640 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.67 EV, ISO 100, monopod.

Noi voliamo sulle nuvole (Anser anser).

At sunset, before returning home, I'm driving through the Padule Aperto, a few kilometres north, another well-known area of wintering geese. A few hundreds of birds are preparing for the night.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/500 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.00 EV, ISO 220, Kirk Enterprises Window Mount from the car.

Oche selvatiche al pascolo nel Padule Aperto.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/500 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.00 EV, ISO 320, Kirk Enterprises Window Mount from the car.

Oche selvatiche al pascolo nel Padule Aperto.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/500 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.00 EV, ISO 400, Kirk Enterprises Window Mount from the car.

Oche selvatiche al pascolo nel Padule Aperto.

Nikon D7000 + @ 420 mm, 1/500 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.00 EV, ISO 100, Kirk Enterprises Window Mount from the car.

Oche selvatiche al pascolo nel Padule Aperto.

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/800 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.33 EV, ISO 2200, Kirk Enterprises Window Mount from the car.

Al pascolo nel Padule Aperto (Anser anser).

Nikon D7000 + Nikkor 300mm ƒ/4D ED-IF AF-S @ 420 mm, 1/320 sec @ ƒ/8, -1.33 EV, ISO 900, Kirk Enterprises Window Mount from the car.

Oche selvatiche nel Padule Aperto (Anser anser).

****

After a few days I learned from the local birders that, the day after, none of the thousands of geese were present any longer. I saw them for the last time in the season, just when they were preparing for the long migration to their northern homes. It has been an exciting experience!