>Don, I was able to get a few shots (with a camera!) yesterday. I've
>never encountered a bird with so little fear of humans.

Ugh! Owww! Sheesh! I'm in pain!

I just know this sucker will leave for good 1/2 hour or so before I
get to Seattle next time!

>Seriously, the bird sometimes would get WITHIN the focusing
>range of my 300-4!

Sigh...I always have a 25mm extension tube mounted when I'm shooting
birds. Rarely actually necessary on my 300, but doesn't hurt. Loosing
infinity focus cuts down the tendency to shoot itty-bitty "speck bird"
photos. :) It's often necessary on my 600.

In Florida a few years ago I had a snowy egret chasing me with a
fish, must've thought I was a female egret! I kept backing off
trying to photograph it with a 28-105 zoom, not very successfully as
it kept running right at me as fast as I could move backwards.

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>