Photo Talk: Wildlife Shooting Locations Part II

Mack Wildlife Area - Shiocton, Wisconsin

Mack Wildlife Area is about three miles east of Shiocton, almost halfway between Shiocton and Black Creek on Wisconsin State Highway 54.  The area I regularly visit consist of marsh land and small ponds formed by dikes.  There is another section of Mack that is more wooded but access is limited.

The area I frequent is on Van Patten Drive.  There are a few ponds and a newly remodeled observation deck.  In spring there are several flooded farm fields that provide a resting spot for a number of ducks and other birds that like being near water.

Van Patten Drive basically runs north.  This makes for some nice morning light opportunities on the west side of the road.  In spring the ditches often have geese and a variety of ducks.  From your vehicle you can see over some of the dike walls and a variety of ducks, some geese, and other birds like Great Egrets, Coots, and Great Blue Herons can also be seen.

In the afternoon I tend to plant myself on or near the observation deck.  The afternoon lighting at Mack is often beautiful.  To the right of the observation deck there is a channel that often has a variety of ducks and on occasion ducks and other birds will fly up the channel right toward you for some nice flight shots.

Some of the birds I've seen at Mack:

• Sandhill Crane
  
• Black Crowned Night Heron
• Great Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• White Faced Ibis
• American Bittern
• Least Bittern
• American White Pelican
  
• Northern Harrier
• Eastern Phoebe
• Yellow Headed Blackbird
• Red Winged Blackbird
• Canada Goose
• Mallard
• Blue Winged Teal
• Redhead
• Bufflehead
• Ruddy Duck
• Ring Necked Duck
• Greater Scaup
• Lessor Scaup
  
• American Wigeon
  
• Horned Grebe
• Pied Billed Grebe
  
• American Goldfinch

It is likely I may have missed a few species.  These are the ones that come to mind at this time.

As far as camera gear goes, I would recommend the following for overall shooting and flight shots:

• Digital SLR - giving you continuous focusing options, high shutters, and assortment of lens options
• Lenses - focal lengths from 200mm to 400mm will do great in most cases.  More zoom power never hurts.  :-)
• Tripod - both using and not using a tripod works.  Some birds you will be waiting a long time so its nice not to have to hold the camera the whole time

I will conclude this post with an assortment of images I have taken at Mack Wildlife Area.