Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) continue to stop in at my local marshland (Huntley Meadows Park) as they migrate to unknown destinations. Sometimes they come in large groups, though most often I have seen them come in small groups of two to six geese. I watched them for quite some time during this sunny weekend, and it seems that they spend most of their time on the ground foraging for food or simply relaxing and grooming themselves.
I’ve tried to take photos of the geese when they are flying and have found that this is much more challenging than I had anticipated. Lighting is perhaps the biggest issue, but the speed and direction of the geese is an almost equal problem—profile shots are great, but their relative speed seems fastest when they are moving perpendicular to the camera direction. Camera settings are sometimes hard to choose and adjust, especially when the geese decide at the spur of the moment that it’s a good time to take off. As I’ve found out repeatedly, the settings appropriate for taking photos of the geese in the water are not appropriate for geese in the air.
Here are some of my photos of geese in flight from this past weekend. As you can see, the weather was sunny and the skies were blue. I am still working on my techniques, but I like the results so far (though I wouldn’t dare reveal how many shots I attempted in my quest to capture the geese in flight). If you click on the photos, you can see a few more details in a higher resolution view.
Migrating Canada Goose
Soaring Canada Goose
Climbing Canada Goose
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I try this occasionally too and it’s a lot harder than it should be.
When a subject is moving, it’s a challenge,especially when you don’t know for sure where they are going. However, it makes it much more of an accomplishment when somehow you get a good image.
Nice ones, Mike!
It’s definitely a challenge which makes it so much more satisfying when you get it.
There’s a calmness to the pictures. Enjoyed.