Welcome to Chimp’s Chronicle—our day-by-day companion to the 2026 images. Alongside the photographs, this is a place to keep the camera details and, as we add them, the stories behind each day.
Swing Deeper into the Jungle
Curious about one of our photographs? Ask about the image, camera and lens, settings, the story behind the frame, or print options. Include the date, image title or filename, and a gallery link so we can find the right photograph.
The original archive review covers 109 dated folders from January 1 through October 18. Additions through November 9 bring this chronicle to 117 dated entries. That original archive snapshot contained 151,644 files, including photographs, videos, and editing sidecars. Counts below are image files rather than unique photographs: RAW and JPEG versions, edited copies, and exports may represent the same capture.
Camera and lens details come from up to three EXIF samples per dated folder. The samples provide a starting point for each entry, rather than a complete equipment list for the day. Capture times are shown as recorded by the cameras.
Explore the 2026 images on Chimp in Focus
January 2026
January 1
399 image files.
Sample cameras: DSC-RX10M5; ILCE-1; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; OM 150-400mm F4.5 TC.
Sample capture times: 00:03:27–13:24:39.
January 3
2,791 image files; 9 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:27:31–15:44:43.
January 4
3 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM2.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Date to review: The three files in this folder report November 24, 2025 capture dates. This entry follows the folder date.
January 10
1,083 image files; 26 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 10:52:38–12:11:14.
January 11
1,222 image files.
Sample cameras: NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 15:09:43–15:12:09.
January 18
3,400 image files; 32 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 14:12:54–15:16:46.
January 19
60 image files.
Sample cameras: OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 11:47:07–11:50:34.
January 25
642 image files.
Sample cameras: OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 12:40:15–13:27:20.
January 26
4 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 14:12:00–14:12:00.
January 31
3,313 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:54:06–14:49:25.
February 2026
February 1
924 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5; OM 150-400mm F4.5 TC.
Sample capture times: 16:02:42–16:16:05.
February 2
3 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 18:59:53–18:59:53.
February 6
0 image files.
February 7
1,685 image files; 4 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 13:51:45–14:44:48.
February 8
3,511 image files; 19 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 13:14:16–14:21:07.
February 13
17 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 20:34:21–20:34:22.
February 14
4,014 image files; 46 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 14:23:52–15:34:09.
February 21
7 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 13:10:40–13:10:41.
March 2026
March 7
687 image files; 6 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 14:41:20–15:31:23.
March 8
2 image files.
Sample cameras: NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 14:57:14–14:57:17.
March 14
531 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 16:19:04–16:45:08.
March 22
191 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 17:54:20–18:03:16.
March 30
176 image files.
Sample cameras: OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5; OM 150-400mm F4.5 TC.
Sample capture times: 12:48:48–13:06:16.
April 2026
April 12
560 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 16:08:56–16:51:54.
April 18
2,289 image files; 12 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter.
Sample capture times: 12:18:24–12:48:32.
April 26
2,355 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 15:11:41–17:30:49.
April 27
50 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 18:17:30–18:22:49.
April 30
190 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 18:27:34–18:39:33.
May 2026
May 1
169 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 17:47:40–18:01:29.
May 2
1,066 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 12:15:34–14:46:24.
May 3
8,486 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 12:58:20–17:56:30.
May 8
230 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 18:30:35–18:54:36.
May 9
2,210 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 10:08:18–17:32:30.
Finished selection added November 1: Crowned in Blue — a blue jay photographed with the Sony α9 II and FE 400–800mm at 800mm, 1/1000 second, f/8, ISO 4000. Now included in Recent Photos. This is an edited export of an existing capture and does not increase the outing’s RAW count.
May 10
942 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON D850.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 13:51:26–18:00:52.
May 11
35 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS.
Sample capture times: 18:07:04–18:35:02.
May 13
27 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 18:22:27–18:28:04.
May 14
435 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:07:39–15:21:41.
May 15
405 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:15:11–18:07:11.
May 16
488 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 10:12:35–18:47:49.
May 17
4,618 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 13:02:52–17:27:17.
May 26
43 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 18:16:50–18:33:22.
May 29
1,439 image files; 12 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 16:11:15–17:16:21.
May 30
709 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 10:50:12–19:16:16.
May 31
930 image files; 2 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 14:57:27–18:43:59.
June 2026
June 2
153 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 18:14:41–18:30:27.
June 5
628 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 14:51:44–16:48:20.
June 6
354 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:10:39–18:38:26.
June 7
3,492 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 09:49:58–19:33:16.
June 11
63 image files.
Sample cameras: OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5; OM 150-400mm F4.5 TC.
Sample capture times: 17:14:47–17:15:09.
June 12
425 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 17:43:19–17:58:24.
June 13
6,976 image files; 4 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 15:01:14–17:59:03.
June 17
216 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 18:46:43–19:05:05.
June 18
54 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 18:20:46–18:47:10.
June 19
545 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON D6.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; VR 300mm f/2.8G.
Sample capture times: 10:36:19–16:36:32.
June 20
553 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 11:20:14–19:48:58.
June 21
5,025 image files; 9 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:31:51–17:55:13.
June 23
4 image files.
Sample cameras: NIKON D6.
Sample lenses: VR 300mm f/2.8G.
Sample capture times: 18:15:06–18:15:24.
June 25
95 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-9M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS.
Sample capture times: 13:47:48–14:50:25.
June 26
265 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 18:17:00–18:23:06.
June 27
757 image files; 3 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:04:39–16:58:56.
June 28
7,483 image files; 25 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 15:25:00–17:01:07.
June 30
6 image files.
Sample cameras: NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 23:00:36–23:01:07.
July 2026
July 2
57 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-9M2; NIKON D6.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; VR 300mm f/2.8G.
Sample capture times: 16:45:46–18:56:10.
July 3
853 image files; 2 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 09:38:54–10:16:16.
July 4
1,275 image files; 3 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 12:20:54–19:36:41.
July 5
363 image files; 4 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S.
Sample capture times: 10:22:55–15:59:43.
July 7
36 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-9.
Sample lenses: FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:44:03–11:50:15.
July 8
1,051 image files; 6 video files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1; ILCE-9.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:59:04–18:18:23.
July 9
188 image files; 2 video files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 17:06:22–17:15:14.
July 10
6,021 image files; 9 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 10:52:45–15:40:00.
July 11
3,566 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 16:40:25–19:05:11.
July 12
4,286 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter; NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 16:28:01–18:47:10.
July 15
80 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 19:39:46–19:53:35.
July 17
298 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 19:04:47–21:55:23.
July 18
305 image files; 5 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-9.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 18:06:12–19:34:04.
July 19
4,878 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; NIKON D6.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter; VR 300mm f/2.8G.
Sample capture times: 09:49:58–19:29:48.
July 24
125 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 14:06:12–15:01:05.
July 25
3,382 image files; 2 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; ILCE-9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS + 1.4X Teleconverter.
Sample capture times: 07:48:31–10:57:36.
July 26
986 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 13:28:04–17:58:22.
July 27
5 image files.
Sample cameras: NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 13:50:41–13:50:42.
July 31
1,133 image files; 1 video file.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM +2x III.
Sample capture times: 15:45:44–18:07:48.
August 2026
August 1 — 2026 NY Intl Air Show
7,889 image files; 58 video files.
Sample cameras: AC004; OM-1MarkII; iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Sample lenses: OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5; iPhone 13 Pro Max back triple camera 1.57mm f/1.8.
Sample capture times: 10:27:57–12:28:16.
August 2
627 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS; FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 14:19:46–14:58:07.
August 7
893 image files; 1 video file.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; DSC-RX10M5; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM +2x III; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 16:00:34–17:02:31.
August 8
373 image files; 1 video file.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM +2x III; FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:56:17–18:47:53.
August 9
4,816 image files; 4 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2.
Sample lenses: FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:43:02–18:20:06.
August 14
2,047 image files; 3 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5; OM 150-400mm F4.5 TC.
Sample capture times: 14:24:59–16:20:02.
August 15
1,851 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 100-400mm F4.5 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 16:23:32–18:54:23.
August 19
53 image files.
Sample cameras: NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 19:32:06–19:33:56.
August 21
941 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-1; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 50mm F1.2 GM; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 13:06:18–16:20:57.
August 22
195 image files.
Sample cameras: DSC-RX10M5; ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 11:46:38–12:17:53.
August 23
717 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1.
Sample lenses: FE 100mm F2.8 Macro GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 13:35:53–19:18:37.
August 30
1,392 image files; 39 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S.
Sample capture times: 15:24:16–17:06:14.
September 2026
September 5
1,357 image files; 7 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-1M2; ILCE-7RM4.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:09:50–19:11:47.
September 6
1,608 image files; 2 video files.
Sample cameras: NIKON Z 9; OM-1MarkII.
Sample lenses: NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Z TC-1.4x; OLYMPUS M.150-400mm F4.5.
Sample capture times: 13:56:46–14:13:45.
September 12
668 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2.
Sample lenses: FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 17:04:53–18:50:55.
September 18
75 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 16:14:32–18:11:51.
September 19
1,954 image files; 24 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1M2; ILCE-7RM6; NIKON Z 9.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS + 2X Teleconverter; FE 600mm F4 GM OSS; NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Z TC-1.4x.
Sample capture times: 11:37:20–14:32:18.
September 20
206 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3; ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM; FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 13:04:02–14:02:35.
September 26
11 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 17:25:51–17:25:52.
October 2026
October 3
2,399 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:12:38–13:46:00.
October 4
534 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 13:30:21–13:38:03.
October 6
359 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R7.
Sample lenses: RF800mm F11 IS STM.
Sample capture times: 01:21:06–02:22:44.
October 10
263 image files; 3 video files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS + 2X Teleconverter.
Sample capture times: 13:48:52–14:50:56.
October 13
235 image files.
Sample cameras: Canon EOS R3.
Sample lenses: EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM.
Sample capture times: 15:39:01–17:03:45.
October 14
178 image files; 1 video file.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 400mm F2.8 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 17:39:29–17:50:34.
October 15
715 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-1; ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 300mm F2.8 GM OSS; FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 15:08:26–17:55:22.
October 16
31 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 12:17:54–13:21:38.
October 18
1,848 image files.
Sample cameras: ILCE-7RM6.
Sample lenses: FE 600mm F6.3 GM OSS.
Sample capture times: 17:28:25–18:20:45.
October 23 — First Days with the Canon 500mm II
448 RAW photographs, recorded from 16:10:47 to 16:55:06.
Camera and lens: Canon EOS R3 · EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, without an extender.
Our first days with the recently received 500mm II included an Eastern gray squirrel beside a tree, birds around the feeders, and the moon in the late-afternoon sky. The edited squirrel portrait, “A Pause Beneath the Trees,” is featured in our first-outing article.
See the photograph and first field notes →
Record notes: The 448 RAW files are in the corrected October 23 folder. Camera, lens, and time range were checked against the 2026 Lightroom Classic catalog. Subject notes draw on representative camera previews and the edited squirrel photograph.
Finished selection: A Pause Beneath the Trees is now also included in Recent Photos.
October 24 — Saturday’s Outings
2,296 RAW photographs across midday, late-afternoon, and evening sessions, including 19 supplemental moon photographs reviewed November 10. A review of representative previews shows autumn surroundings, a deer, a perched bird, waterbirds, and the moon.
Midday · 12:41–13:41
1,402 RAW photographs. Sony a7R VI with the FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS (741 files), and Canon EOS R3 with the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM plus Extender EF 1.4× III (661 files; 700mm).
The selected previews include a deer near autumn foliage and a bird perched among shaded branches.
Late afternoon and evening · 17:17–18:55
875 RAW photographs. Canon EOS R3 with the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM without an extender (203 files), and Sony a7R VI with the FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS (672 files).
The representative frames include a swan on the water, a heron at the shoreline, and an evening moon photograph.
Record notes: The original 2,277 captures were checked against the 2026 Lightroom Classic catalog. The October 24 folder on Photo Drive Nine now contains 2,296 RAW files: 1,413 Sony a7R VI ARW files, 864 Canon EOS R3 CR3 files, and 19 Sony a1 ARW files. Times are as recorded by the cameras. Subject notes come from six representative camera previews; locations and a fuller field account remain to be added.
Supplemental moon session — reviewed November 10: The newly available Sony a1 set adds 19 RAW moon photographs made with the FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS, recorded from 19:01:40 to 19:02:04. All 19 files report October 24 capture dates; three representative embedded previews confirm the moon. These original captures are now included in the revised total of 2,296. Any further supplemental imports will be reviewed separately before changing the counts.
Finished selections added November 1: A Quiet Place Above and An Upward Glance show the Canon 500mm II with the 1.4× Extender III at 700mm. The latter is identified as a male Downy Woodpecker in the revised export. Both are now in Recent Photos; these exports do not add new captures to the outing total.
October 25 — Sunday’s Birds and Moon
3,136 RAW photographs across midday, afternoon, and evening sessions.
Midday · 12:59–14:26
2,354 RAW photographs with the OM System OM-1 Mark II and M.Zuiko Digital ED 150–400mm f/4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO. Representative previews show blue jays around the feeders and on the grass, with birds among the branches.
Afternoon and evening · 15:26–18:06
782 RAW photographs with the Sony a7R VI and FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS. Selected previews include doves near the roadside, a bird in flight, and the moon above the darkening treeline.
Record notes: Counts were checked against the October 25 folder on Photo Drive Nine: 2,354 ORF files and 782 ARW files. Camera, lens, and capture-time ranges were checked against the 2026 Lightroom Classic catalog. Subject notes are based on 12 representative camera previews. Times are as recorded by the cameras; locations and fuller field notes can be added after review.
October 30 — A Woodpecker at the Feeders
316 RAW photographs with the Canon EOS R3 and EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, recorded from 09:47:13 to 09:48:36.
Representative previews show a red-bellied woodpecker visiting the feeders, moving between the feeder and tree trunk, and spreading its wings in flight.
Record notes: The 316 CR3 files were counted in the October 30 folder on Photo Drive Nine and checked against the 2026 Lightroom Classic catalog. Subject notes come from six representative camera previews. A finished selection can be added after editing.
October 31 — Eagles with the Sony 600mm
1,905 RAW photographs with the Sony a7R VI and FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS, recorded from 15:21:37 to 18:04:05.
Two finished photographs lead our first selection from this outing: Final Approach, an eagle descending toward a conifer treetop, and The Unbroken Gaze, a close profile with its bill open. Both were made at 600mm, 1/2000 second, and f/6.3; the landing photograph is ISO 400 and the portrait ISO 1600.
Explore these finished photographs in Recent Photos →
Record notes: The October 31 folder on Photo Drive Nine contains 1,905 ARW files; equipment and time range were checked against the 2026 Lightroom Classic catalog. Subjects and shooting settings above are confirmed by the two finished exports. Additional subjects and field notes can be added as the rest of the outing is reviewed.
November 2026
November 1 — Small Birds with the R7 and 800mm f/11
121 JPEG photographs with the Canon EOS R7 and RF 800mm F11 IS STM. The available November 1 folder contains JPEG captures; the finished web export is not counted as an additional capture.
Representative frames show mourning doves feeding near a tree and blue jays carrying peanuts, on the ground and on a branch. Our finished selection, The Quiet Sparrow, shows a female House Sparrow resting on a weathered branch against a smooth green background.
The Quiet Sparrow: 800mm · 1/160 second · f/11 · ISO 6400. The title, caption, and settings are preserved from the published JPEG.
View the photograph in Web Published 2026 →
Record notes: The 121 JPG files were counted in the November 1 folder on Photo Drive Nine and checked against the 2026 Lightroom Classic catalog. Subject notes draw on six representative captures and the finished sparrow photograph. The camera records 02:10:46–02:18:57; this clock time needs review before we describe the session as a particular time of day.
November 7 — BEOC & WINORR at Vanderbilt
1,541 RAW photographs from the BEOC & WINORR Vanderbilt event. All 1,541 ARW files record the camera as Sony DSC-RX10M5, with capture times from 13:08:41 to 16:07:52.
Representative frames show visitors gathered on the autumn grounds and a raptor demonstration, including a red-tailed hawk perched on a stand and flying low across the lawn. These are birds being handled for a demonstration; visible jesses and lines are part of that context.
Equipment notes: The files record focal lengths from 9.1 to 210mm with the camera’s built-in zoom. These are actual focal lengths as recorded in EXIF, rather than 35mm equivalents. No separate lens-model field was present in the metadata read for this set.
Record notes: The November 7 folder on Photo Drive Nine contains 1,541 ARW files. Camera, capture date, and time range were checked directly in the metadata of all files; subject notes draw on eight evenly spaced camera previews. Finished selections, fuller event notes, and any supplemental photographs can be added after review. No photographs from this event have been added to the homepage featured selection.
November 9 — Centerport: Cormorant, Gull & Female Bald Eagle
846 RAW photographs from our Centerport outing, using three camera-and-lens combinations.
A cormorant, a gull, and the female bald eagle were the subjects of the day, as recorded in Tony’s field notes.
Finished selection — added November 11: A Turn Through Open Sky shows an adult Bald eagle banking through open sky, one wing raised and its white tail fanned beneath the dark body. Sony α7R VI + FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS · 600mm · 1/2000 sec · f/6.3 · ISO 800.
View this photograph in Recent Photos → · Read the Sony 600mm field notes →
Sony α7R VI + FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS: 832 ARW files, recorded from 14:35:31 to 15:10:01.
Canon EOS R3 + EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM: 6 CR3 files, recorded from 13:32:04 to 14:19:13.
Sony a1 + FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS: 8 ARW files, recorded from 14:33:35 to 14:34:45.
Record notes: The November 9 folder on Photo Drive Nine contains 846 RAW files. Capture date, camera, lens, and recorded times were checked directly in the metadata of every file. Times are reported as recorded by each camera and have not been synchronized. Subject and location notes come from Tony’s outing account. Finished selections and fuller captions can be added after review.
November 14, 2026 — Centerport: Finding the Bird at 600mm
Overcast skies and late-autumn backgrounds gave us another opportunity to explore our long-lens combinations in Centerport. The imported photographs include Blue Jays, a Great Blue Heron and gulls in flight, distant waterbirds, sparrows, Mourning Doves, and squirrels.
What we photographed with
The reviewed folder contains 1,288 RAW photographs: 676 with the Nikon Z9 and NIKKOR Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S; 519 with the Sony a7R VI and FE 600mm f/6.3 GM OSS; and 93 with the Sony a1 and FE 300mm f/2.8 GM OSS. One additional Sony JPEG is logged separately, outside the RAW total. Counts describe recorded files, not selected photographs or keepers.
Field notes: the Nikon Z9 and 600mm PF
During the outing, Tony reported difficulty acquiring an approaching cormorant against a busy background. The setup felt reluctant to engage the bird using the tracking control he was trying, and an attempt with a full-area option did not appear to resolve that particular encounter.
A closer gull flying lower over the water seemed easier to acquire. Tony wondered whether the cormorant’s dark plumage and limited separation from the background contributed to the difficulty. That is a possibility to investigate, rather than an established explanation.
A small propeller aircraft provided another observation: the tracking control did not initially acquire it, while the full-area option appeared to do so. This suggested a practical next step—verify the camera’s current AF-area modes and button assignments, then consider whether full-area acquisition belongs on the back button with tracking available through a front function button. No reassignment has been confirmed or made.
What “Eye” Saw — more than focal length
The preview selection offers useful material for examining birds against gray sky, autumn foliage, shoreline vegetation, and intervening branches. The Sony a1 photographs also provide a wider 300mm view of the surroundings. These were different subjects and moments, not a matched camera comparison. We will inspect complete sequences and subject detail before discussing focus-loss frequency, recovery times, or keeper rates.
Also in the field kit
Tony’s dictated inventory also records a Sony 600mm f/4 GM, Sony 100–400mm GM, Nikon 800mm f/6.3 PF with another Z9, and a Canon R3 with the EF 500mm f/4L IS II. Their presence in the kit does not establish that they were used for the photographs currently imported.
Photograph selections and further observations will be added as the review continues.
About this chronicle
A growing record: Photo counts, equipment lists, and subject summaries reflect the files reviewed so far. When supplemental photographs are imported or added later, we will revisit the affected Chronicle date, update its counts and subjects, and add any newly confirmed camera and lens details.
Archive snapshot prepared October 24, 2026. All 323 EXIF samples were readable. Dates without a folder are omitted; their absence does not establish whether photographs were taken. Locations, subjects, and field notes will be added from confirmed information.
Keep chimping—and enjoy the images!