Myself 30 years of using 600mm-1200mm lenses, today was practice day.  Getting ready for “Steller Sea Eagles, Red Crowned Cranes, Golden Eagles, White Tailed Eagles, Wild Life on the move”.  

The biggest mistake people make, is spending large amounts on gear, then expecting the gear to take the perfect photo.  It is just common sense it does not work that way.  Especially when you are handling 600mm to 1200mm, these are big heavy lenses.  A good solid tripod is needed, with a good ball head or gimbal head.  I have both that can handle 600mm-1200mm lenses.  For wildlife on the move I use the gimbal tripod head.  

My focus is on  the small birds, avoiding the large birds while practicing, for a couple of weeks before heading out on Hokkaido photo tour, being calm, relaxed, feeling great, knowing my gear is primed & ready.