Picking up 20D, 1.4 Canon TC and 500 f/4 in my left hand out of the back of the car, camera bag with another 20D and assorted lenses in the other hand, then seeing a $2.50 bag of oranges about to roll out and fall to the ground ... and dropping the camera and 500mm lens to catch the oranges. I think that qualifies as a mistake!

Definately. Hope nothing was broken.

The camera was fine, Mike. But the teleconverter was NWR (not worth repairing, I had to buy another one) and the 500mm lens had to take a trip to Canon's repair centre in Sydney. I only got it back a couple of weeks ago and it's evey bit as wonderful a lens as it was before I dropped it. Total cost, about $700, $500 of that for the new TC. I was amazed at less than $200 to repair the 500mm f/4 - I'd expected four figures. Top marks to Canon!

And no more oranges!

Yesterday was just one of those days. I was headed out to a Christmas Bird Count. This particular count always has a pot-luck lunch at noon. Just a chanc to eat and up-date each other on what has been seen in the morning.
I was halfway there when a i realized that my food contribution was back home in the kitchen.:eek:
During the count and immature Blad Eagle drifted right over us at low level. I grabbed the camera and bailed out of the van. It wouldn't focus or expose. That's when I realized that the battery was dead. Changed batteries but naturally by then the eagle was long gone. I shut off the camera and put it a way without making any exposures. A little later, I spotted a breautiful dog fox by the road. Went to take some pictures, no memory card.:rolleyes:

LOL - Dan

Just when you think things can't get worse they do !!

Right on! there was nothing left to do but laugh at myself (the gang of birders with me also got a good chuckle).

Ouch Dan, that's a double whammy!

Mistake
 

Walked out on the beach to take low angle view. Changed to angle finder. Put eyepiece on bag. Took photo. picked up bag and walked on. 10min later missed eyepiece. went back tide was in!! Last week in Lake district took loads of landscape tripod shots on 1600iso:mad:

Thats when my wife would say just be glad you saw the bald eagle/dog fox! She has a good point but not conducive to lowering blood pressure at the time!

Your wife is right but.......
Actually it was an eagle sort of day. Our group saw 7 including one that was in hot pursuit of a gull. Another group doing the count saw 23 Bald Eagles, probably a record for the Christmas Count in that area.