I regularly have observations 500 m to 1 km way.
Much of my work fieldwork is from a boat and the species we are observing are on cliffs, sometimes at a good distance away. A 600mm lens with a 1.5 telex (making it 900mm) on a full-frame lens, then the photo cropped an still result in a decent photo even at that distance… assuming you have good light conditions.
I always put the pin where the organism was since that’s the focus of the observation, not me and my location.
These are all very impressive observations!
I usually put the pin on the location of the observation not where I was.
Fun! I’ve got a couple contenders. It’s really hard to pinpoint the distances in flight/bodies of water, but I’d estimate them to be between 400 m - 750 m. That’s not too shabby, considering the camera I have!
This smudge of a red-tailed hawk I spotted while birding from my window: https://inaturalist.ca/observations/42901601
These distant scaups (?): https://inaturalist.ca/observations/34936016
Honourable mention: furthest phone photo at 150+ m away! A little surprised this got RG to be honest. https://inaturalist.ca/observations/38693707
I agree with what you’ve said, with all my observations and often with the specimen quiet a distance from me I’ve developed the habit of pinning as close as I possibly can where that specimen was. However it does become quiet an impossible task especially if the observation was of something in flight, in this case I use a ball park approach. Personally, it makes most logical sense to pin based on the location of the subject and not the photographer since it’s the specimen that’s on the spotlight…right 
?
Two observations, Great Hornbill & Wreathed Hornbill at estimated about 800m away. Photos were taken at full zoom and then cropped.
Since it’s the organism that’s the reason of the post and it being the “observation”, also considering your mesmerizing zoom capabilities, it should go without saying, pinning the location of the subject makes for a more accurate post.
Ps: great photos Mike 
4.24 miles (6.82 kilometers) or 22,387 ft (6,823 meters), excluding attitude difference.
Thanks!
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