There are lots and lots of American Avocets in California. I used to see them all the time when I was around salt marshes, in particular. Go there and you will rewarded in short order! Some info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Avocet

There are supposed to be Avocets around my area as well but mostly what I’ve seen is Herons, Egrets, Stilts, Plovers and the occasional Brolga and maybe a Jabiru. In some parts of the year there are those migratory small snipe and sanderling type birds but Avocets are hard too find here, maybe I should check the marshes after the rainy season more often. I’m beginning to think though it’s more of a southern bird mainly, like around Lake Ayre when it gets wet. http://www.waders.org.au/about-waders/shorebird-identification/waders-regularly-seen-in-australia-p-t/red-necked-avocet
Greg

ps Thanks everyone for the encouraging words.

That is a nice shot of the friarbird -- I'm tempted to say "nicer than it really deserves", but as Heinlein pointed out, even a cockroach is beautiful, at least to another cockroach! The Avocet is really nice as well -- I love the one-legged stance.

As far as the geese go, it was pretty close to pure luck. My first shot was of them walking around on a mostly iced-over pond:



Even though I wasn't particularly close (that's at 210mm), I apparently caught their attention, because they almost immediately took off and circled around, coming very close by me. Given how aggressive geese can be, I was a bit worried about getting attacked for a moment or two, but thankfully they just continued on by.

Hi Mark, : )

I'd be more than happy to share some birds from Istanbul. The ones that I would of liked to have captured are far too fast for me! The other day just before snow weather settled in Istanbul, a flock of Rainbow parakeets flew by the house like green bullets. It was exciting to watch them with the naked eye but no camera would have captured them at that speed. : )

I do see a couple of seagulls on the roofs... Maybe I'll capture those.


Jcoffin;

That's a fine scene with the geese walking on ice. : ) They seem at ease with the icy weather.

Thanks for sharing,


Yildiz

Thank you. As far as icy weather goes..well, they are Canada Geese. There were quite a few where I grew up on South Dakota; the weather here is positively balmy by comparison. When it gets colder, they will also stand on only one foot and pull the other up to keep warm in some nice goose-down.

We have large groups of ring necked parakeets flying around here. They are not indigenous to these parts, but thrive here none the less! They make a racket and are really fast. You're description of bullets is spot on I think!

Seagulls can be really good models for a portrait or two. Looking forward seeing your interpretation of how these birds live near you!

jcoffin: looks like a flock of Canadian geese you've captured. They do tend to fly off really quickly. I once was looking for a woodpecker when I walked past a large stretch of grassland where a large group of maybe 50 Canadian geese were laying and feeding. I tried to sneak by them, but a few of them saw me. Once one flew, all followed. That was pretty impressive, seeing all those big geese fly off together to pastures new. It was also pretty noisy I can tell you!

Mark

Greg, that Friarbird has a face only a mother could love.

Here is a Marbled Godwit in California taken with a Minolta 707si + Tokina 400mm f5.6 on Fujichrome 100 in 1994:



Some info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbled_Godwit

Those Geese look a tad disappointed with all the hard water jcoffin, it’s a wonder they don’t fly further south where there might be more watery water.
I seem to recall there was a Seagull family with young (Mk II) on the roof next door Yildiz, what happened too those?
That’s a nice shot of the Marbled Godwit Henry, I never really got into shorebirds myself there seems to be a legion of them that all look similar and rather difficult too tell apart…for me that is. Yes the Friarbird isn’t the most beautiful of birds, they seem to be in their nesting season at the moment with lots of calling and moving about, there is usually a well hidden nest in a tree somewhere in the yard.
Greg

OK, here's one seagull that povided the oppotunity to shoot some creature that can flap a pair of wings.

Greg, I doubt that any of the ones that coupled last summer to bear offsprings are here to stay. There are some new ones.. : )

The seagulls were mostly in flight this morning. They certainly love the weather after snow.

Yildiz

Yeah! That's the spirit Yildiz! That seagull seems to like bading in the sunlight. Can't blame him/her, I want more sunlight too!

Nice Godit you've captured there Henry. Called a 'Grutto' around these parts, you can find them a plenty around lakes here. Beautiful bird with a very distinctive beak and walk.

Thanks for sharing!

Mark

Thanks, Mark.

You're too kind.


Henry, your archives are full of surprises!

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

More nice birds from Henry and Yildiz.

I finally found a bird that was big enough, and slow enough for me to catch up with


2012 Powick - Frosty Swan by Birm, on Flickr

I think it was too cold to swim on this morning .

Nex 5 with SEL 55-210

I would've been quite disturbing if you couldn't catch up with a sitting swan, Birma

All jokes aside, swans can get spooked when you come near them. I heared stories of people being chased away by these birds, which was a rather terrifying ordeal because of the size and speed those birds have. You did well in this image. The pale green of the grass reflects the cold very nicely!

I'm going out when light comes up here. It's freezing, so I'd better suite up nice and warm.

Mark

Birma I think you’re selling yourself a little short there, can only take a bird photo of a Swan welded too the permafrost indeed, I’ve seen some great tweety bird shots from you in the past.
I think that’s a great shot btw, I’ve never seen a Swan sitting in such frosty grass before, it’s hard too believe that that is actually warmer than the water, the bird would know which is preferable without a doubt but it must have been a very close call.
Greg

Ps It might be a bit early for the Gulls to pair off yet perhaps Yildiz, possibly in a couple of months...maybe?

Thanks Mark and Greg .

It was either a very calm Swan, or too cold to bother much. I had spotted it and was about to creep a bit closer with the camera in hand, when a dog walker went by with a dog off the lead; the swan hardly moved and the dog wisely kept its distance. Based on this I stuck the camera on the tripod - wandered a bit closer, manualluy focused, and then left. This is about a 2x crop at 210mm. Focusing could have been better, but in my defence I had gloves on and it was chilly . The lens may need stopping down a bit. More practice required.