Birds 2011

[Lonnie Utah]

Nice Shot Bruce.

Greg, FWIW, there were tons of Ibis in Sydney over my trip...

[Greg Beetham]

Yep Lonnie I think Ibis are fairly plentiful here as well, I often see them around town, there's actually more than one type as well. Also last time I checked out at the town common with the binocs there were lots of Egrets, Herons, Stilts, Cranes, the odd Stork, mobs of Magpie Geese, Plovers, Ducks, Kingfishers, Curlews and numerous LBJ's (some I figured out, some I didn't) but no Avocets, I really would like to even see an Avocet...never mind a photo op.http://birdsinbackyards.net/species/Rec ... hollandiae

While I was gazing absently out the kitchen window this morning, gnibbling on a slice of toast, a Bower bird landed in the palm tree and started picking the seeds, all the while looking at me, and me looking at it. I went and grabbed the first camera I could find and snapped a shot, as soon as he saw the camera he spooked, so no time for anything other than press the shutter button....maybe if I had a sign printed up mounted on the camera saying 'Attention all birds: this is NOT a gun, it's harmless' ....I wonder if that would work?
Greg

A100 KM24-105

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[aster]

Only scored one today late after work, an Ibis that's usually hanging around the yard somewhere, I'll see if I can get a better shot sometime.
Greg

I wonder what sort of birdseed on my window sill or what it will take to attract one of these beauties over here.

Mark is right, you are certainly getting amazing creatures to photography on daily basis. : ))

That last shot of the spooked birdie is also interesting if showing the bird a bit dangling down as though its claw was tangled or stuck inside the seed branches.

A sign with a symbolic camera+lens and a few written words addressing the creatures of kinds may be a good idea. They can start by perching on it first and later ... may even show signs of having understood them and come closer to where you are with the camera in hand. : )

The pigeons that visited me in the balcony were accustomed to my cameras...one even-the tailless one-perched on the Alpha once! : )


Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

Ha! yeah you're right Yildiz it does look like it's tangled, but it was as free as a bird in fact, a split second later it was gone. It's not much of a shot really, but it's all I had time for, just thought I'd post it anyway to show the things that happen with bird photography...I'm sure we all know that's how it can be from time to time. I wonder what it is with Pigeons? no matter where they are in the world they seem to be the same, friendly to humans to the point of being a nuisance sometimes, I suppose that's what they are banking on, knowing we can't resist a feathered friend that's obviously on the point of starvation ha ha.
As far as attracting birds from the wild into the city goes, I think it's possible but it would take an entire community commitment, such as growing the kind of trees that the native birds like, but they would have to extend in corridors right accross the city in a loose chain of assorted species so they can go from one to the other, a long term commitment indeed, what with land allocation, participation and such.
But anyway Yildiz, it doesn't matter too much, wild birds are very finicky to photograph, we all enjoyed your photos of the lovable no tail Dove and the baby Seagulls, Fugnog and Jabberwoki, it was a very enjoyable window into their existance.
Greg

[aster]

As far as attracting birds from the wild into the city goes, I think it's possible but it would take an entire community commitment, such as growing the kind of trees that the native birds like, but they would have to extend in corridors right accross the city in a loose chain of assorted species so they can go from one to the other, a long term commitment indeed, what with land allocation, participation and such.
But anyway Yildiz, it doesn't matter too much, wild birds are very finicky to photograph, we all enjoyed your photos of the lovable no tail Dove and the baby Seagulls, Fugnog and Jabberwoki, it was a very enjoyable window into their existance.
Greg

Hi Greg, : )

You're right about leaving extensive green corridors among the cityscape by way of green parks that are populated with good species of trees that attract birds for safe nesting and resting zones ... and ,yes, it's a long term commitment that requires good urban planning which has its wonderful rewards. I would love those lovely and interesting birds to find some 'peace' in Istanbul and we can always find opportunities to photograph them within steps away from our residences and work places.

Every year there's one family with cute and intirguing offsprings to photograph but I must admit the stories Fugnog and Jabberwoki provided, topped them all!

Yildiz

[Juanito200]

From the snow today, in my neighbor's tree.

[Greg Beetham]

Ha ha good one John, all you have to do is wait until they are frozen onto the branch...just kidding. Good shot.
Greg

[Greg Beetham]

I had another go at the Brown Honeyeater today one seemed to let me get a little closer without undue stress, I also rejigged the flash settings a little.
Also got a photo of a Whitegape Honyeater, (another plain Honeyeater but bigger than a Brown) they are the only ones that have found the honey in the old cat's dish.
Greg

A700 KM100-300apo

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[aster]

Hi John,

An interesting shot of the pigeon. Certainly looks like searching for some warmth by the look of the feathers.



Hi Greg,

Lovely honeyeaters and I think these shots are much better than the previous shots. Must be due to your rejigging of the flash settings. You really got them perfectly sharp and in their own moods.

The first two are very nice while the last is good in showing how smart they really are at inspecting their whereabouts for food or other interests. : )


Yildiz

[agorabasta]

If a bird sees your lens, the lens appears to that bird as a huge eye of a potentially dangerous creature.
A simple solution is to use a square filter to hide the lens eye. Square items are universally perceived as inanimate objects.

[Greg Beetham]

Thanks Yildiz, I had a read of the F56 manual about HSS and discovered something I didn't know before, that even if you turn HSS 'on' on the F56 data panel the camera flash combo might still not actually use it, that plus the A700 interface is a tad more informative about what is going on with the flash than the other two cameras.
Greg

ps. Yeah I took that one under advisement, about the lens thing, that doesn't gel with my experience, birds get nervous even if you are carrying a camera with the lens pointing down hanging from a neck strap, these birds do anyway, in any case the 100-300apo has a very deep lens hood and under a very shady tree I think it's doubtful they would see much of the front element anyway, it'd look more like I was aiming a 55mm cannon at them I reckon.

[agorabasta]

Greg, the birds are more cautious of you when you bring your camera along simply because you then watch them too keenly, exactly as if you were hunting...

[david antony]

Nice one in the tree John. Looks quite content like there is a feeder nearby?

Greg you nailed those Honey's very well. The small birds are harder to work with I find, hardly stay still more than 2 seconds.

[Greg Beetham]

Thanks DA, I still haven't forgotten your supurb small birds that were among the best I've seen.
And as far as watching the birds keenly goes, that does tend to make them more alert to your presence I agree, but then I'm usually watching them keenly even without a camera, and from what I've seen they are definitely more skittish when I have a camera (not even aimed) than without.
Greg

[Juanito200]

Thanks DA and Greg- There isn't a feeder nearby, but I have been seeing a lot of birds around since the snow. I think that they are saying "doggie-doo!hiccup! We came to Texas for mild winters and we get all this snow??? We need to find some food NOW!" I have taken advantage of this to grab several bird shots.
Greg those are some great night bird shots. I use a 100-300apo as my tele, and I know the challenges you face using it for birds, and for low light. Well done indeed. Here is one from Sunday. I have no idea what kind of bird it is. I kept looking for Cardinals, but they flew away before I could get a shot.....