Birds 2011

[Greg Beetham]

The umbrella tree is in flower once again and as always is a big hit. (There's a few bugs buzzing around the buds as well)
Greg

A100 KM100-300apo Bluefaced Honeyeater (adult)

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White throated Honeyeater

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[jcoffin]

Very nice -- I especially like the shot of the blue-faced honeyeater.

[david antony]

Nice work Greg. Great shot of the blue faced.

[Greg Beetham]

Thanks jcoffin, DA
I got lucky with the wind stopping blowing in a few of the shots.
Greg

[Dr. Harout]

I like the blue-faced honey-eater too. Did you use flash?

[Greg Beetham]

No one loves my cute little White Throated Honeyeater, I've just got a soft spot for those that's all, they are very quiet and timid with a soft little piping call, not at all like the rest of those loud and boisterous Honeyeaters.
Good pickup Doc yes I used the F56 for fill, most of the shots were aimed up towards the sky and the subjects were strongly backlit so I used +2/3 ambient and -1/3 flash on some and -0+ flash on others.
Greg

[david antony]

Greg the White Throat was perched on the wrong branch, otherwise might not have been upstaged. ;^)

[aster]

Wonderful shots, Greg.

I love them both. The Bluefaced is a bit more fortunate for the amount of light that lights the body parts which makes it spectacular but I like the White throated honeyeater too. It just had to keep still and not go for the buds for little longer and you'd have a shot competing with the Bluefaced! : )

I always find it hard to believe that you just have to go off for a short walk around the green parts of your town and you get these magnificent creatures to photograph! I need to make sure that Istanbul's wild life prospers as well. We need to nurture more awareness on the wildlife that once circled this land; more city parks and planned urban development is required for sure.

Thanks for sharing so generously.

I just love this thread and hope it evolves into a beauty 'bank' of our winged friends.


Yildiz

[stevecim]

tops shots Greg, no there are 2 honeyeaters I haven't seen down south

[mvanrheenen]

Wow, nice shots Greg! Especially like the colors of the blue bird! Good catch!

[Birma]

Totally agree tha the blue faced chap is extra special . The contrast of the blues with the red berries, the startling blue plummage, and the sky behind the bird all make that a winner.

[Greg Beetham]

Thanks Yildiz and stevecim, actually I didn't walk very far for those, all the way up to the top of the front steps in fact, that umbrella tree is growing right beside the front steps, the other one is next to the side fence but it got a bit of a trim recently because it was shading one of the avocado trees too much; so that one hasn't flowered this year.
There was another bird I tried to get that you haven't seen yet, a not very attractive one, the Friarbird, looks a bit like a buzzard or something but it is a Honeyeater just the same but I couldn't get a clear shot. I did get some others that you've already seen, Brown HE, Whitegaped HE, Rainbow Lorikeet etc.
Greg

ps. Yes Yildiz more parks with native trees within the city environs could work wonders, that would bring great results with the native birdlife I would think, even some tree planting along the edges of roads is good too I think as long as there is room to do it.

pps. And thanks to you too Birma. (I did have such high hopes for my cute little Whitethroated HE too...ha ha!)
ppps. Oh and stevecim...yay

[ACIPhotos]

Totally agree tha the blue faced chap is extra special . The contrast of the blues with the red berries, the startling blue plummage, and the sky behind the bird all make that a winner.

They look so tropical compared to our little brown sparrows. There are some great shots on this thread. I don't know I'm away working for a couple of months and have missed soooo much!

[david antony]

Nothing exotic.

[Greg Beetham]

Those are nice and sharp DA, I really like the bright green neck and head, very striking, I tnink I'm partial to the last one most because you can see all of the bird, what lens was that?
Greg