Birds 2012

[Greg Beetham]

Yeah the dof does look a bit tight come to think of it, what was it f5.6? doesn't that one focus on the NEX?
Greg

[DrScottNicol]

A few more bird shots from this weekend (at the wildlife island on the Thames in Reading - I've now gotten into the routine of always taking my camera with me as I go shopping in Reading - parking my car next to the river, wandering into town via this short scenic route

A77 / 70-300G lens

[DrScottNicol]

by the way, I like the frosty Swan shot Birma

Scott

[Birma]

Yeah the dof does look a bit tight come to think of it, what was it f5.6? doesn't that one focus on the NEX?
Greg

The SEL 55-210 is f6.3 out at 210. It does AF, but I tend to MF everything now if I can manage it - just seems more reliable with the Nex MF assist + peaking etc.

by the way, I like the frosty Swan shot Birma

Scott

Thanks Scott

Waterfowl shooting on the way to the shops - fab stuff . Very nice duck shots and a very fine looking Black Swan.

[mvanrheenen]

Well, went out again today, but didn't had any luck with the Bullfinches. To be exact: I have seen none

But, I did spot another bird I haven't snapped before, the Siskin!

#1 - Siskin (Carduelis spinus)




#2 Robin (Erithacus rubecula)



#3 Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)

[Birma]

Hi Mark - that Robin is fabulous - he is so puffed up against that cold that he looks like he's swallowed a tennis ball .

I like the Jay shot as I have never noticed that their plummage and markings can be such good camouflage.

Sorry the bull finches evaded you - next time!

[Greg Beetham]

Those were nice little insights into the waterfowl world Scott.
Two new ones Mark, you have done well, I would be lucky locally too see one I hadn't seen before. That Robin is your best yet I think, a very nice shot indeed.
Greg

[mvanrheenen]

Thanks guys, that Robin does look festively plumb, doesn't it?

I actually managed to make 148 shots today, but only 8 made the cut, of which 3 were purely because they were new birds (the Siskin and Jay). That left 5 shots, all of Robins

[bakubo]

Birma, that is a very unusual swan photo with it sitting on the frosty ground. You certainly captured the feeling of cold there. Almost makes me shiver looking at it.

Scott, those are some good photos too! I especially like the first one.

Mark, I really like that Robin photo of yours!

[Birma]

Thanks Henry !

[bakubo]

Here are 3 on Caye Caulker (island) when I was in Belize last summer.

Is this some sort of Gull? It looks like some sort of Frigatebird with that forked tail and long hooked beak.



This one looks almost like it is another Marbled Godwit, but the bill isn't really upturned. Can anyone identify it?



Brown Pelican



A little closer view:

[Greg Beetham]

I don’t know how you do it Henry but you take these great shots of shorebirds that are usually difficult to get close too (Pelicans excepted). I sifted through pages of Plovers, Sandpipers, Stints, Knots, Dowitchers, Tattlers, Greenshanks, Redshanks and Curlews and the closest I can get, so far, is a non breeding Lesser Yellowlegs (can’t actually see the legs to confirm the colour), it’s a wader related too the Redshanks and Greenshanks.
The other one is a Frigatebird for sure, it doesn’t appear in my book which has three species listed for our waters but whatever species it is I think it’s a Juvenile.
Greg
Ps I liked the first shot of the Pelican, the oblique sense of humour coming to the fore again.

[Dr. Harout]

Very nice shots, Scott, Mark and Henry.

[bakubo]

I don’t know how you do it Henry but you take these great shots of shorebirds that are usually difficult to get close too (Pelicans excepted).

I generally haven't found shorebirds to be particularly skittish in California and other places. I only take photos of them if I happen to see them. I don't go out trying to find them or take photos. I wonder if the ones in Australia have learned to be scared of humans. Do people hunt them there?

I sifted through pages of Plovers, Sandpipers, Stints, Knots, Dowitchers, Tattlers, Greenshanks, Redshanks and Curlews and the closest I can get, so far, is a non breeding Lesser Yellowlegs (can’t actually see the legs to confirm the colour), it’s a wader related too the Redshanks and Greenshanks.

Thanks for that info. I will investigate further.

The other one is a Frigatebird for sure, it doesn’t appear in my book which has three species listed for our waters but whatever species it is I think it’s a Juvenile.

Okay, that is what I was thinking.

Ps I liked the first shot of the Pelican, the oblique sense of humour coming to the fore again.

Yes, if you look closely you will see the bird in that photo.

[Greg Beetham]

[quote="bakubo"]

I generally haven't found shorebirds to be particularly skittish in California and other places. I only take photos of them if I happen to see them. I don't go out trying to find them or take photos. I wonder if the ones in Australia have learned to be scared of humans. Do people hunt them there?
quote]

Not that I’ve ever heard of, or seen, I think they are protected here anyway, but most of those shorebirds are migratory and cover vast distances every year with layover stops in other places/countries along the way, who knows what happens in those places where they have traditionally stopped at for thousands of years, back when there were just a few humans here and there throwing sharp sticks, now-days of course humans are much more plentiful and dangerous and they probably have learnt to be suspicious of any approaching human…a wise move.
I must admit though there have been times when in a boat fishing close to shore or getting bait from a sand bar there have been some great opportunities to get some shorebird shots, but with no camera handy right at that moment of course.
Greg