Birds 2012

[mvanrheenen]

Greg, an other nice shot, this time of the Zebra Finch. : ) Does he really beep?
Yildiz

That's one of the most beautiful finches I've ever seen

[Greg Beetham]

Ha ha yeah Mark and Yildiz (seems like you know them? I think they are a pretty widely distributed cage/pet bird) their call sounds like little metallic beeps, too my ears anyway, very cute.
Greg

[mvanrheenen]

Ha ha yeah Mark and Yildiz (seems like you know them? I think they are a pretty widely distributed cage/pet bird) their call sounds like little metallic beeps, too my ears anyway, very cute.
Greg

Sweet!

[Greg Beetham]

I’ve been searching for the call, they do make a loud whistling chattering call as well, but it’s their normal beep one that I like, they do it often back and forth between one another when foraging on the ground in a group. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mjBRe4k ... ure=fvwrel
Greg

[Argonaut]

The grouse image is really good to the eye argonaut. Real sharp that one. Was it difficult to take in the (what seems to be) harsh light?

"Taking" it was easy. In post the only thing I did was boost the shadows because the light is 3/4 behind the bird. It didn't look bad before, but helping the dark areas looked better to me.

I notice that when I post images here they are noticeably lighter than the originals. Are there any brightness controls on the forum?

[aster]

Ha ha yeah Mark and Yildiz (seems like you know them? I think they are a pretty widely distributed cage/pet bird) their call sounds like little metallic beeps, too my ears anyway, very cute.
Greg

Hi Greg, : )

I do remember you either uploading a photo of a Zebra Finch before or you must have mentioned its name when listing the interesting birds of Australia last summer. You must hav ementioed the Zebra Finch at least a couple of times. That's how I familiarized with its existence. : ) Not any time before. They probably are common in Turkey as well but I don't see any flying about in Istanbul.

To hearwhat sort of sounds it makes I searched the Internet and the videos to see them in their natural habitats and as caged pets. They indeed are cute, especially when taking a bath and beeping. The short beeps do have a techno touch to them.
I now call them Techno birds. (the sounds reseble the agitated sounds a DJ makes on his record player; short and high in treble... or I could be wrong altogether. : )) )


Yildiz

[mvanrheenen]

I notice that when I post images here they are noticeably lighter than the originals. Are there any brightness controls on the forum?

Don't have a clue, sorry.

[Argonaut]

Tanzania continued. The Rufous-tailed Weaver is in the minority among weavers because it's not yellow and black. There's a colony of them at the airstrip in the middle of the Serengeti. Shame about the twig running over the tail - might have to do some photoshopping there. a55, Minolta 100-400 APO at 180mm, f11, 1/250, ISO 800.

D'Arnaud's Barbet is reasonably common in northern Tanzania, but doesn't hang around in the open as much as some birds. a580, Sigma 400, f10, 1/1600, ISO 800.

Wattled Starlings are among the less colorful starlings. You sometimes see them imitating oxpeckers, also unlike the other starlings. a580, Sigma 400, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 800.

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[mvanrheenen]

I like the second image the most, the big thorns and insect in it's mouth makes the bird look kind of a tough cookie

[aster]

Argonaut; : )

My admiration continues as your Tanzania bird shots continue...

Catching them with bugs and preys held mercilessly between their bills is most exciting for me.

Nice getting to know the Tanzanian beauties in mid-lunch persuits from branch to branch..or should I say thorn to thorn? : )


Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

[Argonaut]

Thanks for your comments. It has occurred to me that we are lucky that the carnivorous birds are so small. Think velociraptor......

Today's group starts with larger birds. The Kori Bustard is frequently cited as the largest flying bird, the average male weighing between 25-35 pounds. I think one of the pelicans is a candidate for this trophy too. The Koris were frequently seen on our trip. Sigma 400, f11, 1/1250, ISO 800.

The Secretary Bird was seen often enough, but the darn things always walked slowly away from us so I never got a really nice profile. They are birds of prey, but different enough from all the rest that they have their own family taxonomy. They have the body of an eagle, legs of a crane (they are up to 4 1/2 feet tall), and hunt like a roadrunner. Sigma 400, f8, 1/1250. ISO 800.

Black-lored Babblers never shut up, so catching them with their beaks open was not difficult. Sigma 400, f11, 1/1000, ISO 800.

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[aster]

Very nice, Argonaut. : )

Characteristic shots of the birds this time. The Secretary Bird is a very interesting looking species. It indeed has the peculiar look of an old fashioned secretary... fashionable slanted-rimmed glasses msissing, that is. : )


Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz

[Argonaut]

Thanks Yildiz. Actually the explanation for "Secretary" that I favor these days is that it is a corruption of the Arabic "Saqh-al-tair" (I think) which translates as 'hunter bird'. And it certainly is.

[mvanrheenen]

I was browsing through a few old images and saw I captured a few bird shots while visiting a greenhouse which was turned into a butterfly conservatory (for lack of a better description). All shot with the a580 + 55-200 SAM.

#1 - Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

We've seen this one before in an image from Greg if I remember correctly.



#2 White Zebra Finch



Unfortunately, this bird doesn't exist in nature but was 'manufactured' by man as far as I can find. I really resent this kind of interfering with mother nature. Not only in birds, but with all things created by nature.

#3 - Canary (don't know what kind exactly)

[mvanrheenen]

Found some more, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Great Tit and an unknown for now. Will look for it tomorrow. The last one was shot during a visit to the zoo in 2010.