Birds 2012

Show everyone the latest shots which make you feel dead chuffed with your camera choice
Forum rules
No more than three images or three external links allowed in any post or reply. Please trim quotations and do not include images in quotes unless essential.
User avatar
Greg Beetham
Tower of Babel
Posts: 6118
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 3:25 pm
Location: Townsville, Qld. Australia
Contact:

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Greg Beetham »

The Eastern Rosella was a lucky find Mark, I’d say it’s an escapee like you say or someone released it maybe, we don’t get that one in my area, not that I’ve ever noticed anyway, we get the Pale-Headed Rosella and the Crimson Rosella instead but rarely in an urban area although I did spot a Pale-Headed at the bird bath recently.
I like how you can capture your birds singing as in the Marsh Warbler and the Whitethroat, that isn’t easy to do on a regular basis and those are marvellous shots of the Reed Bunting as well…great stuff.
I kinda like the LBJ’s because they can often present even more of a challenge in getting them nailed down as too exactly which one they are. I remember one here (Grey Whistler, there were actually quite a few of them) when observing from the hut in the rainforest that had us stumped for about half a day looking through all our bird books trying to identify what it was, (and the funny thing is it looked very similar-ish to your Whitethroat) you often don’t get enough time when looking through the binocs to note all the details, eye colour, beak colour, leg colour etc. And to make matters worse our bird books show the Grey Whistler as more of a buff colour while the ones we were watching were definitely more of a greyish colour. :roll:
Greg
User avatar
Dr. Harout
Subsuming Vortex of Brilliance
Posts: 5662
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Contact:

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Dr. Harout »

Greg Beetham wrote:...And to make matters worse our bird books show the Grey Whistler as more of a buff colour while the ones we were watching were definitely more of a greyish colour. :roll:
Greg
Seasonal color change, most probably. :?:
A99 + a7rII + Sony, Zeiss, Minolta, Rokinon and M42 lenses

Flickr
User avatar
Greg Beetham
Tower of Babel
Posts: 6118
Joined: Sun May 27, 2007 3:25 pm
Location: Townsville, Qld. Australia
Contact:

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Greg Beetham »

Yes a valid point Doc, though the better bird books (like the Pizzey & Knight covering Australian birds) usually have illustrations of seasonal and regional variations (if any) also sometimes juvenile illustrations, some juvenile colourations are quite different to the adult version.
But honestly it’s not the first time I’ve noticed that they sometimes just get it slightly wrong with birds here in the north, being far removed from the experts in the south, they frequently make changes in later editions and I buy the latest editions for that reason if I happen too see one in a bookshop.
I guess it shouldn’t be surprising too me that they need to make the odd illustration adjustment because of the sheer quantity of species in these parts, most of them live in the rainforest and difficult to observe.
But it does seem with this species there is regional or seasonal variation not yet illustrated in the various books.
http://graemechapman.com.au/cgi-bin/vie ... c=560&pg=2
Greg
DennisG

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by DennisG »

Almost ran over this pheasant tonight when is was out looking for crane´s in the fields around the lake.


Run forest run.....
DSC00171-2.jpg
DSC00171-2.jpg (247.73 KiB) Viewed 4099 times

and also a nuthatch sitting in the tree looking cool :)
DSC00162.jpg
DSC00162.jpg (201.61 KiB) Viewed 4099 times

almost forgot about this pics also from today, went down to see if there was any chicks yet...
the nest is just near a small road leading down to our small bridge and bathplace
DSC00133.jpg
DSC00133.jpg (222.23 KiB) Viewed 4099 times
Still just eggs but it want be long now i think...
DSC00134.jpg
DSC00134.jpg (230.47 KiB) Viewed 4099 times
aster
Tower of Babel
Posts: 6048
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:33 pm

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by aster »

OK, I'll be very brief..or I'll lose myself in so many words.

Mark, Dennis and everyone, these are astounding and thanks very much for posting to share with us. : )

These bird shots all deserve praise and worth a photo-study.

Yildiz
mvanrheenen

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by mvanrheenen »

@Dennis: that pheasant shot is really the best I think. I normally see pheasants only in tall grass here, so they are almost not detectable, especially when they run from you. The nature of this species is to duck and run when they feel threatened in some way, so to get one with head up running on bare soil is great!

The Nuthatch is a beautifull bird, but mostly lives at the top of large trees. Getting one at this angle means it wasn't that high up, ou were in luck :) It's good to see the Grebe reproducing. You must be carefull approaching nests however, because there is a great chance the mother feels threadened and will abandon the nest. The young will certainly not be born. In my country, as well as in others in Europe, engaging upon a nest for recreational spotting/photographing is forbidden. I never approach a nest anymore since I know this.

@Yildiz: thanks for the compliments. I feel we have accomplished much already in this years birds thread. I can only guess how much great images we've collected at the end of this year. Fantastic job everyone!

Mark
DennisG

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by DennisG »

Mark the same rules apply here in sweden about nesting birds, but this one and about 20-30 more nests is just near a small road a and a place were people keep there boats over the winter so i am actually standing on a lawn between two boats taking that shoot. Otherwise i wouldn't try to shoot birds nesting...
mvanrheenen

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by mvanrheenen »

DennisG wrote:Mark the same rules apply here in sweden about nesting birds, but this one and about 20-30 more nests is just near a small road a and a place were people keep there boats over the winter so i am actually standing on a lawn between two boats taking that shoot. Otherwise i wouldn't try to shoot birds nesting...
That's the right attitude Dennis :)

Mark
User avatar
Birma
Tower of Babel
Posts: 6585
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:10 pm

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Birma »

I really like that running pheasant. Great action shot :)
Nex 5, Nex 6 (IR), A7M2, A99 and a bunch of lenses.
mvanrheenen

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by mvanrheenen »

I went out late afternoon today. The weather didn't help unfortunately, I had very little light and lots of wind. This is the best I could do. All are firsts for me :) (All clickable for best size and version)

#1 - Juvenile White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

I had some advanced birders identify this little bird. I would never have guessed it would be a juvenile White Wagtail, as it's SO different when it's an adult. See image #2.

Image
1/250s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso800

#2 - Adult White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

Image
1/500s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso800

#3 - Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

What a great predator this is. It swoops low over land and water looking for prey. A real sight which I enjoyed for several minutes, until it worked it's way to me :)

Image
1/800s f/5.6 at 400.0mm iso400

Mark
Marcell Nikolausz
Grand Caliph
Posts: 257
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:39 pm

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Marcell Nikolausz »

I'm not really much into bird photography, but my brother has started bird watching as a hobby. My KM7D was collecting dust that time and it didn't make sense to sell it on the used market, so I decided to lend it to him. I gave a Minolta AF 75-300 F4.5-5.6 D with it and convinced him not just staring at the birds but take some pictures. I know it's quite outdated system with slow AF, low resolution CCD, and not the best quality zoom, but I thought it will be a good kit to start. He was absolute beginner in photography, so I explained the basics (shutter speed, aperture, DOF, ISO etc.) and let him to use it.
After a year I'm really impressed by his results and it was a good example for me that going out and take pictures with a real passion is more important than the gear itself. I also convinced him to share his pictures on flickr. Please, have a look at his flickr page. He doesn't speak English but would be surely happy to see some comments and favs:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikolausz_mihaly/

And some selected pictures:
Image


Image

Cheers

Marcell
User avatar
Birma
Tower of Babel
Posts: 6585
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 3:10 pm

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Birma »

That last one is a stunning shot Marcell - a reminder to us all about gear only being a small part of great pictures :)
Nex 5, Nex 6 (IR), A7M2, A99 and a bunch of lenses.
User avatar
InTheSky
Viceroy
Posts: 872
Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:23 am
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Contact:

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by InTheSky »

I like the red eye in the last one contrasting with the blue & white.

All the previous beautiful pictures are forcing me to try to go outside and benefit of the spring movement of birding ...

Regards,


Frank
Frank
A7 (R, S & R II) + NEX 3N ( and few lenses )
User avatar
Dr. Harout
Subsuming Vortex of Brilliance
Posts: 5662
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: Yerevan, Armenia
Contact:

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Dr. Harout »

Kudos to your brother Marcell.
A99 + a7rII + Sony, Zeiss, Minolta, Rokinon and M42 lenses

Flickr
Marcell Nikolausz
Grand Caliph
Posts: 257
Joined: Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:39 pm

Re: Birds 2012

Unread post by Marcell Nikolausz »

Thanks, actually I'm quite proud of him and I'm very happy that he found the same (though different aspect) hobby.
Now, we have more common topic to discuss, which further improved or good relationship.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 47 guests