Birds 2012

[Argonaut]

David - nice catch! How did you get so close (135mm lens)?

Re: "is it a bit bright?" I find that photos displayed in this forum are brighter than I see them before sending. And, of course, it's a black bird on a very light background, so something's gotta give.

[david antony]

Thanks Greg & Argonaut.

More than a tad bright. ;^) it was taken at 135mm with 70-200. The bird was a
bit curious so I lucked out. Last time I saw one years back on Texada Island where
oysters are more abundant.

A couple more.

[artington]

All taken with NEX-7

[mvanrheenen]

Great contributions everyone!

I went out today and found these ones. Click for original, best size!

All shot with the usual gear: a580, 70-400G and Vanguard monopod with SBH-100 ballhead.

#1 - Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)



#2 - Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

The same bird as #1, but in a different bush.



#3 - Reed Bunting (f) (Emberiza schoeniclus)

[Birma]

Great bird pictures everybody - amazing black oyster catcher, and great willow warblers.

[aster]

Welcome back David Antony!

Missed you and your photos...

Great to get to know the Black Oystercatcher, David. Love the colour of the bills and the ring around the eyes. The colour reminded me of the reddish pink of the Flamingos which get their colours from eating shrimps ... Maybe some of these colours are due to eating oysters for te Oystercatchers too.

Nicely taken.. : )



Hi Artington, : )

Going strong with the NEX-7. Lovely shots of the ducks the woodpecker. Neat colours on the Woodpecker.


Hi Mark, : )

Looks like it's time for weaving their nests for the Willow Warblers. The 70-400mm is doing good with these fast birds, especially when the Reed Bunting is holding on to the top of a branch that probably was moving from the hasty moves of the bird...Good catches.


Thanks all for sharing,

Yildiz

[Greg Beetham]

That Black Oystercatcher is certainly black in the second shot DA, amazingly unconcerned about your proximity and too top it off even settling down for a bit of a rest, or is it looking for a nesting site?
There’s always something about Ducks that’s engaging somehow, I’ve never been able to pin down exactly what it is but it’s in that photo artington whatever it is. They say the Woodpecker is hard to get a photo of so I guess that one was more distant than it looks like it was in the photo, did I guess right?
I like the shots of the Willow Warbler Mark, I bet there’s young in a nest somewhere nearby, nice work capturing the parent on a mission.
The Reed Bunting looks a bit Finch-ish in style but probably is only an accidental similarity.
Greg

[mvanrheenen]

Thanks all!

@Greg: the thing that makes a finch easily to identify is its beak. As a seed eater, they have a thick beak well suited for seeds. The Reed Bunting has a pretty small beak. That's how I keep the finches apart from all the other LBJs

[david antony]

Thanks Yildiz. Have been very busy the past while with no time for the fun things. Looks like we will be busy for some time yet.

For some reason I do not intimidate birds too much Greg, try to leave the area ahead of them and succeed most of the time.

[aster]

Thanks Yildiz. Have been very busy the past while with no time for the fun things. Looks like we will be busy for some time yet.

Always looking forward to your photos and fun photo stories, David!

Yildiz

[DennisG]

Nice birds from all of you as always

The next generation is hungry
took this today in my kids stable

Mmmm a bug yummie

1024_250-1.jpg (230.98 KiB) Viewed 4546 times

I saw that....

1024_250-2.jpg (214.52 KiB) Viewed 4546 times

Hey give me some too....

1024_250-3.jpg (213.73 KiB) Viewed 4546 times

[mvanrheenen]

Hi Dennis,

Very cool and unique view you caught there. How I wish I could find such a scene! Great stuff, really!

A tip: you used a flash, which causes a grayish reflection in the eyes called 'steel eye'. If you could PP those the birds would seem more natural. You did control the flash rather well, not much reflection in the feathers, which is a common issue with using flash. Maybe the angle helped?

Mark

[DennisG]

Hi Dennis,

Very cool and unique view you caught there. How I wish I could find such a scene! Great stuff, really!

A tip: you used a flash, which causes a grayish reflection in the eyes called 'steel eye'. If you could PP those the birds would seem more natural. You did control the flash rather well, not much reflection in the feathers, which is a common issue with using flash. Maybe the angle helped?

Mark

Thank you for the eye tip fixed them in lightroom and the look much better.

[Greg Beetham]

Photos of feeding the young are fairly rare compared to straight bird photos so well done Dennis.
Greg

[Birma]

Great shots of feeding the young there Dennis .

I rarely have much success at shooting birds. Following the bird feeders being filled yesterday some were quite brave despite me snapping away at flowers in the garden so I tried a few shots. All pretty heavy crops.

This chap must be on his second brood as he has some youngsters following him around as well from time to time. The top of Tilly's swing is a favourite perch.

2012 Robin with grub by Birm, on Flickr

A bunch of these guys turned up looking for the spilt seed. At least they are a bit bigger and slower than the LBJs

2012 Pigeon on the lawn by Birm, on Flickr

Both with Nex 5 and SEL 55-210.