Communal Bird Photography Thread

[brian1208]

We wandered up to Hengistbury Head this morning (our local coastal Nature Reserve) and after a bacon and egg brekkie (no pics, as I took heed of your earlier comments ) went looking for birds

Nothing special about (Wheatears reportedly seen but no sign for us) but our usual mate the Stonechat did a turn in front of the camera

stonechat 20-9-15 by Brian Wadie Photographer, on Flickr

He was very obliging and when I asked him to move to another perch for a less busy background he did so

stonechat 20-9-15 moving perches by Brian Wadie Photographer, on Flickr

stonechat 20-9-15 new perch by Brian Wadie Photographer, on Flickr

shot using the EM-1 + 75-300 mk2,

I was amazed by the IQ difference between this and the 40-150 pro + TC (I have been using the latter so much recently I had forgotten how the 75-300 performed). These shots needed a fair bit of post-process work to get the detail out of them whereas this is not the case with the 40-150 + TC, mind you, the extra reach of the 75-300 was a bonus here

[art frames]

Things seem to have gone quiet here so Just a few pictures to bring this back on the radar.







hope one at least brings a smile to your day.

[David M]

Snow Geese on autumn migration.



Taken in Saskatchewan in the late 90's. Flocks can number in the tens of thousands. There's smoke from grass fires in the sky behind the birds.

[art frames]

Female Sparrowhawk by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

When I look at this picture of our local sparrowhawk that was plucking a collared dove, I imagine that the action of cloaking the prey is a guilty reaction to being seen and having her picture taken... "move along, move along, nothing to be seen here... keep moving now everybody... nothing happening here".

I think you have to have watched Johnny Morris as a teenager...

[David M]

Originally Posted by art frames

Female Sparrowhawk by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

When I look at this picture of our local sparrowhawk that was plucking a collared dove, I imagine that the action of cloaking the prey is a guilty reaction to being seen and having her picture taken... "move along, move along, nothing to be seen here... keep moving now everybody... nothing happening here".

I think you have to have watched Johnny Morris as a teenager...

It's called mantling, the theory is it's to hide the prey from other species that might try to take it.

[Olybirder]

That is a splendid shot of a Sparrowhawk, Peter. They do seem to have a taste for Collared Doves but I suppose they are slow moving and rather dopy birds, which makes them easy prey. When I stepped outside yesterday afternoon I noticed one circling and drifting over the garden. It moved on and was mobbed by a Crow.

Ron

[David M]

American White Pelicans, Last Mountain Lake, Saskatchewan.



A film shot from the late 90's. Taken while sitting in the channel with the tripod in the water with me.

[Olybirder]

Lynn and I went for a walk at Lowestoft North Denes yesterday hoping to find lots of migrant birds which had been brought in by the easterly winds. As it turned out, it was really quiet and we had just about given up when we spotted this Snow Bunting, the first I have seen this autumn. It was feeding in the shade beside a caravan and I was photographing it from the top of the sea wall, so it was far from ideal conditions. However it was great to see it and hopefully it is a sign of nice things to come over the next few months.


E-M1 and 75-300 II.

Ron

[Wee man]

Nice little bird well spotted

[art frames]

Surprised this tit whilst out looking for fungi in Ashridge yesterday he flew off without me taking a shot. So we stood and waited and sure enough after a few minutes the lure of the seeds was too much and he returned to grab a few more.


Marsh or Willow Tit by Peter Willmott, on Flickr

I will allow my elders and betters to correct my tentative ID. Marsh or Willow ?? What do you say?...

[Olybirder]

That's a lovely little bird in a superb, natural setting, Peter. I wouldn't like to say whether it is a Marsh or Willow Tit. It's easy where I live as there are virtually no Willow Tits left in the area.

Ron

[Olybirder]

This is a heavy crop of a showy Sedge Warbler which was singing it head off at Cley Marshes in May. They have all departed now and the reed beds are quiet again.

Ron

[Tordan58]

Originally Posted by art frames

Marsh or Willow ?? What do you say?...

What kind of biotope is it?

[Tordan58]

Chiff-chaffs were used to be found in the northern coniferous forests only but nowadays they are showing rather often in other biotopes. Here is a close encounter from early May this year.

E-M5 ISO800 1/250s
TS102 700mm refractor scope

[bredman]

Quite liked this mono version. With the Oly 40-150mm 2.8 + mc14.


Swallow BIF in Mono by Pete O'Sullivan, on Flickr