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Bird Photography 2021Bird Photography 2021 - replacing Bird Photography 2020  Rate Topic 
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Posted by jk: Fri Jan 1st, 2021 09:07 1st Post
Please post your new bird images in this new topic.
This helps the topics load quickly for all members and allows us to remember more clearly where certain images that we are trying to find may be located.



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Posted by Richard_M: Sat Jan 2nd, 2021 20:46 2nd Post
I start by posting a few snaps

D500 with 200-500mm lens

#1 Common Tern


#2 Common Greenfinch


#3 Yellow-faced Honeyeater


#4 Red-browed Finch


#5 Striated Pardalote



Posted by Richard_M: Sat Jan 2nd, 2021 20:51 3rd Post
#6 Sacred Kingfisher


#7 Wedged-tailed Eagle


#8 Eastern Yellow Robin


#9 Red-rumped Parrot


#10 Tawny Frogmouth



Posted by Robert: Sun Jan 3rd, 2021 04:00 4th Post
Thank you Richard, a lovely set.

Gets 2021 off to a great start.

Edited date... Sorry!



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Posted by jk: Sun Jan 3rd, 2021 06:16 5th Post
Great start to 2021 Richard.
Fine set of images.



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Posted by GeoffR: Sun Jan 3rd, 2021 08:51 6th Post
Robert wrote:
Thank you Richard, a lovely set.

Gets 2020 off to a great start.
Pardon? Let's not go through 2020 again.



Posted by Iain: Mon Jan 4th, 2021 08:44 7th Post
Robert wrote:
Thank you Richard, a lovely set.

Gets 2020 off to a great start.
Noooooooooo



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jan 6th, 2021 08:26 8th Post

Happy NY to All!  Richard more super photo thank you. Modest studio portrait of a tame Tawny Owl with studio flash and a D850 Nikon>



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jan 6th, 2021 14:45 9th Post
Another pix from my studio session with my Tawny friend. Lighting is with pro electronic flash.

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Posted by blackfox: Fri Jan 8th, 2021 13:58 10th Post
couple from me last Sunday fieldfares at a local industrial park ,luckily no traffic to spook them taken from the mobile mondeo hide olympus omd1-mkii + olympus 100-400 

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jan 8th, 2021 18:48 11th Post
Jeff super pixs, well done!!! I have been busy with a trail cam at night and took (not very good quality) footage of a fox catching a large rat under our bird table at 2.00 am in the morning -3C IR B&W not very good quality but interesting I have reset it again tonight. Plenty of rats at the moment with the local river Meon in flood.



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Posted by jk: Sat Jan 9th, 2021 04:11 12th Post
Well instead of WinterWatch we will have WhistlerWatch! :lol:

Sounds like you are having fun Graham.  

You can upload mp4 file to Vimeo or YouTube and link to here so we can watch.



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Posted by Iain: Sun Jan 10th, 2021 06:00 13th Post
Instead of a Robin in the snow here's a Dunnock in the snow.


DN4_9623-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jan 10th, 2021 11:26 14th Post
Nice one Ian. JK here is the trail cam footage from last two nights as requested.

https://www.facebook.com/graham.whistler/videos/10225730267072066



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Posted by Iain: Sun Jan 10th, 2021 16:30 15th Post
At least the Fox is trying to keep the rat count down for you Graham.



Posted by jk: Sun Jan 10th, 2021 20:45 16th Post
You have quite a colony of rats there.  Need a second fox or a Jack Russell! :lol:



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Jan 15th, 2021 05:36 17th Post
just signed a (model) release form for winter watch to use 2 of my images .. whether or not they appear is I presume down to schedules and overruns



Posted by jk: Fri Jan 15th, 2021 10:54 18th Post
Which ones so we can look out for them.



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Posted by blackfox: Sun Jan 17th, 2021 06:54 19th Post
close up of a blackbird and a unspecified magpie Jonathon



Posted by Iain: Mon Jan 18th, 2021 16:28 20th Post
blackfox wrote:
close up of a blackbird and a unspecified magpie Jonathon Are they paying you for their use?



Posted by jk: Mon Jan 18th, 2021 17:52 21st Post
I would hope so but it is the BBC!



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Posted by Richard_M: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 02:27 22nd Post
It was grey and overcast this morning, before the cloud moved away and it became bright and sunny. Great weather to put the Fujikon to the test.

These were all taken using a Fuji X-T3 with Fringer NF-FX adapter and Nikkor 200-500mm lens

#1 White-eared Honeyeater


#2 Yellow-faced Honeyeater


#3 Laughing Kookaburra


#4 Galah


#5 Little Wattlebird


#6 Red Wattlebird



Posted by Richard_M: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 02:31 23rd Post
#7 Eastern Rosella


#8 Red-browed Finch


#9 Willie Wagtail


#10 White-naped Honeyeater


#11 Spotted Pardalote


#12 Superb Fairy-wren



Posted by jk: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 05:20 24th Post
Looks like you have it cracked Richard.  Lovely images.
So a 200-500 on an APS-C  Fuji XT3 camera so x1.5 straight away to 300-750mm. 
Looks like you have got the AF working well.
I guess you are using one up from smallest AF box and on AFS AF setting?.
XT4 with IBIS will give further flexibility but no better quality.



Pssst, dont tell Eric, he will be sorry he got rid of his XT3 but I am sure he is happy with the D850.



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Posted by Richard_M: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 05:51 25th Post
jk wrote:
Looks like you have it cracked Richard.  Lovely images.
So a 200-500 on an APS-C  Fuji XT3 camera so x1.5 straight away to 300-750mm. 
Looks like you have got the AF working well.
I guess you are using one up from smallest AF box and on AFS AF setting?.
XT4 with IBIS will give further flexibility but no better quality.



Pssst, dont tell Eric, he will be sorry he got rid of his XT3 but I am sure he is happy with the D850.

I was having a few issues with focusing. According to the Fringer manual, if you use a smaller focus point the focusing uses contrast detect. Some birds worked fine using the larger focus point, whereas others, the Superb Fairy-wren for instance would not focus. Luckily the bird stayed around long enough for me to change the focus point to the small one and it focused straightaway.



Posted by Eric: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 07:00 26th Post
jk wrote:
Looks like you have it cracked Richard.  Lovely images.
So a 200-500 on an APS-C  Fuji XT3 camera so x1.5 straight away to 300-750mm. 
Looks like you have got the AF working well.
I guess you are using one up from smallest AF box and on AFS AF setting?.
XT4 with IBIS will give further flexibility but no better quality.



Pssst, dont tell Eric, he will be sorry he got rid of his XT3 but I am sure he is happy with the D850.
Not really. Although the IQ was very good there were aspects of the XT3 functionality I found less appealing.The D850 is superb camera but in all honesty more features than I am ever likely to use and heavy/bulky/expensive as a walk around camera...which tends to be my main requirement these days. Richard and Jeff's image are spectacular to see, but I fear my commitment to bird photography will never be sufficient for the application required.



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Posted by jk: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 10:18 27th Post
Eric wrote:
Not really. Although the IQ was very good there were aspects of the XT3 functionality I found less appealing.The D850 is superb camera but in all honesty more features than I am ever likely to use and heavy/bulky/expensive as a walk around camera...which tends to be my main requirement these days. Richard and Jeff's image are spectacular to see, but I fear my commitment to bird photography will never be sufficient for the application required. I agree with you but I do find the XT3 a nice light camera to walk around with.  The battery can be a limitation but that is easily solved by a second battery.  The D850/Z7 really are superb cameras and I really dont push their capabilities these days.



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Posted by Iain: Sat Jan 23rd, 2021 16:23 28th Post
I'm afraid I gone back to using my D3 and 4 for wildlife as I can't get away from the iq they produce. Yes there heavy but sometimes you have to have some give and take.



Posted by GeoffR: Sun Jan 24th, 2021 03:27 29th Post
Iain wrote:
I'm afraid I gone back to using my D3 and 4 for wildlife as I can't get away from the iq they produce. Yes there heavy but sometimes you have to have some give and take. I never used anything else!


Except during the time before I had a D3.



Posted by blackfox: Sat Jan 30th, 2021 05:12 30th Post
hi all winter watch used 3 of my images in the current series so quiet pleased , must be doing something right I suppose .. and no they dont pay to use them unfortunately ..photos below 

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Posted by Eric: Sat Jan 30th, 2021 05:30 31st Post
blackfox wrote:
hi all winter watch used 3 of my images in the current series so quiet pleased , must be doing something right I suppose .. and no they dont pay to use them unfortunately ..photos below 

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Well done Jeff. I did see the Turnstone image last night. Lovely image. 



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Posted by jk: Sat Feb 6th, 2021 04:15 32nd Post
Well done on the images.
I have really enjoyed the Winterwatch series.  I find the presenters have worked well across all the sites. Weather has been pretty atrocious for them especially in Wales.



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Posted by Eric: Sat Feb 6th, 2021 14:28 33rd Post
jk wrote:
Well done on the images.
I have really enjoyed the Winterwatch series.  I find the presenters have worked well across all the sites. Weather has been pretty atrocious for them especially in Wales.
Not just Wales.
The bottom of our garden has gone sub aqua.:needsahug:

Not sure the bulbs around the trees and the roses in the border will survive, especially with sub zero temperatures coming this week to freeze the sodden ground. 



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Posted by jk: Sat Feb 6th, 2021 18:31 34th Post
Oh dear, I feel for you.  All the garden work washed away!
Hope it isnt too cold this weekend and those bulbs survive.



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Posted by Eric: Tue Feb 9th, 2021 12:47 35th Post
The heavy rains stopped, at last ..._but Storm Darcy turned up even more surprises this weekend...










A White Fronted Goose in the garden!





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Posted by jk: Tue Feb 9th, 2021 14:31 36th Post
Remake of   ..... The Snow Goose.



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Posted by blackfox: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 06:22 37th Post
some good shots there Eric ,nice garden m8



Posted by blackfox: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 06:26 38th Post
been having a play with changing methods of P/P  while in lockdown ...i.e the boredom files .:doh:  they seem to be attracting a lot of likes on flickr so must be doing something right ... the good news is im getting the vaccine jab later today 

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Posted by Iain: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 06:28 39th Post
A couple from last week.


DN4_1217-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



DN4_1259 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 09:49 40th Post
blackfox wrote:
been having a play with changing methods of P/P  while in lockdown ...i.e the boredom files .:doh:  they seem to be attracting a lot of likes on flickr so must be doing something right ... the good news is im getting the vaccine jab later today 

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The birds are nicely caught, but I am not sure I like the intense blurring of the background . I know I have a bit of a fixation about noise, but losing so much background detail makes the birds too divorced from their surroundings and a bit artificial for my taste.



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Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 09:54 41st Post
Here's a buzzard I forgot to post from the Kite photography expedition.



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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 12:47 42nd Post
Eric wrote:
Here's a buzzard I forgot to post from the Kite photography expedition.



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The background is a bit blurred :lol:



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Posted by Eric: Wed Feb 10th, 2021 19:19 43rd Post
chrisbet wrote:
The background is a bit blurred :lol: Yes but it's natural bokeh without added computer blur.



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Posted by Robert: Thu Feb 11th, 2021 16:46 44th Post
Eric wrote:
Here's a buzzard I forgot to post from the Kite photography expedition.



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I like the sharp twigs and berries next to the subject, ...is there any chance you could flip it in Ps so we could see the front of the Buzzard?



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Posted by Eric: Fri Feb 12th, 2021 09:13 45th Post
Unusual sight in the trees at the bottom of our garden....8 Magpies. 



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Apparently the saying is  “8 for a wish”. 

I wished they would come closer....but it didn't work.



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Posted by jk: Fri Feb 12th, 2021 10:42 46th Post
Need a longer lens?  Wishing for a 600mm?



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Posted by Iain: Fri Feb 12th, 2021 13:47 47th Post
Eric wrote:
Here's a buzzard I forgot to post from the Kite photography expedition.



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Nice shot Eric.



Posted by Eric: Fri Feb 12th, 2021 16:30 48th Post
jk wrote:
Need a longer lens? No.

That was right at the wide end of the zoom to get all 8 in the frame. If I used the extreme end I would have a shot of 2 or 3....and you wouldn't have believed there were 8....so maybe an unrealistic wasted wish.
o.O



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Posted by Eric: Fri Feb 12th, 2021 16:35 49th Post
Robert wrote:
I like the sharp twigs and berries next to the subject, ...is there any chance you could flip it in Ps so we could see the front of the Buzzard? I did look but it's all white on the other side. ;-)

Theres a couple of buzzard regularly sitting on field posts near the supermarket we visit. Will see if I can get them to turn and face me on Sunday. :thumbs:



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Posted by Robert: Sat Feb 13th, 2021 14:48 50th Post
Eric wrote:
I did look but it's all white on the other side. ;-)

Theres a couple of buzzard regularly sitting on field posts near the supermarket we visit. Will see if I can get them to turn and face me on Sunday. :thumbs:
Thats all white then! :lol:

You must have a very rural supermarket, or very urban buzzards?  Looking forward to a frontal portrait.

Living in the country I rarely see buzzards, Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places.  I saw a small but rather nice murmuration last week (not of buzzards! LOL).

While at my friend Bob's near Cartmel last week I spotted an unusual bush growing in the thicket of a small, dense woodland which looked completely out of place, Bob called it a pheasant berry bush, he didn't know the botanic name but it's actually Leycesteria formosa, the Himalayan honeysuckle, just growing wild in Cumbria. It attracts birds and deer for the berries.  I intend to photograph it when it flowers.



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Posted by jk: Sat Feb 13th, 2021 17:36 51st Post
Good to see that you are back posting Robert.
Hope that you are feeling stronger and more recovered.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 14th, 2021 06:41 52nd Post
Robert wrote:
Thats all white then! :lol:

You must have a very rural supermarket, or very urban buzzards?  Looking forward to a frontal portrait.

Living in the country I rarely see buzzards, Perhaps I'm not looking in the right places.  I saw a small but rather nice murmuration last week (not of buzzards! LOL).

While at my friend Bob's near Cartmel last week I spotted an unusual bush growing in the thicket of a small, dense woodland which looked completely out of place, Bob called it a pheasant berry bush, he didn't know the botanic name but it's actually Leycesteria formosa, the Himalayan honeysuckle, just growing wild in Cumbria. It attracts birds and deer for the berries.  I intend to photograph it when it flowers.
Buzzards often perch on fence posts alongside main roads. Because they are brown you tend to miss them, thinking they were extra long posts. 😆 

Travelling down the motorways in France they are everywhere. We refer to them as “awks on steeks”. (French accent required)
Driving to Alsace in 2018 we counted 83 such 'awks' plus 7 eagles...it was in fairness a drive of several hours and of course towing a caravan the speed is sloooower.



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Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 15th, 2021 17:39 53rd Post
Didnt get the Buzzards yesterday. 


Did get a rook landing on the tree near the house and a song thrush came down to grab some of the food that had been scattered on the snow...before it melted.





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Posted by blackfox: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 05:00 54th Post
having changed my style of p/p slightly with some excellent response on flickr etc I have been re-visiting old files .. heres 2

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 recently done ones from when I had the d7200



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 11:19 55th Post
Very good!



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Posted by jk: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 12:01 56th Post
Great pair of images Jeff.


It is very nice seeing the final images but I cant assess what they started from!
That is the other skilled part of the equation.

From a professional perspective .........
First you need to capture the image
Then you need to process the image.
Then ultimately you need to sell the image.



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Posted by Eric: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 12:32 57th Post
I have always admired Jeff's skill as a wildlife photographer, his use of light, field craft and mastery of whatever equipment he uses. (Puts my half hearted efforts to shame) 

But I have to say that whilst differential focus between subject and background always lifts the subject from its surroundings , I am not a fan of totally blurred surroundings in wildlife photos. 

For me, part of the pleasure is seeing the habitat. Having completely blurred surroundings may make the subject stand out more but it takes a well executed natural looking shot and moves it too close to an illustration....what a friend refers to as a 'bird stamp'.

I know all our taste differ, but I prefer more interaction between the subject and it's habitat.:hardhat:

Great captures though:bowing:



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Posted by jk: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 12:49 58th Post
I dont mind the ultra defocussed background but it doesnt work for every subject.  I use the technique in some portraits but it is a bit like the Orton effect in landscapes.  If you do it in/on every image it becomes a very artificial image as you say.  I like to see the background in cthe context.

The owl image looks very much like an Eric Hoskings image but I dont know if he did that on his images or whether they are just naturally like that.
The swallow shot is great timing and very sharp but as you say it would be nice to see a bit more background or surrounding detail.  He is on a skim over the wall, but where did he come from?

I just wish I had the patience and fieldcraft that Jeff has to capture these images.



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Posted by jk: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 13:31 59th Post
I guess it begs the question.  Which is better?



or



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Posted by Eric: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 15:49 60th Post
For me the problem with just blurring the background is twofold ....

A constant degree of blur assumes everything in the background is the same distance behind the subject....like a studio portrait background. 
That's fine if that's what you are trying to achieve....a portrait of a critter. I just don't find flying birds... 'studio subjects'.
In a natural setting, a portrait benefits from sharing some of the surroundings in the composition, ideally then with a more natural progressive zone of sharpness/defocus behind. I like to see some habitat with the creature. No it's not an excuse for not getting close enough.   



The other issue is, just blurring the background without reframing unbalances the image. There is too much blurred background which distracts from the subject. In your hummingbird moth image there is far too much out of focus to the left. (I realise it's been done just to make a point). It needs tighter cropping ...which then turns it back into a tight studio portrait. 




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That still works ok in this case because you have the plant as part of the composition. With flying birds there is unlikely to have anything to balance the composition.

Hope that makes sense?


Incidentally, somewhere on my desktop I have a PS Action that sequentially layers focus progressively back in stages giving increasing levels of defocus away from a subject to give quite a natural depth of field effect. I created it after messing up a shoot with the wrong aperture.



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Posted by Iain: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 16:24 61st Post
I prefer the first image Eric with the background not blurry. I have tried to get away from the bird etc dominating the image and where the background is acceptable leave it visible as habitat.



Posted by jk: Sat Feb 20th, 2021 20:25 62nd Post
I thought I would do that one of the Hummingbird moth as I was never sure if I liked the background in the original, but maybe the problem was the crop I made!
I prefer your crop.


Re: " Incidentally, somewhere on my desktop I have a PS Action that sequentially layers focus progressively back in stages giving increasing levels of defocus away from a subject to give quite a natural depth of field effect. I created it after messing up a shoot with the wrong aperture. "

If you can find it I would be interested to test out as I did this by hand with a duplicate layer with a large amount of gaussian blur and a mask.  
I should have made it as a smart object so I could change the blur.  I always remember half way through the exercise.


There are always many different ways to do stuff in Photoshop it really is a total learning experience.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 21st, 2021 05:38 63rd Post
jk wrote:
I thought I would do that one of the Hummingbird moth as I was never sure if I liked the background in the original, but maybe the problem was the crop I made!
I prefer your crop.


Re: " Incidentally, somewhere on my desktop I have a PS Action that sequentially layers focus progressively back in stages giving increasing levels of defocus away from a subject to give quite a natural depth of field effect. I created it after messing up a shoot with the wrong aperture. "

If you can find it I would be interested to test out as I did this by hand with a duplicate layer with a large amount of gaussian blur and a mask.  
I should have made it as a smart object so I could change the blur.  I always remember half way through the exercise.


There are always many different ways to do stuff in Photoshop it really is a total learning experience.
My desktop is out of action at the moment (lack of use) but will see if I can find it elsewhere on a drive.

From 15year memory.......
The process started with tight masking ALL the areas behind the subject.
Apply a minimal blur as the 'base coat' start this action..

Contract the mask by 2 pixels > Apply a feather of 1 pixel > Apply 5% more blur
Contract the mask by 4 pixels > Apply a feather of 2 pixel > Apply 5% more blur
Contract the mask by 10 pixels > Apply a feather of 5 pixel > Apply 10% more blur
Contract the mask by 20 pixels > Apply a feather of 10 pixel > Apply 10% more blur
Contract the mask by 50 pixels > Apply a feather of 20 pixel > Apply 15% more blur
Contract the mask by 100 pixels > Apply a feather of 50pixel > Apply 20% more blur

The actual numbers may be wrong but the principal is the same.....ie don't apply feather to the mask in the first instance, then soften the edge effect by 'one step forward - half back' approach, increasing the intensity as you go further back.

There are a couple of pitfalls to watch out for. 
The mask moves away from the frame edges incrementally so you are left with an edge and top that needs a small crop.
If the mask is not horizontal behind the subject lower areas may get more blurring than their distance demands. So using the rectangle mask to subtract these irregularities halfway through the action (or step back afterwards and restart)  irons out this issue.

Of course Adobe may have added this filter to more recent versions ....but I am still old school diy.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 21st, 2021 06:01 64th Post
Iain wrote:
I prefer the first image Eric with the background not blurry. I have tried to get away from the bird etc dominating the image and where the background is acceptable leave it visible as habitat. I totally agree Iain it seems more natural...more like the eye sees it. I think just using fstop to control background detail should be sufficient.

Obviously with location photography, there can often be background detail that distracts that can't be moved. I favour cloning that item out rather than blurring the whole area.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Feb 21st, 2021 06:24 65th Post
Eric wrote:
My desktop is out of action at the moment (lack of use) but will see if I can find it elsewhere on a drive.

From 15year memory.......
The process started with tight masking ALL the areas behind the subject.
Apply a minimal blur as the 'base coat' start this action..

Contract the mask by 2 pixels > Apply a feather of 1 pixel > Apply 5% more blur
Contract the mask by 4 pixels > Apply a feather of 2 pixel > Apply 5% more blur
Contract the mask by 10 pixels > Apply a feather of 5 pixel > Apply 10% more blur
Contract the mask by 20 pixels > Apply a feather of 10 pixel > Apply 10% more blur
Contract the mask by 50 pixels > Apply a feather of 20 pixel > Apply 15% more blur
Contract the mask by 100 pixels > Apply a feather of 50pixel > Apply 20% more blur

The actual numbers may be wrong but the principal is the same.....ie don't apply feather to the mask in the first instance, then soften the edge effect by 'one step forward - half back' approach, increasing the intensity as you go further back.

There are a couple of pitfalls to watch out for. 
The mask moves away from the frame edges incrementally so you are left with an edge and top that needs a small crop.
If the mask is not horizontal behind the subject lower areas may get more blurring than their distance demands. So using the rectangle mask to subtract these irregularities halfway through the action (or step back afterwards and restart)  irons out this issue.

Of course Adobe may have added this filter to more recent versions ....but I am still old school diy.

NB Save the original mask before you start the action so you can reapply it if you need to redo it.



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Posted by jk: Mon Feb 22nd, 2021 15:54 66th Post
Thanks Eric.



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Posted by Richard_M: Fri Feb 26th, 2021 00:49 67th Post
WOW, some great photos have been posted recently.

I ended up purchasing a Nikkor 500mm f 5.6 pf lens. It turned up yesterday.

So far I'm pleased with the lens, although having a few issues with the image stabilisation. I have tried both Normal and Sport mode, but I'm still getting a few images with movement in them. It wasn't an issue with the 200-500mm. More practice I guess.

It was overcast this evening after work when I visited the small reserve at the end of our street. Also there were not too many birds around late in the day.

A few snaps from this evening using a D500 with 500mm f 5.6 pf lens


#1 Laughing Kookaburra


#2 Laughing Kookaburra, I'm not sure if it was laughing at me, the camera, or the new lens :-)


#3 Grey Shrike-thrush


#4 Eastern Yellow Robin



Posted by Eric: Fri Feb 26th, 2021 04:22 68th Post
Nice shots Richard.
The 500pf is a lighter lens than the 200-500 and it may be impacting on your stability.... till you get used to it. 
One of the really useful features on the lens, is the memory focus lock buttons that store preset positions.....enabling you to quickly return to that exact focal spot at the press of the button.

I am not a great fan of its bokeh though. I find it a bit unsmooth, and rather artificial 

When coupled with the latest 1.4x teleconverter there is no loss in quality like earlier teleconverter models ...and 720mm reach (1080mm with the d500)



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Posted by Richard_M: Fri Feb 26th, 2021 04:35 69th Post
Thank you Eric!

I don't have the 1.4x teleconverter, it was on my to buy list a year or two back, but I never got around to it. I do have the 1.7x and the 2x. I might try one of them with one of the Z bodies.



Posted by Richard_M: Sat Feb 27th, 2021 00:39 70th Post
Some of the images I managed to get this morning at one of our local gardens.

D500 with 500mm f/5.6


#1 Striated Pardalote


#2 Spotted Pardalote


#3 Eastern Spinebill


#4 Red-browed Scrubwren


#5 Eastern Yellow Robin


#6 Little Wattlebird


#7 Grey Shrike-thrush


#8 Superb Fairy-wren


#9 White-browed Scrubwren


#10 New Holland Honeyeater


#11 Silvereye


#12 Welcome Swallow


#13 Brown Thornbill


#14 Southern Brown Bandicoot (Please delete if not appropriate)



Posted by jk: Sat Feb 27th, 2021 04:22 71st Post
Never saw a Bandicoot when I was in Oz.  I probably did but dismissed it as a rat!   Not a lover of rats and mice.



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Posted by Iain: Tue Mar 9th, 2021 09:04 72nd Post
Willow Tit and Blue Tit


DN4_1534 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr


DN4_1479-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by chrisbet: Mon Mar 15th, 2021 13:41 73rd Post
Eric's Jays



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Posted by Eric: Sat Mar 20th, 2021 16:14 74th Post

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Posted by jk: Sat Mar 20th, 2021 17:11 75th Post
Beautiful shot,  Eric.



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Posted by Iain: Sat Mar 20th, 2021 17:12 76th Post
Nice shots Eric.



Posted by Iain: Wed Mar 24th, 2021 06:45 77th Post
The Redpolls have been showing well and this one is ready for the females.

D72_4830 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Wed Mar 24th, 2021 18:25 78th Post
Iain wrote:
The Redpolls have been showing well and this one is ready for the females.

D72_4830 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
What a lovely fellow! ( the Redpoll Iain )

The recent gales brought a load of redpolls and siskins into this area.
We've even had them in the garden this last week or so ....for the first time in 30years! 

They actually used to nest in our garden back in the 80s along with spotted flycatchers and even linnets. 
Unfortunately the allotments on the other side of our fence were all built on and as you can imagine the small birds disappeared.

You have captured your male in a lovely woodland setting. Excellent.

Unfortunately they only came to us for the feeders this time. 😞


I love their black legs!



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Posted by Richard_M: Fri Mar 26th, 2021 03:03 79th Post
Scarlet Robin

#1


#2


#3



Posted by Eric: Fri Mar 26th, 2021 15:56 80th Post
Richard_M wrote:
Scarlet Robin

#1


#2


#3
What a spectacular bird...so different in colour to our own Robin but unmistakely a Robin. Very good.



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Posted by Richard_M: Fri Mar 26th, 2021 22:33 81st Post
What a spectacular bird...so different in colour to our own Robin but unmistakely a Robin. Very good. Thank you @Eric

We do get a few different red Robin's locally, so far I have only seen and photographed two varieties

This link has some info on the various Robin's



Posted by Richard_M: Sat Mar 27th, 2021 05:03 82nd Post
It was raining and overcast today. Nice light for many of the birds

#1 Eastern Yellow Robin


#2 Welcome Swallow


#3 New Holland Honeyeater


#4 Little Wattlebird


#5 White-browed Scrubwren


#6 Superb Fairy-wren



Posted by jk: Sat Mar 27th, 2021 06:59 83rd Post
Great shot of the Little Wattlebird.
Actually they are all pretty darn good.  Better than my efforts!



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Posted by Richard_M: Sun Mar 28th, 2021 01:28 84th Post
Great shot of the Little Wattlebird.
Actually they are all pretty darn good.  Better than my efforts!
Thank You!

I managed to get a Rose Robin today

#1 Rose Robin (Male)



#2 Rose Robin (Female)




#3 King-Parrot



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Mar 31st, 2021 15:36 85th Post
First shot with my new Sony Flagship A1 Mirrorless camera I have done a post in Cameras all about the new camera up loaded it twice and it is NOT there what is wrong?

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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Mar 31st, 2021 15:38 86th Post
Did you select a make tag in the new topic post???

If not it will not have posted but taken you back to preview in the editor.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Mar 31st, 2021 15:45 87th Post
No did not know that, had enough for one night will try again in the morning. As you see the picture uploaded several times!!!



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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Mar 31st, 2021 15:47 88th Post
Sorry Graham - I have now put up a member announcement to warn people!



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Posted by jk: Wed Mar 31st, 2021 16:23 89th Post
Looks like it is fairly detailed but we need to see a sectional enlargement as the forum software doesnt allow full size images to be uploaded.



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Posted by chrisbet: Wed Mar 31st, 2021 17:58 90th Post
jk wrote:
Looks like it is fairly detailed but we need to see a sectional enlargement as the forum software doesnt allow full size images to be uploaded. Yes it does - but the image in the thread is limited to its container size - to see the full size image, in this case 1568 x 1200 px, right click on the image then view image and click on the viewed image - that should take you to full size.



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Posted by Iain: Fri Apr 2nd, 2021 11:13 91st Post
A male Sparrowhawk in flight.

D72_5253 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 2nd, 2021 12:53 92nd Post
Iain wrote:
A male Sparrowhawk in flight.

D72_5253 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
Well caught Iain. I normally just see it's bum disappearing into the distance....before I even get the camera out. 😢



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Posted by Iain: Wed Apr 7th, 2021 15:51 93rd Post
Eric wrote:
Well caught Iain. I normally just see it's bum disappearing into the distance....before I even get the camera out. 😢 Just happened to be in the right place at the right time.



Posted by Eric: Wed Apr 7th, 2021 16:10 94th Post
Iain wrote:
Just happened to be in the right place at the right time. That sounds like a Gary Player sort of statement, when told he had been 'lucky'.  

He replied.... â€œ the harder I practise, the luckier I get”. ;-)



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Posted by Eric: Thu Apr 8th, 2021 12:01 95th Post
A first for our garden, grabbing some of the out of date sliced meat😳



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Who would have thought it....a Cannibal!



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Posted by jk: Thu Apr 8th, 2021 13:36 96th Post
Pull!
:lol::devil:



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Posted by Eric: Thu Apr 8th, 2021 14:34 97th Post
jk wrote:'
Pull!
:lol::devil:

Now you have scared him!



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Was considering feeding him some turkey and go for a 3 bird roast at the weekend. :lol:



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Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 9th, 2021 19:27 98th Post
He / She's back......



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And no depth of field either ...600mm at 3 metres. Didnt have time or the lighting to stop right down. He / She was gone in 10 seconds.

Here's another flick of its head...



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According to my depth of field tables.....a Wrens beak is just 10mm long.



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Posted by jk: Sat Apr 10th, 2021 03:32 99th Post
AF certainly working well.
3m/10ft is a very short working distance for a 200-600mm.
Very impressive shot.

Are you sure you need that A1?
Sony have just updated the back screen on a lot of their top models e.g. a7r-iv-a,  there is going to be some old stock going cheap!
https://www.dpreview.com/news/8756997638/sony-quietly-updates-the-a7r-iii-a7r-iv-with-improved-lcd-displays



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Posted by Eric: Sat Apr 10th, 2021 12:47 100th Post
Don't 'need' another camera at all.
But given the chance, I would welcome evaluating one.

It does reinforce the fact that if you get close enough to the subject you have greater chance of success.
I just wish I had left the camera on f16 .....so when I grabbed it I could have got more of the wren's head in focus. :banghead:



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Posted by jk: Sat Apr 10th, 2021 16:23 101st Post
I dont think that f16 would have helped unless you have AutoISO enabled as well.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Apr 11th, 2021 09:57 102nd Post
jk wrote:
I dont think that f16 would have helped unless you have AutoISO enabled as well. I do have auto iso enabled.
I run in Manual mode, setting shutter and fstop for the subject and my requirements...letting the iso drift.



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Posted by Iain: Wed Apr 14th, 2021 11:09 103rd Post
Male Kestrel in flight.



DN4_2549-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by blackfox: Fri Apr 16th, 2021 06:45 104th Post
few from yesterday using olympus omd1.mkii + olympus 100-400 lens hand held 

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Posted by blackfox: Sat Apr 17th, 2021 04:24 105th Post
some from the other day back to one of my fave spots, now I can leave Wales once again

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Posted by blackfox: Sun Apr 18th, 2021 04:52 106th Post
some more from Saturday 

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Posted by Iain: Sun Apr 18th, 2021 15:11 107th Post
A nice set of pic's Jeff.



Posted by blackfox: Sun Apr 18th, 2021 16:46 108th Post
Cheers iaian



Posted by Iain: Thu May 6th, 2021 13:19 109th Post
A first for me today was this Wryneck, not easy to get a shot of.

DN4_3406 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun May 16th, 2021 08:52 110th Post
Good set of pixs Jeff. Like that Ian never seen one, no easy to see!



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Posted by Iain: Mon May 17th, 2021 09:34 111th Post
I found it with my bins then looked through the camera, even though I knew where it was it took some finding with the camera. It's camo is amazing.



Posted by Eric: Tue May 18th, 2021 12:40 112th Post
Iain wrote:
I found it with my bins then looked through the camera, even though I knew where it was it took some finding with the camera. It's camo is amazing. I saw one in Alsace hopping up between the grape vines some years ago. I had totally missed it and it didn't seem bothered about me. Unfortunately I was shooting infra red wide angle and not equipped for bird photography back then.

We had a Hoopoe in the recreational garden across the road from us, yesterday (according to Norfolk Birdline).

I hung my iPad out of the window and played the distinctive Hoopoe call off my bird song app for ages to no avail. Of course one doesn't know exactly what the recording was 'saying'. It could have told it to b*gger off......it seems to have done that anyway.



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Posted by Iain: Thu May 20th, 2021 13:09 113th Post
The fact that it didn't show that is probably what it was saying.🤣🤣



Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 7th, 2021 05:48 114th Post
Still trying to get to grips with the Sony, and a zoom lens! I keep forgetting the flexibility of the 200-600 available range. 

Ordinarily it sits at 600 and I can sometimes struggle to leave sufficient surround to frame the bird forgetting I can zoom out.

This time I did the opposite!

Trying to capture a young Dunnock flitting about the tree, I managed to get this shot which later required about a 25-50% crop. 

Then I realised I had the lens set at 300mm 🤬

It's hard breaking the habits of a life time .in this case prime lens v zoom flexibility.



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Couldn't help feeling sorry for this scruffy Bluetit.

Going in and out of its nest hole to feed its brood has taken a toll on its appearance




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Another Dunnock foraging in the bushes..



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I don't really know where all this bright light is coming from!  I had to get the iso down into 3 digits for a change.


Here's another baby..



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Not sure we should be including 'caged bird' photos, but anyway here's my version. 😀





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That's enoughback to weeding the garden. 😞



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Posted by jk: Mon Jun 7th, 2021 10:27 115th Post
Eric, Are you on the A7iii or A1?



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Posted by Iain: Mon Jun 7th, 2021 16:21 116th Post
jk wrote:
Eric, Are you on the A7iii or A1? I think it's the A7iii that Eric has.



Posted by chrisbet: Thu Jun 10th, 2021 04:30 117th Post
Thief!! Good job the dogs weren't there to witness some of their breakfast going awol!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 12th, 2021 07:17 118th Post
update I had a warranty problem with my olympus 1-mkii in the grip coming off , sent back for repair which took nearly a month to get there and back .. in frustration at being camera-less I bought a mk3 body from h.dew ..both arrived on the same day .. ah so ..anyway its taken me a few weeks to adjust to the new body ,weather, birds breeding, family stuff etc .. and am just really starting to gel with it now .hence no posts of late . heres a from this week .please note the gannet in flight shot does not contain sensor dust bunnies its millions of flies on the cliffs at bempton 

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Posted by Eric: Sat Jun 12th, 2021 09:29 119th Post
Excellent shots Jeff.  I must get up to Bempton again.  Haven't been there for 30 years😳


I've been trying to locate a Tawny Owl thats been keeping down the rodents in our garden. We regularly hear them at night but of late the blackbirds have been pinking away down in our woodland corner during the daytime.

Not easy to find and even harder to get a clear line of sight. So not perfect photo..but a nice 'garden' bird and first for us!





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Posted by blackfox: Sat Jun 12th, 2021 13:18 120th Post
Eric wrote:
Excellent shots Jeff.  I must get up to Bempton again.  Haven't been there for 30 years😳


I've been trying to locate a Tawny Owl thats been keeping down the rodents in our garden. We regularly hear them at night but of late the blackbirds have been pinking away down in our woodland corner during the daytime.

Not easy to find and even harder to get a clear line of sight. So not perfect photo..but a nice 'garden' bird and first for us!





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It's changed a lot in the few years since my last visit Eric , we did a 4.30a.m cross country dash and got there early someone that arrived at 9.a.m got the last car parking spot .. horrendous amount of people there by mid day



Posted by Eric: Sun Jun 13th, 2021 03:31 121st Post
blackfox wrote:
It's changed a lot in the few years since my last visit Eric , we did a 4.30a.m cross country dash and got there early someone that arrived at 9.a.m got the last car parking spot .. horrendous amount of people there by mid day It's like that on the NNorfolk coast too.

Crocodiles of people wandering about at Titchwell and other vantage points.
Springwatch hasn't helped, with thousands of numpties thinking they can turn up at Snettisham and see what the BBC crew are seeing live.

I fear this won't calm down till people lose interest with holidaying in UK and resuming jetting off to far flung places.and get back to work.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Jun 13th, 2021 03:40 122nd Post
Think the owl has the right idea.close your eyes and chill.

It was really dark in this spot. This needed 12,800 iso even at 1/100th




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Posted by jk: Sun Jun 13th, 2021 06:17 123rd Post
Eric, can you post which camera you are using when you post from your two cameras!  Profligate! 
:lol:

I am trying to work out if I can see a difference between the cameras.



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Posted by Iain: Sun Jun 13th, 2021 16:35 124th Post
That's a nice bird to have in your garden.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jun 14th, 2021 18:46 125th Post
Super pictures Jeff, thanks for posting them! I have been very busy sorting garden and sorry no new pix from me.



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Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 15th, 2021 16:37 126th Post
One from today. This Kite is called Red Arrow and will be 16 years old this year.



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Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 17th, 2021 06:33 127th Post
jk wrote:
Eric, can you post which camera you are using when you post from your two cameras!  Profligate! 
:lol:

I am trying to work out if I can see a difference between the cameras.
Can't help you with a comparison as I am only using one camera. :devil:

Besides these posted images are no real comparison to the originals. I am letting the forum software create 1-2mb 'large size' uploads from the massively bigger originals. There's no doubt it reduces quality using this route. 


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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jun 17th, 2021 12:58 128th Post
Eric that is spot on quality!



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Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 17th, 2021 16:20 129th Post
That looks good to me Eric.



Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 17th, 2021 16:25 130th Post
I'm waiting to see some bird in flight pics from you Sony users to see how it handles it.



Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 17th, 2021 17:03 131st Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Eric that is spot on quality! That was using the bird eye focusing feature.



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Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 17th, 2021 17:30 132nd Post
Iain wrote:
I'm waiting to see some bird in flight pics from you Sony users to see how it handles it. I am afraid there isn't a lot of variety in flying birds over the garden it's mainly gulls..




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The Sony tracking system is very good and follows the bird all round the screen, holding lock. I haven't had a lot of opportunity to try other birds but I am not sure I have the right mode on the stabilisation system for chasing a fast bird around the blue yonder because images of fast flying birds (I was chasing Swift's around 2 days ago and nearly pulled my neck muscles ) havent come out too sharp.
Kites and Buzzards are starting to venture over the garden but I generally only get one chance as they don't hang about.  
I need to get up the coast to tackle sea birds.but I am not going there while the world and his wife (and kids) are thrashing about in the reserves.  

I also think the 200-600 lens I have is too long and heavy for bif.
Graham has the 100-400 and it's 2/3 of the size and weight. I may have to treat myself. 

Changing to mirrorless is not without its frustrations. I am however learning to adapt to its idiosyncrasies more and have configured several of the custom buttons around the body and lens to speed up the way I shoot, access menus and review captured images. For example the AE hold button under the right thumb of most cameras I never use so I have assigned it to playback the last image in the viewfinder. ( I don't use the rear screen anymore as it wastes power and the viewfinder is so good you get a better, clearer assessment than struggling with the rear screen in sun!

I don't believe the performance on moving subjects is any worse than the d850 and d500.it's probably much better, but getting the right settings to optimise quality and performance takes time and I don't feel I have achieved that yet, merely testing in the garden.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 18th, 2021 07:08 133rd Post
I would agree with all Eric has said there. I have had a very busy 4 weeks with major work being done in the house and garden with little time to rake photos. I did flying tests with the high 200-600mm and results were good, but lens is a bit large.  I also now have the very good Sony 100-400 and that should make life a bit better for and 80 yr old to handle for fast-flying action. Hope to report more later but this A1 is a super camera with a lot of new things to learn to get the best out of it.



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Posted by jk: Fri Jun 18th, 2021 12:19 134th Post
I think Eric's seagulls are nice and sharp but they are fairly large birds.  A dunnock, kingfisher or sandpiper are the best test targets that can prove how good the Sony is.



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Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 18th, 2021 14:12 135th Post
jk wrote:
I think Eric's seagulls are nice and sharp butthey are fairly large birds.  A kingfisher or sandpiper are the best test targets that prove how good the Sony is. Unless you have a good vantage point, near a place where the bird returns predictably, you will struggle getting any good bif shots of a small bird, no matter what camera you are using. Small birds are, due to their need to avoid predators, unpredictable in flight behaviour. Even approaching garden feeders they take different routes that mean you are hard pressed to see them soon enough to lock onto them in the first instance. 

l start from the stance that Sony seem no worse than the D500 and better than the D850 at tracking bird movement. Focus is quicker with the Sony but it remains to be seen whether with practise and familiarity it has overall superiority.  

Like I said, I need to get to a location with a melee of flying birds, to progress. 

Right now that's not possible as my car is spending its third week in the dealership garage while they do the 'warranty sidestep'.  That's when they change the oil, stroke the bearings and plead with the transfer box to get better, rather than coughing up and replacing the whole unit. 🤬



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Posted by Iain: Sat Jun 19th, 2021 13:14 136th Post
Eric's gulls look as good as my BIF shots.



Posted by Eric: Sat Jun 19th, 2021 15:34 137th Post
Iain wrote:
Eric's gulls look as good as my BIF shots. Iain, in your experience, how small a bird have you managed to capture in flight? The smallest I have managed is a Jackdaw.

I am guessing a Kingfisher would be quite small, but you still need to know where it's nesting or it's fishing post, as they fly like bullets.



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Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 22nd, 2021 16:44 138th Post
Eric wrote:
Iain, in your experience, how small a bird have you managed to capture in flight? The smallest I have managed is a Jackdaw.

I am guessing a Kingfisher would be quite small, but you still need to know where it's nesting or it's fishing post, as they fly like bullets.
I've got pics of A few different tits and a chiffchaff in flight most of them by catching them coming off a branch.
I also have Kingfisher in flight, diving and coming out of the water.
Some of its timing and some luck.



Posted by jk: Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 08:10 139th Post
Iain wrote:
I've got pics of A few different tits and a chiffchaff in flight most of them by catching them coming off a branch.
I also have Kingfisher in flight, diving and coming out of the water.
Some of its timing and some luck.
This is exactly the test point that we need to use.
There is no point trying to test the AF at a point where we know it will work with other cameras.

We need to find a point/animal/bird where a Nikon will struggle and the Sony sails through.
I know there is a a lot of internet babble about the superior AF performance of the Sony over other cameras.  I am sure that it works better for portrait eye, and animal eye AF focus.
If there is a genuine difference then how much better is it.  The quantification or measurement of this difference is useful.



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Posted by Eric: Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 15:11 140th Post
jk wrote:
This is exactly the test point that we need to use.
There is no point trying to test the AF at a point where we know it will work with other cameras.

We need to find a point/animal/bird where a Nikon will struggle and the Sony sails through.
I know there is a a lot of internet babble about the superior AF performance of the Sony over other cameras.  I am sure that it works better for portrait eye, and animal eye AF focus.
If there is a genuine difference then how much better is it.  The quantification or measurement of this difference is useful.
Well it's interesting of course, but if you are not in the market for a Sony it's largely irrelevant. As you have said, this week Sony maybe top dog next week it could be Canon, Nikon or someone else. Development is a moveable feast with everyone leapfrogging. 

I think it will be hard to compare Nikon and Sony functionality on a given subject when we haven't got both cameras at our disposal.



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Posted by Iain: Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 15:55 141st Post
One of the lads that does wildlife is using a Canon R5 or 6 I can't remember which one and he took a sequence of shots of a Great tit taking off and flying. He used the animal eye focus and everyone of the ten shots he took the eye and bird was sharp.
I've never seen anything like that and would have doubted it if I had not been there when he did it.



Posted by jk: Wed Jun 23rd, 2021 19:42 142nd Post
So currently Sony and Canon can do this with one of the cameras in their range.

Are we at or near another D3 moment in time where Nikon introduces something even better but is late to the market?  Z9 or Z8.



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Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 24th, 2021 03:42 143rd Post
jk wrote:
So currently Sony and Canon can do this with one of the cameras in their range.

Are we at or near another D3 moment in time where Nikon introduces something even better but is late to the market?  Z9 or Z8.
Probably



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 24th, 2021 04:16 144th Post
Well a Z9 has been rumoured but at a price. I think Mike paid about £2500 for his canon. Nikon should be able to update firmware to improve focus but it's more likely they will bring out a new model to get people to part with money.



Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 24th, 2021 16:13 145th Post
Nice to see the young ones about again.

DSC_0402-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 25th, 2021 16:56 146th Post
'
Confrontation at the water hole..



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Posted by Iain: Sat Jun 26th, 2021 09:31 147th Post
Eric wrote:
'
Confrontation at the water hole..



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The order of the day at the moment.



Posted by Iain: Wed Jun 30th, 2021 12:57 148th Post
A Garden Warbler from today.


DSC_1022 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Jun 30th, 2021 13:21 149th Post
Well caught Ian!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Sun Jul 18th, 2021 09:57 150th Post
A juvenile GSW having a nap till the shutter went.


DS6_1592 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr


DS6_1594 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Sun Jul 18th, 2021 10:41 151st Post
Iain wrote:
A juvenile Greater Spotted Woodpecker having a nap till the shutter went.


DS6_1592 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr


DS6_1594 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
Love it



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Eric


Posted by jk: Sun Jul 18th, 2021 15:04 152nd Post
Great catch Iain.  
That takes some doing to get there with the woodpecker asleep.



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Posted by Eric: Sun Jul 18th, 2021 15:28 153rd Post
jk wrote:
Great catch Iain.  
That takes some doing to get there with the woodpecker asleep.
You wouldn't get me getting there that early😴



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Thu Jul 22nd, 2021 02:30 154th Post
Garden carnage..



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Posted by Iain: Thu Jul 22nd, 2021 16:33 155th Post
Eric wrote:
Garden carnage..



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The gruesome side of wildlife but they all have to eat.



Posted by chrisbet: Thu Jul 22nd, 2021 16:59 156th Post
We could do with a few sparrow hawks - we are overrun with pigeons and doves ... destructive pests!



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Posted by jk: Thu Jul 22nd, 2021 17:52 157th Post
I have anew buzzard fledgeling calling in the trees in my woods.  The foliage is very dense so I cant see it until it flies after one of its parents.  I need to try to make time to photograph it but I have one of my daughter's comingto visit next week so I am busy tidying up.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jul 26th, 2021 12:51 158th Post
Sony A1 with 600mm lens ISO 2000 1/640sec f10

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jul 26th, 2021 12:53 159th Post

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jul 26th, 2021 12:54 160th Post

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jul 26th, 2021 12:55 161st Post

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Sep 3rd, 2021 17:04 162nd Post
We are in Spain for a month. Griffon Vulture, Fuente De: Picos de Europa Spain. Hope to go up the cable car again if weather good to get more like this in the morning. Plenty of Vultures in the air here this evening. We go south on Sunday.

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Posted by jk: Fri Sep 3rd, 2021 17:35 163rd Post
There are more vultures in the area around Ronda and Sevilla to Granada route as well Graham.
Enjoy your trip.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Sep 11th, 2021 11:54 164th Post
We are now in our very remote Villa for two weeks in S Spain. It has a private road of 1.5 miles of a small local road and we are about 6 miles from a small local village. The views all round are super and I can just sit watching the light change from dawn till dusk. All these Sony A1 with 24-105mm lens. Very few birds seen yet but we have only been here 24 hrs.

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Posted by jk: Sat Sep 11th, 2021 16:16 165th Post
Lovely location Graham.
Need to get up early to catch the birds.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Sep 12th, 2021 05:23 166th Post
I got up at pre-dawn as I was taking this a lone Kestrel hovered over me by time I got out the long lens it was gone. We had a very large and high flock of Swifts last night going South.

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Sep 13th, 2021 05:30 167th Post
Today our weather is poor temp down and strong wind but good object to be learnt get your camera out in poor weather pixs can be quite dramatic! Still no bird pixs all long range and high.

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Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 13th, 2021 17:59 168th Post
Keep watching the skies Graham. There will be some opportunities along soon I bet.


As mentioned on another thread I am throwing myself into garden landscaping at the moment. My Sony hasn't moved from its bag for many a week. Not helped with the frequent absence of a vehicle, which spends more time at the LR Dealership than it is available for us to go anywhere. (Another story)

On a rare occasion the car was in my possession we visited a rudimentary garden suppliers that amongst other things sell big trees in pots (for instant gardens) and I managed some bird photography at the same time.



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I asked the girl on the till if it was a new concentrated draft fertiliser supply system.







She didn't get it either.„



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Sep 14th, 2021 05:07 169th Post
Very strong winds yesterday but Griffon Vultures came but very high on and off all day moving very fast in strong wind auto focus locked on and held even with very small in frame. This is vey big blow up. Thunder in night and no power this morning was about to collect wood and rub two boy scouts together make fire boil water make tea. Power restored but still keeps cutting out. Rain very heavy No Vultures or any other bird life!! Forcast said back to good in two days.

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 16th, 2021 12:28 170th Post
This morning we had mist tnen two hours later sun!

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Posted by jk: Thu Sep 16th, 2021 13:21 171st Post
The mists of autumn.
Very nice Graham.


That A1 needs a sensor clean (last image)!



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Posted by chrisbet: Thu Sep 16th, 2021 13:32 172nd Post
jk wrote:
That A1 needs a sensor clean (last image)! Last 2 images!



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Posted by Eric: Thu Sep 16th, 2021 15:29 173rd Post
I was going to mention that as an earlier image (2nd in post #164)showed it even more on the left side.

Graham and I have discussed this before and there is no doubt the Sony A7 is quite bad for this old problem of dust. The A1 is reported to have a blind that drops down when the lens is removed to specifically address this retrograde issue. It's disappointing (assuming there isn't a specific issue on this occasion causing this) that Sony haven't mastered this issue, banished by Nikon nearly a decade ago. o.O



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 16th, 2021 15:35 174th Post
Yes saw that after posting. Had a good look at pixs done later today no trace of it only on that shot.

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Posted by jk: Thu Sep 16th, 2021 16:31 175th Post
Well done.
Probably removed on self clean.



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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Sep 17th, 2021 03:34 176th Post
The spot I saw is still there -



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Posted by jk: Fri Sep 17th, 2021 08:12 177th Post
Yes another job for Graham to do when he gets home is to wet clean his sensor!
It is a small bob probably something as small as a pollen grain but on these high MP sensored cameras this is a bigger problem.



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Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 17th, 2021 16:18 178th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Yes saw that after posting. Had a good look at pixs done later today no trace of it only on that shot.

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Lovely 'whistlerful' look to the, almost autumnal, scene.if they have that season in Spain



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Sep 17th, 2021 17:40 179th Post
Praying Mantie jumped onto back of a garden chair, got a quck shot before it moved on. Saw plenty in Africa but they are also quite common in Spain. No more spots on sensor just three photos that day pixs all clean again, there is a lot of dust here and 1.5 miles of dirt road to our villa.

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Posted by jk: Fri Sep 17th, 2021 18:20 180th Post

    Keep the lenses on the camera as much as possible and change with camera lens throat facing down.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Sep 18th, 2021 04:14 181st Post
Thanks JK I always do that. Above spot is rare and auto clean on A1 works  OK 90% of time and have yet to do swab clean but I did neet to with the A3. As stated very dry and dusty here as well you know. Still very few birds, but dear below last night, very poor light and big blow up.

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Posted by blackfox: Sat Sep 18th, 2021 12:43 182nd Post
not done much through the summer due to the sheer amount of staycationers visiting the area . plus my own hols ..anyway the other day I had word of a mega arrival at my little local N/R  I took Robert there once .. its only 2 hides with seating for 4 in each hide and as I knew this would bring in the circuit  circus I was up and on my way at 5.30a.m for a ten mile drive only to arrive and my mate had beat me to it ..:applause: well then what was all the fuss about . a 14th sighting for Wales and a first for Flintshire of a squacco heron .. my early morning paid off well as it paraded for nearly a hour ,then disappeared into the reeds .. we now think its departed but never say never ,some of the 400+ shots I managed to get below 

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Posted by Robert: Sat Sep 18th, 2021 13:42 183rd Post
Well done Jeff, It beats me how you know about all these rare birds.

Christopher keeps asking when we can visit N Wales again.  I would love to revisit Bodnant (Conwy and turn right) sometime, perhaps the autumn colours would be a good time...



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Sep 18th, 2021 15:30 184th Post
You know where we are rob ,not much happening at the moment bar a rarity but the migration should start soon plus the hopeful return of the short eared owls ,opposite me on the marshes .. as I said covid and to many grackles killed the summer for me ,bar one glorious day at bempton cliffs mid summer a there and back 400 mile dash .. rutting Season in the deer parks will start soon to .
  P.s still got 400 Plus pics of the squaco to edit



Posted by jk: Sat Sep 18th, 2021 16:28 185th Post
Well I have to say that we used to see these squacco herons all the time in Spain so I wouldnt have been overly impressed but they are a nice bird and much more inquisitive and less shy than the large grey herons in Spain.

Still I have to say that Jeff's photos are very good.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Sep 19th, 2021 05:10 186th Post
Yes more of the same view or is it? Each day there are changes and if you are lucky to be there for some time take the picture and compare previous from same viewpoint. Today I waited for the sun to get higher giving more detail in the trees with out killing the misty plains.  Jeff more super pixs from you love those last shots!

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Sep 19th, 2021 08:35 187th Post
Not done at all well with the birds at our holiday villa this time but the Griffon Vultures were up in a flock just now but very high this is best I could get Sony A1 with 100-400mm lens plus x1.4

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Posted by jk: Sun Sep 19th, 2021 14:25 188th Post
A sky full of vultures!
Good shot Graham.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Sep 19th, 2021 17:01 189th Post
Last light behind Cork Oak tree

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Sep 20th, 2021 10:05 190th Post
The voltures were quite a bit lower this morning this is the best of 4 shots before they were high and drifting away.

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Posted by blackfox: Mon Sep 20th, 2021 14:56 191st Post
getting back into the swing again after a relaxing summer few from today 

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Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 21st, 2021 12:30 192nd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
The voltures were quite a bit lower this morning this is the best of 4 shots before they were high and drifting away.

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I keep telling you Graham, it's either half a sheep from the local butchers or you will have to lie down very still if you want them full frame.:lol:



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Eric


Posted by blackfox: Tue Sep 21st, 2021 12:32 193rd Post
went back today to try and get the curlew sandpiper full profile .. managed quiet a few :lol: getting my mojo back 

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Posted by Eric: Tue Sep 21st, 2021 12:34 194th Post
blackfox wrote:
getting back into the swing again after a relaxing summer few from today 

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Nice sharp images , clean/true colour balance there Jeff. Didn't take you long to get back and firing on all 6 cylinders. 



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Posted by blackfox: Tue Sep 21st, 2021 14:50 195th Post
Cheers Eric , thankfully not as many staycationers about now ,but a few local rarities have brought the togger mahoosive lens brigade out in strength . I love the fact that I can reach just under 1200 mm ( with 1.4 tc) handheld and stable .. 
   BTW this is a new 1-mkiii body better a.f ,better I.b.I.s . And other functions I.e built in ND filters, starry skies a.f , plus lots more



Posted by Eric: Wed Sep 22nd, 2021 07:12 196th Post
blackfox wrote:
Cheers Eric , thankfully not as many staycationers about now ,but a few local rarities have brought the togger mahoosive lens brigade out in strength . I love the fact that I can reach just under 1200 mm ( with 1.4 tc) handheld and stable .. 
   BTW this is a new 1-mkiii body better a.f ,better I.b.I.s . And other functions I.e built in ND filters, starry skies a.f , plus lots more
 Very impressive



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Eric


Posted by jk: Wed Sep 22nd, 2021 13:22 197th Post
Looks like he has a V12 not a V6 as his engine Eric.
I dont think that I have every got any of my bird photos that sharp.



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Posted by Iain: Thu Sep 23rd, 2021 04:25 198th Post
Nice set of images Jeff.



Posted by blackfox: Thu Sep 23rd, 2021 04:46 199th Post
couple more from this weeks wader fest 

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Posted by Eric: Thu Sep 23rd, 2021 05:11 200th Post
jk wrote:
Looks like he has a V12 not a V6 as his engine Eric.
I dont think that I have every got any of my bird photos that sharp.
Ultimately it's down to 'reaching' the bird with sufficient focal length or close approach, to reduce need for cropping.
Filling the frame is still key to resolving detail .even with high MP sensors. 

This is especially true in low /dull light where high ISOs are necessary because cropping not only enlarges the subject but also the apparent noise.
Using noise reduction to minimise, just softens the image.

All my best results have come from photos that required no or little cropping and were taken in bright light.



In the early days of digital when noise became intrusive at even modest ISOs, I always joked if an outdoor shot required more than 800iso, it was time to go to the pub.

To a large extent that's still true today, because despite noise levels now being acceptable upto ISO3000/4000 (some cameras), if the subject has fine detail you need to bring out, then good lighting (along with frame filling, optimum settings and camera stability) is still paramount.



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 23rd, 2021 05:34 201st Post
Bit of dramatic light for just 2 mins as the sun burst through thick cloud this morning. Perhaps the last shot as we depart for the long drive North at 8.30am Friday.

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Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 24th, 2021 06:35 202nd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Bit of dramatic light for just 2 mins as the sun burst through thick cloud this morning. Perhaps the last shot as we depart for the long drive North at 8.30am Friday.

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Lovely atmospheric photo.

Those are strange wavy lines in the top left Graham?

Safe journey home



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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Sep 24th, 2021 07:52 203rd Post
Eric wrote:
Lovely atmospheric photo.

Those are strange wavy lines in the top left Graham?

Safe journey home
Those wavy lines look like GW to me - maybe Graham's new signature?



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 06:28 204th Post
another couple of curlew sandpiper shots from last week ,not been out for a few days as my knee started playing up while out last tues 

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Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 11:33 205th Post
Lovely

Not been out last few days because car is almost on empty and no where close to refuel.  

The sheeplike stupidity of the British population, fanned by tv mischief and social media ignorance, no longer surprises me.



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Posted by blackfox: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 11:57 206th Post
Managed to get £20 worth of diesel yesterday at much inflated price , but I'm not going to waste it till common sense returns



Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 15:24 207th Post
blackfox wrote:
Managed to get £20 worth of diesel yesterday at much inflated price , but I'm not going to waste it till common sense returns I fear that may be slightly before Hell freezes over.



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 15:48 208th Post
I am a happy chappie - I just raid the horsebox's tank for diesel - must be about 2 months worth in there!



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Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 17:56 209th Post
chrisbet wrote:
I am a happy chappie - I just raid the horsebox's tank for diesel - must be about 2 months worth in there! Sadly I am a petrol user.and even the lawnmower has 2stroke oil in it 😟

Wont last long though so will just get on with my domestic tasks. 



I wonder what the next 'shortage' will be? 

Perhaps we should start one ourselves?



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 27th, 2021 17:56 210th Post
Saw this on another forum  ..




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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 30th, 2021 02:22 211th Post

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A good fish lunch in the harbour all good news with both our tests neg so should be no problem with ferry home on Friday. The paper work to travel at present can drive you mad also with good info from Eric Wendy filled up car here yesterday!!!



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Posted by blackfox: Thu Sep 30th, 2021 07:10 212th Post
turnstone and curlew-sandpiper last week 

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Posted by jk: Thu Sep 30th, 2021 14:12 213th Post
Good move to fill up in France.
Petrol and diesel 'toppers' have made the UK run dry. 
Plenty of idiots in this country wasting time, effort and fuel just queueing!!


Andalusia has just removed all COVID restrictions.



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Posted by blackfox: Fri Oct 1st, 2021 13:20 214th Post
couple of kestrel in flight shots from today , olympus omd-1-mkiii+ 100-400 handheld = to 800mm HH 

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Posted by Robert: Sat Oct 2nd, 2021 03:26 215th Post
jk wrote:
Good move to fill up in France.
Petrol and diesel 'toppers' have made the UK run dry. 
Plenty of idiots in this country wasting time, effort and fuel just queueing!!
Proof, if it were needed, of the rank stupidity of some of our fellow British citizens:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58767230

What is so worrying, they walk among us, free to exercise their stupidity and they are even allowed to drive cars???  UTTER MUPPETS.

Edit: Just to add a little balance...

It seems we Brits don't have a monopoly of stupidity...    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58771370



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Posted by chrisbet: Sat Oct 2nd, 2021 04:03 216th Post
Not stupid, just ignorant, the hazchem / hazmat plate would have told them it wasn't a petrol tanker!



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Posted by blackfox: Sat Oct 2nd, 2021 10:30 217th Post
think that one in the bottom link had a screw loose :lol:



Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 2nd, 2021 17:40 218th Post
Speechless.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Oct 2nd, 2021 18:11 219th Post
Last shot of our holiday: dock cranes dawn Friday as we loaded the car onto the ferry to come home from Spain.

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Posted by blackfox: Sun Oct 10th, 2021 17:29 220th Post
couple from the weekend , common gull olympus 100-400 +1.4 tc equv to 1150 mm FF . handheld ..and blue tit with bare lens so env to 800mm 

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Posted by blackfox: Mon Oct 11th, 2021 15:29 221st Post
Something gone wrong here second image is a old one ?



Posted by Iain: Tue Dec 28th, 2021 15:13 222nd Post
Just a simple one to end 2021.


500_0576 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 30th, 2021 11:29 223rd Post
to end the year during December I have been concentrating on the return of the short eared owls to the dee estuary marshes which as rob knows is visible from my house , so its just a case of waiting for the right visible weather conditions then a 20 minute drive to the other side of the estuary . heres a few so far

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Posted by blackfox: Thu Dec 30th, 2021 18:29 224th Post
and another

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Posted by blackfox: Fri Dec 31st, 2021 16:14 225th Post
a few from 2021 to end the year up 

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