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Bird Photography 2O23  Rate Topic 
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Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 20th, 2023 21:12 1st Post
Here you go Jeff…a new chapter for 2023

Memo to self….. don’t attempt to take bird photographs with a standard lens on the camera. :banghead:


‘Spot the Stonechat’

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Eric


Posted by Iain: Mon Feb 20th, 2023 21:20 2nd Post
When you know where to look for them you find it on the first image.



Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 20th, 2023 22:22 3rd Post
Iain wrote:
When you know where to look for them you find it on the first image. 600mm at home:thumbsdown:

Ok Iain….how are you on other flying things?

This landed on the heather in the same location….


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Is it an immature fly? Like a green bottle?  I didn’t know if flies emerge as immature with different colours/appearance before turning into the adults?

o.O

It was the light green legs that confused me. Flies have black legs, I thought.



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Eric


Posted by blackfox: Mon Feb 20th, 2023 22:56 4th Post
ah cheers Eric .. a good start to high tide week today little egret catches a black rat right in front of me then takes it on a fly past before teaching it to parachute 

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Posted by Eric: Mon Feb 20th, 2023 23:26 5th Post
Amazing capture Jeff

Did the rat survive?

Coincidentally I had some Ratatouille this evening ….but served on a plate. :lol:



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Eric


Posted by blackfox: Tue Feb 21st, 2023 08:30 6th Post
not a chance Eric the gulls swooped in as it fell not even sure it hit the water



Posted by Iain: Tue Feb 21st, 2023 09:05 7th Post
Eric, Not sure of your fly, you could be right with a green bottle.

Nice set of pics Jeff.



Posted by blackfox: Thu Feb 23rd, 2023 17:01 8th Post
few from todays high tide ,nice blue sky but bitter cold on the beach 

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Posted by Eric: Fri Mar 3rd, 2023 15:14 9th Post
Jeff/Iain

I assume this is a year old male (with ‘female’ eyebrow stripes) and not a transgender Sparrowhawk?  8-)




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Eric


Posted by Iain: Sat Mar 4th, 2023 10:07 10th Post
Eric wrote:
Jeff/Iain

I assume this is a year old male (with ‘female’ eyebrow stripes) and not a transgender Sparrowhawk?  8-)




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It looks like it. I'm surprised your still alive with the look its giving you.



Posted by Iain: Sat Mar 4th, 2023 10:11 11th Post
Our local Kestrel from yesterday.


DSC00658-Edit-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Sat Mar 4th, 2023 20:03 12th Post
Iain wrote:
Our local Kestrel from yesterday.


DSC00658-Edit-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
Weather not too kind for you ….like us down here. Where is the sunshine when you need it?



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Sat Mar 4th, 2023 20:53 13th Post
Eric wrote:
Weather not too kind for you ….like us down here. Where is the sunshine when you need it? I know. It would look so much better with blue sky.



Posted by Eric: Sun Mar 5th, 2023 14:34 14th Post
Iain wrote:
I know. It would look so much better with blue sky. There you go….

:thumbs:




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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Sun Mar 5th, 2023 16:35 15th Post
Shame it doesn't work in real life!



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 5th, 2023 18:42 16th Post
Super photo Eric!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Mon Mar 6th, 2023 21:34 17th Post
Don’t know what’s going on. But that’s a few times I have posted something and ended up with a blank post.



Posted by Iain: Mon Mar 6th, 2023 21:34 18th Post
Eric wrote:
There you go….

:thumbs:




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It’s easy for those that are a whizz with photo software.



Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 7th, 2023 21:00 19th Post
Iain wrote:
It’s easy for those that are a whizz with photo software. ^_^
Cracking bird…whatever the sky colour.:thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Tue Mar 7th, 2023 21:03 20th Post
Iain wrote:
Don’t know what’s going on. But that’s a few times I have posted something and ended up with a blank post. I get that if I try to use my keyboard emojis rather than the button on the forum header.



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Mar 9th, 2023 10:23 21st Post
Just a plain old Robin.


DSC01078 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Mar 9th, 2023 11:45 22nd Post
Super quality shot Ian



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Thu Mar 9th, 2023 14:15 23rd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Super quality shot Ian That was with the Sony A7 iv and 200-600mm + 1.4tc



Posted by blackfox: Sat Mar 11th, 2023 11:29 24th Post
nice shot iain



Posted by blackfox: Sat Mar 11th, 2023 11:32 25th Post
couple of mine from yesterday ,after the overnight blizzard cleared blue skies appeared and off I trotted .not been out for a week waiting on a repair on the car . so a welcome but cold couple of hours 

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Posted by Iain: Tue Mar 14th, 2023 16:48 26th Post
Nice shots Jeff.



Posted by Iain: Tue Mar 14th, 2023 16:50 27th Post
A dancing Blue Tit and a drinking Siskin.


DSC01240-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



DSC01217 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Wed Mar 15th, 2023 17:41 28th Post
Great to see the birds in best breeding plumage. They look so dishevelled after raising their broods. Great captures Iain & Jeff.



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Mar 16th, 2023 13:20 29th Post
This is the oldest Red Kite in the area, if you look between the wing and the tail you will see a radio transmitter arial. They only put them on a few birds in the first three years of release so this bird is at lease 17 years old.


DSC01291-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Mar 16th, 2023 19:31 30th Post
Had a good wild bird shoot in local woods today with friend Jiom Carling. All with Sony A1 and 200-600mm lens plus x1.4

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Posted by chrisbet: Fri Mar 17th, 2023 09:50 31st Post
Nice work :thumbs:



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Mar 18th, 2023 13:11 32nd Post
I did not like the out of focus tail in this previous post so found a sharper one and corrected in Photoshop. QED 

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Posted by chrisbet: Sat Mar 18th, 2023 17:56 33rd Post
That doesn't look like quite the right angle and the green hue is strange ....



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Mar 19th, 2023 12:13 34th Post
From the same shoot, this is Sony A1 600mm +1.4 ISO 4000 with very little noise these modern cameras produce very good work even in dull weather like this early in the morning. 

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Posted by Eric: Sun Mar 19th, 2023 20:08 35th Post
I actually thought the Wren was the nicest photograph, the out of focus tail didn’t matter but the light stone behind was distracting…I see you’ve cloned that out but the tail is too contrasty and colour balance is a bit off. Personally, the composition with the greater inclusion of habitat makes a more pleasing image than the other closer cropped images. But they are all super sharp.



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Mar 20th, 2023 11:14 36th Post
Tail toned down!

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Posted by chrisbet: Mon Mar 20th, 2023 17:43 37th Post
:thumbs:



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Mon Mar 20th, 2023 21:08 38th Post
That looks better.



Posted by blackfox: Fri Mar 24th, 2023 18:03 39th Post
couple from this weeks high spring  tides . and managed to get some twite shots a couple of hundred yards from home as the whole sea marsh has flooded for three days bringing them ashore 

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 2nd, 2023 19:42 40th Post
Nice ones Jeff, well taken.  Blu Tit is from the same above shoot a week ago.

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Posted by Iain: Mon Apr 3rd, 2023 15:12 41st Post
Nice shot Graham. I like a shot with a clear background.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Apr 3rd, 2023 23:37 42nd Post
Chaffinch more fron the A1 Sony and 600-200mmlens with x1.4

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Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 7th, 2023 18:09 43rd Post
Well it’s Easter again!

20+years ago we had Mallards nesting in the garden. I had to place out bowls and containers with water on the lawn to give swimming lessons to the ducklings…and entertain us!  But what a mess!

We stopped having them nest here in 2010. But every year since then one or two adult ducks come here for short visits around Easter. 

It cannot be the original ‘parents’ they will be long gone ……so it must be successive offspring handing down the imprinted location of their birth????

They don’t wander around the garden aimlessly like the wood pigeons, they come directly to the patio and wait by the window, sometimes even tapping the glass with their beaks. It’s quite staggering to think a simple duck can remember where to come to get safe haven…and some corn!

Anyway two just landed while we were scarifying the lawns. They ambled past the scarifier and onto the patio for ….porridge. Yes we have found every bird seems to like porridge rooks, crow, jackdaws, magpies, blackbirds, doves, pigeons, robins, great tits, dunnocks …even squirrels. We buy a bag of cheap stuck and spread a few handfuls each day on the lawn ….because it’s so fragmented …it lasts for ages because they have to work for it.

So I commend you to porridge to attract the bigger birds…..no milk or sugar required. :lol:


Not having a camera to hand I am belatedly posting some shots of maybe their grandmother/ grandfather ducks?








 



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 7th, 2023 19:28 44th Post
Found ye olde video (BHD) of the duck pond nursery and them learning to dabble in mud tray. 
Note their stamping feet despite being outside the tray on grass. :lol:




Fortunately I was partially cropped from the frame to hide my belly and love handles…..now significantly reduced (thank God). 
Sitting at a computer for hours on end does nothing for the figure. :thumbsdown:



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Apr 9th, 2023 08:47 45th Post
All good fun and Happy Easter to all!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Wed Apr 12th, 2023 16:02 46th Post
A Mandarin Duck on a local pond.


A7402371-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Iain: Wed Apr 12th, 2023 16:06 47th Post
A Chiffchaff.


A7402013-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 14th, 2023 18:24 48th Post
We bought one of those special feeders that have depressible perches. When heavy birds attempt to land the perch drops and their access to the food is blocked. Works fine for squirrels but the Jay developed a ‘fly at bang into it’ approach very early on…scattering peanuts to the ground for him to retrieve.

But now the ‘ground crew’ are sitting waiting to grab his spoils, he has refined and perfected his approach. He hovers to take the nut and only touches the perch lightly with one foot to push himself away.  (Sequential frames) Notice the feeder has barely swung …relative to the tree markings behind.
I say ‘he’ but it could be a ‘her’…or these days even a ‘they’.:sssshh:



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 14th, 2023 18:45 49th Post
Iain wrote:
A Chiffchaff.


A7402013-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
We had a chiffchaff in the garden calling earlier this week…got lovely sighting but no camera to hand. And a blackcap was singing this morning when I was out there. Annoyingly he sings on the other side of the hedges to my place so the neighbour would get the sighting….but he isnt bothered. 

He has just gained planning permission to build 2 houses in his garden. I managed to get the original plan for 3 houses reduced and moved away from my boundary by 30feet by claiming my deeds stated this was a stipulation. When asked to produce evidence I said I would gladly get the deeds out of storage ….once they had built the houses too close. 
But sadly despite protests from all surrounding neighbours and even the Town Civic Society, who put up a stirling protest about loss of green spaces, the plans were approved. I fear my Tawny won’t be spending the day in our boundary trees any more.

When we came here 50 years ago we had spotted flycatcher, linnets, redpolls nesting in the garden: nightingales in audible distance and house martins, swifts and swallows cutting a cross the lawn. All gone, as has the glorious cacophony of a dawn chorus…now just blackbirds and collared doves halfhearted attempts.:needsahug:

Sorry for thread drift.



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Posted by Iain: Mon Apr 17th, 2023 14:56 50th Post
You’re not on your own with the bird numbers going down, it’s the same here. I wonder if bird flu has affected the small bird population as well but just not been noticed. Who knows. o.O



Posted by chrisbet: Tue Apr 18th, 2023 09:59 51st Post
We are getting an increase in bird species here - this year we have chiff chaff and Greater Spotted Woodpecker for the first time in the garden.



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Posted by Iain: Thu Apr 27th, 2023 12:45 52nd Post
Breading season is here, a Robin taking food into a female on the nest.


A7403103-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 28th, 2023 22:55 53rd Post
Nicely caught Iain.

I was taking a walk in a woodland yesterday and saw the same thing……



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 28th, 2023 22:57 54th Post
Couldn’t resist a couple more food moments…..




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Eric


Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 28th, 2023 23:09 55th Post
This bloke never brought any food, but was trying his best to attract a lady in the shrubbery….it worked.

 


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These two were just hanging round waiting for a lady friend….




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Eric


Posted by Eric: Fri Apr 28th, 2023 23:14 56th Post
This crew were circling overhead. Presumable rented by the RSPB to monitor the breeding programme? :lol:



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Sat Apr 29th, 2023 10:00 57th Post
Nice set of images Eric.



Posted by Eric: Sat Apr 29th, 2023 13:56 58th Post
Iain wrote:
Nice set of images Eric. Thx.
Small birds are so hard to follow in woodland. The Sony struggled with the multitude of branches. Totally failed to capture a single image of the blackcap and chiffchaff that were flitting around.

Most of the bird shots were at 12,800iso….because I tried to move the exp comp wheel and mistakenly turned the shutter speed to 1/2500 and the auto iso did the rest! Although that speed was useful on the flitting birds I was expecting the high iso to be riddled with noise….but it wasn’t.
It makes me wonder if you get less noise per iso setting by using higher shutter speeds. o.O

I know it’s true that long exposures (>1sec) DO introduce more sensor noise but never considered that the reverse might apply when using high shutter speeds. I suppose it’s logical. It may also explain why sometimes I’ve been unhappy with noise levels on my bird shots. I have usually tried to keep iso down by using the slowest shutter speed I can get away with.  I feel a test coming on.:thumbs:



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Apr 29th, 2023 17:37 59th Post
Super Robin Ian. Eric good set as well and at 12800 ISO is amazing quality!!!!!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Sat Apr 29th, 2023 21:18 60th Post
I use centre spot for AF and find that 90% of the time that works.



Posted by Eric: Mon May 1st, 2023 09:36 61st Post
Iain wrote:
I use centre spot for AF and find that 90% of the time that works. Do you still get the eye detection when using centre spot? I was under the impression it was only in area mode. Perhaps that’s where I was going wrong. I will have to check. Maybe something else I got wrong on the day. o.O



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Posted by Eric: Wed May 17th, 2023 23:11 62nd Post



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Wed May 17th, 2023 23:15 63rd Post
Seem to have created a black hole in the above post. Every time I try to populate the post it turns out blank.o.O


The sparrow nest box I fitted under the eaves in 2019 has finally been used…by blue tits.

We’ve been watching their antics over a few weeks but today saw the confirmatory sign they have “messy offspring” inside. Mum taking out the poo, yuk.




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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Thu May 18th, 2023 00:28 64th Post
Seem to have created a black hole in the above post. Every time I try to populate the post it turns out blank.o.O Because the is no post text associated with the post number - no idea what causes that!  Once posted there is no way to generate a referenced text to populate the post so indeed, a black hole!



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Posted by Iain: Thu May 18th, 2023 11:23 65th Post
Nice to know its being used Eric.

Chris, I have had the same issue on a couple of occasions.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri May 19th, 2023 10:56 66th Post
Weaver Bird female with nest Kenya Nikon D500

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri May 19th, 2023 12:17 67th Post
Spotted Thick-Knee, Kenya very like our Stone Curlew, Nikon D500

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Posted by Iain: Fri May 19th, 2023 12:48 68th Post
It's funny how I look at these pics from the D500 and my own from the D500 and they don't look as good as the ones you and I are getting from the Sony kit. At the time they were great but things have moved on.



Posted by Iain: Fri May 19th, 2023 12:59 69th Post
A Gadwall and a Tufted Duck in the rain both male.


A9200049-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr




A7403460-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat May 20th, 2023 00:13 70th Post
Ian I agree I have been going through these Kenys photos and a lot failed as out of focus, I was getting less than 1 in 4 good shots. Now in the last two years with the Sony A1 I get nearly 100% sharp photos, perhaps I have become more skilled at bird photography. I think the whole range of Sony lenses I now have 5 and they are all very sharp and very quick to lock on and hold sharp focus even with fast-moving birds in flight.



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Posted by Eric: Sat May 20th, 2023 10:13 71st Post
Iain wrote:
It's funny how I look at these pics from the D500 and my own from the D500 and they don't look as good as the ones you and I are getting from the Sony kit. At the time they were great but things have moved on. I do wonder if the latest iterations of Nikon Z cameras will have followed Sony’s lead and upped their game in the focusing stakes. Jonathan was telling me the latest Fuji cameras have the same sort of focus speed plus viewfinder blackout control like the Sony A1. So it does seem as the A1 set the bar high and others are now having to match it.

That said I was looking at some of my old D3 images recently and although they didn’t have the bitingly sharp detail when enlarged, somehow when I am not pixel peeping and just ‘look at the full composition’, they are still extremely good images standing the test of time.



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Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat May 20th, 2023 10:33 72nd Post
Geoff the local TV Aerial man removed our old damaged aerial no longer needed apart from much used by the birds. He also kindly removed the results of 12 years bird droppings from our Sola Panels so perhaps we will get a few more volts!

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Posted by Iain: Sat May 20th, 2023 20:59 73rd Post
I have to agree with the Sony lens I have four and even the cheapest one is sharp also there are not many zoom lenses in the 200-600 range you can put on a body and get sharp images at 600mm wide open.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat May 20th, 2023 23:41 74th Post
Ian when I go back on D850 bird photos with top-range £6000 f4 Nikon lens it makes our Sony 200-600 look amazing I just can not find fault with it apart from bit heavy to handhold for too long at 82 yrs!!!



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Posted by Iain: Sun May 21st, 2023 21:23 75th Post
Eric wrote:
I do wonder if the latest iterations of Nikon Z cameras will have followed Sony’s lead and upped their game in the focusing stakes. Jonathan was telling me the latest Fuji cameras have the same sort of focus speed plus viewfinder blackout control like the Sony A1. So it does seem as the A1 set the bar high and others are now having to match it.

That said I was looking at some of my old D3 images recently and although they didn’t have the bitingly sharp detail when enlarged, somehow when I am not pixel peeping and just ‘look at the full composition’, they are still extremely good images standing the test of time.
I’m not sure they have Eric. Speaking to guys using the Z9 they are saying that even it misses focus on too many shots for their liking.



Posted by Iain: Thu May 25th, 2023 14:31 76th Post
Grey Heron having a bad hair day.


A9200300 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu May 25th, 2023 16:43 77th Post
Super photo Ian in perfect light and setting.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Thu May 25th, 2023 21:36 78th Post
Thanks Graham.



Posted by Eric: Mon May 29th, 2023 21:07 79th Post
We ‘had’ a solar pump that produced a small fountain. 

Sadly the solar panel died and we have been considering replacements or alternatives for a while.

Not all alternatives have been worthy of further consideration.

The search continues.




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No….I have no idea what it was doing. o.O



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Mon May 29th, 2023 22:23 80th Post
Depends what voltage the pump is - small 12v solar panels are available for around £15



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Posted by Iain: Tue May 30th, 2023 18:12 81st Post
He’s had his head put on the wrong way round.:doh:



Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 2nd, 2023 12:53 82nd Post
Iain wrote:
He’s had his head put on the wrong way round.:doh: It was just one frame in the middle of a sequence of 5 on Medium shutter speed. The other 4 were facing the right way. 
So in the space of one frame it spun its head up and back again. Impressive.

I can only assume it thought it saw or was checking for a raptor? o.O



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Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 6th, 2023 14:23 83rd Post
A GSW from today. Not an easy shot to get because of the way they fly but the Sony A1 nailed it.


A0101411-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jun 8th, 2023 19:53 84th Post
I like that Ian.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 9th, 2023 14:17 85th Post
Huge crop. If they would only come down a bit lower :banghead:

I know, I know Graham….the bug should have been in focus as well. :lol:



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There were some workmen chopping down things in an over grown garden in the next street. Clearly they were disturbing into the air a lot of ‘meal components’ for the Swifts, as they were circling down wind over the next road. I wanted Jan to start shaking our trees or chopping something down….neither request was greeted with success. The Swifts just wouldn’t come over our garden low enough.



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 9th, 2023 18:35 86th Post
Also a very big blow up, I am not doing very well at the moment.

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 9th, 2023 18:35 87th Post
Still a good try Eric.



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Posted by Iain: Fri Jun 9th, 2023 21:20 88th Post
That’s a good try Eric.
If you focus on the bug next time you might have everything in focus. :lol::lol:



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jun 9th, 2023 23:16 89th Post
Above shot was as taken but was as stated big blow-up. I have now worked on noise in Photoshop and the results are a bit better. Shot was taken with A1 and 90mm Macro with single point tracking focus 3200ISO 1/3200 sec at f9

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Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 19th, 2023 17:20 90th Post
Just back from a few days break, which included some bird photography…Kites to be specific.

The camera count was 6700 before I left…it’s now 8400. That H+ drive flies.

I am therefore picking through a LOT of similar shots. Here’s a couple to be going on with…



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 19th, 2023 20:18 91st Post
Three more….



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Mon Jun 19th, 2023 21:14 92nd Post
Those are good Eric. What camera lens combo was it?



Posted by Eric: Mon Jun 19th, 2023 23:15 93rd Post
Iain wrote:
Those are good Eric. What camera lens combo was it? Thx. If you still have your caravan Iain, this is a cracking campsite here …kites overfly regularly looking for peoples scraps.

This photo was taken standing in the caravan doorway….



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Mon Jun 19th, 2023 23:50 94th Post
Very good, super shots Eric!!!! Sorry just tried 1 min in Photoshop for you!

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Jun 20th, 2023 09:14 95th Post
Sorry Eric messing with your super photo!!!!

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Posted by Iain: Tue Jun 20th, 2023 11:13 96th Post
Looks good but unfortunately we don’t have it anymore, damp got in and did for it.



Posted by Eric: Wed Jun 21st, 2023 22:22 97th Post
On returning home we were greeted by a family of Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding off our suet and peanuts stations.

They are at the stage where they try to use the feeders themselves but prefer Dad to feed them.

They also have been hammering seven bells out of an ageing willow tree…so they are getting some natural food as well.




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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Jun 22nd, 2023 08:36 98th Post
I've got a mum with two chicks up here doing the same thing.



Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 23rd, 2023 21:49 99th Post
Forgot to mention, while distractedly photographing kites, this cheeky chap sneaked up on my kite bait….




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Eric


Posted by Iain: Sat Jun 24th, 2023 12:13 100th Post
Yes, they don't miss a chance.



Posted by Eric: Sun Jun 25th, 2023 15:50 101st Post
Iain wrote:
Yes, they don't miss a chance. They come in a lot slower than a kite. More hesitant and easier to follow.



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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sun Jun 25th, 2023 23:49 102nd Post
You captured that very well Eric.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Mon Jun 26th, 2023 21:05 103rd Post
Eric wrote:
They come in a lot slower than a kite. More hesitant and easier to follow. Yes, far better for the reflexes at our age. :lol:



Posted by Eric: Thu Jun 29th, 2023 21:43 104th Post
One for Chris…



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Fri Jun 30th, 2023 00:02 105th Post
Lol - I think the bird gave one to the horse .....



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 30th, 2023 13:16 106th Post
chrisbet wrote:
Lol - I think the bird gave one to the horse ..... I was attempting to photograph the swallows coming in and out of their nests in very poor light. I obviously made too much noise as the horse (which had been laid down in the stable) suddenly stuck its head out somewhat bleary eyed….which matched my surprise and iffy focus.



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Fri Jun 30th, 2023 20:39 107th Post
Any noise is too much noise for a horse - as prey animals they have very acute hearing, did you know that they use their bodies as an amplifier - bit like a radar dish!



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Eric: Fri Jun 30th, 2023 20:45 108th Post
chrisbet wrote:
Any noise is too much noise for a horse - as prey animals they have very acute hearing, did you know that they use their bodies as an amplifier - bit like a radar dish! And I was in stealth mode! Useless. :lol:



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Sat Jul 1st, 2023 10:13 109th Post
Lol - you would need your 800mm plus 1.4 teleconverter from the other side of the yard to not be heard!



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Eric: Sat Jul 1st, 2023 16:44 110th Post
It’s strange really, horses still considering themselves prey. You would have thought the absence of predators in the UK for centuries might have bred out a bit of that nervousness? 

Mind you, having seen my wife wolf down a T-bone steak after a hike in the Julian Alps a few years back, I could imagine a horse being nervous in her presence. Even I slept with one eye open that night.



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Sat Jul 1st, 2023 22:33 111th Post
There is a difference between having a prey response (built in the DNA I think) and being nervous, yes some horses shy at any noise, others are so ****y they think "bring it on"! Mine cares not if a dog runs up barking but will shy at a butterfly taking off from the grass .... it is part of the joy of riding :lol:



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 17:47 112th Post
Captive Saker Falcon.


_A013629 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 21:50 113th Post
Iain wrote:
Captive Saker Falcon.


_A013629 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
Doesn’t look ‘captive’ to me. Lol

Lovely bird.



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 21:53 114th Post
I’ve been getting back to my Yorkshire roots….pigeon fancying.




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Eric


Posted by Iain: Tue Jul 4th, 2023 09:40 115th Post
Think you might have lucked out with those two, they are definitely a couple. Nice behaviour shots.



Posted by Iain: Sat Jul 15th, 2023 17:26 116th Post
A punk Jay. A dark rainy day, I was surprised that there was so much about.



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Posted by Iain: Sat Jul 22nd, 2023 13:26 117th Post
A recent shot of a Kingfisher to try and keep this thread moving.


_A014198 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jul 27th, 2023 15:59 118th Post
Sony A1 just a Robin today.

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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Thu Jul 27th, 2023 16:07 119th Post
puffin from a recent visit to Bempton Olympus E.M1X +300MM F4 +1.4 TC 

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Posted by blackfox: Thu Jul 27th, 2023 16:09 120th Post
sparrow feeding fledgling .. new Mac mini computer allows me to post here again as old one was hanging on posts 

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Posted by blackfox: Thu Jul 27th, 2023 16:10 121st Post
tree sparrow 

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Jul 27th, 2023 22:38 122nd Post
Jeff good to see you back with more of your super photos!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Jul 28th, 2023 17:04 123rd Post
Nuthatch

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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Fri Jul 28th, 2023 21:19 124th Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Nuthatch

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Nice detailed shots Graham.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Aug 1st, 2023 19:40 125th Post
Goldfinch  Sony A1 with 200-600mm lens

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Graham Whistler


Posted by blackfox: Wed Aug 2nd, 2023 11:10 126th Post
couple more images from Bempton this year ::: extremely cold and windy both Olympus E:M1X +300mm f4 +1.4tc

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Posted by Iain: Wed Aug 2nd, 2023 21:21 127th Post
Nice shots Jeff.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Aug 2nd, 2023 22:48 128th Post
Well taken Jeff, super photos!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Thu Aug 3rd, 2023 11:10 129th Post
Female Mandarin.


_A015149 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



_A015169 by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by blackfox: Fri Aug 18th, 2023 11:06 130th Post
couple from Wednesday this week , small waders seem to be returning at last 

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Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Aug 31st, 2023 18:24 131st Post
Jeff I like those! A small one for you

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: Wren with Sony A1 and 600mm lens



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 14th, 2023 12:05 132nd Post
Night Owl with flash.

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Graham Whistler


Posted by chrisbet: Thu Sep 14th, 2023 13:35 133rd Post
Wow!!!



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Thu Sep 14th, 2023 16:46 134th Post
Nicely balanced exposure.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Sep 14th, 2023 17:12 135th Post
Also in the woods a GS Woodpecker Sony A1 600mm lens 5000 ISO

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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Sat Sep 30th, 2023 19:31 136th Post
A rather large low flying Airbus flew over our rented villa in Salvagnac S France yesterday. Sony A1 with 100-400mm lens

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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Oct 11th, 2023 13:25 137th Post
https://www.bonusprint.co.uk/view-online-photo-book?widgetId=08b645ec-2b86-49bb-a584-d49a41a38cd6
This is a link to my Photobook on Bird Photography that may be of interest many of the photos will have been seen on this forum all taken with Nikon DSLRs and some on new Sony A1



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Thu Oct 12th, 2023 12:52 138th Post
This fine fellow dropped in for some ants (zoom in on beak end) then had a reccie up an old apple tree.




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Eric


Posted by Graham Whistler: Thu Oct 12th, 2023 19:03 139th Post
Lucky you Eric good shots!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Thu Oct 12th, 2023 21:05 140th Post
Nice shots Eric. A bird I haven’t managed to get a good shot of yet.



Posted by Eric: Fri Oct 13th, 2023 11:55 141st Post
Iain wrote:
Nice shots Eric. A bird I haven’t managed to get a good shot of yet. Thx. They are routine (not regular) visitors to us probably the ant infested lawn. Lol

Strangely they often arrive at this time of year and invariably a great spotted woodpecker usually comes within 24 hours. It’s almost as one acts as a scouting party.  The green goes straight to the same location on the lawn. I KNOW there are ants in that area…how do they know? They go straight to that part of the lawn. I can’t believe they can actually see the ants moving about from on high ….but maybe from above the earth disturbances shows a telltale patch?  Very clever birds always land in the exact same location.

The GSW goes for the feeders or our two knarled, half dead apple and cherry trees.


Just looked at exif of a previous visit and it was 11 days later back in 2020..




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Eric


Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 13th, 2023 14:44 142nd Post
I guess their eyesight is very good either that or there is a smell the ants give off that they smell.



Posted by chrisbet: Fri Oct 13th, 2023 15:42 143rd Post
Don't ants give off formic acid?



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Fri Oct 13th, 2023 21:03 144th Post
Yes they do Chis and this maybe what the woodpecker locks on to.



Posted by Eric: Sat Oct 14th, 2023 09:56 145th Post
Clever little beauties.

….I meant the birds, not you two. :lol:


Hang on …I thought birds had no sense of smell???

It’s recommend to spray sunflower seed with cayenne pepper to stop squirrels feeding on them. Apparently squirrels can smell the pepper but birds cannot.

 I did this one year and the birds never stopped feeding but it deterred the fury beasties ….only for 24 hours, presumably till the smell dissipated. 

The only significant deterrent was for me due to my eyes running and coughing like a maniac. Didn’t repeat the exercise as it also wet the seeds and coated the feeders.



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Sat Oct 14th, 2023 15:14 146th Post
I think they do have some sense of smell but their hearing is good so perhaps they listen for the ants scurrying about?



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Sat Oct 14th, 2023 23:27 147th Post
A couple of Kes shots from Friday.


_A010027-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



_A019981A-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Sun Oct 15th, 2023 10:17 148th Post
Superb! :applause:



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Mon Oct 16th, 2023 21:08 149th Post
Eric wrote:
Superb! :applause: Thanks. A lot of it goes down to the super fast and accurate focusing of the A1 and 200-600.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Tue Oct 17th, 2023 23:26 150th Post
Super shots Ian well taken!



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Graham Whistler: Wed Nov 1st, 2023 16:35 151st Post
Photoshop AI sorted out the out-of-focus bottom of the photo in seconds!

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Graham Whistler


Posted by Eric: Wed Nov 1st, 2023 20:11 152nd Post
Graham Whistler wrote:
Photoshop AI sorted out the out-of-focus bottom of the photo in seconds!

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That’s a good example of AI assisting you in correcting an annoying part of a composition.

It’s done a very realistic infill.



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Nov 2nd, 2023 08:59 153rd Post
I find it quite affective in most cases. Like everything don't expect too much as sometime it does make a right mess of things.



Posted by Iain: Thu Nov 2nd, 2023 09:27 154th Post
Nice to see a Green Finch which is now on the Red list of endangered species.


_A011728-Edit-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by blackfox: Tue Nov 14th, 2023 10:49 155th Post
having just succumbed to yet another change of camera body (due to health ,age ) related problems .I purchased a olympus OM1 last week couple of shots from first day out with it.

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Posted by Iain: Tue Nov 14th, 2023 17:49 156th Post
Nice shots Jeff.



Posted by Eric: Thu Nov 16th, 2023 21:44 157th Post
Wondered why my peanut feeder was emptying so quickly…



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We had 3 Jays today that have all learnt to ‘humming bird hover’ and take nuts out of the feeder with supposedly big bird deterrents.



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Eric


Posted by Eric: Thu Nov 16th, 2023 21:50 158th Post
Woodie is a regular visitor now. Although I do wish he wouldn’t hang about in the darkest area of that garden. 



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At least there’s more chance of seeing him now the leaves have fallen. I do wish he would come closer and into the remaining sunbathed areas of the garden. There must be 4or5 stops of light difference between the sunlit feeder area and the woodland border…..in addition to 30 meter of extra distance to bridge. Sigh!



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Fri Nov 17th, 2023 00:11 159th Post
Maybe put a couple of Arri spots down there?



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Fri Nov 17th, 2023 14:12 160th Post
Eric wrote:
Wondered why my peanut feeder was emptying so quickly…



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We had 3 Jays today that have all learnt to ‘humming bird hover’ and take nuts out of the feeder with supposedly big bird deterrents.
They soon learn how to overcome problems.



Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Nov 17th, 2023 14:33 161st Post
More good photos above keep them going. I just wish we could get some new members.



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Graham Whistler


Posted by Iain: Fri Nov 17th, 2023 16:35 162nd Post
Another Green finch one.


_A011950-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Sat Nov 18th, 2023 23:41 163rd Post
Iain wrote:
They soon learn how to overcome problems. Very true. I didn’t get a photo of it but a Rook landed above the feeders and he/she was trying to peck down on some fat balls in a feeder. As the level dropped and he/she couldn’t reach he/she grabbed the side of the cage and swung it up 2 or 3 times till it stuck horizontal on a twig so the cage was at his/her feet. A squirrel disturbed the feast and knocked the feeder back to the swinging position. When the squirrel cleared off, the Rook returned and didn’t try pecking down but immediately swung the cage up to catch on the twig again. Clever bird…..must fill the feeder now!!!

Even got Collared Doves hanging off feeders. They perch one level down to reach the hole above. Can’t post the video on here but this is a screen grab… 



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Eric


Posted by chrisbet: Sun Nov 19th, 2023 08:30 164th Post
Eric wrote:


Can’t post the video on here but this is a screen grab… I need to fix the youtube link in the editor, but you can upload video to YouTube and then use the link icon in the editor menu to include a link to the video in your post.

Like this -   https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tYyN9oCuNvE



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Iain: Sun Nov 19th, 2023 11:32 165th Post
Eric wrote:
Very true. I didn’t get a photo of it but a Rook landed above the feeders and he/she was trying to peck down on some fat balls in a feeder. As the level dropped and he/she couldn’t reach he/she grabbed the side of the cage and swung it up 2 or 3 times till it stuck horizontal on a twig so the cage was at his/her feet. A squirrel disturbed the feast and knocked the feeder back to the swinging position. When the squirrel cleared off, the Rook returned and didn’t try pecking down but immediately swung the cage up to catch on the twig again. Clever bird…..must fill the feeder now!!!

Even got Collared Doves hanging off feeders. They perch one level down to reach the hole above. Can’t post the video on here but this is a screen grab… 



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They all need food to survive so will adapt a way to get it and they are not as daft as people think.



Posted by Iain: Sat Dec 16th, 2023 11:25 166th Post
At a site I go to a lot we never see the Grey Wagtails in the summer but come winter we get them in the car park.


_A016563-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr



Posted by Eric: Thu Jan 4th, 2024 11:19 167th Post
Iain wrote:
At a site I go to a lot we never see the Grey Wagtails in the summer but come winter we get them in the car park.


_A016563-Edit by Iain Clyne, on Flickr
I missed this one Iain. That’s a pretty little bird. Not seen around these parts sadly.



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Thu Jan 4th, 2024 14:44 168th Post
We get it in the car park of one of the reserves I go too and then only in the winter.



Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 17th, 2024 11:56 169th Post
Should we start a new Bird 2024 thread?



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Wed Jan 17th, 2024 14:45 170th Post
Eric wrote:
Should we start a new Bird 2024 thread? We may as well even though it only seems to be you, Graham and me putting anything in it.



Posted by chrisbet: Wed Jan 17th, 2024 15:47 171st Post
Yes - have set up new thread for 2024



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If it is broken it was probably me ....


Posted by Eric: Wed Jan 17th, 2024 15:53 172nd Post
Iain wrote:
We may as well even though it only seems to be you, Graham and me putting anything in it. That sadly sums up most of the forum, Iain. I am beginning to think the whole notion of ‘joining in’ is a dying activity.

I was talking to Graham yesterday and he mentioned an offer he made to his local camera club to conduct Zoom tutorials on Photoshop. 15 people said they were interested….1 tuned in to the first episode. 

I think the whole ‘traditional’ learning procedure has been superseded by YouTube. I confess I recently went there to learn about DaVinci Resolver video editing software. Provided the person isn’t annoying, or repetitive and knows what they are talking about, it’s much better. You can pause and rewind if you didn’t grasp a point….you can’t  keep doing that to a live tutor!

Everything is done differently now.o.O


But keep posting ……bugger the rest of the world.:whip:



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Eric


Posted by Iain: Wed Jan 17th, 2024 21:25 173rd Post
Eric wrote:
That sadly sums up most of the forum, Iain. I am beginning to think the whole notion of ‘joining in’ is a dying activity.

I was talking to Graham yesterday and he mentioned an offer he made to his local camera club to conduct Zoom tutorials on Photoshop. 15 people said they were interested….1 tuned in to the first episode. 

I think the whole ‘traditional’ learning procedure has been superseded by YouTube. I confess I recently went there to learn about DaVinci Resolver video editing software. Provided the person isn’t annoying, or repetitive and knows what they are talking about, it’s much better. You can pause and rewind if you didn’t grasp a point….you can’t  keep doing that to a live tutor!

Everything is done differently now.o.O


But keep posting ……bugger the rest of the world.:whip:
I have had a camera club for a number of years but the numbers attending now is at the point I wonder if it’s worth it.


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