Daily Photos Volume 279

In our last thread, Nanny_56 got her new camera!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1071027

It's always fun to watch the Downy Woodpecker.

I had 12 Mourning Dove drop by.

And the American Goldfinch are here in decent numbers…

Great start Mrs. Ed! Your doves are so pretty.

Here are the House Finch I got late this afternoon/early evening. Hope to get time to play with the camera more tomorrow. I welcome all tips to help me so feel free to send me a dmail!

Hack....I have the manual load on the computer now so it is easy to access. Just takes getting used to. I read a few people returned the camera because of this issue but that just seems a little silly.

This message was edited Jan 26, 2010 10:22 PM

nanny, from the reviews I read on your new camera, you have a good one. Like anything new, it'll just take some time for the newness to wear off and you get comfortable with it.

And you're right, to return a good camera just because the manual does not come as a little book is a bit silly.

Hack

This message was edited Jan 26, 2010 10:41 PM

Love the Downy Mrs Ed! Thanks for starting the new thread!

Congratulations on the new camera nanny! Nice pic of your House Finch!

Nice shots All! Thanks for starting the new thread Mrs_Ed, nice Downy and Mourning Doves. The Goldfinches seem to be getting some of their color back.
Nice shots Nanny! Enjoy your new camera.

Hack, Elvis has his tail feathers, in that shot they were tucked behind him until he got down the tree farther.

Had some visitors today, and did see some Junco's, thought they left.

A couple pics from today. Papa Downy

Crow's dropped by.

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Had a mess of House Finches today.

Can anyone suggest a nice camera for under $500. I would love to get one that exchanges lenses but I doubt I can on my budget. My youngest daughter wanted a new camera for Christmas, I bought her one and now the other ones wants my old camera. Her pics are fuzzy, I wonder why?
Maybe I should take it and have it checked out before tossing it.

Female and male Cowbird.

This message was edited Jan 27, 2010 9:14 AM

Grackle at the bath.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

Mourning Dove.

Burd, Great shots! Love the 2 in 1 photos.

Teresa, I would have that camera checked out. In the meantime here is a Canon DSLR for $499 with a lens. I don't have this exact model but Canon has good products.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571144-REG/Canon_2762B003_EOS_Rebel_XS_a_k_a_.html

Lovely pics GP!

Hey Burd… I'm mobbed with house finches right now too. It's nice to see their numbers rise above the house sparrows.

I agree, a few of the gold finches are getting more color back. I've had under a dozen of them, but they are really eating, so i'll put a second finch feeder out.

Bluegrassmom...

I know you mentioned DSLR, but here is a camera worth looking at I think. I have a Canon DSLR which I love, but my hubby likes his point and shoot for the convenience. Canon has a Powershot with 20x optical zoom for around $400... the Powershot SX20-IS. This is the next camera my hubby is planning on! We are definitely a Canon family, so there may be other brands that others can tell you about. The 20x optical zoom comes out roughly to the equivalent of 28-500mm.

Here's a review... http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Canon-Powershot-SX20-IS.shtml

ha. that's the one that Nanny just got.

See how much I pay attention??? LOLOL!!!!

From the last thread, Nanny, glad you've got the camera back. Great photos!

Mrs Ed, what a wonderful start for this new thread. Love that wp photo-clear and sharp. Great dove and goldfinch too. That dove caught blinking is cute.

Nanny, great shot of the finches. Didn't take you long to figure it out at all.

Burd, love the wp shots-great job putting them together! I leave the collage part to my husband who loves the technical jobs. Cute crows, nuthatchs and finches too.

GP, I love all your pictures. The cowbirds look so good in the sun and I love that grackle! Love that one of the dove-so clear! Great captures.

This female Brewers Blackbird posed nicely for me.

The male California Quail was almost too bright for my picture.

This young Oak Titmouse is one of many that stay close to the feeders.

One of my California Towhees.

Beautiful shot of the Blackbird Duc! The quail are so handsome!

Those Titmouse are adorable and the Towhee is one sleek bird!

We haven't had much sun for over a week, but when we do the Turkey Vultures are always flying by the house.

Nice shots GP and Duc! The sun is out here today too, so I,m heading to the Marsh for a bit.

Handsome Vulture Duc! I haven't seen many raptors around without the sun either.

Cute Pine Warbler from today.

Handsome purple finch.
I am still learning the difference between the purple and the house finch, and this one shows the non-streaked belly...therefore, PURPLE finch.

Tell me if I'm wrong. haha

bluegrassmom - Is the one you bought for your daughter still under warranty?

I'm sure nanny will be along directly and let you know how she likes the SX20-IS. I goggled her camera and was impressed by the reviews of folks how bought it.

Before I went to the 40D I used a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28S 10MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Silver). It was a great camera, but I wanted to be able to exchange lenses. The one that is black costs less than the silver one, but other than color, I don;t see a difference.

Click on the link below and read its reviews. Of a total of 342 reviewers, 264 rate it 5 stars and 50 rate it 4. Be sure to look at the 595 customer images taken with the FZ28. It is impressive. It goes for $488, with about 5 bucks shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMC-FZ28K-Digital-Stabilized-Black/dp/B001CCLBSU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264616306&sr=8-2

But, be sure to check ebay. That's where I bought mine and it was flawless.

There's one on there right now and bids are at 112.50. Auction closes in about a day and three hours from now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-LUMIX-DMC-FZ28-Used-Mint-Condition_W0QQitemZ230429186482QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item35a6a659b2




Hack

Burd_Fotos - lots of great snaps, but the one that caught my eye was the Red-breasted Nuthatch.

gardenpom - sweet capture of female and male Cowbird.at the same time.

Mrs_Ed - I too have lots of House Finches, but my Goldfinches are still absent.

VA_Wild_Rose - (See how much I pay attention??? LOLOL!!!!) if I knew you were old like me, I claim you had a senior moment.

JulieQ - I've never had a Purple Finch visit (at least I don't think so), but I did take note of your comment about the difference between the purple finch and the house finch being that the Purple having the non-streaked belly. Now, I need to re-examine my photos of what I thought were male House Finches - I may have had a Purple Finch and miss-ID'd it.

Hack

Yah, I'd say purple finch. Here's a side by side of one of mine in November. While the house finch is not in focus, you can still get the idea.

Here I am!!! :)

bluegrassmom, I think you would be hard pressed to get a DSLR AND lenses for under $500. AND you will want those lenses!!

There are lots of GREAT POINT & SHOOTS for less. Just depends on what she will use it for. All the major makers have models under $500 that woudl be great for her.

I love my Fuji and it can do a lot. I was limited with it because I broke the durn button being careless. But it's costing me only $88 to fix it which was music to my ears!! And the Canon will be a winner too in book. It has more bells & whistles. more to learn but for a kid it would probably be a snap!

I have improved already in less than 24 hour. LOL

American Crow...not great but MUCH better!

Taken on TV setiing which is Shutter Priority on a Canon...I kept looking for an S...duh!

This message was edited Jan 27, 2010 2:34 PM

The birds have been few today. Cooper's Hawk has been hanging around across the road watching. :(

A few Gold Finch

This message was edited Jan 27, 2010 2:58 PM

This really shows how much better it is today but not a bird.

Julie, That is a great shot of the Pine Warbler!! Yes, I agree with Purple Finch. They have a straight bill like yours.

Nice shot of the Crow etc. nanny!

nanny, great news about your camera and love the pics!

Love everyones...Duc, the quail is so cute!!!!

I don't have any to share right now...lots of birds this morning but, wasn't able to capture them. :-(

Julie, your Pine Warbler is beautiful. I agree, Purple Finch. It sure took me a long time to distinguish which is which since both are here.

Nanny you're doing great with your birds. Love the finches, crow and that little hairy visitor.

I did get a few photos today. Here they are:-)

I found this dark eyed junco jumping around a wall planter