Daily Bird Pics - Vol. #359

This White-throated Sparrow was across the yard from me, but I took its pic anyway. Came out decent enough to post.

My last one in this series.

I always like the delicate look of a Tufted Titmouse.

Hack

After a three year absence here, the Mountain Chickadee is showing up again.

Hack, Very nice shots and variety!

Tiger, So good to see the Mountain Chickadee. Nice shot!

Linth, your eagles are beautiful!

I am behind....had the GD's this weekend, FIL in hospital, Thanksgiving Dinner here yesterday AND adopted a new dog on Saturday....Been busy!

But I did enjoy looking at all the photos!

Mick, looking better!

Hack, from the last thread....Congrats on your new lifer!! lol

A few days old, but here is a Blue Jay!

syndicate, the main benefit here is that you are practicing and getting more familiar with your camera's capabilities. If I knew everything, I would be a professional. However, here is some food for thought.

I have attached a link to "How to Photograph Birds". http://www.digicamhelp.com/how-to/nature/birds/

I did this because I noticed that your metering mode is set at "pattern" whereas I developed a consensus of opinion that one should use "Spot" metering when photographing birds. That by no means suggests that one can't get good pics of birds using other metering modes. There are a lot of other factors that enter into the issue. I don't know how far away you were from the birds/bush. But at an aperture of f/5.6 you have little depth of field. Taking a photo of a small bird in a bush at 250mm can be difficult using anything other than manual focus. That's why most photographers prefer at least a 400mm minimal lens. More lens is better in those situations unless you can get real close. Nonetheless, keep practicing, listen to others and read lots of photography articles by the pros.

duc, excellent shots. I haven't gotten a Black-crowned Night Heron this year. I keep looking.

tigerlily, nice shot of the Mountain Chickadee.

gardenpom, I like your female Painted Bunting best of all. Nice shots.

Hack, nice photos of a variety of yard birds. I usually wait until snow arrives to photograph the songbirds near my house.

nanny, I always like to see and hear the vocal Blue Jays. They become a colorful subject againt the white snow.

While photographing Bald Eagles, these Black Vultures were sitting about 20' to 30' behind me. would you turn your back on this group ?

A lone Black Vulture in flight ........

Some more Black Vultures. This was a gray sky so I chose to change the background using "color balance" in my software.

That's quite a group of Black Vultures Linth! Nice shooting!

Cute Blue Jay nanny!

GP, great shots of all your birds. I really liked the bunting and oriole.

Teddy, cute hummer.

Hack, I enjoy seeing all your birds, but that shot of Mrs Cardinal is just beautiful.

Tiger, glad your Mountain Chickadee has returned.

Nanny, congrats on the new addition-don't we get to see a picture of your new pup?

Linth, thanks for posting that link. It helped me figure out a few things I was doing wrong on my camera, in fact I think there's lots of info that might answer some of my questions. Great shot of the vultures, especially that in flight one-wow.

I went in search of the American White Pelicans that usually spend the winter on our lake the other day. This is the only one that I could get out of the water. They'd just filled up on the bait fish and sure looked lazy.

This one was in the sun.

One last one for today.

I was surprised to see this Acorn Woodpecker drilling a new hole-maybe getting a head start for spring?

This was a Bonaparte's Gull coming out of the water.

I think the sparrows need to go on a diet, I filled up the feeder and guess what, they got it halfway empty again! I think I am going to slow down on feeding them once a day and maybe start feeding them once every two days or something like that. They are just eating TOO well, and that has got to stop. My neighbor feeds his too, but he won't start until it gets really cold and snows. He has a point though, so many people are feeding them now, it really is no problem finding food. And the ground is still uncovered with snow, so they can pick things from the ground. It might be a good idea to slow down until the snow hits where they can't find things other places to eat, then they will really appeciate what we give them. What do you guys think, I would like your opinion.

Wonderful photos duc! Love seeing the Pelican and Acorn Woodpecker!

Hi Teddy, I think it's completely up to you. I feed mine year round although things get changed according to the seasons and if there is a high number of nuisance birds around.

Geez this thread is just whizzing by...thanks for the gorgeous start Linth...it is always awesome to see your photos and especially those wonderful Eagles!

Nice shots everyone..I'm too behind to comment on all of them but have sure enjoyed seeing each one of them!

It is cloudy and rainy today and a cold front is fast approaching. I am happy to report that the male Downy has just arrived so now I am happy as all the birds are now present and accounted for...life is good!!

Glad you checked in Nanny...I was missing you. Congrats on the new doggy...please post a pic!

That is the only reason I would slow down, the sparrows are pretty but if I let them they will eat ALL the seeds before the really bad weather gets here, and those big bags of Sunflower Seed aint cheap!!! We are having vehicle problems so it will a while before we are at Wal-Marts again.

Teddy,, I found that I make out better if I buy my sunflower seed from a farm seed company, instead of Wal-mart or Lowe's.

Hey nanny!, where you been!? Good to see you back.

duc, that Acorn Woodpecker was a new one for me.

linthicum, that was a good soaring pic of the Black Vulture

tigerlily, your Mountain Chickadee looks like my Carolina Chickadee, I guess its all about location.

Hack

okay...1 Off Topic photo of the dog. This little guy is hard to photograph! I think we have a name 'Gus' but it could change. I told DH he could name it whatever he wanted! lol

Awww he is so cute nanny!

Wonderful shots everyone!! Linth thanks for starting the new thread with those beautiful Eagle shots!! Seems like the threads are moving so fast lately...so I can't comment on all of your shots this time, but some are really amazing!!
I have managed to gather a few shots to share from the last couple of days. First are some Canada Geese.

another Canada Goose

a Double-crested Cormorant

A Mallard Duck

an immature Red-tailed Hawk

a Ring-billed Gull close-up

lastly a shot of one of my White-breasted Nuthatches in the backyard....in a few weeks lots of mergansers and ducks should be coming to the lake...hope it is as big an event as it was last year.

nanny_56, cute pooch.

Burd_Fotos - Nice shots, and from the look of that immature Red-tailed Hawk, the wind must have been blowing pretty good.

Hack

Nanny, "Gus" is just adorable!! Thanks for showing him to us.

Burd, great shots!!

I'm having a great time photographing the Cedar Waxwings while they're here.

Here's another one. I can't believe I'm taking over 400 photos every day-doesn't leave me much time to do anything else but it sure is fun.

This Mourning Dove was trying to stay warm-it was 30 degrees yesterday morning.

A Black crowned Night Heron from a few days ago.

Last one for today, a Great Blue Heron.

Nice ones Duc! I'll bet you are having fun photographing those Cedar Waxwings!

Thanks for that Linthicum....

I am at least between 6-10 ft from those birds when I tak ethe pics. The 400mm lens does seem to be the perfect one for shooting birds, but it doesn't come cheap. I am also about to purchase "understanding exposure" by what's his name? I do have a tripod as well, and you are right, small birds like the ones have taken will require me to get more up close or get a longer lens

cheers

Yesterday Linthicum wrote:

A second shot of a Raven.

It is now snowing here, it probably won't stick on the roadways, but it was sticking to the truck when we came out of the club. I didn't see too many birds today, it was rainy and soggy and then it turned cold. I don't think it is supposed to get back in the 50's anymore this winter, may have to retire my fall jacket and finally get out my winter one. It was awful nippy tonight without a hat or sweatshirt with a hood.